Thinking of moving to Canada

[QueenAdrock]

Well, all my friends and family knows now so might as well tell you guys.

I'm thinking of moving to Edmonton next June, for obvious reasons. I'd go as a guest worker (don't want to immigrate) because I have a possible job opportunity there. It'd only be for a year, till he graduates, then we can figure something else out. But it seems like a good idea. I'm sick of this area, I love my friends but they all have their own things going on right now and are very preoccupied with their own relationships. Alberta's a beautiful province, yeah, I know, cold as fuck, but I can deal with it for a year.

I consider it more of a trial period, to see if I can live away from home and whether I like somewhere else better. I've lived in the DC area all my life and though I love it...I'm getting bored with it. I never wanted to stay here. I want to get out there and try something new. So hell, why not, right?

Let the smartass remarks begin. :o

[befsquire]

i married sorta early, had kids early, etc. i always wished i had done something before i settled down. my friend did that whole study abroad thing. i was so jealous of her. while i was washing spit-up off of my shirts, she was in germany, or maybe switzerland for the weekend. she had nothing keeping her here but her family, and her family was always visiting her or paying for her to come for a visit.

travel before "life" gets in the way. you don't have to figure anything out yet.

[hellojello]

Well, all my friends and family knows now so might as well tell you guys.

I'm thinking of moving to Edmonton next June, for obvious reasons. I'd go as a guest worker (don't want to immigrate) because I have a possible job opportunity there. It'd only be for a year, till he graduates, then we can figure something else out. But it seems like a good idea. I'm sick of this area, I love my friends but they all have their own things going on right now and are very preoccupied with their own relationships. Alberta's a beautiful province, yeah, I know, cold as fuck, but I can deal with it for a year.

I consider it more of a trial period, to see if I can live away from home and whether I like somewhere else better. I've lived in the DC area all my life and though I love it...I'm getting bored with it. I never wanted to stay here. I want to get out there and try something new. So hell, why not, right?

Let the smartass remarks begin. :o

My sister just came back from a 3 month exchange in Canada and now she's all like I'm moving there.
But I think that's something to do with some Barkley guy (Barkley is that a real name I thought it was a surname or a dogs name) in a denim suit.

[Documad]

I recommend moving away from home as early as possible. It's my biggest regret that I didn't move away before my family members got sick and I had to care for them. I encourage everyone to give it a try when they're young.

I'm looking into moving to Canada, possibly for more grad school. It's hard to give up a good job and sell a house, etc., but I'm seriously considering it.

[TurdBerglar]

yeah

to hell with your family members

[QueenAdrock]

travel before "life" gets in the way. you don't have to figure anything out yet.

YEAH!


And as for my family, I live with my bro right now, my parents are down in NC. My brother's moving out in the spring though. My mom seemed kinda sad when I told her, but I was like "It's for a year. You can visit." And you know what she replied with? "We can't afford plane tickets! We're putting a pool in and buying a boat!" Great priorites there, ya retired bastids.

[Documad]

yeah

to hell with your family members
Exactly. You need to run away from them ASAP so that when they get sick you're not the child that's living nearby. I'm completely serious.

[befsquire]

old people love renting RVs. convince your parents to road trip it.

[QueenAdrock]

in a denim suit.


hahahahaha

Canadian Tuxedo (y)

[hellojello]

YEAH!


And as for my family, I live with my bro right now, my parents are down in NC. My brother's moving out in the spring though. My mom seemed kinda sad when I told her, but I was like "It's for a year. You can visit." And you know what she replied with? "We can't afford plane tickets! We're putting a pool in and buying a boat!" Great priorites there, ya retired bastids.
You should tell them their boat won't be nearly as fun in the pool as it would be on an open body of water.
I think they need to be enlightened we can't have the cake and eat it too.

[ggirlballa]

i like L.A & all but i've always wanted to go to New York, maybe even move there, when i'm older of course

[QueenAdrock]

old people love renting RVs. convince your parents to road trip it.

They've got a trailer, actually. My mom was talking about how she wanted to go cross-country, and I suggested the train. She still wants to drive.


But yeah, my parents have the whole "older people woes" thing going on now, but nothing too bad. Just the whole arthritus thing, and my dad's migraines. They've got great hospitals down there and I'm not too worried. Yet.

[hellojello]

hahahahaha

Canadian Tuxedo (y)
oh so that's a trend there I thought it was just some Barkley thing.
Thanks for the heads up I won't hold it against him at xmas now.

[QueenAdrock]

You should tell them their boat won't be nearly as fun in the pool as it would be on an open body of water.
I think they need to be enlightened we can't have the cake and eat it too.


ha, my brother and i actually bought a collapsable boat for our old pool. It took up about a quarter of the water, but it was so worth it. (y)

[backwoods]

*que Salisbury Hill by Peter Gabriel*

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...

