I've been reading your stories here for the past few days, and they're mostly positive and very moving. It's wonderful that so many of you (mainly Brits) were able to fulfill your goals and make dreams come true, in Calgary, Florida or Auckland. I'm moving to Canada, from Portugal, in a few weeks time, and a lot of the information I found here was very helpful. I suppose things are different if you're a British or EU citizen. I don't want to depress you, but check the horror stories people from other nationalities tell when they decide to move to Canada (waiting times to process applications, xenophobia, being terrified at the sight of immigration officers - even if you've done nothing wrong - etc) in this other forum: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-imm...oard/index.php

It took me around four years to have my aplication processed, through the Canadian Embassy in Paris, which deals with the immigration process from most European and North African countries - I belive the waiting time for UK citizens, going through the Canadian High Commission in London, is considerably shorter.

Things I found somehow funny reading your messages: Brits look at themselves as "expats", while most of us non-Brits use the word "immigrants". Number two: you carry your entire houses in containers to the other side of the world I honnestly never thought about that. Not sure I could afford to, or willing to. But it's good to know that it is possible, and some people actually do it.

Now that I'm moving away from old Europe (an Australian friend told me that I was crazy, all she ever wanted was to be able to live in Europe "for ever", surrounde by "culture, beauty, wealth, cosmopolitism, history, and you're leaving all that?!"), I honnestly feel quite depressed, and even terrified in a way. You never know how will things work out; if you'll be able to find a suitable job, leave family behind, start your life from the beginning, in my thirties already. Its really not the experience I was looking for when I decided to take this step years ago.

I wasn't able to settle all my affairs here at home yet, and once I land in Toronto in a few weeks time (my visa will expire in late November), I'll have to come back to Lisbon for a month or two. I was wondering if I realy have to wait for the PR card to re-renter Canada, and if my absence from the country so soon will create me any problems with immigration officers. I would be glad for any suggestions regarding this matter.

Wish you guys all the best.

Miguel