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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Canada help please!

71 replies

hockeypuck · 16/01/2007 13:06

Vaguelly thinking of one day pursuing our dream to relocate to Canada for 2-3 years short term.

Is there a website with information of what skills you need to get a work visa. My DH is in design engineering, I either wouldn't work and would study there or try and pick up some low paid work there.

Any help greatfully appreciated!

OP posts:
brimfull · 16/01/2007 13:09

try this

DaddyCool · 16/01/2007 16:49

i'm in canada. where would you be looking to settle?

brimfull · 19/01/2007 00:23

maybe she's gone already!

mamama · 19/01/2007 01:40

bumping this in case Macneil is around...

hockeypuck · 19/01/2007 09:51

OOh sorry Daddycool and others totally forgot about this thread for a day or two.

Wish I had gone already!!!

Thinking of either Alberta or BC but would consider around Toronto too, depends on work really.

I had a look at the job list and there are special dispensations made for DH's profession. So he is having a look for jobs out there.

Where are you in Canada and what do you like about it?

OP posts:
Waswondering · 19/01/2007 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

purplemonkeydishwasher · 19/01/2007 10:01

i used to live in calgary and it's great. there a big british community there. (if DH plays football i could hook you up with a team!)
housing is a bit of an issue there though. so make sure you secure a home before you go.
i'd recommend the kensington/sunnyside/hillhurst area of the city to live in.
what kind of studying were you thinking of doing?
there's quite a few good schools in the city as well.

macneil · 21/01/2007 02:58

I'm in Vancouver. The pros are, it's very safe, very clean, the fish is amazing, the great restaurants are half London prices, and the views are very very beautiful. If you're outdoorsy it can't be beat.

The cons - the scary downtown area with the prostitutes and heroin addicts, not being able to get double cream, and for me, being so far away from everyone I love.

I'm only here for half the year, then I go back to London. My DH has a work visa, and so do I because I'm married to him, and I applied and they gave me one, although I haven't worked. The NHS here is fine- it's all contracted out to independent places, so you have to fanny around going to a different clinic for each type of scan, and my obstetrician was in a shopping mall.

I like Canadians, they really are polite and amusing, but compared to London this is a small town - it's like living in Sheffield with exquisite views. No one on the streets is very gorgeous or fashionable, you never walk around thinking 'my god, where did she get that coat, she's a goddess', and I miss that about London. The television is annoyingly adverty, and I love television, so I miss the BBC. For me, the cons are really everything I miss, nothing wrong with anything here. And the world has bittorrent now, so you can torrent your Strictly Come Dancing and everything's fine.

There are a LOT of Brits here, a lot of 20something Canadians with British parents, a huge Chinese community - I'd say maybe a third of people are Chinese - although it's the Japanese restaurants I love. I live in an area called Kitsilano, which is easily the best for families, and the buildings are all short: I'm not a big fan of the high rises. They don't like Americans much, here, but all telly is American.

Why are you dreaming of Canada? What do you think will be better than the UK?

Charliedane · 22/01/2007 08:52

How easy is it getting Visas, work permits and jobs in Canada? I don´t do anything impressive so wonder if I would be allowed in? Admin and Sec work though I would turn my hand to something else to get a job. DP is a carpenter. We are toying with NZ, or should I say I am, but if I can´t persuade DP he may consider Canada as a possibility though I have no idea where!

Any suggestions?

Callisto · 22/01/2007 09:05

It is NOT easy to get into Canada. There is a four (yes 4) year wait to get permanent residency (it is around 18 months for OZ). There is such a thing called PNP in most Canadian states but to get PNP you need a job and work permit. If you don't have Canadian experience this can be a bit catch-22. Your best resource is British Expats Canadian forum: BE. They are a good bunch but don't ask dumb questions IYKWIM.

Charliedane · 22/01/2007 09:07

Thanks.. I´ll check that out.

NotQuiteCockney · 22/01/2007 09:08

Canada doesn't have states. We have provinces.

Callisto · 22/01/2007 09:14

Oops, yes of course. Hence P for province in PNP. Sorry too early, too much to drink yesterday...

hockeypuck · 22/01/2007 09:55

Thanks for all the help and the other sites too.

To be honest we're not looking for permanent relocation but something for 2-5 years maybe.

DH lived in USA when he was 5 for a year and it was a really good experience for the whole family and he has tons of great memories. We kind of want that for our own dc's.

We both adore Canada - have toured a fair bit of it and totally fell in love with it (particularly BC) so that's why Canada. Plus we LOVE ice hockey which is MUCH better over there than here! and would love the idea of the kids having more of an outdoors lifestyle.

