Thinking of moving to canada

[NicolaJonny]

Me & my partner are currently discussing moving to Canada. Not sure where else to get advise from so was hoping someone would see my message on here if they have moved from the uk to Canada and to also tell me the pro’s & cons on doing so. I also have a young son who has SEN and would need to find out what things they have in place over there for children like him.

Canada is a vast country, whereabouts are you thinking of moving to?

Why Canada? And where in Canada?
Are you moving from UK or US?

Theres a lot to consider!

I’m a Canuck and can help but your post is exceptionally limited. Canada is like the size of Europe so you need to narrow it down in a big way. Each province (as we are very provincially led) has different views, policies, laws etc so it makes a big difference.

I also have a young son who has SEN

I have a vague memory that people can have visas refused if this SEN has a cost eg ongoing care etc. I’d check that out first. Maybe on the SEN board?

Isn’t it as far from the UK to the west coast of Canada as it is from the west coast to the east coast? Ie the east coast is only halfway there?

Why would Canada let you move there? Do you have high skilled jobs? Is this just something you've thought about, or have you actually done any research?

It’s not as easy as just upping and going or I would have done so ages ago!

I've moved from the UK to Canada but, as others have said, Canada is vast, to be point where pros and cons will vary a lot.

For context, I once took a trip that was a 17 hour drive plus 8 hours on a ferry. All without leaving the Province I live in.

Even ignoring the ferry ride and just focusing on the drive - if you started in London you could, via the Channel Tunnel, drive through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and arrive into Warsaw in (slightly less) time...

As everyone says, whereabouts?

I live on the east coast, ask away

ND provisions will vary province by province. You might try the reddit boards or contact an association with the type of ND your child has to learn more about what you can expect, for example "Autism British Columbia." Reddit tends to be negative and discourages people from immigrating so proceed with a thick skin.

I'm trying not to be to outing and only have a sense of my province. Here, a lot of supports are pre primary aged, but schools will likely have EA support.(Overcrowded schools may be more stretched with this, so pick your neighborhood with that in mind.) At my child's school there's a learning centre he can go to if he needs a break. Kids might get more time to do tests if they have a diagnosis as well.

Other provinces might have more support, ours is relatively poor. You might have more support in the uk but I'm no expert. Some people get disability payments at adulthood here, or a tax credit, but not everyone gets these. Unless you qualify for the DTC there's no childhood funding.

Most provinces have a long waitlist for a family Dr. I found the walk in clinics in Ontario better (easier to access) than my current province.

I moved from UK to Canada. As others said - where? What skills/ qualifications do you have? Before I moved I found the British expats forum helpful.
britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/

I’m in western Canada, originally a Brit although I didn’t move here from the UK. Canada has really tightened up its immigration and done away with some visas.
Depending where you want to be, accommodation can be bloody expensive.

If you’re on FB check out the British Expats in Canada group.

Hi neighbour

We both have highly skilled jobs. We have already looked into the job front I was more concerned on weather we could get accepted with having a child with SEN. And after reading some of the posts it looks highly likely we will not be accepted because of this.

You really need to check whether you would be allowed to emigrate to Canada with your son’s SEN. I know I would not be allowed to due to my MS (even though it is thankfully very mild). It all comes down to cost (or potential cost) to the country. Australia is the same.

You 100% won’t be allowed to emigrate to Canada. With respect it is absolutely the best policy. Unless you have millions stashed away, you will be a drain on their society. I also wouldn’t want to take anyone with more than a cold to Canada. MAID has been a shocking abuse of power on occasion.

Canada has lifted exclusion for Autism. My
autistic son got a working visa and good health insurance .

In 2018, Canada implemented changes to its medical inadmissibility policy to make it easier for people with disabilities, including those with autism, to immigrate. This reform was designed to align the policy with Canadian values of inclusivity and to reduce the number of disability-based refusals. The changes included increasing the cost threshold for denying applicants based on medical conditions and removing the consideration of special education costs for children with disabilities.

I wouldn't not move here bc of maid.