We're planning to move to Canada

[mapleleaf]

Well, After much deliberation - about a day ! we decided a couple of weeks ago to up sticks and move to toronto . Its likely to be a two year immigration process so plenty of time to sort out our affairs here in blighty.

Why?
Many reasons but most of all we are getting fed up with the way this country is being run and the constant threats to personal safety, taxation, dare I say it "immigration" of what looks like most of Eastern Europe. Nice people but UK is getting too Full. A creaking Criminal Justice system and failed assylum seekers stiil here ! I could go on & on but I think you get my drfit.

We are also leaving because we can- fortunately. Our son is now 18 & off to UNI. He is keen to leave UK & work in USA or JAPAN as soon as he gets his degree.

Why Canada?

Its one of the best places to live in the world according to the info we have read. Its clean, low crime, better standards of living (more house for your money) a rigourous immigration policy - thats why it will take us 2 years! Mind you they will fast track skilled construction workers in British Columbia.

Also, Canadians are really nice people - those we have met in the Uk & the dozens I have met on tinternet over recent weeks. It seems the main reason for this is that they are mostly immigrants so there is no class system & everyone just seems to get along. Eg, Football or hockey games - thousands of people attending & no violence.

We are going for a reccy in October and will nmeet up with our Canadian Lawyer, removal/ resettlement advisers & business advisors.- I hope to establish a business there & wifey will probably get a job in banking - 30yrs exp in the UK must count for something!

Downside? its bloomin cold in Winter! Erm thats it!

We have no qualms about leaving family & friends ... even you lot everyone has been so supportive so far.

So we have appointed (& paid a retainer to) a canadian specialist immigration lawyer to help us process the application which I faxed to him this morning. The house wil go up for sale when we get back from our trip & if it sells quickly we will rent for a bit.

I'l lkeep you posted of our progress.

 

[GRAV888]

Good luck to you and Solly.
You taking the hounds too?

 

[Flyer]

Good for you Steve, it's somewhere I'd love to move to (Cape Cod being the other). I looked into Vancouver some time ago, but never moved ahead with it.

Are you going to establish the same line of business as you are in now? Do you need an IT consultant?

(Slightly OT: my daughter, who moved to Australia, is coming back, again, as they miss the UK, problems 'n' all )

 

[Brian WH]

Good luck mate. Hope All goes well for you and Solly.

 

[mapleleaf]

GRAV: Yep we are taking the two hound dogs

Flyer: I'm busy researching just what I need to do to set up the same line business. From what I have found out so far there is as much red tape there as there is here - but I'm used to that If I need help with IT - yur my man

RE Vancouver - it rains as much there as it does in UK and has some of Canadas the highest property costs.

I have worked abroad a lot in my youth - 3 months on & 2 weeks off for a year at a time and never once felt homesick! Quite the opposite in fact.

Brian : Cheers matey

PS

It should be home from home.....http://www.mbca-toronto.org/

 

[kensalriser]

You don't like the immigration here but want to move to a city that is well known for being a city of immigrants and moreover think the reason that Canadians are nice is because they're mostly immigrants, even though Canada has a really strict immigration policy.

Strange.

 

[imadoofus]

Good for you, Steve. I hope it works out.

Use the recce wisely though. An acquaintance of mine was emigrating to NZ. She got married a yerar ahead of schedule to help the immigration process, her husband got a job out there all lined up (via a relocation agent to whom, they paid £4,000), and then they went for a three week trip to check the place out, and find a house.

Within three days, they realised they didn't like it, so they ditched the whole thing and came home.

I think your head's more tightly screwed on though...

PJ

PS: Not only is Toronto very cold in the winter, but it's blummen hot and humid in the summer!

 

[Howard]

You don't like the immigration here but want to move to a city that is well known for being a city of immigrants and moreover think the reason that Canadians are nice is because they're mostly immigrants, even though Canada has a really strict immigration policy.

Strange.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there as to why Canada is so nice and the UK is turning into a sh*thole .....

 

[Shude]

You don't like the immigration here but want to move to a city that is well known for being a city of immigrants and moreover think the reason that Canadians are nice is because they're mostly immigrants, even though Canada has a really strict immigration policy.

Strange.

Not really. UK immigration seems to be a high percentage of migrant spongers rather than migrant workers.

EDIT: it's not like we don't already have enough spongers...

 

[stats007]

Sounds like a plan. I've had a few offers of work in Vancouver - but turned them down in favour of trying to get a similar position in Australia. A few friends have gone out there and are enjoying it so wish you well!

 

[glojo]

Never been to Toronto, but loved Vancouver, Australia was alright, preferred New Zealand, but home is where you make it.

Good luck with the decision, you clearly appear to be someone who is wise to pitfalls.

Immigration hmmmm!! I'm old fashioned and call red indians red indians but I believe we should now call them 'native Americans' During my time in Canada I visited a number of these 'reservations' I do hope they have been removed from the face of this earth!! They were certainly NOT a very good advert for that very nice country.

John

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Good luck & congratulations! That's a brave move, something I'm envious of.