A COUNTRY GIRL FROM MARYLAND...

MOVES INTO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH...

*crescendo "Salisbury Hill*
*GRAB YOUR THINGS I'VE COME TO TAKE YOU HOMEEE*

THIS CHRISTMAS...

MIRAMAX PRODUCTIONS

AND AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT...

WILL TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY...

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET.

*fade to black*

[QueenAdrock]

Country girl?! :mad: You know, one of my other friends once said I 'looked' country. Just kind of plain girl-next door.

If my life was an exciting movie, once it came back from the faded black, it'd be me eating cheerios and milk and reading the back of the cereal box because my life actually isn't exciting at all.

[backwoods]

lol you are so country

[QueenAdrock]

:mad:

[g-mile7]

All this time pimping and I have never had a girl move for me (well partly for me). Droppinscience...no...Droppin Panties I dub thee. Good luck Queen

[Lyman Zerga]

sounds like a plan!

for a guy (i love) i would even move to ummmm...FRANCE!

:(

[QueenAdrock]

Hahaha...thanks guys. Well, I think the reason why it'll work is cuz I'm not moving just for him. I'm moving for me, too. I want something new. Alberta's a pretty place and I wanted to see if I liked somewhere better than where I am now. I guess some people use college to test that, though I stayed local.

I think since I'm doing it for me too, I wouldn't resent him if I hated the winter or the people or whatever. It wasn't his decision, it's mine.

[Lyman Zerga]

austria is to germany what canada is to america

but we have no two pieced heads though





engrish?much?

[King PSYZ]

take off eh...






























there, that's out of the way.

[jennyb]

GO! Move away! It'll be the best thing you ever do. I always had this dislike for Los Angeles, my brother lived here and we'd visit him (my mom and I) well, a job opportunity came about for me here and I'z at first like "hell no I'm never living in LA" always thought it'd be Colorado or New York City that would get me away from home. But life presents you with these options sometimes. My whole thing was, I didn't wanna be an old woman on my front porch rocking chair talking about how I could've gone to LA once. Now I can be an old woman on my front porch rocking chair telling stories about how I moved to LA as a young woman and rocked my ass off and actually learned to love it!

It's healthy sometimes to put yourself out of your element and just experience 'living' in other places as opposed to traveling to them. It's also good to do things sometimes that scare you.

[zorra_chiflada]

i think it's safe to say that i'm not going to live in tasmania for the rest of my life.

[cosmo105]

give it a little thought. but not too much. make sure you can afford it and work things out when you get there. and fucking go for it. :)

[paul jones]

Well, all my friends and family knows now so might as well tell you guys.

I'm thinking of moving to Edmonton next June, for obvious reasons. I'd go as a guest worker (don't want to immigrate) because I have a possible job opportunity there. It'd only be for a year, till he graduates, then we can figure something else out. But it seems like a good idea. I'm sick of this area, I love my friends but they all have their own things going on right now and are very preoccupied with their own relationships. Alberta's a beautiful province, yeah, I know, cold as fuck, but I can deal with it for a year.

I consider it more of a trial period, to see if I can live away from home and whether I like somewhere else better. I've lived in the DC area all my life and though I love it...I'm getting bored with it. I never wanted to stay here. I want to get out there and try something new. So hell, why not, right?

Let the smartass remarks begin. :o

yeah,why not(y)

[Kid Presentable]

Leave. Moving rules.

[na§tee]

oooh, how exciting. go for it.

just one question though; is it just that easy for americans to up and leave, get a job in canada just like that? don't you have to apply for, uh, things and have like an mba or a skill canadians can't cover to work there or what? interested!

i am so glad i live in the eu. i can live and work in any of these fabulous countries. i need to learn a new language though, which i really regret. that would be fab.

i was considering moving to canada (or australia) too, actually! seeing as they're commonwealth countries. i dunno, i just assumed because they're part of the commonwealth it might be "easier" to move, but i don't think so. i've looked into it and you need a certain amount of "points" (you get more if you have an mba, for example) to get a work permit etc etc. i get sorta confused and panic-y at the first sign of paperwork. and anyway, canada wouldn't want me there! :cool:

it's time for me to move away in the '07, i think. possibly to london or the surrounding area.. buckinghamshire. bristol maybe. and i was actually thinking about brussels - working for the e.u or something if the film shit doesn't work out. maybe even do some international relations and work for the u.n. who knows!

[QueenAdrock]

Still trying to figure out the immigration stuff. They said if it's a skill that Canada doesn't provide that you don't need a work permit. But they allow guest workers in the country if an employer sponsors them, I believe. I have 3.5+ years in the dental field, and my job up there would be a dental secretary so I'm not sure how hard it would be.

