Emigrating after COVID - UK to Canada
Discussion
Looking for some advice and thoughts on moving to Canada once the border opens. I have jumped through all the hoops to move there as a permanent resident and now starting to feel like I may finally be able to move this year.
I plan to move to Vancouver, BC as I really loved living there when I did my degree at UBC and my industry has a strong presence there. My employer is happy for me to move there and work as a virtual worker which is a relief considering how hard it is to find work in my discipline on the open market.
Firstly the COVID-19 restrictions seem pretty tight once you complete out of 10 day quarantine, I imagine by the time the border opens these will have been reduced and/or gone. My original plan was to book an Air BnB for a month while I found somewhere to live but not clear whether this is still possible. As a backup, is it worthwhile getting someone to view property on my behalf so I can then quarantine in my own rental or just go with my original plan?
Secondly I really regretted not having a car/truck even though I lived in the city as I couldn't go out to the mountains or southern BC. Should I look into getting a car sooner rather than later or use one of the car share companies? What about car insurance? Saw it was state owned and from what I was told by friends it was expensive.
Thirdly, I found getting something as simple as a phone contract impossible as I had no credit rating. I still have my Canadian bank account and credit card so hopefully I should now have some credit history right?
Probably have more questions as time moves towards my move (got flights booked for end of September) but look forward to seeing people's advice.
I plan to move to Vancouver, BC as I really loved living there when I did my degree at UBC and my industry has a strong presence there. My employer is happy for me to move there and work as a virtual worker which is a relief considering how hard it is to find work in my discipline on the open market.
Firstly the COVID-19 restrictions seem pretty tight once you complete out of 10 day quarantine, I imagine by the time the border opens these will have been reduced and/or gone. My original plan was to book an Air BnB for a month while I found somewhere to live but not clear whether this is still possible. As a backup, is it worthwhile getting someone to view property on my behalf so I can then quarantine in my own rental or just go with my original plan?
Secondly I really regretted not having a car/truck even though I lived in the city as I couldn't go out to the mountains or southern BC. Should I look into getting a car sooner rather than later or use one of the car share companies? What about car insurance? Saw it was state owned and from what I was told by friends it was expensive.
Thirdly, I found getting something as simple as a phone contract impossible as I had no credit rating. I still have my Canadian bank account and credit card so hopefully I should now have some credit history right?
Probably have more questions as time moves towards my move (got flights booked for end of September) but look forward to seeing people's advice.
Thanks for the reply, was planning on AirBnB to start with (one month in a laneway house or something similar). This time I need to be a little more picky with a flat as I need an extra room for a home office and to find a landlord that doesn't mind guitars!
I have a COPR, which due to COVID expired in March 2021. I cannot fly there until I get that renewed and they open the border, who knows when that will be! Pretty fed up of being stuck in this limbo and I am sure there are many other people out there stuck in far worse situation than me waiting for the border to open.
Tax and employment wise, my company has a global presence and has offices in Canada. HR is dragging their feet on what I need to provide them before I go so yet again waiting on others for information.
I hope it's open by September as that is when I booked my flights out there.
I have a COPR, which due to COVID expired in March 2021. I cannot fly there until I get that renewed and they open the border, who knows when that will be! Pretty fed up of being stuck in this limbo and I am sure there are many other people out there stuck in far worse situation than me waiting for the border to open.
Tax and employment wise, my company has a global presence and has offices in Canada. HR is dragging their feet on what I need to provide them before I go so yet again waiting on others for information.
I hope it's open by September as that is when I booked my flights out there.
Update:
Finally got my medical invitation so looks like COPR due for renewal by year end with move in January.
Likely need a car not long after arriving. How does insurance work and will I need to wait for my BC license or just use my UK license for the year and then change?
Also what should I be expecting for vehicle choice? I was thinking Toyota pickup or if needs be a corrolla but no idea how bad the rust will be.
Finally got my medical invitation so looks like COPR due for renewal by year end with move in January.
Likely need a car not long after arriving. How does insurance work and will I need to wait for my BC license or just use my UK license for the year and then change?
Also what should I be expecting for vehicle choice? I was thinking Toyota pickup or if needs be a corrolla but no idea how bad the rust will be.
Short update. Had my final paperwork request received iat the end of November just as Omicron hit. Sent what I interpreted was what I needed to send physical to the third party VAC.
At the beginning of January I finally got a support ticket reply saying I need to send in more documents as they needed a written consent to process my documents. Couldn't see it anywhere on their website to say this was the case, great work to make this stressful process even more stressful!
All of that was submitted last week and this time I actually got confirmation my documents arrived and are now in the High Commission for processing. Hopefully will be hearing this week if my COPR has been reissued.
At the beginning of January I finally got a support ticket reply saying I need to send in more documents as they needed a written consent to process my documents. Couldn't see it anywhere on their website to say this was the case, great work to make this stressful process even more stressful!
All of that was submitted last week and this time I actually got confirmation my documents arrived and are now in the High Commission for processing. Hopefully will be hearing this week if my COPR has been reissued.
Gassing Station | USA & Canada | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff