I've been on the Skilled Workers Visa waiting list for about a year now, with the prospect of another 3 or 4 to go, and I'm beginning to wonder whether it is worth the wait. I'm a teacher and so the prospects of gaining employment in Canada from here in the UK is nil, and it seems for the next few years at least, there is no shortage of teachers there, so no gaurantee of quickly securing employment when there. With a wife and two toddlers it seems a bit risky to simply get the visa, get out there and "see what happens". I guess I'm after either confirmation that I should give up on the idea, or some one to give me enough reasons to carry on with the wait. Anybody want to give it a go either way?

Hi Damianpieroni,

We made the move over ourselves two years ago and have never looked back. We live in a great town called Okotoks which is just south of Calgary.

I know that the wait can be very frustrating and circumstances do change during the wait, but for us and so many others the wait was so worth it.

I will send you a PM

Since you're a teacher, here's my response.

If you have enough savings to live for a couple of years while you wait for a teaching job, you could pull it off.

If you do not have enough savings to do that, I don't see how you could pull it off.

The other option, if you're interested in that route, is to change careers once you get to Canada. But that is not entirely without risk either.

Another factor to consider is one that you mentioned in a previous thread, namely, that you're 41 years old. That means you'd be pushing 45 by the time you got to Canada. That doesn't leave an awful lot of time to "make" it in another career. If you haven't already established a reputation for yourself in a certain line of work by the time you're, say, 50, it becomes more difficult to "break in."

It's not impossible, but the odds become more challenging.
x

I'm not a teacher but I am married to (a Canadian) one. I'd have to say that unless you wish to change career I'd probably forget Canada and focus on something or somewhere else if I were you. I do not forsee any shortage of teachers in Canada anytime soon - the Universities continue to pump out new teachers who can't find employment. IMHO life is too short to put it on hold for an opportunity that probably isn't going to materialise - unless you have some specialism or experience that sets you far apart from those you would be competing for for work. Sorry not to be more upbeat but if I were in your situation with family responsibilities (I'm already a similar age) then I think it would be a non-starter for me.

AX

If you want it enough you need to stick with it. What is it you are coming to Canada for? I gave up stability and 18 years with a company in the UK and came with no job at the age of 45. The job I have now is a different career although my previous experience facilitated that. My OH was a teacher in the UK and has made a success of tutoring rather than getting a job being a 'teacher'. She regularly turns away work.

I guess what I am saying is that it is possible but does take a bit of a leap of faith. You just need to be sure that the potential risk is outweighed by the reasons for wanting to come here in the first place.

good luck

As someone else has noted, it may be time to consider alternatives.

Would Australia or New Zealand be an option?

Australia too hot, (I'm a snow fan!) and too many insects, (and Aussies) Ha! New Zealand beautiful and advertising for teachers last time I checked, but just a bit too far from UK/Europe. Would never get family/friends out to visit, and vice versa. Life in Blighty not so bad that I "need" to get out. Canada is just somewhere I have always fancied since seeing a picture of Banff when I was about 8, ( obviously I realise that Canada isn't all like Banff...akin to thinking all of UK looks like a village in the Cotswolds. Infact, the bits i've visited have been more like Milton Keynes...but with mountains in the distance!) Finally found a partner willing to up sticks, though if I'm honest more out of loyalty to me than any desire on her own part to move. Will likely see out my days here, or encourage kids not to become teachers, move out to Canada and then put me up in my retirement!

Yes it's too bad about the teaching opportunities. My wife is a teacher and it would be a big help to us if she could go back to work at that when our kids start full time school. Here in Ontario, getting a full time teaching job seems to be virtually impossible right now - especially for an arts and humanities teacher. She is considering other job options, but she won't get anything like the same income working at Sears or whatever and she may not like that.

My youngest still has a year to go before 1st grade, so we will have to seriously consider our options then. In the end we may decide after 10 years away to go back to the UK. It's hard not to opt for 2 salaries compared to a single income here. I don't know what a highest pay scale comprehensive school teacher earns in the UK now, is it about 35-40k GPB? We like Canada but it's not worth turing down 40k GBP a year for!

Seeing how you like the snow have you read the N/S threads ?????

I really have no idea how he did it, but a Canadian friend's British husband has been able to teach here in Alberta in a secondary school whilst on a work permit (I believe). They have just recently finalised his PR via the spouse sponsorship route - and he was recently appointed the Vice Principal !! I really will take more notice next time we meet - but I do know he has had to take several "equivalency" exams this year which have all but knackered him out. But they must have liked him a lot, as it was the current Principal that encouraged him to apply for the VP post.

As a Head of Year I earn £41 grand a year so you were spot on with your guestimate. It does seem teaching is a no no in Canada, and a change in career is easier said than done...especially to one that pays decent, (which of course normally requires experience or dfferent qualifications/training). Cheers for the advice.

Sorry, what are the N/S threads?

Moving to Nova Scotia posts...

When my wife spoke to a career advisor about getting a teaching post, they suggested that she volunteer at a local school to make contacts etc. Again this is sound advice i'm sure, but my wife was an experienced senior teacher (albeit 10 years ago). I think she would find it difficult to help out as a classroom assistant in a classroom trying to prove herself to an inexperienced young teacher, where under normal circumstances, she would be the boss.

Also, Damien have you checked what classroom teachers earn in Canada? It seems as though the transfer of qualifications and experience is a grey area. Even with 10+ years experience and the relevant degree it looks as though my wife would likely earn less than $60k CDN. So even if she was able to secure a teaching job, we would still consider moving back to the UK where she could earn a better salary.

mm! I think I've pretty much made up my mind Manbear, and your advice helped so thanks for that. Despite newspaper hysteria about "Broken Britain" life here is good on whole and not worth risking turmoil, especially with two toddlers involved. Standard of living out there doesn't sound like it would be significantly better for me as a teacher,(quieter, less crime etc...but I could get that moving to Northumberland!) and at best would probably be swapping like for like, so on to the Embassy to get my money back I guess. Cheers.