Hello my helpfull friends, i have used this site many times during my long prosess to get my visa and have found it really helpfull. Now i have just a few more questions to ask . I am emigrating from Scotland, UK to Guelph, Ont, Canada on March the 3rd. We have our visas, some where to stay, sorted out our own medical insurance, and have our finances in place. We have visited Canada 4 times in the last 5 years so we know what to expect with standard of living and the such like. I am a carpenter to trade and as far as i know work is booming for tradesmen so im happy on that count. But, what i need to know is, is there anything im missing? Just even little stuff i should have aranged or should organise before i leave? Just wondered if anyone could think of anything..... Cheers and thanks again for all your help.....

Stu the Joiner....

Ps. My time line for my visa was 18 months ( stressfull but worth it)

Make sure you wear something under your kilt. Could still be a bit chilly in early March.

Well if i just need to sort out a nice warm pair of pants for my new life im laughing!! At least my kilt will be dry, unlike in Scotland where its rains 24/7 ..........

get yourself a huge snow shovel cos guelph is in the "snow belt" and that's all you'll be doing for the winter months
is the joinery work just indoors? if not, it'd be worth considering south west BC where you can work outside most of the year

Another thing. If I were you I would'nt practice the bagpipes for a while. Just wait a couple of months before you piss the neighbours off.

You might want to check http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ for jobs.

Hi Stu. welcome to Canada I bet after a year you will move out west the weather alone is worth the move "lol". lots of the old country folk out this way.

:lecture:

Keep in touch you might a friend out here if you come

Thanks for all the advice given. I have now bought a pair of warm pants and a snow shovel so that i am ready for my move.

Just one more question. I am in the building trade here in rainy Scotland, i have been a carpenter for 9 years and a building site manager for 4 years. I am experienced in all forms of carpentry and site management. However i am finding it hard to locate building site jobs on the net, i have tryed all the usual sites like canjobs, workopolis and the canadian goverment sites. Even though i know for a fact that they are screaming out for trades men in Ontario. I am just wondering if Canada is like here in Scotland, building work is found through word of mouth on the street or in bars on a Friday afternoon's ???

Thanks again, any information will be sold on the the lowest bidder

Stu,

I have recently got my visa too and I am planning to land in Canada (Vancouver) at the end of March.

Have you managed to find any good sources of information on what you needed to do before you left?

I have found a couple of books that suggest getting work and credit references / setting up a bank account / organising somewhere to stay etc.

Have you managed to setup a bank account? I have not been able to find a high street bank that can do it. e.g. Barclays. Though I am going to try HSBC as I saw branches when I visited last.

Also, have you found any information about if you are supposed to tell the inland revenue that you are leaving the country? I cannot find anything that says that I should but was wondering if you had.

In regards to jobs on the internet I have not found many websites that have more than a handful of jobs, unlike the UK sites. I am in IT and the industry seems to be struggling across the whole world. I am hoping it will be easier when I get there.

Gook luck with your trip out and I hope all goes well.

Martyn

Aye aye martyn, so your doing the same as me and leaving the sinking ship that is the UK

On the info stuff you need to find out before leaving, i have struggled to get information. It got so bad that i set up my own little web site ( no offence Ex-Pats, but any information is good information). The site address is www.groups.msn.com/EmigrationTime . But all that aside i have got the majority of information from asking questions here.

We were in Canada June last year and went round all the banks and none would give us an account without our landing papers or a permanant address, so that is somthing we will have to sort out when we get there.

I was sorting out our paper work the other night and on old P45's i noticed it does say to inform them if your leaving the country ( mabey to give you a rebate, then again not likely).

I have seen on alot of sites that IT is struggling in Canada, but in saying that i know nothing about IT. As i only hit nails for a living the work side looks rosey for me ( i can sell you a cheep second hand hammer if things get tough).

Remeber to give me a wave when you fly over Toronto on your way to Vancouver in March, i might be drunk, homeless, jobless and my wife may have left me, but on the down side i might not be enjoying it

Stu the joiner ( soon to be a real Ex Pat )