Hullo to everyone on here,

I have just discovered this great Site & in particular, Forum a couple of days ago and it has been the best thing since sliced Warburtons when it comes to answering the horrendously huge number of questions going round in the head regarding this emigration lark!

My name's Katie and I'm 27.
My boyfriend is Marc, 32yrs.
He's a self-employed Joiner and I'm a Police Officer, we live in Bingley, West Yorkshire. No kids, one hound!

We're looking at starting the process and have been roughly filling out the 'Skilled Worker Class Simplified Application Process' form, having been reading (although maybe not fully digesting) the 'cic' website.

I'm not sure if this is the best way to apply to be honest, but we're thinking that Marc's going to be the primary applicant, with me as the second. We think this is the probably the right way to go (?)...we went to an Emigration Fair at York Racecourse towards the back end of last year and people (reps, after our money, I know I know) we're falling over themselves "Oh you're a Carpenter, wow! British Apprentice trained Butcher of Wood, woooooow". Needless to say we were point scored and passed with flying colours, we were told!

Anyhow, we're about to book a 2-3wk fact finding trip in Sept '07 flying over to the West as thats the side we think we want to be (i've only ever been to Toronto, Marc only once to Calgary). We're hopeful that Marc will be OK getting work and I'm maybe going to try for the Police, although I am keeping my options open at the moment.

We were hoping that the process would be a 2-3yr thing, but articles i'm reading are suggesting more like 4yrs, depending how you apply...? What i'm trying to avoid is having to pay someone, a rep or similar, thousands, to advise on the best way to successfully emigrate to Canada and to fill the forms out for us (god knows I have enough daily practice at work of filling my own forms out!)

If anyone has any initial suggestions or ideas / comments / advice based on my ramblings then they'll be gratefully received. In fact I'm propping my eyelids open with matchsticks now so must go to bed, but looking fwd to logging on again in the morning to see if anyone has replied! Night

Hello and welcome.

Hi raine66, thanks for the welcome

Hi and welcome.

We are hoping for Nova Scotia so don't suppose we can be of much help, but good luck in your quest!

Hi.. welcome,
may i suggest that you get the book called: Living and Working in Canada. Before I came here I made the mistake of not having this book and it has been invaluable. Good luck in your applications.

Hi Moops,
Many thanks for the suggestion, I do have that book I believe, don't think there'll be loads of publications with the same name so must have the one you're talking about. Read it from cover to cover when I got it last year so must dig it out & refresh my memory. These books remind me of law books though, the moment they're published they're out of date, as things are changing so quick! However I know that the basic principals will still apply, even if the procedures & forms might change!
Regards, katie

Hi, we (as family) are moving out there this summer after a two and a half year processing time. Plus a year before that when we decided to go. 3.5 years later and we still do but it's been a long wait and there have been times when we've changed our minds and started looking elsewhere. Getting into this forum every now and again puts us back on track. There's a huge amount of info here and the 'search' facility is a godsend in finding it, from what each town/city/province is like to live in to the price of cars to how to find the best drugs in downtown Toronto (just kiddin').

It's 4 - 5 years waiting time the last time I looked so you got plenty of time to prepare! Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Steve and Lesley.

Welcome from someone who grew up in Bingley and who has been in Canada for many years.
Research and patience is the key.
Best of luck.

Steve666 & Wet Feet........thanks for the replies. Everything that's been posted so far is really encouraging & i'm v.glad I found the site..

Hi misskatpaw,
I am one those police officers whose posts you've probably been watching, and one of the few female officers that are around. I'm a Met pc with exactly 21.5 years pensionable service, (though add 5 years on that for part time and a career break in the middle).

I have recently been researching whether our 2-yr training & probation counts for any points and have joined a few other police forums posing the question. Several have been decent enough to respond, and all but one, (who was someone that someone else knew), were able to gain valuable 'apprenticeship' education points so that they were eligible to apply for PR as principal applicants. Some were joining a Canadian police service, some weren't.

