Moving to Canada-what is your top tip?

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I'm researching this on behalf of my db and his wife. Currently they live in a remote part of England but as with many other young families are really feeling the recession. My db has always had a longing to go to Canada and because of lack of opportunities for his family he is thinking now is the time. He's just as the planning stage now but the whole family are wanting to make sure he makes an informed decision and weighs up all the pros and cons.

What would be your top piece of advice or "wish I had known that" fact before you moved to Canada?

We have just returned from oz after 6 years away, had a great time, but basically it wasn't home and we had a few other reasons.
My advice if at all possible would have been to keep a small house/flat here, rented out as its impossible to get back on the market.
It took approx 2 years start to finish to do move, got lots of quotes for moving, but clear the clutter, only keep the stuff you really need as weather may dictate its useless ( 6 winter coats in oz are pretty useless) , and give it at least 2 years.
The recession has hit other countries as have 2 friends in Canada but luckily not as bad.
You only regret the things you dont do.

To avoid stress apply and get both PR and a job before leaving the UK. This will only happen if either your brother and his wife have skills that are in demand in Canada. They should look at the CIC website: www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp for all the information they need. Be warned though it is a long, expensive and stressful process!

Alternately they could find a job and get a temporary work permit but getting jobs from overseas is not easy, and again it needs to be a high demand area.

The other thing to bear in mind is that Canada is huge, and quite different from province to province. Right now the best employment opportunities are probably in Alberta.

I was married to a Canadian, in Canada, and I still could not get a visa. I started the process and was told there would be a three year minimum wait.

As nooka says, it is a very expensive and a very stressful process. Unless they have visas I would say it is impossible to get work.

I also, did not like Canada much at all - the winters were dire, and went on for 6 months of the year. I left (with my husband!) Don't get me wrong - Canada is a wonderful place to visit and people are friendly, Vancouver is a nicer climate... but to live permanently - I wouldn't think it would be a straightforward move.

calypso, really? DH's family class PR visa (I sponsored him) took 6 months. We applied from the UK which might be faster, but I've never heard of 3 years! Spousal/children's visas are supposed to be the priority.

Hi Bue yep - afraid so! I had the medical, filled in the HUGE tome that was the visa application (not to work mind you - just a residency visa) got my police clearance check from the UK and can speak fluent French (fairly important) was told a three year backlog - this was 6 years ago though... maybe they have cleared the backlog.

My husband owned his own home and had a steady government job also - so was completely able to support me and I was a British citizen. The last time I went home to the UK, when I came back - at immigration, they said to me in French that I was 'pushing the doors' and would not be allowed to leave and come back again until I got my visa - that was it for me! I wanted to have children, I didn't see how this was going to be possible under the circumstances.

How bizarre calypso - did they explain why it would take that long? I emigrated to Canada 6 years ago and I also made the mistake of applying inland for my spousal sponsorship (slooooooow) rather than via London (which you can do, even if already living in Canada - you just risk having to attend any interview in London.) Despite the unexpected complication of having someone come up on the RCMP check with the same name as me and a criminal record, it still "only" took 19 months from start to getting PR (with "approval in principal" granted before then, so allowed to work once that was received.)

I'd never heard of anyone else in my situation where it took as long as me, before today, nevermind even longer. Wow. Not surprised you got fed up and left!