We finally got our PR visa after nearly 3 years and so much has changed since we first applied. We were 2, but now we are 3 approaching 4 and we live in the UK now not Dubai as we did. We have family surrounding us now where as we didnt in the Middle East! Our son loves nanny and grandad!

We have to activate our visa by April 8th or put our canadian dream to bed forever. We have never been to Canada, but have travelled just about every where else and for some reason I cant seem to get excited about it all.

I apologise to all those who are going through the application process now, I feel a little guilty to have this opportunity and to be considering not taking it.

We are not happy in the UK, merely existing and that isnt enough. So why am I feeling like this? I dont know!!

I have a 2 year old and a 4 month pregnant wife. My Wife is slightly more positive than me, but she would be more positive if it wasnt for my pessimism.

I have researched this whole process endlessly, which may be half the problem as it has been so long since we decided on this

Any positive reinforcement from forum goers would be appreciated, especially in spelling out what benefits my kids may have from a move to Canada.
Cheers

That's a hard one and I can understand your nerves. At the end of the day though, you're not happy in the UK and if you don't think that's going to change you should really consider doing something about it.

I read only earlier on in another thread that the reason a family are moving to Canada is so that their children can be free. That really struck home for me.

I have family in Canada and my Grandma visits often and stays for weeks on end. My relative in Canada has a closer relationship with her than I do in the UK because instead of the odd 2 hour coffee and catch up that we have, they have weeks of quality time together. So I often think that although distance is hard it can actually mean a closer relationship sometimes.

Can you manage to give Canada a go and then if after a few years, it's really not for you decide to move back? Things don't have to be forever.

Personally, I'd say go for it! It's a wonderful opportunity and see it as an adventure and another chapter of your life.

What do you do?
What are your job prospects in Canada?
Will the income you have sustain your family?
Where do (did) you plan to go?

Those are the key questions. Happily employed immigant = Happy families and all that. Everything else can fall in place. Except not having family nearby. There is, alas no fixing that, rather it's something you come to terms with or don't.

Could you come on a research trip for a couple of weeks and activate your visas which would then give you a good insight Ono possible areas and delay your decision for a couple of years if need be!
We did just that, landed in 2003 and came back for good in 2005!
We had two girls out here and hand on heart we can give them a much better life out here! Plus I can stay home with them!!!hugely important to me!
Good luck with your decision!
X

I think Lucy Lovelock has got the right answer. You are feeling unsure of what to do and need more time, I would land and then have some more time to think. It would be a shame to put these plans to bed forever.
BTW I am not surprised you feel this way quite frankly, your lives have changed considerably and you havent been to Canada so you have nothing more concrete to even look forward to.

Best of luck whatever you decide

I agree with the above in that you should at least come and activate your visas and do a bit of a recce. That at least will then give you two years to make up your minds about what to do. Its something you might want to do sooner than later too if your wife is already 4 months pregnant as, come April, flying might not be such a good idea (I forget the recommendations now about not flying after a certain stage within pregnancy).

Most suggest not flying after 36 weeks. Emirate Airlines are now finding out to their surprise how much its costing them to have a flight diverted to Canada and subsequent birth.

I definitely agree with the above. If you don't take the opportunity will you live to regret it in 5-10 years when it's too late?

Our PR lasts for 5 years, and to keep it going we need to be actually in Canada for 2 of those years. Assuming yours is the same then I'd fly over to activate it (probably as soon as possible as airlines may refuse to fly your pregnant wife at a certain point - no kids so don't know what the time would be). Once you've done that you have 2 - 3 years to really think about it. Even if you eventually decide not to move and forgo the PR, at least you'll not have been rushed into a decision.

Good luck - K

Without kids, going without doing a recce trip first is something that's totally feasible. My wife and I moved to Toronto without a recce trip (although we had visited Canada prior to that as tourists).

With kids, you have to seriously consider a recce trip. Whether you need to do one or not depends on several factors including the ages of your kids and your own comfort level. We moved from the UK to Maryland with 3 kids without doing a recce trip. However, our kids were 4yo, 3yo and 10 months old at the time - young enough to adapt very quickly. Your kids will also be young enough to adapt.

You might not be happy with your current situation but moving to Canada away from friends and family is a big move. I wouldn't trivialize it at all - it's a big, expensive move. You both have to be very positive and very determined to make it work otherwise you'll be done in by the first, inevitable bumps in the road.

So my advice would be to seriously consider whether you can improve your situation in the UK before just rushing off to another country you've never been to before. Make sure it's really the UK you're unhappy with and not just your current situation. After that, a recce trip is a good idea if you're still not sure, positive and determined about the move.

Come on a holiday to activate your visa's, do a bit of skiing and maybe load up on maple syrup and salmon jerky while you are here. Then go back to the UK and forget about the whole thing.

Activate your visas, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Good luck with whatever decision you finally choose.

Poppit

Hi, i notice your a yam yam!!so am i !! we are from Walsall and moved to Winnipeg in July last year, i was also pregnant when my husband announced he had applied for a job here and i agreed we should give it a go if he got the job which was originally for Calgary, he got the job and they said it was for winnipeg, despite all the negative comments about winnipeg we moved when my son was 3 mths, i also have a 2 yr almost 3 yr old son, my son was also very close to his nanny and im very close to my mom also but we decided its now or never lets try it out...im so glad we did, its amazing here for the kids.i wrote in the canniversary section under winnipeg, check it out.. i have had nothing but positive things to say about canada so far, despite the fact its minus 24 outside right now we have embraced winter with iceskating, my 2 year old can almost skate on ice, tobogganing and there are kids clubs galore here so many sports opportunities and fun things to do for kids of all ages, try it out, yes its tough when you miss your family and your wife has to be willling to get out and meet other moms else its very lonley but i dont regret it im not saying we'll stay forever but i definately think you should give it a go, for the kids sake too!!

Or everything to lose if it doesn't work out.

I am a Construction Manager, so my reasearch indicates that my services may be sought after. My initial conversations with Large contractors seem positive, but as many have said before me I need to be on the ground in Canada for them to take me seriously.

I didn't say move 'lock stock and barrel'; I simply said 'active your visas'.

The previous comment suggested coming for a holiday and activating their visas; this would at least give them an opportunity to see what Canada is like. Maybe, following a visit they will have more information and be able to make an informed choice.

Poppit.