Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Nov 21st 2011, 4:32 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Hi everyone!
My name is Allie and myself and my husband are looking into moving to Canada from Ireland with our 2 children aged 9 and 7.
My husband has been unemployed since April and the economic crisis in Ireland has left us with not much hope of him finding a decent job here anytime soon, so we have been looking into moving to Canada. We attended a couple of job exhibitions and skilled worker emigration programmes that were held here in Ireland recently and we were looking at moving under the Novia Scotia "sponsorship" programme. Unfortunately we are broke and one of the requirements is to visit the community and that would cost money we don't have.
We are looking at selling our house here for the equity so that it would enable us to move but that is difficult as then if we did not have visas organised we would be left renting here etc...
My husband has no college qualifications but he has loads of Sales experience and different certifications picked up along the way. He mainly specialised as a Sales Account Manager and had extremely good positions within the different companies he worked for. He also owned his own business for 2 yrs.
I have a Diploma in Travel and Tourism and many different certifications in secretarial areas, but I have not really worked since having my first child almost 10 yrs ago!
The questions I have are to do with the Visas. It seems like such a minefield and I am afraid that we will go about it the wrong way or fill in something incorrectly or leave something important out. If anyone could help with information or let me know of a good agency that is reputable here in Ireland, it would greatly be appreciated.
Looking forward to hearing from anyone who thinks they maybe able to help us!!
My name is Allie and myself and my husband are looking into moving to Canada from Ireland with our 2 children aged 9 and 7.
My husband has been unemployed since April and the economic crisis in Ireland has left us with not much hope of him finding a decent job here anytime soon, so we have been looking into moving to Canada. We attended a couple of job exhibitions and skilled worker emigration programmes that were held here in Ireland recently and we were looking at moving under the Novia Scotia "sponsorship" programme. Unfortunately we are broke and one of the requirements is to visit the community and that would cost money we don't have.
We are looking at selling our house here for the equity so that it would enable us to move but that is difficult as then if we did not have visas organised we would be left renting here etc...
My husband has no college qualifications but he has loads of Sales experience and different certifications picked up along the way. He mainly specialised as a Sales Account Manager and had extremely good positions within the different companies he worked for. He also owned his own business for 2 yrs.
I have a Diploma in Travel and Tourism and many different certifications in secretarial areas, but I have not really worked since having my first child almost 10 yrs ago!
The questions I have are to do with the Visas. It seems like such a minefield and I am afraid that we will go about it the wrong way or fill in something incorrectly or leave something important out. If anyone could help with information or let me know of a good agency that is reputable here in Ireland, it would greatly be appreciated.
Looking forward to hearing from anyone who thinks they maybe able to help us!!
Nov 21st 2011, 5:43 pm
#2
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,680
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Hi Allie
First of all welcome to BE - you have certainly come to the right place to help with all your questions.
I would recommend you check out our Canada forum, which you will find by clicking on the 'FORUM INDEX' button on the top left of this page. Scroll down through a list of countries and double click on Canada and you're in.
There is a section on the Canada forum on immigration which has lots of useful information on visas and such, so have a good read through. Also there are lots of good folk on that forum who have either made the move or are in the process of doing so, and I am sure they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.
We also have a 'Working abroad by profession' section where there are specific forums for different occupation, as well as a job offer section, so that may be worth a look for you and your OH as well - this is also on the forum index in the section below all the listed countries.
If you find you need any help navigating the forum pop back here and I will do what I can to help.
Other than that all the very best with your plans and I hope you enjoy the forums.
Dread - x
First of all welcome to BE - you have certainly come to the right place to help with all your questions.
I would recommend you check out our Canada forum, which you will find by clicking on the 'FORUM INDEX' button on the top left of this page. Scroll down through a list of countries and double click on Canada and you're in.
There is a section on the Canada forum on immigration which has lots of useful information on visas and such, so have a good read through. Also there are lots of good folk on that forum who have either made the move or are in the process of doing so, and I am sure they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.
We also have a 'Working abroad by profession' section where there are specific forums for different occupation, as well as a job offer section, so that may be worth a look for you and your OH as well - this is also on the forum index in the section below all the listed countries.
If you find you need any help navigating the forum pop back here and I will do what I can to help.
Other than that all the very best with your plans and I hope you enjoy the forums.
