Re: Returning to the UK
 

Hi Everyone. Just want to say massive thanks for all your comments and advice, I do really appreciate it and apologies for my late reply!
Didn't mean to make the suburbs sound bad just meant whether we stay or go we will have to move house.
I have taken onboard what you have said about citizenship and we have decided to apply for it as wouldn't want to miss that opportunity.
My husband is a Plasterer so we feel confident that he could get work in UK. However we have decided to stay at least another year to 18 months to apply for citizenship and also save some money and then perhaps return to UK for 2 years to see what it is like. I just think it is something I need to do for myself and maybe it will 'get it out of my system'. Then we can make a final decision to stay or come back to Canada, hopefully without any doubts!
Thank you again!

Re: Returning to the UK
 

I live in the UK and would recommend that anyone contemplating coming back here makes sure they have their Canadian Citizenship sorted out first.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Any particular reason?

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Mainly so you can always come back if you wish. The idea is that you do not let circumstances, paperwork etc stop you from changing your mind. I always try to stop people from going "oh well I'll never use this so I won't go for it" when it comes to immigration/citizenship matters, because a lot of people, including me, changed their minds.

My main motivation for getting Canadian Citizenship is just in case I decide I want to later go back to the UK (but the opposite could be true as well)

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Ok, good thinking.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Some other good reasons:

(1) Naturalized Canadian citizens can pass Canadian citizenship onto any children born outside Canada.

(2) Canadian passport holders have an easier time travelling to and from the US (no need for ESTA or visas) and can stay in the US for longer as visitors.

(3) Canadian citizens are eligible for the TN visa which allows for easier entry into the US to work there.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

have you tried the local church

there tends to be lots of activities and social events to get engaged in

Re: Returning to the UK
 

My advice to anyone on here thinking of returning to the UK never burn your bridges...particularly if you have a valuable Citizenship to a country like Canada, Australia or NZ, all of them first world English speaking countries.....a lottery win in its own right.

Only a fool would leave without first sorting out the ability to return. A year or two back in the UK and most people would realize this country (UK) has little to offer them.

Admittedly no place is perfect but some countries have a future and many others don't.

Unfortunately I am trapped here by virtue of my age (49) otherwise I would be living in either of the above mentioned countries. I was fortunate to live in South Africa and Australia in my teens and regretted the fact that my parents never sorted Citizenship out before leaving.....hence don't make this mistake!

I do however have a dual British/ South African passport my wife has a Brazilian/ British Passport and we have maintained our various Citizenship's. It is highly unlikely that we will go to either of those countries due to politics/ crime etc.....but the option is always there.

...but leaving a clean spacious nation like Canada for the UK, I would think very carefully first.

Apologies for the rant....if I offended anyone that is not my intention.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Why's that? Do you know something we don't? Europe (which includes the UK) has been through a rough patch economically lately, but it's still one of the best places in the world to live. Good mix of capitalism and state healthcare, excellent education, decent food, rich culture, lively cities, beautiful countryside. No problem with Europe's future IMO.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

In regards to the UK - over-population, poor infrastructure and general quality of life. Far to many people in this country, the place is creaking at the seams.

Most of Europe apart from Germany, Britain and perhaps Scandinavia are in deep recession. Doubt whether that will change within the foreseeable future.

Nope if I was young enough I would be out of here.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

You could always move to a smaller town or somewhere rural in Britain. It's not all over populated or cracking at the seams.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Were you born in Canada? If not your kids won't get citizenship through descent I thought..

Re: Returning to the UK
 

I watched a pretty shocking Panorama program on BBC iPlayer recently about people living below the poverty line in the UK. The program stated that, for the first time in history, the majority of people living in poverty in the UK are actually working. There are lots of low paid jobs that don't pay a living wage. Wages have not kept place with inflation or productivity increases and so many more people have fallen into the poverty trap because of that.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

This is true, they are called the "working poor". On the low wage thread (long title) in the Maple Leaf Forum we have been discussing this issue.

Re: Returning to the UK
 

Not so. The poster you quote said she became a Citizen when she was six. Assuming her kids were born somewhat later than that, they are Canadian Citizens by descent.

Her grandkids if they aren't or weren't born in Canada wouldn't be though.