Hello everyone,
What a great site - I've been reading all the discussions over the last few months and thought it was time I introduced myself and my family.
There is me, my OH and our daughter, who is 12 going on 21!
We applied for PR in February 2008 and expected the process to take 4-5 years!. We were therefore a little surprised when we got PR in June this year!!
Had alot of ups and downs in the last year and a half, at one point didn't think we'd make it this far, as during the PR medical doctor found a lump in my breast. Fortunately turn out to only be a cyst and nothing to worry about.
We are looking to move to Alberta probably Calgary or Edmonton, but this is only based on web research.
Planning a recci trip in August this year. Any suggestion re places to see/things to do and places to stay would be very welcome.

Hiya,
Welcome to the Forum - its great and has been very helpful to me so far..
If you are looking at Calgary area then i would def suggest getting in touch with a member of this forum called Getting there....he is the best when trying to find out info etc on Calgary and has helped me immencely through this forum and email!
Linz

PS - Eamonn and Jan (Getting there) have their own website called www.yournewlife.ca, you should have a look

Hope this helps

Hi Smithie

Wow, that was quick!!! Have you arranged employment for you or your other half? I haven't started application yet so am cheekily trying to find out how others have managed it!

I think it depends what you are looking for. I'm going to nick ideas from another thread here and suggest you make a list of what type of living you are looking for and then use that to help you find somewhere suitable.

Hi Smithie,

Welcome to the forum. Moreover, many congratulations on getting your visas! We had our own traumas around the medicals and had similar doubts on getting here at that point...but we made it!

linz3112 has been ever so kind in her words about us......and if you want to use the link she gave you, you will quickly find an email address for us and we would happily do what we can to assist with a recce in these parts. We can also connect you with people that we have helped who settled in Edmonton, so they could give you some good pointers for up that way too.

Kind regards,

Eamonn & Janet.

Hello Linz3112
Thanks for the recommendation and Welcome. Are you looking to move to Calgary area too?

Hello Beck77
No OH hasn't yet got a job - I think this is where the challenge really starts! - OH had enough points and his job was in demand so we were really lucky. Hoping to arrange some contacts and start networking for jobs when we come across on our recci.
What is stopping you applying? (hope you don't mind me asking)

Getting There
Thanks for the welcome - I am just about to go on your website to check it out - will be in touch shortly!

Smithie - what does your husband do?

Hi Smithie

I'm off to an expo in Sept to have final ques answered (hopefully) then OH and I are making a pro and con list. He's a bit of a worrier and is very careful and he wants to make sure it's the right move for us and the lifestyle we want. Neither of our jobs are on the 38 in demand list so we would have to find work before we could move. I'm super jealous that things have moved so quick for you but happy for you too.

I never mind anyone asking me anything!!!

We'll look out for your email.

Eamonn & Janet.

Brownstar
Hubby is currently Maintenance Manager at large Hospital, previously Project Manager and Operational Manager in Water Industry. Has also worked offshore on oil platforms.
If I read your timeline right you should get your PR soon - it took us 1 month from submittal of passports - hope you get it soon.

Beck77
We went to the Expro last year - from reading other peoples comments on this site I thought they had cancelled/changed the last one in June and were no longer having employers there. Could be wrong maybe someone else can clarify for you.
Believe they are still doing it as a lifestyle event if it's anything like the one we went to it can get very crowded! be warned and take sandwiches!

hang on you got a PR with no job arranged in less han a year! flippin eck! well done.

bit concerned you say they found a lump in your breast, do they do a physical (what i call a squeesy) exam of you then? when we were planning on OZ a couple of years ago i had the medical there and they didnt touch my lady bits at all.
could you clarify so i know what to expect? thanks.
tj

Hi Smithie, just wanted to say congrats.

You'll have to tell us your secret in getting sorted so quick. We also live in Bracknell so it cant be just down to where you live lol

We started our app in 07 and have sent in the paperwork for review in middle of august, so hopefully looking at PR towards the end of the year.

Ellejay

Hi Smithie,
Your story is great to read. We're applying in August this year and have been told that we could have PR in less than a year as my OH is on 'the list of 38'. We won't be leaving without employment but employment will be made easier as we'll already have PR.
It's great that you're going on a reccie trip as we did one at Christmas to see the Winter and we're narrowing down the area next Summer. I wish we could just up sticks and go but realise that the preparation is so important.

Let us know how it goes. Love to hear people's stories.

TJ
Yes they do check your squeezy bits!!, take your weight, height, blood pressure, blood test, urine sample and chest x ray. Doesn't take long but costs alot!! I think we paid about £500.00 for the 3 of us (2 adults 1 child).

Ellejay
We went to the doctor's in Slough - He was great. When it comes time for your medical (which shouldn't be long) I would really recommend him. He even joked that everyone was leaving Bracknell as he'd had so many people book in for medicals from Bracknell!!. Why would anyone want to leave here?!!!
Where are you looking to go to in Canada?.


Beckybev
We are the same position ideally would like to have a job before we go, may even end up sending OH out first to hopefully start a job and get everything sorted before we all move out. Preparation is important -just very boring!. Hope everything goes well for you

All SW applications take 6-12 months now, so it's not unusual at all! The system was completely changed as of Feb 2008, any applications received since then have been processed under the new rules and new timescales, so in a year or less.

[QUOTEBeckybev
We are the same position ideally would like to have a job before we go, may even end up sending OH out first to hopefully start a job and get everything sorted before we all move out. Preparation is important -just very boring!. Hope everything goes well for you[/QUOTE]

If we get the visa before next summer, we'll officially 'land' next summer when doing our second reccie (hopefully taking in some interviews). We'll then have 3 years to sell the house and tie up all the loose ends. If OH gets a job before we sell the house, he'll go over first.

Looking at all the success stories on here helps with the frustration of all the preparation. We're busy chasing up work contracts, job descriptions, P60s etc. to prove we deserve the points. Thanks for your good wishes, good luck to you guys