Cancelled our Application!!
Nov 1st 2009 | 7:17 am
#1
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 36
Cancelled our Application!!
Well anybody that recognises my username may remember our uncertainty as to whether we wanted to emigrate or not. So I thought I would add a final update as we have just cancelled our application -at the stage where they had asked for our passports to issue visa after 3 years!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Lack of holiday entitlement in Canada - I get 7 weeks.
Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
That sounds negative, but they are things you must consider. We also missed so much that we take for granted in the UK and Europe. I should say that we are not 'niave majorca travllers' - 20 years in the RAF has given us our fair share of living overseas - USA, Germany, Holland and I've spent lots of time travelling around the world on the job. Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
Nov 1st 2009 | 7:28 am
#2
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55,309
From: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Re: Cancelled our Application!!
All fair comment and I can relate to all of them (without necessarily agreeing on all) even though my reasons for being here are from meeting/marrying a Canadian, so they weren't really factors in a decision anyway.
My old job gave me 6 weeks annual leave so I can't really imagine only having two or whatever. But my move here - when UK capital went further than now - did enable me to pack in work.
My old job gave me 6 weeks annual leave so I can't really imagine only having two or whatever. But my move here - when UK capital went further than now - did enable me to pack in work.
Nov 1st 2009 | 8:36 am
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 442
From: Herne Bay, Kent, England.
Re: Cancelled our Application!!
Well anybody that recognises my username may remember our uncertainty as to whether we wanted to emigrate or not. So I thought I would add a final update as we have just cancelled our application -at the stage where they had asked for our passports to issue visa after 3 years!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Lack of holiday entitlement in Canada - I get 7 weeks.
Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
That sounds negative, but they are things you must consider. We also missed so much that we take for granted in the UK and Europe. I should say that we are not 'niave majorca travllers' - 20 years in the RAF has given us our fair share of living overseas - USA, Germany, Holland and I've spent lots of time travelling around the world on the job. Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
Glad it's all worked out for you. Good luck.
Nov 1st 2009 | 8:56 am
#4
Hello.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 265
From: Vancouver, BC
Re: Cancelled our Application!!
I can relate to all of those issues, so don't fret too much.
For us, we want 'smaller' big city living, being closer to nature. You don't get that in London. TV/radio is negated by the internet for us... we're selling a house in London so may do well aside from the exchange rate. I can definitely see why it can be tougher than people think.
For us, we want 'smaller' big city living, being closer to nature. You don't get that in London. TV/radio is negated by the internet for us... we're selling a house in London so may do well aside from the exchange rate. I can definitely see why it can be tougher than people think.
Nov 1st 2009 | 9:39 am
#5
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,284
Re: Cancelled our Application!!
Well anybody that recognises my username may remember our uncertainty as to whether we wanted to emigrate or not. So I thought I would add a final update as we have just cancelled our application -at the stage where they had asked for our passports to issue visa after 3 years!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Lack of holiday entitlement in Canada - I get 7 weeks.
Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
That sounds negative, but they are things you must consider. We also missed so much that we take for granted in the UK and Europe. I should say that we are not 'niave majorca travllers' - 20 years in the RAF has given us our fair share of living overseas - USA, Germany, Holland and I've spent lots of time travelling around the world on the job. Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
Nov 2nd 2009 | 3:59 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 67
From: Wasaga Beach, ON
Re: Cancelled our Application!!
Good on you for making the decision that is right for you !!
I did that too 12 months ago, house was sold and we had gone into rented accomodation. I had just taken a large promotion at work that made the choice for me to stay here in the UK. Financially we are very comfortable but there is still the desire to go.......and my life has become work, stress, work, stress.
I didn't cancelled our application but just left it open at the 90 day update stage. I contacted them 1 week before the 12 months deadline and they allowed us to continue with our old application. We had 5 weeks to update the file and within 1 week of returning it they sent out the medical and RPRF request. I had my medical today and my family have there's next Monday.
I know that it is not going to be a long holiday, my eyes are truely open to the fact that life will be the same just in a different country, but both my husband and I just think for my family it is the right direction at the moment and are ready for the challenge.
I know its not going to be easy but I am ready for the challenge!
Good luck with your new house Chutley!
Hope the decision is the right one MartianTom!
Good luck for the future
I did that too 12 months ago, house was sold and we had gone into rented accomodation. I had just taken a large promotion at work that made the choice for me to stay here in the UK. Financially we are very comfortable but there is still the desire to go.......and my life has become work, stress, work, stress.
I didn't cancelled our application but just left it open at the 90 day update stage. I contacted them 1 week before the 12 months deadline and they allowed us to continue with our old application. We had 5 weeks to update the file and within 1 week of returning it they sent out the medical and RPRF request. I had my medical today and my family have there's next Monday.
I know that it is not going to be a long holiday, my eyes are truely open to the fact that life will be the same just in a different country, but both my husband and I just think for my family it is the right direction at the moment and are ready for the challenge.
I know its not going to be easy but I am ready for the challenge!
Good luck with your new house Chutley!
Hope the decision is the right one MartianTom!
Good luck for the future
Nov 2nd 2009 | 7:32 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 768
From: Vancouver Island
Re: Cancelled our Application!!
Well anybody that recognises my username may remember our uncertainty as to whether we wanted to emigrate or not. So I thought I would add a final update as we have just cancelled our application -at the stage where they had asked for our passports to issue visa after 3 years!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
We spent another month on a house exchange in kamloops in the Summer. This was the last of several fact finding trips to Alberta and BC. We did like some things - clearly more so initially as we applied to emigrate in Oct 2006! However, slowly our research changed our opinion and we have decided to stay in the UK.
Various things contributed to this change of heart:
Lack of holiday entitlement in Canada - I get 7 weeks.
Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
That sounds negative, but they are things you must consider. We also missed so much that we take for granted in the UK and Europe. I should say that we are not 'niave majorca travllers' - 20 years in the RAF has given us our fair share of living overseas - USA, Germany, Holland and I've spent lots of time travelling around the world on the job. Lack of recognition for our professional qualifications.
Poor exchange rate has a huge impact of what cash we could take.
Costs of living in Canada no better than UK when you add everything together.
Economic climate and job market immigrants fair less well.
Food and Supermarkets - nowhere near the freshness and quality of Europe, full of junk.
Medical drug costs.
Insurance costs.
Climate - as much as I love winter sports, I couldn't live with the long, long winters.
Mosquitos - appalling in BC.
Wooden houses - all the same and crammed in together.
T.V and radio truly dreadful.
The distances between everything.
Anyway, good luck to all of you making the big move. My only piece of advice... don't burn your bridges, spend some time over there if you can before you commit.
As for us, we've been fortunate and have a fantastic opportunity in property - a repossession house - set in an acre of land in a beautiful village 10 miles south of Lincoln. That will give us the space and tranquility we were hoping to get in Canada, but without the stress! Strange how life doesn't always turn out the way you plan - we found our shangri-la on the doorstep!
As one door closes.......................
