I've just started mulling over making a move to Canada, but am very much in the first stage of tentative research. Glad I found this site, it looks like it's going to be very helpful!

Anyway, my question ... what's a recce?

Hello and welcome! A recce is simply a trip to check things out in the area you are hoping to move to. A scouting holiday I guess you could call it!

Hope that helps and hope your planning goes smoothly.

Ahh .. of course! Thank you.

I read somewhere else that it's taking around four years to process applications for emmigration (flipping heck), so I was kind of thinking of starting the process now-ish, and then over the waiting period make a couple of trips over. Is that generally recommended?

Yes, definitely recommended. Best to visit at least a couple of different provinces if you can so that you can get a feel for them and decide 100% where you want to live.

Applications for PR are unfortunately taking at least 5 years now and apparently things aren't set to improve. Do have a look at the Wiki to read of other ways to get to Canada quicker, there is loads of info in the Wiki so grab a cuppa and settle back for a good read! Here are a couple of articles to get you started............

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Quick_...an_Immigration

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Gettin...Canada_quickly

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Canadi...ation_Overview

And also one on recce's.............

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Scouting_Trip

What line of work are you in? That may help people tell you whether there will be a better route to Canada for you.

Best of luck!

Thanks so much ... that's really helpful.

I'm self-employed as a freelance copy-editor and proofreader (mainly for book publishers). My husband is a qualified MCSE computer engineer. We were thinking that it would be best for my husband to be the main applicant as he's more employable than me.

By the way, what's PR??

Thanks again

Hi

PR is permanent residency. If you look in the Wiki there is a bit listing all the Canadian abbreviations to help you along!

Happy reading

Thank you! So much to learn ...

So is your head spinning yet?!?

Hopefully the list that bluemoon1 pointed you towards of abbreviations will help immensely.

Not sure about your occupations to be completely honest but I would imagine your husband at least may find work - but just guessing. Do have a look at the OUP list (don't need to spell it out now you've found the abbrev list!) to see if your skills are in demand in any particular province as that would help in finding a job and getting there quicker. Or put your jobs into the search function (top right in case you haven't discovered it yet) to see if anybody else has ever asked about them.

Welcome to BE

As mentioned earlier, there is lots and lots of info found in the BE Wiki pages.

There is also a free online monthly magazine from Muchmor which is very informative. You can also download back issues

Yes, my head is spinning - there's just so much to take in isn't there!

Thank you for the link to that magazine: I just subscribed to it and downloaded a couple of back issues. It looks really good.

Hi and welcome to the forum

Ive been on here over a year and my head is still spinning
So much to learn, so much to do and then they change things, o well back to reading....LOL

Gill

Hello and welcome

Hi and Welcome.

I am still in the early process of this too and my head has been spinning ever since , especially as i am attempting to do this imigration thing on my own!!!

I do not know about you and your situation but i am frankly scared to death and terrified of making such a leap.

Do not be afraid to ask any questions, no matter what they are. There are people on this website who can help and are very friendly.

Hope all goes well for you.

Emmjay

Thanks for all the welcomes and tips.

Yes, I'm also very nervous: I have this permanent mantra going round my head whenever I look at the application form ... should I, shouldn't I, should I, shouldn't I ... ?

And good on you, emmjay: despite all the terror at least you're going for it! Much better than looking back in years to come and regretting not doing anything about it.

True. And then there are the rest of us.