Moving to Canada from the UK
Discussion
The easiest way to get a canadian residency is to get a working holiday visa, get a job that will sponsor you, then apply for residency. You can apply for an extension on the original work visa if needed.
If you need a car I have an old 5 series over here I need to shift before moving home
If you need a car I have an old 5 series over here I need to shift before moving home
Bookmarked as I'm going through this process over the next couple of years, first scouting trip to Southern Ontario next week, looking at and spending time with friends in the Kingston and Toronto areas.
I have some family a couple of hours away too, but not close enough to be of any assistance visa wise and no possible partner/spousal link at this stage, so it'll be on my own merit or otherwise as a worker.
How has everyone else above got along?
I have some family a couple of hours away too, but not close enough to be of any assistance visa wise and no possible partner/spousal link at this stage, so it'll be on my own merit or otherwise as a worker.
How has everyone else above got along?
Zwolf said:
Bookmarked as I'm going through this process over the next couple of years, first scouting trip to Southern Ontario next week, looking at and spending time with friends in the Kingston and Toronto areas.
I have some family a couple of hours away too, but not close enough to be of any assistance visa wise and no possible partner/spousal link at this stage, so it'll be on my own merit or otherwise as a worker.
How has everyone else above got along?
Zwolf, I have some family a couple of hours away too, but not close enough to be of any assistance visa wise and no possible partner/spousal link at this stage, so it'll be on my own merit or otherwise as a worker.
How has everyone else above got along?
have you been over to britishexpats.com, there is a ton of info there, in addition to the cic website.
good luck
sawman said:
Zwolf,
have you been over to britishexpats.com, there is a ton of info there, in addition to the cic website.
good luck
Thanks - not yet, trying to get away from Brits! Defeats the object to relocate to another country to keep your social circle at home as it were. have you been over to britishexpats.com, there is a ton of info there, in addition to the cic website.
good luck
I'll give it a look at some point though, likely after this trip.
Edited by Zwolf on Saturday 17th August 11:16
Zwolf said:
Thanks - not yet, trying to get away from Brits! Defeats the object to relocate to another country to keep your social circle at home as it were.
I'll give it a look at some point though, likely after this trip.
Yeah, I know what you mean, but there is quite a bit of useful info regards the immigration process and logistical stuff. I didnt find it until I was already in canada. and it would have been helpful earlier. There is also, however a LOT of bI'll give it a look at some point though, likely after this trip.
Edited by Zwolf on Saturday 17th August 11:16
hing and moaning and some odd characters but you dont need to get drawn to that. sawman said:
Yeah, I know what you mean, but there is quite a bit of useful info regards the immigration process and logistical stuff. I didnt find it until I was already in canada. and it would have been helpful earlier.
I'll certainly be going into full homework mode upon my return. This trip I'm just living normal daily life with friends rather than being a typical tourist, so I can get a realistic sense of things. A few days of outings of course, with a longer trip provisionally planned for early next year and much more stuff on the itinerary. sawman said:
There is also, however a LOT of bhing and moaning and some odd characters but you dont need to get drawn to that.
Just like PH/every other web forum. hing and moaning and some odd characters but you dont need to get drawn to that. I moved from sunny Bristol to Canada in November 2011 - so perhaps I can offer some info that's resourceful to you.
I seem to fit a similar profile to yourself, moved to be with girlfriend I met in UK who's now my wife - she's a Canadian citizen from Ontario, we married in Ontario last year.
I had all the same concerns as you, where would I work? would I fit in? What if I don't like it? etc... etc... In the end I just pulled the trigger, sold car, put my notice in and was gone.
However, with regards to paperwork, visas and work permits - it's nowhere near as simple as you've framed it so far. If you haven't got a specific career skill that's in demand in Canada that would enable you to apply under the skilled workers program, you'll need to get into the IEC (International Experience Program) Canada for UK citizens which is a "working holiday visa".
This(IEC)is pretty much open to anyone in the UK under the age of 30 I believe, with no criminal record etc... it's an open work permit that allows you to come to Canada and work wherever you wish for one year. The program is closed this year, and opens in January of each year.
You're allowed two of these permits - the thing is you have to re-apply all over again from Canada if you wish to go a full two years without a break - annoying? You bet.
When I got my IEC Visa's in 2011 and 2012, the process was quite laborious, but fairly straightforward and I got both VISA's no problem.
In 2013 CIC migrated to an online only application for IEC visas, as you might imagine, there was more than a few teething problems, but the main issue is that the IEC program is now massively popular and the 5000 visas on offer to UK citizens go in a matter of days, rather than the 8 months it took to shift them all in 2011!
