DH would like to move to Canada from UK - brilliant opportunity or big mistake?

[perrinelli]

Trying to have a sense of adventure but can't help thinking about the potential problems! We have a 3 yr old daughter and a baby due in June. We've been thinking for a while about applying for residence in Canada under the federal skilled worker programme and going over there for 2 - 5 yrs if my husband could get a suitable job. We'd be going for the experience and quality of life.

What worries me is that we'd be leaving behind a pretty good life here, I feel settled in London and secure in my friendships, with lots of family support not too far away, and a really good local primary school. I don't think I'm someone that finds change that easy and it can take me time to build up real friendships with people. Also worried about potential upheaval for kids, maybe not so much going out there when they are young but coming back when they will be school age (older one could be as old as 10 if it takes us a couple of yrs to get there and we stay for 5 yrs) - won't that be really hard for them? Is it selfish of us to put them through potentially two upheavals (or am I just using that as an excuse because I'm worried about how I will cope!). Would really appreciate your thoughts and experiences!

Toronto is where he would be most likely to find a job (in finance) so long winters could also be an issue.
We would get in under the federal skilled worker programme based on my profession as a social worker but not sure if I would work or not once we were there, at least not until the kids were settled and older.

We moved to BC two and a half years ago also from London, and I really enjoy living out here. But it was very expensive (factor in moving all your stuff, renting, buying cars, insurance with little no claims and all sorts of other things and you are talking over 10k fairly easily). I'm another person who wouldn't move from London to Toronto. I'm sure it is a nice city to some, but I've not warmed to it at all from a number of visits, and in general North American cities aren't a patch on European ones (not their fault in any way I think it's generally a factor of being much younger). I don't think you'd get a quality of life that you couldn't get from moving in the UK to be honest. However I think that the Canadian coasts are fantastic and offer space and activities that aren't available in the UK, plus the West Coast is wonderfully relaxed (and BC really is beautiful).

If your dh is keen, and you have the money to lose then put in an application and see what happens. It will be a long wait and if you get a positive response then go and visit and see what you think. Don't move without a job though, and do see if Calgary or Vancouver are possible.

Oh and of course it's not selfish not to want to emigrate, it is a hugely disruptive and scary thing to do with uncertain rewards. You have to both be really up for it.

Thanks again for lots more helpful views! I guess we don't have anything to lose by putting in the application apart from the fees (and hours of time completing all the forms!). We did have a good chat about it last night with me trying to unpick my husband's reason for wanting to go of 'better quality of life' and trying to find out what that actually means for him! I think he could get some of what he's after (more outdoors and space) by moving a bit out of London so we're going to do a reccie in Surrey on Saturday (hardly Canada I know!)

We have talked about satisfying his itchy feet by going somewhere closer like his native Germany or Switzerland but that doesn't seem to quite do it for him and I think I could be isolated as because of language - I'm sure I'd improve enough to get by but can't imagine being fluent enough to work as a social worker.

My DH's occupation is not on 'the list' but social work (my occupation) is and having looked into it my qualifications would stand up in BC or Ontario once I go through a fairly simple process of sending off evidence to the regulatory body in the state we will live. I don't have to do any exams.

My DH would also get a visa and be able to work if we were successful and apparently it then doesn't matter too much if I don't actually work as a social worker having got the visa on that basis, although I expect I would do some part time work in time.

The problem with uprooting children when they are young enough to not mind, is that they might mind a great deal if it does not work out for the adults in the family, but the kids love it, and you want to return home.....