Last Minute Nerves
 

Hello everyone,

I currently live in the North West of England with my wife and two children (8 & 6) and have been planning moving to Canada for 6 years. I have secured a job in Newmarket Ontario starting early April.

The pay is starts at $40K progressing through to $90K after 6 years or so. I am starting to get very nervous for a couple of reasons. My house in England still remains unsold although it has only been on the market for three months. My estate agent has told me not to worry as it's in a nice area, reasonably priced and ready to walk into. I can afford the mortgage for approximately 9-12 months before things would get hairy!

I would come to Canada with approximately $27K and then another $160K-$170K when the house sells.

So why am I getting last minute nerves. We have friends in Newmarket, Markham and Toronto but still nervous about moving. I guess it's make your mind up time.

Any advice would really calm me down.

Cato1669

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

It's perfectly understandable to be nervous about such a move. It is a mammoth undertaking to move lock, stock and barrel such a distance. You are fortunate to have support from friends here who will help get you and your family through this. While you may have visited Canada/Ontario before, no vacation mirrors the experience of living everyday life. It will most likely take some time to settle in and understand the lay of the land. The one thing that seems to disturb many new immigrants is the absence of family, but today with cheap overseas phoning and Skype, it's much easier to keep in touch.

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

yeah i know the feeling. just got PPR and hoping to send off next week. going to try and land in May. we dont have jobs to go to, no accommodation organised, no family, a few very distant friends there. not much funds either. there i bet that made you feel better

liz.

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Hi Cato1669
We also currently live in the North West. We also have friends in Newmarket and know it pretty well these days. Coincidence eh? :p
I totally understand why you're nervous. You're giving up everything you know and are moving to the unknown. You can't even prepare for how you'll feel about it once you get there, as you don't know yet :eek:
We're in the same boat as you, house hasn't sold yet, nervous about the move but there's no way I'm going to let that stop me.
Maybe we could meet up in the summer and swap our immigration stories over beers.
Let me know how it goes!!
Becky

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Hi Cato1669
Just to say two of my children were born in Newmarket, Ontario so it holds as a special place for me. I lived in a place called Alliston, about 40 mins away. We lived in total about 8 years there and another 8 years in TO, that was some 14 years ago as we are now living back in Cornwall UK. I have to say I am very torn. Canada has a great deal to offer with reasonable salaries and lots to explore! I have been back in Canada a few times since and there have been many changes in growth. Just to be sure that you are making the right decision can you not rent your house in the UK and perhaps rent for a while in Newmarket. This may be a safe haven, so that you can be sure about where you choose to be. Moving with a family is a big decision, but such an experience. My children have grown up now and I do think of moving back, perhaps to a different Province. Good Luck with whatever decision you make!

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Having last minute nerves shows that you're human.

Prepare for everything as best you can and hope for a little luck along the way. By securing a job, you've done one of the hardest parts!

Good luck to you, I wish you all the best :)

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

well, we are flying to Toronto next Friday, Landed last year, but this time its a one way ticket for us. I can tell you now that I know exactly how you feel. we also have 2 very good friends in Toronto that we can rely on 100%, we found an employer that wants to see my husband as soon as we are in Toronto, we have savings that will keep us going for good few months, maby even a year if we are carefull. Yet, as you say the feelings are just taking over, we feel scared, anxious and constantly keep asking ourselves if we are doing a wright thing, although the living room is full of packed boxes that are just waiting for collection... I gues it is just a natural feeling, not to be scared of... and perhaps it just proves that we are responsible and care for our future

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

We're all a bit nervous of the unknown. From a personal perspective, I think I would always have felt incomplete if I hadn't given it a chance. So many people won't even have the opportunity to make the decision to try Canada as somewhere to live. It's almost a privelidge to be given the choice. Whatever happens, it will be an experience you'll keep for the rest of your lives - and for most, it works out fine.

Good luck! and enjoy!

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Well, Good Luck! sounds like you have done most things very sensibly.
The absolute essential is that you have a JOB- so many posts here are from people coming out with no job to go to, to me that is very risky.
There are thousands of well qualified Canadians who cannot find work.

