Hi guys,
Thought it was about time I shared our arrival with you....

Bio Mum withdrew her objection during the final Court case on the 18th August, and we were given Custody of all three children and the Right To Leave the Jurisdiction.

To say that this was a relief is the understatement of the year.

Our flight to Canada on the 24th August was not a good flight, (Walker05 and cat were on the same flight).

We arrived to check in at 10.30am, our flight left at 1pm, we taxied out, only to sit on the runway for two hours whilst they fixed a problem with the plane. Finally took off at 3pm, but then developed another problem, we needed to go back to Manchester but could not as we had a transatlantic fuel load.

We flew around the North West of England for three and a half, with the pilot giving us a guided tour, Blackpool Tower on your right, Welsh Coast, Peak District, and we circled the Isle of Man about sixty times, well six actually but it felt like sixty......

We landed back at Manchester at 6.30pm, we had been fed and watered on the flight but were given £10 each to spend on food and drink. We were then informed that they would update us at 9pm, this was to tell us whether we were flying that night or not. At 9pm they said they would update us at 11pm, at 10pm they called us for our flight.

We took off at 11pm, the flight went smoothly and we landed in Toronto at 2am Canadian time, so 7am UK time. We had to collect our bags and then do the Immigration bit.... Which for us was me getting my Open Work Permit and the children were given a Visitor Record that enables them to go to school, this did not cost anything. Chris my husband has been here six months so already had his Work Permit.

We were all done in 15 minutes flat, then finally we were off into Canada.

Chris had surprised the children by booking a limo to take us to Bolton, you should have seen their faces, we had been on the go for 24 hours, but they were so excited, heads turning every which way as we drove home at 3.30am. I mentioned that we would not have any milk at home, Chris had given a key to the neighbour, just in case their were any problems.

We arrived at the house, by now 4am, unloaded three million bags out of the limo, and approached our new home. The front door had a 'Welcome' banner on it, and when we went into the house their were more banners and Canadian flags, as well as flowers and a card.

Also milk, beer, champagne, butter, bread, home made soup, everything you could think of to help us, I burst into tears. We all stayed up for about an hour or so and then headed off to bed.

So that was the Sunday into the Monday, Monday we sorted out my Ontario driving licence and SIN Card, did some shopping and started to settle in.

Tuesday we took the children on the Hippo bus in Toronto, this is an amphibious bus that tours the sights for an hour, and then goes into the bay (with a big splash) for the last 30 minutes, great fun.

Wednesday Chris and I left the children playing with the neighbours children and disappeared to try and find a second car.

Thursday having bought second car in the morning we then took the children to see their new schools, all met their Principles and teachers and had a tour of all the facilities.

Friday we went down into to Toronto and went to hell on earth, or the Paladium as it is known here, an absolutely massive arcade, lots of driving, dancing games, so much noise and the lights, four hours later we got out, even Rebecca had a headache, the children enjoyed it though.
This will now be a children and Daddy activity, your not getting me in there again! In the evening we went to a Welcome BBQ at Chris's bosses house, he lives in Bolton as well.

Saturday we chilled at home and Sunday we went to stay with friends in Wasaga Beach, we went Go Carting and to play Mini Golf, then had a BBQ and played in the pool. We stayed overnight and went home on the Monday (Labour Day), got the children ready for their first day at school in Canada.

Monday, unfortunately Chris got called into work at 3am, so did not see the children off on the school bus, Rebecca goes on a different bus to the other two, they get collected from the top of our road, they all went alone, I was a bag of nerves, but they were fine! Chris got home in time to meet them off the bus, so that was good.

They have all settled in well and appear to be happy, making new friends and having a lot more freedom, I can happily let them play out on their bikes, disappear off to the Park, round to friends houses, they take themselves off and check back in with me every so often!

Last weekend we went to watch the Toronto Blue Jays play Baseball at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, amazing atmosphere, and in the evening Chris and the childen went to watch a Tractor pulling competion, I stayed home enjoying the piece and quiet and a beer or two.

Two youngest started Cubs on Monday, and eldest starts Scouts next week, the girls decided that Cubs and Scouts sounded like more fun. Both are the only girls in the group, they all have their first camp in October, which means Chris and I will be child free for the weekend. Woo hoo!

So that's our first couple of weeks in Canada, the weather has been beautiful, sunny and very hot, although this week we have had some rain and the temperature has dipped a bit, you can tell we are heading into Fall. (Getting the lingo).

I am getting to grips with driving on the other side of the road, and can now do the family shop in less than two hours, the food is quite different and has been a bit of a challenge, middle child is quite a fussy eater, the children love bagels and Jello, not together.

I have just started to look for a job, I cannot do what I did in the UK, which is a Support Worker with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, think I will have to update my training, pass a course, and wait until we have PR, so am just looking for anything for now, probably going to end up in Walmart or the new Home Depot, but anything is a start.

The house in the UK has still not sold nor rented, might need to think of a Plan B for that one.

Long and short of it, we love it here and appear to be settleing in well.

Charlie

Apart from the plane journey that sounds a fantastic start to your lives here. Well done and good luck

I got a bit confused with leaving Manchester and arriving in Bolton, but I geddit now. Congrats

Welcome to Canada and annoying start aside you seem to be settling in well.
Best of luck.

Rob

WELCOME TO CANADA!

Maybe I should have clarified the Manchester UK, and Bolton CA, must admit after five and half hours on a plane going nowhere I was confused!



Thanks, just got to finish the PR paperwork and get that in now....
More paperwork...

Hi purple80,
Congrats on making it to Canada
I've been reading through your threads and we're in the same kind of situation you were in (not with the kids).
Hope you don't mind me asking a few questions.
OH has been offered a job and we are awaiting LMO. We are hoping to relocate to Georgetown where OH has family.
Did your OH arrive as a visitor and then apply for a WP?
Did you have to apply for study permits for the kids and did you have written confirmation of a place in a school?
Did you have to apply for any kind of visa when you went out?
I've read so many different things about immigration, and I feel like my brains melting!
Thought getting advice from someone who's been there/done that would be the best way to go.
Thanks again

Well done all of you.
I know it has not been easy - but you've come through.
The kids can wear their Leafs slippers with pride!







Now all I've got to do is sort out a ****** JOB!!

Bax

Hi Leslee1946,
No OH did not arrived as visitor, OH's prospective employer applied for LMO, once that was received, OH applied for WP at POE, as he did not need medical or police checks for his job.

No we did not need to apply for Study Permits, when we came through Immigration at YYZ, Immigration Officer just put a Visitor Record in the children's passport, on it said that they were authorized to study at primary or secordary school, as parents had WP.

This did not cost anything. No we did not have written confirmation of places at school, but the schools had said that the children did have places, all the forms had been handed in, immunization records etc. All the schools needed was Immigration paperwork confirming entitlement.

So no we did not apply for any Visa, all was done at POE....

Hope that helps?

Charlie

Cheers chuck,
Just keep plugging away with the resume and the phone calls all will come right in the end.

xx

Thank you both.
Charlie

Congratulations to you all, thanks for updating us

Good post Welcome To Canada

Thanks for that Charlie

Congrats and a big warm welcome. I'm exhausted reading your post - you've been soooo busy Enjoy