Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Hi

I'm new here, would love to get some opinions from any of you who have gone over to Canada on the wrong side of 40 :D

I should start out by saying I was born and raised in Edmonton and left when I was 22. I've lived in the UK for 16 years and my husband is British. We have a 4 year old girl who is also Canadian. Immigrating isn't a problem as DH would be coming in as a spouse so its mostly paperwork.

But I am worried that at his age it might be hard to find work, especially as he's not got a university/college degree as it seems that every job posting we see says you have to have a college/uni degree. He's a buyer (engineering/aerospace).

We don't own a house here and would only be coming over with maybe $40,000 and will be staying with friends until we settle in and get a flat (or should I say apartment!).

I have read about a lot of the struggles some people have had and have always felt being a native Albertan would help us, even if I haven't been there in so long but am worried perhaps i'm being naive.

We don't hate the UK btw, we do love it here but we are tired of working and working and just taking 3 steps forward and 2 steps back each time. And we worry about the future of our daughter here too. She has high functioning/mild autism.

Sorry to bombard you with information, am grateful for any advice. We live in Surrey at the moment. We've decided its Alberta or Derbyshire and are leaning a lot more towards Alberta at the moment.

Thanks for reading, look forward to hearing from you!

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

No real info but was just going to suggest getting in touch with some recruitment agencies as a way of maybe finding out some info? I will say that the radio shows here seem to be talking endlessly about another boom and the shortage of workers.....As for your daughter, a friend of a friend has been living in Edmonton for a couple of years (job secondment from Montreal). She has a son with severe autism and has been impressed by the help/support she has recieved - they are about to head back to Montreal and aren't very happy about it! Obviously your daughter wouldn't require as much support but hopefully that gives you an idea that help is there......

Difficult decision. Good luck whatever you decide
Lisa

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Of course further education counts but IMHO experience plus determination means just as much. I never had the opportunity to go on to further education. Started work in Manitoba on my 46th birthday after my employer spent a year and 3 LMO attempts to get me over.
Good luck :thumbsup:

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Derbyshire. No brainer.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Don't move to Canada.

If you're inclined trace my past posts or search on autism, there was a poster in Cornwall ON who wrote quite well on it. Really though, just don't consider the idea again.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

That's good to hear! DH has heaps of experience, 12 years through the RAF and 10 years in private/commercial environment. Am glad to hear you did well :D

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Super helpful, thanks!

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

I will have a read of them, thanks.

Lisa, thank you so much for your advice. I will contact some recruitment agencies. I may try to sneak in a 10 day visit this year or early next year as I really want my husband to see what Edmonton looks like at the end of January/February, when there is either piles of snow or the old snow is dirty etc :D Obviously i'm biased but I love Edmonton, especially in the summer with all the festivals etc, I loved spending weekends at Sylvan Lake and doing lots of fishing etc. My husband and I are outdoorsy so Alberta seems a perfect choice. But we can't just move for recreational reasons, the work and support for our little girl has to be there too. Am glad to hear your friend has found so much support for her autistic son. Thanks again :)

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

In your situation, i'd also go with Derbyshire. Lovely place :thumbup:

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

On a lighter note, I opened this thread Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta thinking it was about someone who had emigrated to Alberta in the late 1940s......

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Of course living there is like being back in the 1940s.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Believe me, I meant it to be. Your OH appears to have a satisfactory job at the moment, which I assume has lead / could lead to a similar position in Derbyshire. He has no paper qualifications, he's in his late 40's and has nothing set up in Alberta?

Either stay where you are or go to Derbyshire. No brainer.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

That usually sums them up ;).

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Which do you think is more helpful to the OP?

1) A balanced view of the downside risks of emigrating without a confirmed offer of employment, when you are in your late 40's and have no paper qualifications, or

2) frothy boosterism from someone, like yourself, who had a job offer before you came <and who've been here less than a year>?

I realize that the OP may only seek affirmation of her desire to return to Edmonton, but I see nothing unhelpful in pointing out the difficulties.

Now you have a nice day.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Maybe a bit of "frothy boosterism" is what's required on this forum to provide a more balanced view for people seeking advice.

I personally don't see a lot wrong with pointing out the positives. I guess I'm just one of those annoying people who's glass is always half full. How's yours?

