Emigrating

[Bubbs]

Hi Folks,

Anyone emigrated to another country? I want to live in Canada.. mostly because it's far superior to the UK in all the ways that are important to me (mostly snowboarding, hiking, snowmobiling, biking, cost of living, friendliness etc).

Anyway, anyone know how much of a ball ache it is to go through the process? Im currently in Canada for a year, and can honestly say I don't want to come home. Never felt like that before about a place. I honestly don't miss anything about home well except for cheese, they don't do that so well.

In an ideal world if I could move my family and my friends out here then it would be perfect but that's not going to happen because people are way to shit scared of change to do it, which is really frustrating because it's so worthwhile when you take the plunge.

Anyhow im getting off point, anyone know what it's like jumping through these hoops?

Many thanks,

Bubbs
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[Whosthedaddy]

Seems a straight forward process as I've looked into it and completed assessments for eligibility. The move to Oz was easy enough just time consuming especially due to the nature of my job.

If you've got the money and happy to do it then go for it.
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[GhostRider]

Surely it would be wise to give it 6 months of being there before you start doing all the research/filling in the paperwork etc to go through with it, make sure it's really what you want to do - I'm just sayin, you've not been there long, you're still in a kind of honeymoon period, maybe 6 months down the line you will change your mind, in which case you've wasted nothing, but if you have already gone through the ball ache and then change your mind, you might go through with it for the sake of having done all the work, and situations might change, different oppertunities present themselves.....you've nothing to lose by thinking on it for a few months surely?

GhostRider
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[Suntan Sid]

If it’s something you feel you want/need to do then do it. If you don’t do it now, while you can, you’ll probably regret it for the rest of your life.

Do you have a steady job to go to?
I was really lucky, no job to go to, sold up in the UK, moved to Cyprus and literally walked into a job after a couple of days. If you haven’t got a job lined up how are you going to support yourself? I had enough money put by to live for about three months, fortunately I didn’t need it.

Can you set yourself up over there? Will you have transport ready and waiting for you? You need to sort out your accommodation before you arrive! Open a bank account over there now! Get a new passport! Sort your finances out over here; make sure everything is paid off before you go. Leave an account open in the UK!

Are you close to your family? I’m not overly close so it’s never been a problem, but there are plenty who do miss their folks.

When I told people in the UK I was thinking of emigrating, I was quite surprised by the level of hostility. Lots of folk seemed to think I was doing them a disservice leaving my country of birth, what it had to do with them I don’t know! Plenty of them obviously thought it was just a pipe dream and assumed I’d never do it.

If you do go you have to get out of the “holiday” mentality ASAP.

I’ve no experience of Canadian bureaucracy, I suspect things will be less traumatic than they are here. Just remember you will have to jump through hoops for the bureaucrats, you just have to put up with it; never lose your rag with them.

Finally make every possible effort to integrate into the community, don’t fall into the ex-pat trap, in fact try and avoid them like the plague.
Ex-pats tend to be the world’s best whingers, moaning and groaning their way through life, I often wonder why they left the UK in the first place! Ex-pats are actually the most negative thing about emigrating!

Apart from the ex-pats I’ve loved every minute of it since I left the UK, the best move I ever made!

Hope that helps.

[Jenks]

I Sold up and moved from the uk aswell - but to germany, so it was 100% streightforward.

Best thing i ever did... UK Has become such a shithole, that id suppose even france or america could seem good!

Make sure it IS what you want to do.. Research jobs/wages/ payments ect before you do it... dont see it as a holiday, so you have to look at bad points too..

Crime? - whats it like?
Police? - Bad?
pay? - low/high?
Essensials - Price?

ect ect...
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Robby]

If it's anything like the UK immigration laws, then drop the dream of never coming home right away - over here, applications to take up UK residency must be made through the embassy in your home country.

The Canadians are quite positive on getting skilled people in to do jobs, particularly if you are offering a skill that is unique or highly desirable in Canada.

As for cheese, I have family in Kincardine and there's a good cheesemaker there. Decent, strong Canadian cheddar. Looks a bit orange but tastes good.

[Whosthedaddy]

[map]

A friend emigrated to Canada must be 15 or so years ago.
Best move he made. Loves the lifestyle and the space.
I think he's gone for citizenship now as well (still dual passport though).

I think I'm too old now but certainly Canada would be first on my list.

I did look into it and it can be a bit chicken and egg (or Catch 22).
It is best to go with a firm job offer already but it's difficult to get a job offer without going. I know there's sometimes some recruitment fairs that you can attend. You must also prove you can support yourself. I know it is easier if you have relatives over their already.
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[Jenks]

[Whosthedaddy]

Cheers Jenks, really helpful indeed.

Going back to the language thing, for Canada, unless you're fluent in French and able to sit an exam and tests in it then the chances of you getting in are slim compared to the more English orientated states.

I know this is for nursing but for general mirgration? Not sure.

Back to ze Germans, have thought of maybe Rosestta Stone language type thing or evening classes to help develop the minimal pieces of langauges I can recall from school. I even spoke to my sister, head of modern languages and she said no point, best way to learn is live there and pick it up and develop from there.
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Jenks]

Yes WTD.

I got Rosetta stone, and numberous others, and they are all rubbish, i think rosette stone helped to pick up a few random words, but the way it works is dire.

Yes, Living in a place, submerging yourself head over heels IS the best approach. And with the EU, if you really have enough at any point, you just move again. simple.

Are you thinking Germany? or any places in mind?
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Ariel Badger]

I emigrated to Zimbabwe just at the end of the liberation war in 1980.

Economy....Inflation in the 1000%s

Pay....... Good compared to the UK but you could only export $50 PA. You were only rich in Zimbabwe.

Essentials........You got used to the rationing and shortages.

Police....... Not bad but hard to bribe the real problem was the army especially when drunk.

Crime...... There were thousands of ex-combatants armed to the teeth and very little work, you do the maths.

I was young and it was fun
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[Gone]

I moved to Finland from London in 96, no regrets. Easy to move to an EU country of course (though the language is a bugger), and only go back because I married a girl from my home town last year. The only things I miss are the Cotswold stone houses and decent beer.

[Phoenix]

[ulster exile]

[Bubbs]

Sorry for late reply. Been playing in the snow. We've had 120cm in 3 days. it's beserk.

Well i've gone through most of the ball ache already. I have a Social Security Number, a Bank Account, A Car, a house, and a job. Just need to go through the whole documents and hurdles to stay here. Think i'll take advice from Ghostrider to hold out a few months to see what it's like but I can;t imagine my mind being changed.

This place is amazing.

The only issue I have is Family really. I will miss my mates but fuck it I can easily make more. I think it gives me access to two passports so I could stay for about 5yrs and then pop back to the uk for a bit.

Thank you for all your replies. Interesting to see many more people that have done the same thing.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.