It's just so dumb though. I mean, can I really not live in the same city as Brett if I don't marry him? I can't imagine they'd say that. I know people who have visited countries and decided to stay, how the hell did they manage to do that if they have no family there?

It's really confusing, actually.

[HEIRESS]

yayayayayay

BC is nicer :)

!!

[QueenAdrock]

Okay so I found this out:

About 80% of the Canadian workforce is employed in non-regulated occupations. The non-regulated occupations requiring little or no special training are the easiest jobs to get. If you are thinking of moving within Canada, or to Canada, and you work in a non-regulated occupations, securing employment may not take long. It is up to the employer, not the province or country, to decide on who to hire.


Good news, right?

[Kid Presentable]

Okay so I found this out:

About 80% of the Canadian workforce is employed in non-regulated occupations. The non-regulated occupations requiring little or no special training are the easiest jobs to get. If you are thinking of moving within Canada, or to Canada, and you work in a non-regulated occupations, securing employment may not take long. It is up to the employer, not the province or country, to decide on who to hire.


Good news, right?
Sounds like it. What's next?

[beastieangel01]

I say go for it (y)

[QueenAdrock]

Roadblock. Says that the position must be "unable to be filled by Canadians." Which I don't even KNOW what that means, because EVERY job in Canada could technically be done by a Canadian, you just have to find one with the right training. How do you prove that a position is "unfillable" by Canadians? I mean, I have the qualifications. College education and almost 4 years of training, plus CPR and First Aid certification. But is there another person in Canada who could fit that bill? Sure. I just DON'T GET IT.

Why must they make it so hard? It's America Junior, goddammit. If you ever want to go to a country to live and work, you're not able to unless you have REASON to be there. Why is that? I know I can't be the first person to want to move to another country without having an excellent claim to be there. What the hell have all the other people done?

:(

[icy manipulator]

this thread has reminded me that i'd really like to work in another city, possibly even another country for about a year or 2. Brisbane is a great city to live in and all, but i've never technically even been out of australia before, sometimes that really gets to me. i'm already 21 and still haven't been out of this country. there's no history here. anyway, somewhere i'd really like to work for a couple of years would be a modern boomtown like Dubai or Moscow. it's a bit different, but that's most of the appeal to me

[Echewta]

Aren't there like a million Subways in Canada? Surely they don't have enough domestic sammich artist to fill the demand for tasty lunch meals cheap and quick.

[beastiegirrl101]

ok so I think it's really great that you want to move, go for it.

I have always wanted to get out of Chicago but I am extremely close with my family and would miss them immensely, so much so that I have not gone through with possible situations. Is that weird to not want to leave? Or am I just a big pussy...:(

[QueenAdrock]

Aren't there like a million Subways in Canada? Surely they don't have enough domestic sammich artist to fill the demand for tasty lunch meals cheap and quick.

I do make a kick-ass sammich. I wonder if I could convince them of my sammich making abilities by sending them all some in the mail. Sure, it'll get soggy and I'll probably take a few bites before I send them off but they can get the general jist of my awesomeness.

[Echewta]

Do Canadians even eat? If so, what?

[QueenAdrock]

Tim Horton's and maple syrup-marinated moose meat.

[Loppfessor]

Once again I"m so outta the loop. Who the crap is this so called boyfriend? Is he Canadian? If he is dump him immediately. If you must move out of the US I say head South, you could live like a Queen (pun intended) down in Mexico!

[monkey]

i say do it, but do it for yourself. try to get your own life there, not just be droppin' gf. so, go, and get your own place and try to make friends and all that stuff that make a person happy. and the fact that you're near your bf makes it a lot nicer and easier to situate yourself. the immigration stuff will sort itself out, i promise.

go on and be a grown up ;)

[QueenAdrock]

Once again I"m so outta the loop. Who the crap is this so called boyfriend? Is he Canadian? If he is dump him immediately. If you must move out of the US I say head South, you could live like a Queen (pun intended) down in Mexico!

He's DroppinScience.

And no way am I dumping him. :)

[MC Moot]

Well, all my friends and family knows now so might as well tell you guys.

I'm thinking of moving to Edmonton next June,
Let the smartass remarks begin. :o

They do call it Deadmonton for a reason...but it's not so bad,come South (cowtown) for the good shows and considerably different climate,not many Chinooks blow through Edmonton...nice live,local music and arts scene on Whyte Ave.....nature,nature,nature thats the saving grace of big sky country....:)

[QueenAdrock]

Ah, the beloved Calgary-Edmonton fights. How I love them. ;)

Nah, it's Edmonton till Brett graduates. No debating that. Maybe someplace else after that.

If I can get in, I'm still trying to figure that out. Maybe I'll go take a visit to the Canadian embassy this weekend...

[b-grrrlie]

You should totally move, Queenie!!!
Otherwise you'll regret the lost possibility the rest of your life!