Dread - x
Nov 21st 2011, 6:12 pm
#3
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Allie - I just wanted to say welcome also, and.... there are so many people who can help you on here that it just isn't true. I first hit this site a year ago, when life at times seemed bleak - OK my husband is Canadian, but he had been having a damned poor time in Europe, and life wasn't going great guns. I had not, and have not, been able to find any work in Europe, as I gave up work ten years ago, to have a child! I 'think' I may be able to find work in Canada, and I am presently doing a 'Microsoft' course on-line to re-familiarise myself with all the Microsoft software, which will also (I sincerely hope) give me a bit of a boost, in terms of confidence and knowledge, to get back into work. When you aren't at work, and, even worse, stuck at home with either kids or kids mothers' to talk to, you can wonder if you will ever 'exist' as a person again. Very best of luck for you and your family.
Nov 21st 2011, 7:36 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Hi Allie
First of all welcome to BE - you have certainly come to the right place to help with all your questions.
I would recommend you check out our Canada forum, which you will find by clicking on the 'FORUM INDEX' button on the top left of this page. Scroll down through a list of countries and double click on Canada and you're in.
There is a section on the Canada forum on immigration which has lots of useful information on visas and such, so have a good read through. Also there are lots of good folk on that forum who have either made the move or are in the process of doing so, and I am sure they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.
We also have a 'Working abroad by profession' section where there are specific forums for different occupation, as well as a job offer section, so that may be worth a look for you and your OH as well - this is also on the forum index in the section below all the listed countries.
If you find you need any help navigating the forum pop back here and I will do what I can to help.
Other than that all the very best with your plans and I hope you enjoy the forums.
Dread - x
First of all welcome to BE - you have certainly come to the right place to help with all your questions.
I would recommend you check out our Canada forum, which you will find by clicking on the 'FORUM INDEX' button on the top left of this page. Scroll down through a list of countries and double click on Canada and you're in.
There is a section on the Canada forum on immigration which has lots of useful information on visas and such, so have a good read through. Also there are lots of good folk on that forum who have either made the move or are in the process of doing so, and I am sure they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.
We also have a 'Working abroad by profession' section where there are specific forums for different occupation, as well as a job offer section, so that may be worth a look for you and your OH as well - this is also on the forum index in the section below all the listed countries.
If you find you need any help navigating the forum pop back here and I will do what I can to help.
Other than that all the very best with your plans and I hope you enjoy the forums.
Dread - x
Will take your advice and have a look at the Canada Forum on Immigration,
Thanks so much, I am sure it will be very helpful x
Nov 21st 2011, 7:39 pm
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Allie - I just wanted to say welcome also, and.... there are so many people who can help you on here that it just isn't true. I first hit this site a year ago, when life at times seemed bleak - OK my husband is Canadian, but he had been having a damned poor time in Europe, and life wasn't going great guns. I had not, and have not, been able to find any work in Europe, as I gave up work ten years ago, to have a child! I 'think' I may be able to find work in Canada, and I am presently doing a 'Microsoft' course on-line to re-familiarise myself with all the Microsoft software, which will also (I sincerely hope) give me a bit of a boost, in terms of confidence and knowledge, to get back into work. When you aren't at work, and, even worse, stuck at home with either kids or kids mothers' to talk to, you can wonder if you will ever 'exist' as a person again. Very best of luck for you and your family.
I wish you all the best with your course, it's hard to get back into trying to familiarise yourself with the ever changing technology and different programmes out there, so I salute you for that and I am sure you will do well, good luck also with your move, it's nice to know we are not alone in these things, x
Nov 22nd 2011, 7:47 pm
#6
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,035
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Hi, and welcome to BE.
As well as the excellent advice you've been given above, I did just want to mention a concern I have after reading your first post. You say you are 'broke' and can't afford to visit NS, but presumably you are aware the a requirement of the program you are considering applying for PR is that you must show at least $12k in funds (plus another $2k per child if you have any) both when you apply and when you arrive in Canada, and of course it'll cost thousands more for the visa fees, medical costs, visits, etc.
I know you plan to use equity in your property, but you'll need quite a bit before you get to the selling a house stage, so it's just something to consider.
Best of luck with it.
As well as the excellent advice you've been given above, I did just want to mention a concern I have after reading your first post. You say you are 'broke' and can't afford to visit NS, but presumably you are aware the a requirement of the program you are considering applying for PR is that you must show at least $12k in funds (plus another $2k per child if you have any) both when you apply and when you arrive in Canada, and of course it'll cost thousands more for the visa fees, medical costs, visits, etc.
I know you plan to use equity in your property, but you'll need quite a bit before you get to the selling a house stage, so it's just something to consider.
Best of luck with it.
Nov 23rd 2011, 5:28 am
#7
finally together...
