As soon as anyone mentions Canada it seems to be viewed as the poor cousin of the US but a quick glimpse at this post will show you that the country seems to have a lot going for it!

This thread was started by a couple, one of whom is Canadian by birth and the other is a UK resident, looking to relocate to Ontario. A number of very important factors are mentioned and some very probing questions are covered on the thread. Areas such as visas, work prospects, rent, cost of living, safety and which areas offer the best value for money are all covered in the thread.

Initially the thread was very slow to start but it soon kicks into life when a number of posters contribute some very helpful information. One thing which becomes apparent at an early stage is the risk of taking advice from one source rather than cross checking with other avenues.

One such scenario seems to have occurred with regards to a visa for the lady, who was not born in Canada, with one embassy official seemingly suggesting that a visa was not required in order to work, because of her husband’s Canadian roots. This turns out to be incorrect and while the sponsorship process seems very straight forward, in that her husband is able to sponsor her after he finds employment, this could have led to a rather tricky situation.

There are a number of informative websites covered in the post, a number of potential areas in which to live and a general outlook on life in Canada. All very straight forward and very informative for those looking at the country as a possible destination.

Summary

One thing which stands out from this post is the fact that Canada seems to have so much going for it, even though it is forever being overshadowed by the United States. Thankfully the visa system does not seem to be too onerous and those with Canadian spouses should see the whole residency process completed in 12 to 18 months.

There is also some very useful advice on what paperwork would help to speed up the visa application process, local websites to visit for information on the cost of living and many suggestions about areas to consider for both a family life and employment. There is also a very useful suggestion that you could actually start looking for employment before arriving in the country thereby allowing you to ‘hit the ground running’ so to speak.

This particular post started very slowly and initially it looked as though there was little interest but as the post progressed it became apparent that a number of people have moved to or are looking to move to the country. Again there is much advice from those who have been there and done it, something which is worth its weight in gold.

Canada has become a very popular destination with more and more people looking to relocate for the pleasant lifestyle, the employment prospects and the chance to start a new life in a country which is on the up. As ever it is vital that you do your own homework but it seems that Canada may finally be emerging from the shadows of its US cousin and taking to the world stage in its own right.

Read the full thread about moving to Ontario.