I'm having a lovely day thanks :thumbup:

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

I don't want to pursue this further with you, I made my point and I stick by it. You'll come to realize that while some people come here for advice, others come to reinforce / reaffirm their existing opinions.

Oh and my glass is, as ever, brimming thanks.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

A "balanced view" would be pointing out both positive and negative viewpoints, dont it, ehh?

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

If you are considering it, get all your ducks in a row then it is up to you.
Between now and having everything ready, you might find hubby has lost his job, UK could be in melt down and Alberta might look very attractive, give yourselves some options and then decide in slower time.fletch

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

I'm in my 40's and just moved back. We both got jobs last week but the only reason we came back is that the UK, well London, was awful work wise. We just couldn't get anything. If i had a job back there i wouldn't of even considered it. Maybe give Derbyshire a year and see how you go. It will be a lot cheaper if Derbyshire doesnt work out compared with Alberta not working out. Good luck though, what ever you choose.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

It has been interesting reading your posts :D

Just to clarify a few points:

DH HATES being here...he loves the UK but hates the constant struggle. He wasn't keen on Canada when we first got married (i've been trying to get him to go for 11 years...).

He doesn't seem too fussed about the work and thinks he'll probably get something before we even set off. He's quite specialised in his field - and if all else fails, i've got a couple of degrees and will just have to get off my cushy part-time work at home/stay at home mum bum and go make the big bucks myself :rofl:

I think we've decided we have nothing to lose, no home here, moving out there isn't a huge expense, no more than here really. Just need to research more for our daughter to make sure she will get at least the same support she gets here (which frankly is rather sh*te and it part of the reason we want to go - we've spent tens of thousands on early intervention, money well spent but money that should NOT have had to have been spent but don't get me started..,)

Have spoken with a few friends this weekend back home (Edmonton) and am feeling better about what we'll be facing. If we don't like it we come back. DH won't have any trouble getting back into aerospace in Derbyshire or elsewhere. But we have to try or i'll be impossible to live with I think!

Anyway, i'm glad I found this forum, at least it will be nice to chat to expats (although I guess I won't feel as much of an expat as my DH). I'll miss the tea though...

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

If he does, of course that's a game changer. Don't set off unless he does though.

I'm not going to comment on that, but do your research very carefully. There are not-so-occasional reports on the lack of support in Canada.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

sure is...spent a lot of time around there...Buxton, Matlock, Derby....can't imagine there would be too much work there though?

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Isn’t it a bit unfair to make your husband and child to move away from everything they know to go and live in Edmonton, AB? I realize you grew up there but it’s not a destination most people would go to by choice? Most people I know from there have either left or want to.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

You are back in Canada?

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

LOL! You sure don't have a very high opinion of Edmonton...its a great city. And no, am not forcing my husband to go. I've not sugar coated anything, especially what winter is like. DD is 4 so whatever we decide will be 'forced' on her :wink_smile:

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

LOL,,,,, He dont have a high opinion of anywhere in Canada. ;)

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

I like pockets of the place, but how anyone would choose to live in the middle of nowhere, with dreadfully cold and brown winters, little to no culture apart from a massive shopping centre, and amongst ugly strip-malls and housing sub-divisons is beyond me. Each to their own of course.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

On re-reading this post, it occurs to me to wonder if an alternative to uprooting your family isn't staring you in the face?

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

OK i give you that one your Oink ness...;)

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Do look at that. Look also at the long term possibilities for an austic person in Canada. Then, if you've a mind to, move despite the prospects for your child.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

That was meant tongue in cheek really although I do work part time as doing our daughter's early intervention programme meant one of us had to stay at home. So I work from home in the mornings and go into the City on Fridays. DH has Friday's off and looks after DD while i'm off my 'bum'.

What I meant was that I was prepared to take on the full time roll in Canada if need be. The only reason I didn't here is that my firm were much more flexible re my working part time and at home to accommodate the tremendous change that came with having a child with special needs. From what i've been reading I doubt we'll have any of that in Canada and it has gone firmly on my 'con' list.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Sadly the issues that arise once a child on the spectrum grows up are pretty universal. It's like they think once they are 18 all their difficulties disappear. The UK isn't much better than Canada in that respect. So its important for us to try to set up a support system for her just in case. For now she is improving tremendously and her autism would be considered 'mild' (in fact she would probably be diagnosed with PDD-NOS if we lived in Canada as they won't use that diagnosis here). But as any of you know with kids, disabled or not, once they hit their teens you have no idea how they will turn out when they come out the other end :D

Life is a crap shoot ain't it?!

So, for those keeping tabs, i'd say we're 50:50 at the moment. As we want to time moving with the start of a school year we have another 8 months before we would apply for DH's residency stuff so lots of time to think, plan, change our minds etc.

BTW, Alberta winters can be dreary and 'ugly' but they're not much worse than the grey dreariness of a UK winter with daylight but no sunlight (this freaky year excluded). At least the sun shines in Edmonton (albeit for only a few hours given how far north they are!). And I do have a soft spot for the Prairie landscape, i think its stunning. However, Derbyshire wins on looks alone, I love it there.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

You mention moving for a new school year, so I assume that you are thinking of Sept time? If so, do be aware that you'll need to apply for your husband's PR asap if that's the case as it'll take 6 months or so to obtain.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

We thought it would take around 12 months, didn't know it could be done that fast. We can't move for another 18 months anyway as our daughter is currently doing some private therapy which has helped her a lot and I don't want to interrupt that.

The website said it could take 12 months for the spouse visa/residency papers and then we'd have 6 months to move. Thanks for letting me know it can be faster...will have to rethink when to apply then to make sure we can arrive just before September.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Ah, I see, sorry for misunderstanding - I thought you mean moving this Sept.

Takes around 6 months, if it's the CIC website you're looking at then don't forget the timelines are historical so often inaccurate (and if it's any other website then don't look at it, only use the official CIC one!). There is a timeline thread in the immigration section of the forum for spousal sponsorship that may be useful, some cases last year were even as quick as 2 or 3 months, but seems to be taking about 6 months at the mo.

And you won't have 6 months to move, you'll have 12 months from the date of medical in which to 'land' and activate your husband's PR. But he doesn't have to move at all, he can activate his visa then turn around on the next plane and come straight back to the UK if he wants!

HTH.

:)

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Wow, thank you so much, I didn't know any of that. So hypothetically, if we apply now, he gets his PR in September, we go out there on holiday in October for half term, he activates his PR, then we can come back and plan our move with ease because that's it, he can now live in Canada with us when we're ready? Or have I misunderstood? Do you live in Canada (if so you're up early/late!) or are you here in the UK?

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

Yes, hypothetically that would work just fine. Once he's got his visa, he has a year from the date of his medical to activate it (so for instance, if he had his medical at the end of this month he'd have until the end of March 2013 to fly over and 'land').

But once he's activated his visa and is a PR of Canada he doesn't have to stay there, he can move over any time - because he's married to a Canadian citizen he keeps his PR status up just by being with you. Normally a PR has to spend 2 years out of every 5 in Canada, but that requirement doesn't apply to spouses of citizens - see the Wiki article about Residency Obligations for more info. There is also a Wiki article about landing as a PR which may be useful.

And I'm in the UK, currently procrastinating as I can't face a day of wallpaper stripping which is what I should be doing! Awaiting my own PR, sadly not a spousal sponsorship case though, so nowhere near as quick as yours will be!

:)

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

You have just totally made my day! This means that we can hang around here while it still suits us and apply for jobs and move out there once one of us has found a job. As we only need around 4-6 weeks to plan the move this makes things so much easier and less stressful. Thank you so much!

And you know, wallpaper stripping can be quite therapeutic! Always reminds me of Jim Royle and his buddy doing that dance :D

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

The outlook for the Albertan economy is strong so that is good. The experience of many posters is that it is still very difficult to get a job while you are overseas unless you have some rare skills to offer. It seems rather strange telling this to a Canadian, but many Brits have much greater success by getting out here and meeting people - building up a network of contacts within their industry. It is worth getting your OH to read the job hunting articles in the wiki.

Re: Immigrating in late 40's to Alberta
 

i have the misfortune of half my mrs' family living there. I was there for two weeks in Oct...near killed me, but the west eddy mall was a few blocks away...and people say vancouver has no culture:thumbdown: