Hi

Me and my family are just starting to think about starting a new life abroad, its something my husband has wanted to do for a few years but I've only just started to thing seriously about it.

I want to get a few opinions really, firstly are we best to go through an agent to do all the paperwork or are we best to do it ourselves and secondly the main aim of the move is to get a better life for us and our two young children, so is it really a better life and if so in what way.

Thanks

HI JLB. Welcome to the forum. My family and I are still hoping to move to Canada one day, having applied for PR two years ago.
Hope all goes well for you and your family.

Hi JLB

You're in a situation we were in a few years back.

We didn't use an agent, did it all on our own and it worked out. In fact we finalised our PR last weekend.

I know if you start the process now it may take a few years according to CIC's website but you may consider coming over on a work permit if either you or your husband qualify. Then you may well be able to apply for Permanent Residency from here.

I never used an agent so can give advice or pass judgement, but all avenues need to be explored.

But whatever you decide, it's been good for my family, so good luck in your adventures.

Hi JLB

My husband and I are hoping to move to Calgary. The only way we are going to do it if Neil gets a job first and the company will do all the Visa stuff for us.

Welcome to British Expats you will find it helpful have a look at the Wiki section and have fun reseaching your new life.

Good Luck and keep in touch with us all.

Hello, JLB, and welcome to the BE forum.

I see you've posted similar questions on the Australia and New Zealand forums. Since you apparently haven't decided on a destination, you may find it helpful to read the Wiki article called Canada versus Australia. That article doesn't discuss New Zealand, but of course NZ is in the same hemisphere as Australia, so shares some elements in common with it.

When it comes to immigration consultants (at least insofar as Canada is concerned), I recommend the Wiki article called Immigration Consultants-Canada.

As long as Canada remains on your short list, I recommend that you go to the main Wiki page for Canada, and read the three "must read" articles to which there are links near the top of the screen.

I'm not from the UK, so cannot provide you with a comparison between the UK and any of the countries in which you're interested.

But I hope the above helps all the same.
x

Hi

Yeah I think that might be a better option getting a job first.

Hope you get your new life in Calgary and I'll prob be asking lots more questions in the future.

Hello and welcome to BE

The PNP routes and the job offer are definitely the quickest ways to get to Canada but if you do apply via the skilled worker route, it's not that bad to do the forms - there's just LOTS of information needed

That said, we decided to go with an agent for ours to just take some of the hassle out of it for us and also to have someone else to bounce things off during the process.

Now that we're about to land, our agents have been invaluable in helping sort our PRs with addresses etc., so from that angle, I'd recommend them. PM me if you want me to put you touch with them.

Good luck with your decision and hope all works out for you.

Andrea (& Tom)

Hello JLB!

Welcome and hope you decide which country you want to get to!!

As for Canada, I'm sure you'll find all the info you need on the WIKI articles.

Can't help on the immigration process as I'm a Canadian living in the UK, and moving back (to Vancouver) later this year.

There appears to be fors and againsts for using an agent. But which ever you choose, all the best of luck!

Bx

That is really very subjective and depends on what you are coming from, what you are going to and your expectations. It is likely different for everyone on here. A visit will help get an impression of the country. There are those on this site going back to the UK as it did not work for them and those, like us that would never even consider going back.

Canada is a great place and we have done well by it. Our expectation was opportunity, which it has if you are prepared to take a risk and go after it, pleasant location, which it has many, comparable standards of living to what we were used to, which it has, as does Australia, NZ the US and many other countries. Our only motivation to move was to experience something different, there was nothing particularly wrong with Britain as far as we were concerned.

Wherever one moves to, it is unlikely to be up sticks and carry on as before in a new country. It takes time and effort to settle in and create a new life as well as a burning desire to make it work. It took us 3 years before it felt like home and more like 10 before we felt like fixtures ans this is where we belonged.

hi and welcome - have a look on here too ,,

http://www.expo-canada.com/?gclid=CI...FQEhQgod5DowDw

may be of help