Got some things to think about obviously. One of them being that it's probably easier for DH to get a job over here which has the option of a secondment over there, rather than the rigmarole(spelling?) of applying for work visas etc.

OP posts:
Callisto · 22/01/2007 11:25

Honeypuck - if you know people in Canada network like mad. Get your husbands resume and send it to everyone you know out there. Something like 90% of vacancies are never advertised, it is all word of mouth.

Callisto · 22/01/2007 11:25

Honeypuck? Hockeypuck, sorry.

christie1 · 22/01/2007 21:03

try this website which gives the rules for visiting, studying, immigrating working etc. in canada. Icanadainternational.gc.ca or try
www.canadainternational.gc.ca/gtc/Going_To_Canada-en.aspx. I lived most of my life on the east coast of canada and it is so beautiful but jobwise it is not the best place. I have been in ottawa for 2 years and like it alot. It is 5 hours from toronto, 2 hours from montreal, 30 minutes from a stunning national park called gatineau with hiking, camping, lakes etc. Ottawa is our capital city and very clean and safe and not too big. It is very family oriented and lots to do. Jobwise, it is good beacause it is a government town so there may be opportunities there. I feel like you in reverse. I am studying in the Uk for the year and we lived here 3 years ago. We love it here but for job and family reasons will return to canada but love the opportunity to experience the life over here.

DaddyCool · 24/01/2007 13:44

we just can't figure out which country is better. the pros and cons and endless. the uk is most def more 'cool'. style and savvy don't seem to exist outside the major cities.

the winter is fantastic here. I love the snow and ice and 3.5 yr old ds is already on single blade skates, sporting a hockey helmet and his hockey stick is hidden in the back of the van with the promise that he gets one when he can skate without his little zimmer frame thing.

work is a bit crappy here and that's a big one. it pays less, you only get 10 days holiday (yes folks, 10 days)and you have to earn them before you take them, people work long hours and seem very naive to the way corporations work. many of them seem to live and breath work and are under the false impression that they have a job for life.... and i work for a really good company by CDN standards!

DaddyCool · 24/01/2007 13:47

to put the 'live to work' thing into perspective... over 50% of people here have holiday from last year brought over to this year (remember, they only get 10 days) and many of them don't take holidays at all! my colleague hasn't taken holiday entitlement for 3 years and was here working till 11pm for the past two nights. he isn't an isolated case either.

Callisto · 24/01/2007 13:50

Lucky you being out there Daddycool. Are you there on a work permit or have you got PR?

One of the things that really appeals to me about Canada is its frumpyness (for want of a better word). The thought of my DD growing up in Britain terrifies me tbh.

DaddyCool · 24/01/2007 13:54

callisto - i'm actually canadian. lived here till i was about 20 then lived in the UK for ten years.

I know exactly what you mean about frumpyness. yes, i'm sh*t scared about my boy growing up in the UK. i have images of him drinking special brew on street corners.

it's just so hard to make a decison but as me and my son are citizens, we can just sit back and relax and think it through whilst living in it.

you see the big thing is this... i can see where canada is going in the next 10 years, i can't see where the UK is going and I'm concerned over it's long term prospects.

DaddyCool · 24/01/2007 13:55

oh and another big one... we live well out of toronto. about an hours drive east and there is practically zero crime. the kids are considerably more innocent as well.

Callisto · 24/01/2007 14:02

I love the fact that children don't go to school until six (four is way too early imo) and that they actually have a childhood in Canada. And the low crime in the country is also a factor.

I live in a small town in the Cotswolds and my DP was called a 'F*king C**' last night because he wouldn't buy a nasty little 12 year old some cigarettes in our local shop. Stuff like this is more and more common. From my research into living in Canada, the kids out there or whatever age are far more respectful and polite.

DaddyCool · 24/01/2007 14:12

yeah, they are. they don't start school until they are six but they get free part 'kindergarden' which is just marginally more involved than play school from the age of four.

there are some cons though that can affect the decision:

  1. they don't have a full health care service. you most certainly don't get everything for free and you have to pay full wack for your prescriptions, dental and optical. it can make life very hard for an older person.
  1. eating out is cheaper but grocery food is considerably more expensive. the EU keeps a close check on basic food prices. meat is extortionate and they fill things full of additives and crap which 99% of canadians seem completely naive to.
  1. i mentioned the employment as being rubbish. employment law works wholly for the employer, not the employee. the employer doesn't have to give you anything beyond your basic wages unless you are part of a union.
DaddyCool · 24/01/2007 14:15

oh fgs, i sound like a miserable old man.. and boring. sorry.

the place is alright and there is many many opportunities to be had.