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Moving to Canada!!
Hi all
My wife and I are thinking about beginning the process to emigrate to Canada, I work as an electrician in the UK and I'm a little dubious about using the company's that sort your visa for you. I've heard stories about people being scammed out of a lot of money when using these type of company. If anybody could give me any advice of the best way to proceed or there experiences in emigrating I would really appreciate it!!! :thumbup::huh: Thanks dan |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Just do it yourself..
Unless you have unusual circumstances ? |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
First thing to do is to establish your eligibility for a visa in the first place. Once you've done that, as Mike says, there's no reason why you can't manage the process yourself. Most people seem to do it themselves without too many difficulties.
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
I don't believe I have any unusual circumstances, I think I am eligible for a visa from a phone conversation this afternoon with a company as I mentioned above went through a point scoring system with me, but I'm unsure if he was just telling me what I wanted to hear to get my £1000 deposit for there services..... Possibly contacting the embassy in London is the right way to go??
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Yep, read the wiki articles to understand the various work streams, and understand what extra exams etc you will need to sit ot be able to work as an electrician in Canada (Red Seal comes to mind).
Unless you have particularly complicated circumstances like previous entry refusals, a criminal record, etc, it's highly unlikely you need an immigration lawyer. Between working through the forms yourself and asking questions on here, you SHOULD be able to sort it all out yourself - and if the people here answering you feel it's above the pay grade, then they will not hesitate to tell you that you'll need to speak to a lawyer to help you out. Good luck! ETA: Don't bother contacting the high commission in London (we don't have an Embassy in the UK - semantics!), they won't tell you anything. CIC's website and the wiki on this site should give you the info you need to at least get a start, then if you come back with specific questions you'll find tons of people who can answer questions. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Great thanks, I'll let you know if I have anymore questions I'm sure I will!! :-)
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11643180)
I'm unsure if he was just telling me what I wanted to hear to get my £1000 deposit for there services.....
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Would you need a job offer to acquire the necessary number of points to apply for a visa?
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
HI
Originally Posted by rivingtonpike
(Post 11643277)
Would you need a job offer to acquire the necessary number of points to apply for a visa?
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Hi, welcome to the forum.
The big advantage to doing the process yourself is, you won't feel like you've put your future in someone else's hands. You will need to source all your paper work yourself anyway, like educations docs, birth certs, employment history etc etc. First thing I would do is get a dedicated partitioned file box, and keep everything together. The paperwork will grow fast, lol. It's a pretty overwhelming process, so just do one thing at a time (where possible) and be prepared for a long slog. You also need to be mentaly prepared to burn lots of money, or at least thats how it feels sometimes. For us, it was an easy choice and have not regretted a single day here. For others it didn't work out, so you really need to do some soul searching, and think about all the things you will be leaving behind. Do you have a destination in mind? We have expats all over Canada, so you will get a great selection of opinions on here, good and bad. Dave. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
After a recy trip to Canada i was in London waiting for the evening 125 home to the north, i decided to visit the Canadian Consulate while i waited and i'm glad i did too, after lining up the woman i spoke to impressed on me the process is easy and what ever i do i should NOT use an agency as they a a bunch of thieves, The worst case i have come across was a family who expended $40,000 with a so called agency and ended up having to go back to the UK.
Since i arrived in 2005 obviously it's all changed but all i did was fill in about 6 pages of the Manitoba PNP application, send a certified cheque with it and get a medical and hey presto i was Permanant Resident ! I don't think it's quite that easy now even in MB where i did mine lol What this all means is try and do it yourself its not rocket science, It just the idea of doing it can be intimidating for some, There are people on here can give you lots of advice about doing it now with the new rules and guide you through it. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Novocastrian
(Post 11643264)
Of course he was. Wake up.
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Thanks for all the info, it is a little bit intimidating as in I don't really have a clue where to start hence why I got Intouch with an agency!! I know I need to do a red seal exam before I can think about applying for a job so I guess researching how to go about sitting the exam then start looking for a work place which is willing to employ a British electrician, I've read I would need to provide proof of 9000 hours work post apprenticeship which is easily done..... It's just small steps at the moment hopefully within the next 6-12 months I'll feel like I'm getting somewhere with it!!!
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Do you have a destination in mind? We have expats all over Canada, so you will get a great selection of opinions on here, good and bad.
Dave.[/QUOTE] We're thinking Calgary but would we're still researching for best schools and such things |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by sms1984
(Post 11644115)
It's easy to be drawn in, especially when you are completely inexperienced in immigration....which we all were at one point!
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11644202)
Thanks for all the info, it is a little bit intimidating as in I don't really have a clue where to start hence why I got Intouch with an agency!! I know I need to do a red seal exam before I can think about applying for a job so I guess researching how to go about sitting the exam then start looking for a work place which is willing to employ a British electrician, I've read I would need to provide proof of 9000 hours work post apprenticeship which is easily done..... It's just small steps at the moment hopefully within the next 6-12 months I'll feel like I'm getting somewhere with it!!!
PS you can't decide on a destination based on schools. Very low priority at this stage. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
As I said we're not set on a particular city as yet, I guess I'll have to see where work is commonly available and take it from there. We like the idea of extreme seasons.... Snow in the winter, warm in the summer.... But there are many things to consider!!
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Calgary is in the shitter at the moment too mate...look for a job first, then see if the location suits you!
You might like the idea of extreme seasons now...but when it's still white-out in April, it gets old REALLY quick...and I love winter! |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
It's not the extremity of winter, it's the length. 6 months of the year is winter. That hot summer is fleeting and the spring/autumn is mere weeks. Summer also means thundershowers and mozzies. The year is dominated by white, grey, and cold. Spring only emerges when you are internally expecting summer. You will not see greenery until May. You lose greenery in September.
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Lychee
(Post 11644384)
It's not the extremity of winter, it's the length. 6 months of the year is winter. That hot summer is fleeting and the spring/autumn is mere weeks. Summer also means thundershowers and mozzies. The year is dominated by white, grey, and cold. Spring only emerges when you are internally expecting summer. You will not see greenery until May. You lose greenery in September.
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Howefamily
(Post 11644843)
where do you lose greenery in September?
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by rivingtonpike
(Post 11644874)
You see it here on the island
We seem (so far in my 4 years here) to have decent weather in September and the trees slowly starts to turn red and yellow but we definately dont lose all the green grass etc. Its a beautiful, sunny and warm time of year. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
I think we are going to head over at the end of August for a week to try and get a feel of things, it seems like a daft question but would I need to complete my red seal exam before applying for jobs???..... A lot of varying opinions on the weather!! Another thing that appeals is the different lifestyle, surely has to be better than the UK!!! And a better environment/culture to bring kids up in
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11645070)
I think we are going to head over at the end of August for a week to try and get a feel of things, it seems like a daft question but would I need to complete my red seal exam before applying for jobs???..... A lot of varying opinions on the weather!! Another thing that appeals is the different lifestyle, surely has to be better than the UK!!! And a better environment/culture to bring kids up in
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Tirytory
(Post 11645129)
Different not better...that applies to any aspect of a move to Canada especially if moving from one first world country to another.
It's true. It will be a different lifestyle, not necessarily a better lifestyle, simply a different lifestyle. A different lifestyle in every sense, including things you take for granted, such as shopping or eating or going to bank or socialising. The collective knowledge (where to go for what, how you behave in which situation) will be different and you and your family will have to observe and learn this and adapt. The people are, frankly, different. It's not just the accent, it's the types of conversations, it's how they interact, it's their values, their interests, the music and movies and pop culture they grew up immersed in - all of that is different. They cannot relate to your English upbringing or your English cultural references or your desire for orange squash ("What is orange squash? A pumpkin?") or the need to consume Bisto gravy. The humour is different (sarcasm is not universal in Canada and is a surefire way to offend or confuse or both). The sports culture is different, the pub culture does not exist, but there are bars if you like cold lager, nachos, chicken wings and ice hockey, but that too is different. People eat differently, eat different types of foods, value different types of foods, and so supermarkets only stock those types of foods, and the restaurants only serve those types of foods. Ethnic cuisine is different because immigration settlement patterns are different and vary across the country. Say goodbye to your (English) curries. Say goodbye to lamb and English pub nosh. The cities and towns are built differently. There is no equivalent of an English village or the English definition of rural. Most cities and towns were built with the assumption that you will have a car to get around. Much of Canada's infrastructure is not built for pedestrians. People move around the places differently as a result. The infrastructure is different. Distances are vast, populations are small, so the conveniences of the UK don't typically exist in terms of quick, efficient, cheap, mail-order shopping or public transportation or flights. Trains are for freight, not for passengers. You will typically not see very much of Canada as a result, but will certainly see your immediate vicinity. Choosing that vicinity in Canada to live is therefore crucial. Schools are different, teachers and parents have different values from their peers in the UK, teach in a different style from teachers in the UK, teach different subjects at different ages than in the UK, stress less about academics at an early age, etc. It's not better, it's simply different. This is a stream of consciousness and surely a gross generalisation, but you simply must take off those rose coloured specs dreaming that Canada is somehow better. It is not better, but it is certainly different! If you're eager to give up your English lifestyle and values and eating habits, you may be very well happy in Canada. If you're hoping to live in Canada similarly to how you do in England, you may be very miserable. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Lychee
(Post 11645438)
:goodpost:
It's true. It will be a different lifestyle, not necessarily a better lifestyle, simply a different lifestyle. A different lifestyle in every sense, including things you take for granted, such as shopping or eating or going to bank or socialising. The collective knowledge (where to go for what, how you behave in which situation) will be different and you and your family will have to observe and learn this and adapt. The people are, frankly, different. It's not just the accent, it's the types of conversations, it's how they interact, it's their values, their interests, the music and movies and pop culture they grew up immersed in - all of that is different. They cannot relate to your English upbringing or your English cultural references or your desire for orange squash ("What is orange squash? A pumpkin?") or the need to consume Bisto gravy. The humour is different (sarcasm is not universal in Canada and is a surefire way to offend or confuse or both). The sports culture is different, the pub culture does not exist, but there are bars if you like cold lager, nachos, chicken wings and ice hockey, but that too is different. People eat differently, eat different types of foods, value different types of foods, and so supermarkets only stock those types of foods, and the restaurants only serve those types of foods. Ethnic cuisine is different because immigration settlement patterns are different and vary across the country. Say goodbye to your (English) curries. Say goodbye to lamb and English pub nosh. The cities and towns are built differently. There is no equivalent of an English village or the English definition of rural. Most cities and towns were built with the assumption that you will have a car to get around. Much of Canada's infrastructure is not built for pedestrians. People move around the places differently as a result. The infrastructure is different. Distances are vast, populations are small, so the conveniences of the UK don't typically exist in terms of quick, efficient, cheap, mail-order shopping or public transportation or flights. Trains are for freight, not for passengers. You will typically not see very much of Canada as a result, but will certainly see your immediate vicinity. Choosing that vicinity in Canada to live is therefore crucial. Schools are different, teachers and parents have different values from their peers in the UK, teach in a different style from teachers in the UK, teach different subjects at different ages than in the UK, stress less about academics at an early age, etc. It's not better, it's simply different. This is a stream of consciousness and surely a gross generalisation, but you simply must take off those rose coloured specs dreaming that Canada is somehow better. It is not better, but it is certainly different! If you're eager to give up your English lifestyle and values and eating habits, you may be very well happy in Canada. If you're hoping to live in Canada similarly to how you do in England, you may be very miserable. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11645070)
I think we are going to head over at the end of August for a week to try and get a feel of things, it seems like a daft question but would I need to complete my red seal exam before applying for jobs???..... A lot of varying opinions on the weather!! Another thing that appeals is the different lifestyle, surely has to be better than the UK!!! And a better environment/culture to bring kids up in
I Visited in Aug 2004 and heard enough about the winters here to come back in Feb 2005 before i made the decision to move here. I know of one couple where the wife followed her husband out here once he was settled etc, He got a place in the boonies outside of Winnipeg, she arrived in the new year and was so shocked by the frozen tundra look and the cold she literally cried all the way to the house. Not sure if they are still here but i doubt it, You don't want to be in that situation for the sake of a second flight here in February time. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Lychee
(Post 11645438)
:goodpost:
It's true. It will be a different lifestyle, not necessarily a better lifestyle, simply a different lifestyle. A different lifestyle in every sense, including things you take for granted, such as shopping or eating or going to bank or socialising. The collective knowledge (where to go for what, how you behave in which situation) will be different and you and your family will have to observe and learn this and adapt. The people are, frankly, different. It's not just the accent, it's the types of conversations, it's how they interact, it's their values, their interests, the music and movies and pop culture they grew up immersed in - all of that is different. They cannot relate to your English upbringing or your English cultural references or your desire for orange squash ("What is orange squash? A pumpkin?") or the need to consume Bisto gravy. The humour is different (sarcasm is not universal in Canada and is a surefire way to offend or confuse or both). The sports culture is different, the pub culture does not exist, but there are bars if you like cold lager, nachos, chicken wings and ice hockey, but that too is different. People eat differently, eat different types of foods, value different types of foods, and so supermarkets only stock those types of foods, and the restaurants only serve those types of foods. Ethnic cuisine is different because immigration settlement patterns are different and vary across the country. Say goodbye to your (English) curries. Say goodbye to lamb and English pub nosh. The cities and towns are built differently. There is no equivalent of an English village or the English definition of rural. Most cities and towns were built with the assumption that you will have a car to get around. Much of Canada's infrastructure is not built for pedestrians. People move around the places differently as a result. The infrastructure is different. Distances are vast, populations are small, so the conveniences of the UK don't typically exist in terms of quick, efficient, cheap, mail-order shopping or public transportation or flights. Trains are for freight, not for passengers. You will typically not see very much of Canada as a result, but will certainly see your immediate vicinity. Choosing that vicinity in Canada to live is therefore crucial. Schools are different, teachers and parents have different values from their peers in the UK, teach in a different style from teachers in the UK, teach different subjects at different ages than in the UK, stress less about academics at an early age, etc. It's not better, it's simply different. This is a stream of consciousness and surely a gross generalisation, but you simply must take off those rose coloured specs dreaming that Canada is somehow better. It is not better, but it is certainly different! If you're eager to give up your English lifestyle and values and eating habits, you may be very well happy in Canada. If you're hoping to live in Canada similarly to how you do in England, you may be very miserable. So very true! |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Howefamily
(Post 11644843)
where do you lose greenery in September?
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Piff Poff
(Post 11646531)
The trees start turning during the last week of August, 1st week Sept, it's very sad.
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Howefamily
(Post 11646788)
Is it still nice and warm though?
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by itsasmallworld
(Post 11645749)
Well put. I really like this post.
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11645070)
Another thing that appeals is the different lifestyle, surely has to be better than the UK!!! And a better environment/culture to bring kids up in
If you love Canada, or fancy an adventure, then go for it, but best not to move because you think Canada will somehow be free of any negatives you feel about the UK. Good luck with it. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Howefamily
(Post 11646788)
Is it still nice and warm though?
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by christmasoompa
(Post 11646925)
+1.
Out of interest, why do you think it has to be better than the UK and a better culture to bring kids up in? I liked Canada, but it didn't offer us or our children anything that the UK can't, and it's a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to move to a nicer part of the UK than to move across an ocean! If you love Canada, or fancy an adventure, then go for it, but best not to move because you think Canada will somehow be free of any negatives you feel about the UK. Good luck with it. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Piff Poff
(Post 11647112)
It's a bit like it is now, warm warm sunshine but the air starts to get a bit of a nip to it, certainly by mid September you are wondering whether a jacket is required as the norm.
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11645070)
Another thing that appeals is the different lifestyle, surely has to be better than the UK!!! And a better environment/culture to bring kids up in Others have mentioned "it's not better, just different". That response is used a lot to that question. Well some people's 'different', may well end up being 'better'! So give it a go mate. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Do the application process yourself as its cheaper and unless there is something complicated having a lawyer doesn't make it go any faster.
So I love living here, but honestly speaking I think as far as education, culture is concerned, the British are more aware of what's going on around the world. Canadians are a little isolated from the world. The summers are lovely here ( I live in Ontario) but the winters are long and harsh. There is a better standard of living in the sense that your money will go further, your house will be bigger, but I personally feel that the quality of food is better in the UK and in general good food is cheaper in the UK. This is just my personal opinion and again I live in Ontario. If you are an electrician you may need to take some training so you can work here but i would advise you to start your own business...self-employment is really the way to go. This way you can offset a lot of your expenses. Anyway good luck whatever you decide to do. p.s if you really really want to use a lawyer, I can give you the name of mine - Abrams & Krochak- no scamming involved and I am not related to them and I get no money for mentioning them. But honestly, if I could do it all over again, I would just do it myself and save my money. Good Luck. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Did any of you guys have to take an English language test??? If so which type did you book??
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Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by Danraven
(Post 11648619)
Did any of you guys have to take an English language test??? If so which type did you book??
Most choose the IELTS or the CELPIP. Language testing—Skilled immigrants (Express Entry) |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
I took IELTS. It was pretty easy, I can't imagine anyone who has been born/brought up in UK finding it hard but its good to practice just to understand how they go about it and ensuring your brain is in the right gear, especially if you have been out of school/college for a while.
You may be able to find some sample tests to practice on in the library or on the internet- just google IELTS. Unfortunately I can't remember what's on the test as I took it over 7 years ago else I'd just share. Good luck. |
Re: Moving to Canada!!
Originally Posted by sammymoko
(Post 11649166)
I took IELTS. It was pretty easy, I can't imagine anyone whose been born/brought up in UK finding it hard but its good to practice just to understand how they go about it and ensuring your brain is in the right gear, especially if you have been out of school/college for a while.
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