i am in a pickle...to go to canada or not...that is the question????

[01JLM01]

hey everyone!
Thank you so much for your replies, it has given me A LOT to think about, and because of this and the fact that i want to be completley sure of my choice i have decided to give it another 6 months or so before i definitley decide for sure!
I wish you all luck with the future, and il be sure to come back with any more questions i have! thanks again!
xxx

[Thaddeus]

Originally Posted by Auld Yin

You didn't say what you're qualified to do, work-wise. At 23 you can apply for a one-year BUNAC work visa and you should read the BUNAC CANADA website for details. Under this programme you will be allowed to live and work in Canada for any employer and anywhere you choose. You can apply for an extension at the end of the year and it may be granted.
Banff is a tourist town and almost all employment there would involve retail or the hospitality industry. Calgary is a large city with all the employment opportunities that entails.

Hi There! from another American (in Canada for 3 years now).

Be prepared to do a lot of homework, continued learning, fees, paperwork, questions, delays, follow-ups, waiting (repeat, repeat).... (and you thought this ended with graduation....). Once you've inquired enough to decide that you are wanting to come to Canada, particularily if you are desiring to be in Canada indefinitely, I would encourage you to use the services of an Immigration Attorney to best secure your application to the program of your choosing.

There are a lot of things not covered on the CIC Canada Government website, forums, etc, that an attorney can save you from a lot of grief down the road. Little things like file presentation and organization can cause a file to be denied and returned to you (often after many, many months of waiting). What to say at the border, the unexpected, and just adding additional credibility at each step of the process an attorney is well worth the few thousand dollars. While it's tempting to skip it (and certainly not mandatory), remember that immigration is serious stuff (even for an American), one of the biggest and often difficult decisions of one's life, one of the potentially best decisions of one's life, and shouldn't be taken lightly. A creditable attorney will guarantee your file's acceptability or money back in most conditions.

Even when everything goes smooth, in most circumstances 6-18months is about the minimum you should plan on before your are in Canada with any kind of long-term status. If you can get a TWP (a temporary work permit) with an employer who wants to hire you, it can be just a few months, then file for Permanent Residency from in Canada. As you have seen, employers understandably must hire Canadians and Permanent Residents first....

Stay strong! Ask tonnes of questions! Prepare for the ride of your life! Good luck!

[jen45]

Originally Posted by 01JLM01

hey everyone!
Thank you so much for your replies, it has given me A LOT to think about, and because of this and the fact that i want to be completley sure of my choice i have decided to give it another 6 months or so before i definitley decide for sure!
I wish you all luck with the future, and il be sure to come back with any more questions i have! thanks again!
xxx

Good luck with your choice and I am sure in time, It will become clearer as to what you should do. Its difficult I know. Having lived in canada 3 years ago and then coming to scotland to live , we had to make a choice. Hubby has found no work here and home sickness has set in with him so I pondered over going back for many months. If you read my first thread, It will prove the point. I decided to just go for it and we are going back april, may this year. We will be starting from scratch from nothing but you only live once and I dont want any regrets years down the road when Im too old to do it. Its another adventure and another chapter in my memoirs so why not!!... Anyways whatever you decide, it has to be the best for you and we wish you all the luck. If you want to know anything about canada, Just ask.
Best wishes to you.

[Blitzwing85]

Originally Posted by 01JLM01

hey everyone!
Thank you so much for your replies, it has given me A LOT to think about, and because of this and the fact that i want to be completley sure of my choice i have decided to give it another 6 months or so before i definitley decide for sure!
I wish you all luck with the future, and il be sure to come back with any more questions i have! thanks again!
xxx

Sounds similar to my situation in a way. My work experience doesn't come under 'THE LIST' either, but i believe once i was over there i could find a good job without much problem. The only stumbling block really is that they have to employ canadians first...which is of course understandable. And the fact that the UK does not work like this is 1 of many reasons people choose to leave!!!

I'm not sure on when to really push for the move. I can't move for another 2 years at least, so do i start now? Or leave it until nearer the time.
I have some loans to clear up over the next 18 months, then i want to spend a year saving some money...at least £5000 which should be easy enough.
Then i plan to just move over to Canada and find any job i an to start me off, and instantly start looking for a job in the field i currently work in.
It's going to be a lot of thought, and hard work but if it's your dream like it is mine, then i'd just go for it.

The least it'll be is a nice change in life from the mundane. And it's best to do it before you settle down. Luckily my girlfriend also wishes to move but we only bought our first house 8 months ago. At least payment wise we already owe less than it's worth, so would be able to sell up and pay the mortgage off no problem.

if house prices in the Uk rise, then i'm laughing.

[minime77]

Originally Posted by Auld Yin

You didn't say what you're qualified to do, work-wise. At 23 you can apply for a one-year BUNAC work visa and you should read the BUNAC CANADA website for details. Under this programme you will be allowed to live and work in Canada for any employer and anywhere you choose. You can apply for an extension at the end of the year and it may be granted.
Banff is a tourist town and almost all employment there would involve retail or the hospitality industry. Calgary is a large city with all the employment opportunities that entails.

Hi, I am moving to Canada with my partner who was originally born in Canada, we both live in Scotland at the moment but we are trying to find out what is the easiest way to complete the move. Do we need to have an address in Canada for my partner to sponsor me or is he able to do this anyway as he was born there?

[minime77]

Originally Posted by jen45

Good luck with your choice and I am sure in time, It will become clearer as to what you should do. Its difficult I know. Having lived in canada 3 years ago and then coming to scotland to live , we had to make a choice. Hubby has found no work here and home sickness has set in with him so I pondered over going back for many months. If you read my first thread, It will prove the point. I decided to just go for it and we are going back april, may this year. We will be starting from scratch from nothing but you only live once and I dont want any regrets years down the road when Im too old to do it. Its another adventure and another chapter in my memoirs so why not!!... Anyways whatever you decide, it has to be the best for you and we wish you all the luck. If you want to know anything about canada, Just ask.
Best wishes to you.

Hi, my partner was originally born in canada, but we both live in scotland. myself and my partner plan to relocate to canada this year, he is planning to sponsor me, we think it is possible for him to do so even although we do not have residency in canada as yet. Can you confirm this for me and if there is any other information you can provide or contact details it would be much appreciated. Thanks

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by minime77

Hi, my partner was originally born in canada, but we both live in scotland. myself and my partner plan to relocate to canada this year, he is planning to sponsor me, we think it is possible for him to do so even although we do not have residency in canada as yet. Can you confirm this for me and if there is any other information you can provide or contact details it would be much appreciated. Thanks

If you have lived common-law, and can so prove, for one year minimum, your partner can sponsor you as a spouse.