Nerves are normal as this is a pretty big event and you are not going 'home' after two weeks anymore. I would use your Canadian friends' support as much as you can and be prepared for some tough days once the novelty wears off. Actually emailing and Skype are great helps with this and also
try and get a minimum three years under your belt here and then you will likely be settled. best of luck!

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Hi

I made the decision to move to work in Toronto in October having never been here before and just spent 3 weeks checking out the job and area (although living in Oakville). I staretd my new job (although it was an intercompnay transfer) in December. The family are moving out in February and we have signed a 12 month lease on a house in Oakville. We too are from the North West, a little town called Congleton in Cheshire. We are also struggling to sell our house but it has only been on the market for 3 months and we have it 25k less than it should be sold for. The housing market in the UK is pretty poor at the moment. We have only had one viewing in the 3 months. It is a lovely 4 bed detached but noone seems to be buyinig at the moment. If we dont have any offers by the time the family move in Feb we will look to rent as this will cover the mortgage payment. Also keep it up for sale at the same time although having sitting tenants will make it more difficult to sell.

I really love Canada, especially Oakville and Toronto. Almost everyone is really welcoming and helpful and the level of service you receive from staff in the shops and restaurants is far better than the usual surly attitude of those in the UK.

I have only been here 6 weeks (I was back in UK for Christmas) and i have got my Social Insurance Number (15 minutes), bank account (1 hour), canadian driving licence (1 hour), leased a car (this was more difficult as most places do not take your UK credit history in to account but Ford sorted me out in the end after being turned down by Nissan and VW), car insurance (I used Johnsons as they took my UK experience into account - you need letter from insurance company with no claims record and summary of driving record from DVLA. This costs 5 pounds from DVLA. Although insurance on a new Ford Escape is $1900 per year, others were quoting $4000 per year so beware of the cost of car insurance in Ontario). I will be getting my health card this weekend and will be applying for PR in the next few weeks.

Forget to say we have 3 children (16, 9 , 3 - the third being an OOPS!).

If you need any further advice/help/assitance then send me a message and i will reply. i know how daunting it can all seem but I think it is worthwhile.

There is snow everywhere at the moment and about -10C in Toronto.

Good luck:fingerscrossed:

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Its natural to have last minute nerves, it's a big step and change that you are taking. You will feel much happier when your house in UK sells - we had the same scenario when we first came over. My OH had to remain in the UK to finalise the sale, and I came with my two young daughters...everything will work out, it usually does. Good Luck and enjoy your new life in Canada :)

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Hi Becky,

You say coincidence! I have just noticed where you're from. We're in Thornton Cleveleys! Spooky! Definately a beer required. Let us know.

Cato1669

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Oh wow, we're actually in Preesall, over Wyre but that's probably just as far going in the other direction. We should go for that beer both before and afterwards so that we can compare stories!!!
It's a pretty intense roller coaster of emotions. I freak out about it on a fairly regular basis but I know we'll be fine because we've done our homework. It's great to know that we're not the only ones in the area going through the same thing.
Becky

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Re: the OP - it's got to be natural, it's the "what if" factor you wouldn't be human if you didn't have nerves. You sound like you've been really sensible about it and thought everything through, but it's only natural to have concerns at the back of your mind about things that you might not have covered (I'm like this with my job - you can never completely remove risk). These will probably only be settled once you are out there.

I'm a dual national looking to go out to Canada at the back end of the year, after recce'ing in April. I'm going out as my industry is really suffering in the UK and I don't fancy starting from scratch and feel like I can take my chances (I have no real ties here). I know worst case scenario is I end up treating it like the gap year, I never had in my teens, if I can't pick up any work and all I get from it is the experience (at a cost). Best case scenario I can pick up a job (I know there are gaps in my industry out there in several provinces) and hopefully settle out there. I don't know anybody out there and haven't lived by myself at any point so am nervous as hell but it's either that or stay here and wait to lose my job.

Good luck and hopefully it all goes well :thumbsup:

Re: Last Minute Nerves
 

Hey best of luck with everything, its a big thing to do and totally get your last minute nerves!! but it will all come together in the end!!:)
It is something I'm doing in August this year with my family. We are moving to Saskatchewan still not sold our house here in the UK, hoping to have it all wrapped up by Easter!!:)
All the best to you and your family on your new life in Canada :)