boilermaker86

Hi there my husband has just accepted a job in hinton, alberta and we are just going through the motions just now, I expect we will be out before Xmas, we will he coming over with our two sons (1&5) any information would he greatly appreciated. We are coming from a small town near Glasgow Scotland and I'm so excited but have a million questions

Sunryder

Hi Boilermaker86, welcome. All I can say is just research and read as much as possible (this site has a wealth of info) and prepare as much documentation as possible. It makes your life much easier if you have everything ready when its needed. We have just received our COPR so I guess we are almost at the end of the process.

Good Luck

george82

Hi boilermaker where u moving from and what does your other half do?

MountainHiker

Can't really comment on Hinton only ever driven through but it's next door to Jasper which is one of my top 5 places in the world.

boilermaker86

George82, I'm from a town called helensburgh 45 mins west of glasgow, my wife is a hairdresser to trade. Sunryder, are you a welder to trade, and congrats on the COPR, I am now at the stage where it's a waiting game for the temp work permit. I have been studying already learning the Canadian standards for the red seal. I have done my research on the hinton and surrounding areas and my family are excited, I read there is a smell from the wooden mills but I'm sure we will cope as there are sewage treatment plants dotted all over the west of Scotland. I hear car insurance is expensive?

Photoplex

Yes, compared to the UK. Especially for the first few years until you build some no-claims history here. Most Canadian insurers don't care about your UK driving history. As far as they're concerned, the moment you trade in your UK license for an Albertan one, is the day you "got your license". They'll insure you pretty much like you're a 16 yr old new driver.

As mentioned, Hinton (which I've never been to) is close to Jasper, which I've been to loads. And Jasper is pretty awesome.

christmasoompa

One thing to be aware of is that hairdressing is a regulated trade, so if your wife wants to carry on working as a hairdresser she'll need to get licensed.

Good luck with it.

boilermaker86

Hi there she doesnt want to work as a hairdresser she gave it up a few years ago and at the moment she works in a tanning salon and has also worked as a skin care specialist for clarins, although I'm sure my wage will be enough to keep us both she would probably only need to work if she wanted to, to meet new people etc. As to regards of getting a Canadian liscence, do u just swap yours over or do u need to sit a test?

Photoplex

If you have a full UK driving licence, you just walk into a registry office here, surrender it, and they issue you an Alberta driving license.

boilermaker86

That's great and is there a fee? If you leave the country do u get it back

christmasoompa

I'd double check that before you commit, just in case she does have to work to give you a decent standard of living. Once you know your hourly rate it might be worth figuring out what you'll have left after all deductions, and then doing a budget or asking on the forum to see if people think that will be enough to live on as a family of 4.

Good luck.

Jingsamichty

There is a fee (there's a fee for everything), it's about $20/year depending on how long your licence is for, which depends on how long your Work Permit is for. Your UK licence is alegedly sent back to the DVLA. When you leave Canada you simply contact the DVLA and they will issue you a new licence.

boilermaker86

She Def won't need too unless she wants too, right I see well that's good news you don't need to sit a test. Our visas should be ready in 8 weeks we have been told so we will be out before Christmas � ����

boilermaker86

Also from what I've been told the winters are brutal where is best to go for winter jackets boots etc I was thinking north face or tog24 as we will probably arrive in time for winter all going well

Piff Poff

For winter coats use what you already have and upgrade if necessary, layering is the key, some decent long underwear goes a long way to keeping warm. There has been loads of threads on winterwear.