Hi,

I am hoping to move to Calgary with my wife and 3 year old daughter. At present we have not submitted out application as we are still researching our move. we are finding it all a bit scary but from reading some posts on this site are starting to get more excited about the whole thing. At present I've submitted a couple of free online assessments, although doing it myself I score 69 possibly 71.

Does anyone have any advice regards using an immigration consultant and also and rough idea of the cost to use one?

Finally I have a BEng (HOns) Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering do you think there will be any qualification transfer issues?

Thanks
Darren

Hi Darren

Welcome to the forum. We are moving to Calgary this summer. My husband (also a Darren!) is a structural engineer and he has got a job with a consultancy in Calgary. He was recruited when eight companies who are members of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta came over here last autumn on a recruiting drive. In addition to structural engineers, they were also after various types of civil, water engineers etc.

So I would presume that there is a similar need for electrical engineers if you check out the CEA website, it may give you more information and you could apply direct to some of the companies and then go over initially on a work permit which would be much quicker than applying through the standard skilled worker route which is taking years at the moment. If you were to go on a work permit with a job you could then apply for PR and it would be processed much quicker.

With regard to qualifications, he has to take a professional exam on the Canadian buidling codes etc when we get out there to be classed as a Professional Engineer, so again I presume you would have to do something similar.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Lisa

Thanks for the advice Lisa. By the way my other half is also a Lisa - Spooky!

Very spooky! We have some friends who live in Calgary already and they met up with a new family who had just moved into the area from the UK, also called ...... Darren and Lisa!!

Calgary is going to be full up with expats. I was even watching the news yesterday and they interviewed a kid that was British about the transit problems. I would be interested to know how many Brits are actually in Calgary.

Welcome Darren I hope the application process goes well.

Darren

You won't have a problem securing a role here in Calgary. Yes, there are some issues in terms of calibrating qualifications but the industry is currently bouyant. As an exanple, in the past two days I have worked with an engineer from Warsaw Poland, one from the Phillipines and one from Russia.

It apears that experience and knowledge is valid currrency here - it's not just about qualifications.

Oil and Gas service companies may be an option for you to investigate.

good luck

One of my co-workers once said "one too bloody many", after I arrived in 1974.

Not surprised Steve !!

Oi, you're not supposed to agree with him.

Sorry if I have offended you in some way.

Yeah but he was referring to Scousers in particular not brits in general.

Lisa,

You'll find that the Darren and Lisa you refer to there actually post on this board too.

I once lapsed back into a full scouse accent on a take-off clearance with a Brit instructor that I knew. He understood every word but his student thought I was speaking Korean.

So perhaps you have a point.

Hi Darren and Lisa and welcome to this forum. I have joined a few forums during my research, and this is by far the best presented, most visited, most informative, and best organised forum that I have seen, so I reckon you're in the right place to base yourselves.

As far as whether you should employ an immigration consultant, it sounds from what you've said that you are confident that you have enough points, I wasn't and my application will have to be supported by additional information that I feel is best presented by a consultant experienced in submitting applications, to have the best chance of succeeding, so I am in the process of engaging Andrew Miller, who is a regular advisor on this forum and comes recommended by others.

He can also assist prospective employers by processing all the paperwork regarding LMO and WP's, which, who knows, might make the difference between an employer being interested in employing you, and not being interested because of all the paperwork involved.

I have researched many other Canadian lawyers/Immigration consultants, including those that include the service of finding you a job, but based on my research, have decided to go with AM, because more than anything, I would like to be on Vancouver Island with family, not working elsewhere, and I would like PR so want to get in the queue asap.

Many submit their own applications and spend the saved fees on a reccy trip to their chosen province.

As far as costs go, I think you are best off contacting AM direct via his email.

Good luck with the LMO/WP/PR journey,

Robin

Even spookier!!

Nah Lisa is ok. Its Darren that's Spooky. (ONLY JOKING MATE )