So let's assume all goes well and you get your IEC visas - you have another obstacle to tackle pretty sharpish, how will you remain with your lady after your two IEC visas run out?
You'll have two options...
1) You'll need to get married or prove you're in a common law relationship and have your new wife/partner sponsor you for permanent residence (my route).
or
2) You'll need to dazzle a Canadian employer and get them to sponsor you under the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) process, where they basically have to say you offer them a skill-set they can't readily find in the local Canadian labour force - I know a few people who have got this.
Then you begin what I'll say has probably been the most arduous, frustrating, exasperating process of my life - applying for immigration to Canada.
Forms, forms and more forms - and there can be no mistakes or they'll send the whole damn thing back to you (oh how they hammer this point home!) delaying it for who knows how long! it took me 5 months' to prepare my application, and I was neurotic in checking and double checking it when I finally sent it.
Sounds horrifying? yes, and I don't mean to put a downer on the dream, I am merely offering you an inside look at the very basic outline of what's involved here.
Having said all that, despite the delays, waiting, stressing, and living life in limbo - I've got every visa without a hitch, and my permanent residency is now moving into final stages which will be phenomenal when it's done.
And as for Canada? It's great, I love the place - the pain of immigration is worth it in my eyes, we moved from Ontario to The Rocky Mountains - I live in Banff now which is literally the hub of the most incredible natural beauty I've ever seen.
I'm not one to bash the UK - it's home, and it's a great country - BUT we all have preferences, and just because you were born in one place, doesn't make that place the best fit for you necessarily.
Sure there's aspects I don't like here, mobile phones deals are more expensive, the humour is massively different to back home, country music, the mosquitoes (especially in Banff) are massive in size and prolific in number in Summer, and winter is long (my first Canadian winter got down to -49oC in places! living in Northern Ontario)
BUT - the lifestyle I find is so much more relaxed, even in the larger cities people still seem to get out and enjoy their country, lots of outdoor activities, the natural beauty is second to none, the wildlife (I see Grizzly bears frequently here in Banff).
I also enjoy the sense of national pride Canadians have, it's standard to wear a maple leaf or a CANADA logo on your clothes every now and again, people have the flags up in their gardens (although not as nauseating in number as the Americans) big show every year with Canada day and the general feeling is just a sense that Canadians have a healthy pride in their country.
I find in England it's almost a crime to be "patriotic" in a union jack waving kind of way, too many negative connotations and too much emphasis on political correctness means that as a society, I don't think many people feel comfortable with overt displays of national pride - putting flags up or wearing a non sport related England shirt - I think that's a shame, and not all will agree but that's how I see it.
The people generally live up to their stereotype of being really friendly, I don't see groups of delinquents trolling the streets smashing things up, the cities with their block systems are easy to navigate and for all us pistonheads - petrol (gas
is only about 75p a litre in Alberta anyways, which is handy because the average engine size here has to be 5 litres+ considering how many full-size V8 pickups roam the streets.
Anyways, a long post, but hopefully some help - if you have more questions, fire a way and I'll do my best to help!
Good Luck.
I seem to fit a similar profile to yourself, moved to be with girlfriend I met in UK who's now my wife - she's a Canadian citizen from Ontario, we married in Ontario last year.
I had all the same concerns as you, where would I work? would I fit in? What if I don't like it? etc... etc... In the end I just pulled the trigger, sold car, put my notice in and was gone.
However, with regards to paperwork, visas and work permits - it's nowhere near as simple as you've framed it so far. If you haven't got a specific career skill that's in demand in Canada that would enable you to apply under the skilled workers program, you'll need to get into the IEC (International Experience Program) Canada for UK citizens which is a "working holiday visa".
This(IEC)is pretty much open to anyone in the UK under the age of 30 I believe, with no criminal record etc... it's an open work permit that allows you to come to Canada and work wherever you wish for one year. The program is closed this year, and opens in January of each year.
You're allowed two of these permits - the thing is you have to re-apply all over again from Canada if you wish to go a full two years without a break - annoying? You bet.
When I got my IEC Visa's in 2011 and 2012, the process was quite laborious, but fairly straightforward and I got both VISA's no problem.
In 2013 CIC migrated to an online only application for IEC visas, as you might imagine, there was more than a few teething problems, but the main issue is that the IEC program is now massively popular and the 5000 visas on offer to UK citizens go in a matter of days, rather than the 8 months it took to shift them all in 2011!
So let's assume all goes well and you get your IEC visas - you have another obstacle to tackle pretty sharpish, how will you remain with your lady after your two IEC visas run out?
You'll have two options...