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 811
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Also, best idea not to use your real name on the Internet. Just incase anyone googles you 
We are going in on BC pnp and so far it's cost £3400 for our lawyer (you totally don't need one but it was imperative for our application) and hundreds in incidental costs, the pnp fee, police checks, it mounts up! We estimate £16,500 by the time we are all there (£5100 of which for a shipping container to get our stuff there, £1200 to get the dog there, £3000 in flights, plus a £5k mortgage redemption fee because we are leaving before the end of our super low fixed rate of 5% *sarcastic smiley here!* plus courses to get hubby's licences recognised over there...) I could go on, but it's not cheap!
1. Check out www.canadianaffair.com for cheap cheap return flights to NS, www.booking.com or www.hotels.com for accommodation and take a week out there to look around. I know you said you are skint but it's a requirement so you may as well before you decide to rip the kids out of their lives on a what if.
2. Work out what it will cost you, take the value of your house and drop at least £10k, which you will, especially in this Market. If you are in trouble skint rather than just skint then selling may be a good idea but you still have to rent and you won't get much help from govmt if you have savings etc. Price up your visas at www.cic.ca renting abroad at www.craigslist.ca or www.kijiji.ca what sort of job will hubby get? Income? Oh and don't rely on working things back out in £s or €s, because you will be earning cad (Canadian dollars ) and spending cad so yeah my hubby will earn shedloads more in BC than here for the same job, but cost of living is higher too so it works out we will be better off but not as vastly better off than at first glance.
3. Spend about a week reading the wiki (up the top of this forum) it's full of information and advice.
Then take a week or a month to think about it. It's Christmas, enjoy your family friends and hometown, information overload can cause you to run screaming from the idea.
In not trying to talk you out of it, quite the contrary- I can't wait to get out there and feel like I'm in a holding pattern waiting for my life to start! But you need to know this can be all consuming and realistically please see the place first!
We are going in on BC pnp and so far it's cost £3400 for our lawyer (you totally don't need one but it was imperative for our application) and hundreds in incidental costs, the pnp fee, police checks, it mounts up! We estimate £16,500 by the time we are all there (£5100 of which for a shipping container to get our stuff there, £1200 to get the dog there, £3000 in flights, plus a £5k mortgage redemption fee because we are leaving before the end of our super low fixed rate of 5% *sarcastic smiley here!* plus courses to get hubby's licences recognised over there...) I could go on, but it's not cheap!
1. Check out www.canadianaffair.com for cheap cheap return flights to NS, www.booking.com or www.hotels.com for accommodation and take a week out there to look around. I know you said you are skint but it's a requirement so you may as well before you decide to rip the kids out of their lives on a what if.
2. Work out what it will cost you, take the value of your house and drop at least £10k, which you will, especially in this Market. If you are in trouble skint rather than just skint then selling may be a good idea but you still have to rent and you won't get much help from govmt if you have savings etc. Price up your visas at www.cic.ca renting abroad at www.craigslist.ca or www.kijiji.ca what sort of job will hubby get? Income? Oh and don't rely on working things back out in £s or €s, because you will be earning cad (Canadian dollars ) and spending cad so yeah my hubby will earn shedloads more in BC than here for the same job, but cost of living is higher too so it works out we will be better off but not as vastly better off than at first glance.
3. Spend about a week reading the wiki (up the top of this forum) it's full of information and advice.
Then take a week or a month to think about it. It's Christmas, enjoy your family friends and hometown, information overload can cause you to run screaming from the idea.
In not trying to talk you out of it, quite the contrary- I can't wait to get out there and feel like I'm in a holding pattern waiting for my life to start! But you need to know this can be all consuming and realistically please see the place first!
Nov 23rd 2011, 8:34 am
#8
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
TJ - I don't know what Allie might think of your response, but I found it great - I've read lots, and read lots more... and then a bit more! You re-pushed some of my forgotten buttons and I shall get re-reading. Thanks.
Nov 23rd 2011, 1:02 pm
#9
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Hi, and welcome to BE.
As well as the excellent advice you've been given above, I did just want to mention a concern I have after reading your first post. You say you are 'broke' and can't afford to visit NS, but presumably you are aware the a requirement of the program you are considering applying for PR is that you must show at least $12k in funds (plus another $2k per child if you have any) both when you apply and when you arrive in Canada, and of course it'll cost thousands more for the visa fees, medical costs, visits, etc.
I know you plan to use equity in your property, but you'll need quite a bit before you get to the selling a house stage, so it's just something to consider.
Best of luck with it.
As well as the excellent advice you've been given above, I did just want to mention a concern I have after reading your first post. You say you are 'broke' and can't afford to visit NS, but presumably you are aware the a requirement of the program you are considering applying for PR is that you must show at least $12k in funds (plus another $2k per child if you have any) both when you apply and when you arrive in Canada, and of course it'll cost thousands more for the visa fees, medical costs, visits, etc.
I know you plan to use equity in your property, but you'll need quite a bit before you get to the selling a house stage, so it's just something to consider.
Best of luck with it.
It has made me think some more as we would have to sell our house first, if you need that money in the bank when even at the initial stage of applying for the visa, hadn't thought of it like that, was really thinking "perhaps naievely!" that we would just be able to put that info down after we had sold the house........thanks for the info
Nov 23rd 2011, 1:13 pm
#10
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Re: Hoping to move from Ireland to Canada
Also, best idea not to use your real name on the Internet. Just incase anyone googles you
We are going in on BC pnp and so far it's cost £3400 for our lawyer (you totally don't need one but it was imperative for our application) and hundreds in incidental costs, the pnp fee, police checks, it mounts up! We estimate £16,500 by the time we are all there (£5100 of which for a shipping container to get our stuff there, £1200 to get the dog there, £3000 in flights, plus a £5k mortgage redemption fee because we are leaving before the end of our super low fixed rate of 5% *sarcastic smiley here!* plus courses to get hubby's licences recognised over there...) I could go on, but it's not cheap!
1. Check out www.canadianaffair.com for cheap cheap return flights to NS, www.booking.com or www.hotels.com for accommodation and take a week out there to look around. I know you said you are skint but it's a requirement so you may as well before you decide to rip the kids out of their lives on a what if.
2. Work out what it will cost you, take the value of your house and drop at least £10k, which you will, especially in this Market. If you are in trouble skint rather than just skint then selling may be a good idea but you still have to rent and you won't get much help from govmt if you have savings etc. Price up your visas at www.cic.ca renting abroad at www.craigslist.ca or www.kijiji.ca what sort of job will hubby get? Income? Oh and don't rely on working things back out in £s or €s, because you will be earning cad (Canadian dollars ) and spending cad so yeah my hubby will earn shedloads more in BC than here for the same job, but cost of living is higher too so it works out we will be better off but not as vastly better off than at first glance.
3. Spend about a week reading the wiki (up the top of this forum) it's full of information and advice.
Then take a week or a month to think about it. It's Christmas, enjoy your family friends and hometown, information overload can cause you to run screaming from the idea.
In not trying to talk you out of it, quite the contrary- I can't wait to get out there and feel like I'm in a holding pattern waiting for my life to start! But you need to know this can be all consuming and realistically please see the place first!
We are going in on BC pnp and so far it's cost £3400 for our lawyer (you totally don't need one but it was imperative for our application) and hundreds in incidental costs, the pnp fee, police checks, it mounts up! We estimate £16,500 by the time we are all there (£5100 of which for a shipping container to get our stuff there, £1200 to get the dog there, £3000 in flights, plus a £5k mortgage redemption fee because we are leaving before the end of our super low fixed rate of 5% *sarcastic smiley here!* plus courses to get hubby's licences recognised over there...) I could go on, but it's not cheap!
1. Check out www.canadianaffair.com for cheap cheap return flights to NS, www.booking.com or www.hotels.com for accommodation and take a week out there to look around. I know you said you are skint but it's a requirement so you may as well before you decide to rip the kids out of their lives on a what if.
2. Work out what it will cost you, take the value of your house and drop at least £10k, which you will, especially in this Market. If you are in trouble skint rather than just skint then selling may be a good idea but you still have to rent and you won't get much help from govmt if you have savings etc. Price up your visas at www.cic.ca renting abroad at www.craigslist.ca or www.kijiji.ca what sort of job will hubby get? Income? Oh and don't rely on working things back out in £s or €s, because you will be earning cad (Canadian dollars ) and spending cad so yeah my hubby will earn shedloads more in BC than here for the same job, but cost of living is higher too so it works out we will be better off but not as vastly better off than at first glance.
3. Spend about a week reading the wiki (up the top of this forum) it's full of information and advice.
Then take a week or a month to think about it. It's Christmas, enjoy your family friends and hometown, information overload can cause you to run screaming from the idea.
In not trying to talk you out of it, quite the contrary- I can't wait to get out there and feel like I'm in a holding pattern waiting for my life to start! But you need to know this can be all consuming and realistically please see the place first!
Thanks so much for all that information. Wow it all seems even more overwhelming than I thought, you are so right about the wiki above, i have already been reading it. I kinda already do wanna run screaming from it, not because I don't wanna go there but because it is ALL so complicated! Thing is I am not sure that the Community sponsorship programme would be the right way for us to go about getting into the country, but alas I don't think my husband falls into the skilled worker category! And I certainly don't!!! My husband is all for selling up here though and buying a business over there, we will go through all the information you have given us above TJ and process it all, best of luck to you with your move, you have been very helpful as have the others who have replied...ps what is a pnp fee?
