Well 2012 is perhaps going to be the most uncertain year of our lives and I am slowly starting to feel the panic rising! ..and why? 12 months from now, my OH will be leaving his career in the Armed Forces after 24 years. Our plan (with the greatest intentions and will in the world) was to have our immigration papers in hand and be able to pack up from our military quarter in Edinburgh and fly over the pond......oh how wrong we were!. With no visa on the horizon until at least another 18 months (and that's being overly optimistic) we find ourselves in a position where he needs to find work (not a problem, but as a Transport Manager most opportunities are south of the border) for an interim period. This could therefore involve a move, which we are reluctant to do, as it seems unfair to pull our eldest out of school and move somewhere for what could be 6 months, and then move on again (hopefully to Canada!)

Alteranatively, we try and stay up North and find a private property to rent - again for what could be 6 months and at extortionate rentel rates in Edinburgh and hope he can find a job up here. I am slowly starting to feel panic rising and really need to get a grip of myself before I plummet in to depths of despair! I know there is no magic wand but just wanted to share my angst! I problem shared is a problem halved after all

Cheers

Woz.

lol, I always say "A problem shared is a problem doubled"

I know what you are saying about Edinburgh rental and property prices, it's a nightmare. Almost like London prices, and why? because it has a bloody castle? who knows.

What visa route were you thinking of applying through?

I know you're not keen on moving temp with your son, but it might act as a little "practice run", and prepare him for the BIG move ahead.

But before all of that, you need to make sure Canada is the place for you. Have you been over for a visit or two?

ok, so you know you have a wait on your hands and the best thing to do is to make the decision thats the least painful for your time there. I understand you are loathe to drag your child out of school and then again when you emigrate.
Can you research the job market a bit there in the time leading up to hubby leaving the military? It may change a bit in 12 months anyway and given that you have 12 months do you need to make a decision like this right now? You might be much further down the line with your visas by then and feel a need to make an entirely different decision than the one you might make right now.

Good luck

Dave n Ailsa,

Edinburgh property prices are shocking and we currently live (thanks to the army) in a nice location which we would struggle to rent privately in. Our daughter has moved around before but i know the next one will be tough as she has made good friends which is really why we wanted it to be the final move to Canada. We've applied under FS1 but are acitvely looking at work. We've lived over in Alberta for 2 years, so know what we are heading to (which often makes the wait worse!).

Howefamily - I'm possibly panicking unnecessarily at the moment (In fact I know I am!) I'm sure things will all work out in the end, but thanks for the response and I agree. Our biggest fear as OH's NOC was removed from the list, is we will never get there without a job offer as they will just sit on our application for years.

I've been having the same emotional feelings as yourself although my situation is a little different from yours, as my husband is Canadian living in Canada and we are in Scotland. We want to eventually move to Scotland once the economy is better and job propects are better (as he has a good job in Canada). So we have been thinking of temporarily living in Canada for a year, because we are sick of being apart and then with the plan to move to Scotland together. I have been looking into subletting my house for a year so that we have somewhere to come back to...maybe you could rent my house and we could swap after a year, we come back to Scotland and you can go to Canada??...jk lol The one thing about moving countries is everything is soo uncertain, it messy's with your head...

Is there no way that he could apply for jobs in Canada? If he has got to job hunt anyway might it be worth him giving it a shot? I dont know how that would affect your current visa application or if you can switch visa types but it could be an idea.

Does he have to leave the armed forces next year or can he do an extension?

Firstly, I wanted to wish you good luck! It must be very hard and a lot of worry, but I truly hope it all works out for you guys!
I am guessing you guys were at suffield before?A friend of mines hubby almost got posted there,but they decided to stick closerto family.

If your hubbies job has been removed from the list, are you still able to apply at this moment?
I hope he manages to get that job offer, and that all goes well for you guys!
Lu
x

I happen to know a family who recently left the Army after 24 years, they also lived in Alberta for 2 years.

He came over to NS to find work, got himself a trucking job, work permits and moved his family here.
They have applied as canadian experience class for PR which will take about 18 months.

think about the options ;-)