1) You'll need to get married or prove you're in a common law relationship and have your new wife/partner sponsor you for permanent residence (my route).
or
2) You'll need to dazzle a Canadian employer and get them to sponsor you under the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) process, where they basically have to say you offer them a skill-set they can't readily find in the local Canadian labour force - I know a few people who have got this.
Then you begin what I'll say has probably been the most arduous, frustrating, exasperating process of my life - applying for immigration to Canada.
Forms, forms and more forms - and there can be no mistakes or they'll send the whole damn thing back to you (oh how they hammer this point home!) delaying it for who knows how long! it took me 5 months' to prepare my application, and I was neurotic in checking and double checking it when I finally sent it.
Sounds horrifying? yes, and I don't mean to put a downer on the dream, I am merely offering you an inside look at the very basic outline of what's involved here.
Having said all that, despite the delays, waiting, stressing, and living life in limbo - I've got every visa without a hitch, and my permanent residency is now moving into final stages which will be phenomenal when it's done.
And as for Canada? It's great, I love the place - the pain of immigration is worth it in my eyes, we moved from Ontario to The Rocky Mountains - I live in Banff now which is literally the hub of the most incredible natural beauty I've ever seen.
I'm not one to bash the UK - it's home, and it's a great country - BUT we all have preferences, and just because you were born in one place, doesn't make that place the best fit for you necessarily.
Sure there's aspects I don't like here, mobile phones deals are more expensive, the humour is massively different to back home, country music, the mosquitoes (especially in Banff) are massive in size and prolific in number in Summer, and winter is long (my first Canadian winter got down to -49oC in places! living in Northern Ontario)
BUT - the lifestyle I find is so much more relaxed, even in the larger cities people still seem to get out and enjoy their country, lots of outdoor activities, the natural beauty is second to none, the wildlife (I see Grizzly bears frequently here in Banff).
I also enjoy the sense of national pride Canadians have, it's standard to wear a maple leaf or a CANADA logo on your clothes every now and again, people have the flags up in their gardens (although not as nauseating in number as the Americans) big show every year with Canada day and the general feeling is just a sense that Canadians have a healthy pride in their country.
I find in England it's almost a crime to be "patriotic" in a union jack waving kind of way, too many negative connotations and too much emphasis on political correctness means that as a society, I don't think many people feel comfortable with overt displays of national pride - putting flags up or wearing a non sport related England shirt - I think that's a shame, and not all will agree but that's how I see it.
The people generally live up to their stereotype of being really friendly, I don't see groups of delinquents trolling the streets smashing things up, the cities with their block systems are easy to navigate and for all us pistonheads - petrol (gas
is only about 75p a litre in Alberta anyways, which is handy because the average engine size here has to be 5 litres+ considering how many full-size V8 pickups roam the streets.Anyways, a long post, but hopefully some help - if you have more questions, fire a way and I'll do my best to help!
Good Luck.
Good post Mista V . We moved from Axbridge to Lumsden SK in 2006 after 2 years of planning , there were hiccups along the way and at times it seemed the move would never happen , however we wanted it to work and our patience eventually was rewarded .
Great place to live , we haven't locked the house since the day we moved in which speaks volumes .
Great place to live , we haven't locked the house since the day we moved in which speaks volumes .
Mista V's post is spot on.
I was looking to move to Vancouver, and had the time off so went without really looking into it. There have been jobs where the employers have been interested in me, but as soon as they have found out my lack of any visa, they cannot/do not want to go through the process of getting the LMO, sponsoring, etc.
Also, I'd like to point out that you will need to get your skills, education and qualifications certified by a Canadian company. I fell foul of this, especially when I need to be a permanent resident/ have citizenship before they will even look at my main qualifications.
Again I don't want to be one to poo-poo your dreams. But I am in a very similar situaton and it really isn't very easy. When you add in the money issues, you will quickly run out of time to find that job.
I was looking to move to Vancouver, and had the time off so went without really looking into it. There have been jobs where the employers have been interested in me, but as soon as they have found out my lack of any visa, they cannot/do not want to go through the process of getting the LMO, sponsoring, etc.
Also, I'd like to point out that you will need to get your skills, education and qualifications certified by a Canadian company. I fell foul of this, especially when I need to be a permanent resident/ have citizenship before they will even look at my main qualifications.
Again I don't want to be one to poo-poo your dreams. But I am in a very similar situaton and it really isn't very easy. When you add in the money issues, you will quickly run out of time to find that job.
Blackpuddin .... i think this is the reason you can't find that material anymore.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/noti...
They've been clamping down and this class of access is now closed.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/noti...
They've been clamping down and this class of access is now closed.
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