How many immigrated without visiting first?
#1
How many immigrated without visiting first?
Hi, have searched the forums and can't find anything, so apologies if this has already been asked / posted.
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
#2
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
Hi, have searched the forums and can't find anything, so apologies if this has already been asked / posted.
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
#3
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
OOps - just found a post on this subject but it is 2 years old, so some recent replies / feedback would be appreciated
#4
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
We had visited Ontario 3 times with the kids and had only visited Nova Scotia for 5 days when my husband had his job interview (kids stayed at home). Four months later we moved here and our whole family love it
My friend emigrated to Ontario without ever setting foot in the country. Her husband had gone over for his job interview and spent one week there. They and their 2 sons have been here for 7 years this summer
I would recommend visiting first if you can. Flights are more affordable these days. However, if a job offer comes up and you are footloose and fancy free 'do what feels right for you'.
Only a couple of decades ago most people emigrated without ever setting foot in the country and that was well before the days of the internet too
My friend emigrated to Ontario without ever setting foot in the country. Her husband had gone over for his job interview and spent one week there. They and their 2 sons have been here for 7 years this summer
I would recommend visiting first if you can. Flights are more affordable these days. However, if a job offer comes up and you are footloose and fancy free 'do what feels right for you'.
Only a couple of decades ago most people emigrated without ever setting foot in the country and that was well before the days of the internet too
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: canada Bradford
Posts: 183
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
Hi, have searched the forums and can't find anything, so apologies if this has already been asked / posted.
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
We are in Ontario .
#6
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
We hadn't visited. We expected French to be widely used.
#7
Jane
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Kilmarnock, Scotland
Posts: 12
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
HI there, we visited for 3 weeks back in 1998. I keep in regular contact with relatives in Vancouver and hope to be there at some point this year. We had dreamt about immigrating to Canada even before we visited but after visiting it just felt right, and we felt then we were making the right choice.
Sonic.
Sonic.
#8
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
Hi there,
We came to BC for 1 week in 2005. I had 2 job interviews (one in Victoria and one in Surrey). That left no time to visit Powell River (or much anywhere else).
So we didn't have much time to form an educated opinion on the place. And Powell River isn't like anywhere else in BC.
This fast-forward emigration worked well for us. I think you can research and research, but we didn't have time for that. But research is very important for people who have children (we don't).
Our approach worked out good for us. If you are not causing yourself a lot of expense in the UK e.g. by selling houses, losing money on cars, or spending a lot on shipping, then it's worth a shot.
Hope this helps,
Sarah
We came to BC for 1 week in 2005. I had 2 job interviews (one in Victoria and one in Surrey). That left no time to visit Powell River (or much anywhere else).
So we didn't have much time to form an educated opinion on the place. And Powell River isn't like anywhere else in BC.
This fast-forward emigration worked well for us. I think you can research and research, but we didn't have time for that. But research is very important for people who have children (we don't).
Our approach worked out good for us. If you are not causing yourself a lot of expense in the UK e.g. by selling houses, losing money on cars, or spending a lot on shipping, then it's worth a shot.
Hope this helps,
Sarah
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Peterborough, Ontario
Posts: 62
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
We only visited after my husband had accepted a job and applied for WP. We bought a house during our 6 day factfinding mission. So we made our decision based on very little really. But we don't regret it.
#10
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Beautiful BC
Posts: 1,106
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
Hi, have searched the forums and can't find anything, so apologies if this has already been asked / posted.
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
If I were to do it again now, I would have to come to Canada to research first, and several times, I think. And of course there are the advantages afforded with the internet, and world-wide communication being so easy. So no excuses for not knowing what you are getting into.
#11
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
Hi, have searched the forums and can't find anything, so apologies if this has already been asked / posted.
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
How many of you that have immigrated to Canada did so without ever having visited there previously? Was it what you expected? would you do it differently if you could do it again?
The reason I ask is that I am researching immigration to BC but have never been there. I figure that I have nothing to lose (no family ties here in the UK and no kids), and it can't be any worse than the UK... can it?
Not for the fainthearted though.
#12
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
I think you can visit numerous times and research like crazy to get as much info as you possibly can...............and all that is good, BUT until you live the life, you never really know what it will feel like to you.
I know people who have come completely blind and love it, settled really well and all is great.
Others (like my hubby at the mo) have done all the research, lined up the job, visited on a few occasions, yet are still struggling to see it as home.
So many factors can come into all this, all you can do is give it a shot and take an opportunity that has presented itself to you.
If we end up going back, we have had a fantastic couple of years, lived the life, bought the t-shirt etc and grown a lot as people. No regrets !
I know people who have come completely blind and love it, settled really well and all is great.
Others (like my hubby at the mo) have done all the research, lined up the job, visited on a few occasions, yet are still struggling to see it as home.
So many factors can come into all this, all you can do is give it a shot and take an opportunity that has presented itself to you.
If we end up going back, we have had a fantastic couple of years, lived the life, bought the t-shirt etc and grown a lot as people. No regrets !
#13
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
I never visited before the immigration.
How ever I lived in US (West coast) for a good old 8 years and assumed the Canada to resemble the East coast of USA and I think it is (minus crime).
I didn't have lot of options BTW.
How ever I lived in US (West coast) for a good old 8 years and assumed the Canada to resemble the East coast of USA and I think it is (minus crime).
I didn't have lot of options BTW.
#14
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
I cannot imagine why anyone would not visit Canada before emigrating. Australia / NZ I can understand because airfares are very expensive but to fly to Canada these days is reasonably cheap.
Each to their own I suppose...
Each to their own I suppose...
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 129
Re: How many immigrated without visiting first?
We came over for a holiday to Vancouver/BC during our application process - but had never visited before we applied. We now live in Vancouver and love it.
Don't regret doing it this way at all.
Good luck!
Don't regret doing it this way at all.
Good luck!