We looked into this briefly last year, were very tempted by Vancouver (even with the high property prices), we've got family on the West Coast of the US too but the US doesn't appeal for other reasons. The cost differential of housing between Vancouver & Toronto was massive. You're right about the balance within Canada, seems like a fantastic place.

We only got put off as my wife's qualifications wouldn't be recognised and she'd have a few more years of study, that's something she'd really like to avoid!!! So for now we're staying put...

 

[fuzzer]

mmm , good luck dude

one of the places id like to go live myself , a lovely city and ive got lots of family there.

Mercedes dealer in oakland is super they let us take out a G wagen a few years back on a test drive.

Good luck dude

 

[blassberg]

Steve enjoy!
Need me to look after the SL?

 

[mapleleaf]

You don't like the immigration here but want to move to a city that is well known for being a city of immigrants and moreover think the reason that Canadians are nice is because they're mostly immigrants, even though Canada has a really strict immigration policy.

Strange.

Fair comment , but consider this.

Canada is full of immigrants that bring skills or investment to the country and have to work for their money. No job, no money = no visa.

Potential immigrants have to provide huge amounts of verifiable documentary evidence of their skills (trade, profession or entrpreneural) before even being granted an interview. UK qualifications may not be accptable & Canadian exams have to be taken - eg physiotherapists, dentists even some construction workers.

We only got put off as my wife's qualifications wouldn't be recognised and she'd have a few more years of study, that's something she'd really like to avoid

And its not cheap! The application fees can be prohibative to some , plus you have to prove you have sufficient funds that can be brought to canada to sustain yourself & your family for at least the first 6 months. Entreprenours are required to prove they have a certain minimum net worth, have succesfully run a business that employes several people and if allowed into Canada are required to start a business & employ canadians under a conditional visa arrangement.

Immigrants cannot be employed by a canadian firm unless the firm can prove to the the candadian employment authorities that a resident candian is unavailable. Furthermore, each & every Job offer has to approved by the government before anyone can apply for a work visa, let alone a residency visa.

So you see, there is immigration policy the Canadian way (that clearly works) & and there is immigration the UK way.

Not so strange really.

PS: Not only is Toronto very cold in the winter, but it's blummen hot and humid in the summer!

Hot & cold extremes are a fact of life inToronto but they are geared up for it.
All government buildings opeate at a constant 20 degrees C summer or winter. Most houses have central heating & cooling as do the cars. When it snows, the 16 lane highway that runs through Toronto is cleared as follows: a line of 8 snow plows travel at 50 mph followed by a line of 8 gritters up one side , then they travel back down the other . ! Our lonley gritter travelling up the middle lane on our motoways seems a bit sad by comparason!
Life just goes on. People dress (& drive) according to the climate.


Sure Canada has its share of problems and Native Canadians or First Nationals have a had a hard time but positive action does seem to be being taken to overcome the difficulties. Same in Australia & New Zealand I believe.

We are up for this move and are totally committed to succeeding. I've tried to explain why - I didnt have to and my opions are just that. But we see it a a wonderful & life changing opportunity to experience a whole new way of living in a country that isnt sinking under its weight of people.

Finally, (for now anyway) Canada has the second largest oil reserves in the World, Still mines Gold, makes its own Steel and has the worlds largest reserves of fresh water. Another brief example of the scale of things... Lake Erie has a permanent fleet of 200 Fishing vessels whose nets are out catching millions of fish every year. No issue with quotas for them!

Have a play around with this google map its brilliant! http://maps.google.com/maps?q=toronto,+ON,+Canada&spn=0.020753,0.054224&iwloc=A&hl=en

 

[glojo]

Canada is full of immigrants that bring skills or investment to the country and have to work for their money. No job, no money = no visa.

What an excellent read. Well done and as stated before I wish you luck and hopefully in two years time you will be logging onto this forum from a different, but very nice country.

I was actually presented with a Royal Canadian Mounted Polce Officers hat. The old films with these Police officers always have brilliant scenic shots of this very beautiful country.

Edit:
Totally agree with your points about the native indians.
Good luck (again)
John

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Fair comment , but consider this.

Canada is full of immigrants that bring skills or investment to the country and have to work for their money. No job, no money = no visa.

Potential immigrants have to provide huge amounts of verifiable documentary evidence of their skills (trade, profession or entrpreneural) before even being granted an interview. UK qualifications may not be accptable & Canadian exams have to be taken - eg physiotherapists, dentists even some construction workers.

That's what we liked about it too, bit like an exclusive club. My wife's cousin has just emmigrated, they've set up / bought a business out there. My wife is currently working toward becoming a Dentist, so as well as the exam issue that Steve mentioned, the fact that her cousin is there is probably the other reason she's not so keen on the idea anymore!

 

[sym]

Good luck Steve ... I'm sure you'll make a great success of it !

S.

 

[Jukie]

We have no qualms about leaving family & friends ... even you lot

Don't they have the interweb in Canada???

Seriously fella, good luck, hope it works out. I share your sentiments about the way the UK is going down the toilet. There's an increasing number of people who would agree with you.

 

[mapleleaf]

cheers Jukie

Yes, they have an interweb in canda and I will surely keep in touch.

GloJo , Nice one regarding the mounties hat.