Right, here is my situation:

My long term girlfriend lives in Toronto, I have recently passed my Construction Management Degree in the UK and have sold my cars and anything I wont be keeping, paid off all my debts and handed in my notice
I am flying out on 27th August and although I have the promise of a job that are willing to fill follow the recently adjusted LMO route (family friends company), I am going out on a visitors visa and will continue to apply for positions. The reason for this is that I would like to find a company that are willing to hire and go though the LMO process that does something more akin to what I am used to as the IEC was such a farce.. I am returning to the UK for a long weekend in October for my graduation and will then get a flight back afterwards.

Anyway, worst case scenario is the LMO gets rejected by the available job, I don't find anything else and extend my holiday visa until we have lived together for 1 year and become common law partners so I can apply for PR whilst being a 'house husband'. Best case scenario I go to an interview, get the job and they are happy they can use the LMO route or I take the job on the table currently and the LMO goes through

So, I have been looking at shipping out my turntables, a couple of boxes of records and a box or two of odd's and sod's, however, after reading the eligible classification types on the customs form provided by a company I had a quote from (http://www.anglopacific.co.uk/documents/b4e-form.pdf) it seems that I don't really fit any of the descriptions with my situation:

Former Resident
Beneficiary
Seasonal Resident
Settler

Does this mean I can't ship anything over until I am a 'Settler'? I would assume even people with TWP's who are renting a place ship out a few personal affects that wont fit in their suitcases? Could someone please enlighten me.

Thanks,

Nobody? Anybody shipped excess baggage? I am sure I could swing getting my turntable and mixer flight cases over as baggage?

Sounds like you want to move here permanently and this is where it gets interesting. You enter as a visitor and can stay in Canada for X amount of time but CANNOT work or study. If the officer suspects you wont be going back then they can refuse you entry.
If the LMO is positive then you simply live together for the 12 months common law or get married and then eligible for spousal sponsorship.
Arriving without a positive LMO or shipping goods before you arrive is risky as both you and the goods can be refused entry.
There again the CBSA officers are a bit THICK and not very INTELLIGENT according to some so they probably wouldnt even notice this.
Your choice in the end how to play this out.

Thanks Former Lancastrian, I did reply to you the other day but it seems the post never made it up..

I wouldn't work/study without the proper permits as I don't want to risk being deported or jeopardize my future in Canada.

In essence I am on a long holiday/gap year in the eyes of CBSA as my initial visit is for 6 weeks as I have to return for my graduation and then when I fly back afterwards it again will only be for around 6 weeks as we are going to Australia for a 3 week vacation meaning I always have a departing flight until I fly back from Oz. Though fingers crossed I will have a permit in place before then.

I don't want to risk my belongings being turned away though (or give them cause to think I wont leave) so guess I will just box most of it and leave it at my parents until I get PR and just put smaller bits in my luggage if there is room.

Thanks again

If you ship electrical items like turntables they will not work here without converters. There are some decent ones on the market but might it not be a better idea to just sell them and buy replacements here?

They are international versions so have a built in voltage switch 110-120v to 220-240v and are one off customs I built so not keen to get rid of them!

My son bought his turntables over (professional grade) so your one's should work ok.

I would suggest leaving your stuff for now, if your positive LMO comes through when you are coming back from the UK in a few weeks you could bring it over then.

When you are ready, look into Air Transat Cargo.

I shipped a container full of possessions here prior to any sort of residency status. Told CBSA the truth - I was buying property and needed to furnish it, and that I intended to apply for a work permit while my PR application was in process. Had no issue moving here on that basis as all.

But you had a PR application in process? The OP has nothing in process.

I submitted my PR application just before leaving the UK. It took 3 years from then before being issued.

Ah, that's different. If they have the built in switch the most you would need is a converter for the plug and you're golden.

Thanks for the input guys, really appreciate it.

Colchar, I dont even need the plug as I fitted IEC sockets instead of the standard cable so just a couple of kettle leads and I am away, bit of a project person.



Think I will leave it till my LMO is through and ship the lot as I will end up paying more otherwise.
Rich, did they check you were actually buying a house and that your PR application was in or need proof of it?

The house, no. There was no way they could check that. When I arrived at Vancouver airport I had no contract to purchase, or definitive proof, just meetings arranged with a realtor and bank for a property I was interested in.

WRT the PR application I've no idea if they could gain proof of that either. It was being prepared and submitted via a lawyer in the UK, which CBSA didn't ask the name of. So, unless it had been logged in their system as submitted, which seems unlikely given the length of processing time, I'm not sure what was available for them to determine an application had been received.

Ok so I guess anyone could say something along those lines, they just run the risk of getting caught out and having all their stuff shipped back and refused entry.

Pretty much but highly unlikely as people never LIE to CBSA/CIC