After much consideration, My wife, son and I would like to emigrate from Glasgow to Canada via the "skilled workers immigration" category. After completing the online points assessment I feel I have the enough experience to apply this way.
We have some questions, however that we hope people like yourselves can answer or give us advice on.
for instance;
1. My son is 12 at the moment, if we apply and are successful he may be 13/14. this is a major stumbling block for us. Has anyone else immigrated with kids of similar age? Did the cross over in Education systems work well?

2. I work in the manufacturing industry (sheet metal work) is Ontario the main manufacturing base? Would you recommend that I then chose there to re-locate.

3.Can I look for work in Canada while my application is being processed?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Alex

It is, but I would expect any major city would also be OK. Just look into what sort of provincial licensing "ticket" would be required for your trade. Without it pay may not be that great, and even getting a job will be far more difficult. Canadian employers love canadian qualifications and experience.

You can, but dont get too excited, chances to be considered while not in Canada are slim, but it does happen sometimes. Use the search feature to check back on others experiences, resume tips etc.

Hi just wanted to let you know that we came to Saskatchewan last year my 2 sons aged 13 & 17 have settled in so much better than we actually expected, the Schools they attend have been very good in helping their settlement. My youngest son in England was in grade 8; here he is in grade 7 this is to enable him to adjust to the new curriculum, culture & language barrier most of his friends are of the same age and in the same class.
My sons participate in lots of activities and love it, they wouldn't have done anything like this in England they really have opened up here, we have found that kids here really encourage eachother rather than ridicule.

Hope this makes you feel easier, I remember having the same concerns not that long ago.
Good luck
Gill

Hi Alex

We came from Glasgow to Ontario through the work visa initially and then PR as a skilled worker. That was 5.5 years ago, I am sure things have changed, but we would be glad to help if we can.

I cant comment on the age thing as our kids were much younger than your son.

Good luck.

Alex

Nice to see another Glaswegian getting out

I am from Glasgow as well, our forms are completed and about to be sent onto London.
I hope you know that this journey you about to take is like a steam train, once you jump on and the steam train gathers momentum you will find it very hard to get off !!!!!!!!!!! :scared:

It really is a roller coaster of emotions, hardship, making great friendships all rolled into one big cake. Just ask any of the regulars on the forum, who are already in the immigration system and those who have beaten the system and have arrived safely in Canada.

PM me if you want, ask away, you will find fantastic people on this forum, all willing to lend a hand, answering any of your queries.

We are off to London, Ontario in July for a good look around and a family holiday as well. London presses all the right buttons for us and looks like one of our best options when we finally LAND !!!!!!! ( such a long way away )

Happy Exploring

Eddie

Thanks to everyone who replied to this my first post. I'm sure that I will have many more questions and queries needing answered
Alex.

My advice for what it's worth is start to collect the information for your application and get it in as soon as possible. If you want a work permit you need to get yourself over to an area where youre skills are needed and talk to people visit companys etc. It may not always work but at worst it will give you a feel for Canada. I went to Alberta on a resarch trip and would like to live there but i visited Toronto later in the year and was offerd a job so it can be done. I found that smaller companys in my field were more helpful than the larger ones. I have now have a work permit and hope to be in Canada by July. My AOR is July 04 and people have said that the job offer and work permit should speed up the process.

As for the question on schools i have children of 8, 9, and 12 so watch this space.