My OH is a 'gas fitter', (in Canadian terminology), and many people think that it would be easy for him to be offered a job in Canada. Perhaps that would be the case if we didn't mind so much about where we want to go, also, those jobs that we have applied for have either not responded or when spoken to say, 'well, we need to know what you work like'. It's been a case of 'come and see us when you come out here and once you can work legally'.

As a carpenter I reckon it will be different for you because I have seen so many joiner/carpenters jobs advertised on the job sites for Alberta.

I am going to use Andrew Miller because my circumstances are complicated by a home-educated childhood so don't have any proof of x number of years in education. Like you, I know all about hours of paperwork and time spent filling in forms, however my experience is based on police paperwork and presenting cases to a criminal court, not on presenting my own case to an immigration officer after a wait of 4+ years. I want the peace of mind if I'm going to wait that long.
I don't begrudge his fees for that peace of mind, though I appreciate that we all have to pass medicals, police clearance, and that CIC could change the boundaries during our wait!

Happy hunting, and I shall watch your progress with interest.

Robin

I don't think your OH will have any trouble finding work at all. The building trade is booming and they are crying out for skilled workers here in Alberta.
There are many homes waiting to be completed but are being held up because of the wait for trades people.

I know that getting into the police force is not easy. Their physical test is very rigourous. I have a friend that tries every year to get in but she is always about 1 or 2 secs off the time limit for the test. She said it is very tough and she is very fit and runs marathons!

There are lots of other jobs in law enforcement though, I doubt that you would have any trouble.

As for the immigration process, I wish I could help you. We came here without ever having visited. We applied for jobs first, got accepted and then sent off the forms. Canadian employers have to advertise a position for 6 months and have to prove to the government that the position can not be filled by a Canadian before giving it to an immigrant. So, knowing this we took that 6 months to go through the immigration process. We were lucky that our employers were willing to wait for us to arrive. But you will probably find that your husband will be in high demand and this might work for you too.

It actually took 9 months in total for us to move here and we have never looked back.
The cost of living here is a lot better and the quality of life can not be measured.
Don't be put off by some of the ridiculous blogs out there. I have always been accepted with open arms here and you will find that everyone loves your accent!!

Just a thought, have you considered looking at Red Deer. It is 1 1/2 hours from Calgary, pop 83,000.
Houses costs are a lot lower here and jobs are plenty. It is safe and there is lots to do.
Anyway, good luck and if I can help in any way please send me an email.
Hang in there, it will be worth it!!!

Hi Robin & yorkshirepud!

Thanks very much for your detailed replies, you have given me some really interesting info, especially re; the Police thing! Your mate, a marathon runner having a struggle passing the fitness? eek! i'm 5'3" and do a bit of jogging a couple of times a week, go out on my MTB and place a few sports...........and drink lots of nice red wine & white beers, so......hmmm, lots to think about!

We are hoping that Marc's skills will be in demand, I mean there's no shortage of wood over there is there? It's just finding a job, maybe not the right one to start off with, but just one will do for now.

I'm interested in what folks are saying about this Andrew Miller chap, I must go back and look thru' a few threads to get the info, as from what i've heard he sounds good.

The suggestions about particular places to check out are great. Hopefully our trip in September will enable us to visit them to see for ourselves, make some contacts, look at employment etc... I can't wait t.b.honest!

Hi,
I have the same book and it does have a lot of info in it, WHSmith stock it amongst the travel guides.
good luck
Charlie

Oops, just read this one, shows you shouldn't rush through a thread.......
going to bed now, really
Charlie

Hi, to answer you in a nutshell. The physical test to get into the police service here in calgary, although tough, is not impossible providing you are fairly fit and have done some strength training, as that is part of the test. On a separate note, have you heard or considered going down the provincial nominee program route? Calgary police currently take about 27 people a year on this program and providing you pass ALL the required tests, you could, in theory be here within 6 - 8 months!
Hope all works out for you
Regards martin