Hi all, I'm new to this forum

I have a lot of questions so I will start with the big one!
What do you love / hate about Canada?
We are a small family of three. My husband and I have been talking about moving for years. At first, we looked into Australia (alot!) But we want to explore our options before we start paying out for migration agents etc. It has been suggested to us by friends and family members that we look into Canada for various reasons (proper seasons, we have family there, slightly cheaper cost of living than Australia etc).
I would love to hear anyone's pros and cons? I really don't know much about Canada. We live in Northern Ireland and I am determined to move before our son starts school and we decide to have more children making the move that bit more difficult. Thanks in advance for any responses !

Season's are going to very a lot across the country, keep that in mind. The name is the same of course, but what you experience in each season is not.

I am from the US so biggest con for me about Canada is nearly everything costing more.

Pro my wife is here.

Do you have an idea where you would move to in Canada

Hi, and welcome to BE.

I'd suggest a search of the forum, and also the Moving Back to the UK forum, to see why people move to and from Canada. Of course, their reasons may not apply to you, but it will give you an idea at least.

Is there something specific that you're searching for with your wish to move abroad? It's often said on the forum (and FWIW, I totally agree) that you should move for the love of a country and not for negatives of the one you're leaving behind, as often people find that the same problems are everywhere. No point in spending £20k+ on a move to Canada unless you really love it. Have you visited?

And have you checked out visa options to make sure you're eligible to move?

You'll get all sorts of views on the forum - some who love their life in Canada, some who hate it, and lots inbetween, but hopefully it will help a bit at least.

Good luck deciding!

It's a gamble.

If we were moving to be close to family, it would be the Cornwall area? Like I said, we're really at the beginning of it all as we looked so much into Australia so not sure where we would be looking.

There seems to be a few routes we can go visa wise, but again not 100â„… sure on the Canadian ones for now I'm still looking into it. My husband is a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic.

I know a lot of people get homesick and decide to return to the UK, but most of our family already live away or are moving away in the near future and we have no friends to leave behind. We are hoping to move for a better future for our son. I know its probably what everyone says, and moving away isn't always the answer but we are very unhappy here and we aren't really close with anyone. But we are still young, so better to give it a go sooner rather than later. I feel if we don't move soon we will end up stuck here.

But for now, I'm just looking to hear what some people think of Canada?

Thanks for your replies

If your son is very little it might be that you are under 30? In which case maybe the IEC visa would work for you? Not sure if you can have dependents though?

Yes we are 26 our son is one.

The Canadian visas are confusing me a bit. They seem a lot more straightforward than the Australian ones? I have looked into so many visa options for Australia that now looking at the Canadian ones I am either reading up the wrong stuff or Australian visas are alot more complicated ...

It seems a lot of people move to Canada on a temporary visa before applying for PR? Or am I reading the wrong things? Where as when I was looking at Australian ones it seemed if you were to go on a temporary visa there is a very slim chance you would actually get PR..

Hi
I grew up in NI and now being here on the west coast, I can say that it is nice to get a proper summer! We have had sun most days from May through to this past week. No snow which I like but the kids don't so much. Obviously will be different in Ontario.
Clothes shopping is poorer than in the UK and I miss this the most. Everything else is good which makes up for this!
People are friendly; growing up in NI this was what I was used to. If you are young then the IEC route would be the best to see if you'd like to live over here.
Kids like getting food parcels of Bikers and Tayto...just wish it was cheaper to get these wee treats! Over here there are shops which import foods which is nice.
HTH I don't think you will need an agent- save yourself the money and do it yourself! Most here don't use an agent unless complicated issues.

Hi as you are both under 30, why don't you explore IEC Working Holiday program (Work Permit for up to two years):

International Experience Canada – travel and work in Canada

For UK citizens there aren't any spots left until there is a new allocation (usually annually). And they go more than fast. Within minutes.

Just wondering if you have Irish passports? The age is up to 35 for those from Ireland and there are still a few places left ....

S

Nice to hear from someone from NI! Yes boxes of Tayto cheese and onion are what we send as Christmas presents to my family members in mainland UK, Germany and Spain. You just can't beat them!

How does does the IEC work then for our son? Problem is I wouldn't be working to begin with as my son is still very young so I would be staying at home with him. Can my husband get the visa and have us on it? How does health care work with the IEC route? I'm guessing it's the same as Australia and its up to us to get cover?

Yes, we have Irish passports.

Oh I just read the link you posted. No, doesn't seem we can go that route. Maybe some sort of trades route? My husband is in air con and refrigeration.

If IEC isn't possible (are you sure it's not?), then there is the Federal Skilled Trade program - Determine your eligibility — Skilled trades

If your husband is eligible for that, you could apply for Express Entry and enter the pool of candidates. He'd then need to score above approx 450 to be in with a chance of being selected to apply for PR - Express Entry – Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Criteria

HTH.

Well just from reading the info in the link it states that you must have no dependants. I looked at the three options for the IEC and they all say that.

You would be going under the Working Holiday option - where on that does it say you can't have dependents? It's definitely not correct if it does.

It might say that you can't be accompanied by dependents, but that's not the same thing as being ineligible if you have dependents, it just means that the family of an IEC holder can't get derivative visas from it automatically as with all other visas. It means that you and your child would have to make sure you have your own status in Canada and couldn't 'piggyback' on the IEC i.e. visitor status so you could accompany your husband.

There are quite a few people on the forums who have moved on an IEC with a child or children. It's not ideal if you have another visa route, as it is only for 2 years (although most try to get PR from it, but that's no guarantee) and is supposed to be only used for working holidays, but if there is no other option then it could work.

But if you want to move permanently, then look at the FST info above, as that would be a much better option.

HTH, good luck.