I moved to Sweden when I was 20 (back in 1980). First it was just for the summer, for work. Me and my friend spent everything on our first Inter-Rail trip to Britain (does anyone remember them? You could travel as much as you liked around Europe for a month, on trains, so we slept in them on the way to the next town and next gig... saw 28 bands in 26 days, Adam and the Ants 5 times, U2, Monochrome Set and a few others twice, Echo and the Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes etc and on some gigs there was like 4 bands each night). Then a few months later I moved here to Stockholm permanently, but then in autumn 1983 when Agfa closed down I moved to London and lived there for 2½ years. Propably the best times I've ever had, even tho London was (is) so dirty and loads of people so Edwardian. And bad food. I was allowed to work for two years, but I stayed longer (lame excuses, but not love). Later I had some trouble getting back to Britain until I got a new passport (they'd made stamps on mine that weren't favourable), but customs were always nice and I had no worries. They'd call my old employers and then asked if I could come and work for them as well, they'd praise me so much (and I've still kept the contact with them, I can always stay over when in London). Then I moved back to Stockholm over 20 years ago and stayed here, except for 18 months of studying closer to the west.

I've had a couple of long distance relationships and they might have worked better if I'd moved (especially the Irish one), but guess they weren't meant to be. Now I love Stockholm so much it would take a great big love to get me away from here and a few weeks ago I was totally ready to move back to Finland, wanted to start everything from the beginning, but guess that wasn't meant to be either.... :(

[MC Moot]

Maybe I'll go take a visit to the Canadian embassy this weekend...

Excellent! It might be advisable to claim that you're a conscientious objector,healthcare worker or maple sugar merchant...that way we'll welcome ya with open arms,eh!:D

[QueenAdrock]

You know, I *am* a healthcare worker. Dental secretary, but I also have to clean tools and I've helped with x-rays and cleaning up the room after patients and prepping and stuff. So that counts, right? Maybe? Bueller?

[faz]

i am so glad i live in the eu. i can live and work in any of these fabulous countries. i need to learn a new language though, which i really regret. that would be fab.



Not true. We have a polish girl at work who cant say much. She gave away my friends coat to someone else when she was working on the cloakroom. I'm presuming this happend due to her little knowledge of english. The coat wasnt even hanging next to other customers coats, it was on its own on a rack ment just for staff :/

But back on topic. Move. Canada seems like a nice place. I might go backpacking there sometime soon.

[QueenAdrock]

Well, I think every person in this thread said do it, and actually all my friends said the same thing so I'm almost positive that I will. *IF* things go according to plan, if I'm able to get over there legally and work for a year. If not, I'm just gonna cry myself to sleep.

[g-mile7]

ok so I think it's really great that you want to move, go for it.

I have always wanted to get out of Chicago but I am extremely close with my family and would miss them immensely

Is that weird to not want to leave? Or am I just a big pussy...:(
Not at all. I miss my fam down south and being so far makes it tough to see them espically when shits going down like it is now. Be in driving/train distance or move West ;)

[SandyLove]

Okay if i can be of any assistance since I am from Toronto, Canada... from the way I understand it is you either get permanent residence as an immigrant and stay here to live and get citizenship, or you need a visitors pass or a temporary Visa in order to be legally allowed to work in Canada. How they issue Visas is completely unique and subjective to each individual, students and gradutes with Mba's are favourites because it shows you're not coming here to be on welfare. But if you state what you currently do for a living even if you work as a waitress or taxi driver right now that should be just as good. They usually review your status and want to know what is your business is with Canada and to make sure you aren't going to be an economic drain on society. I don't make it up its the law of the land!!:)

[QueenAdrock]

Well, I wouldn't be an economic drain since I'd have a job there. But I've got my associate's and my bachelor's...no MBA, but a solid college education. Right now I've got two jobs, and my side job is just the dentistry stuff. I'd just be going in for about a year, until we figure out what to do from there. I don't see how I'd be considered a threat or a drain since I do have qualifications and basically just want to go because it's a lovely country and would like to visit for a year. As of now, I have no intentions on staying permanently.

But Immigration seem to be a bunch of hardasses. :-/

[na§tee]

Not true.
well, actually, it sorta is if you want to be able to succeed. i know you technically CAN get a job in a country without speaking the same language but i don't want to be a fucking coat checker, knowwhatimsayin?
if you want a prosperous job in public relations or media, it's a massive advantage to have another language because NEWS and MEDIA, you know.. travel. of course i have an advantage in that the main language these things move in is english, but it would be great to have french or spanish too.

re: canada.
hmm, it's shaping up like i thought.. doing a job that a canadian can't do etc etc etc. which always fucking confused me, too. it's so weird. you can work out your points here (http://www.workpermit.com/canada/points_calculator.htm) (better start studying for that mba soon!) moving to another country like canada is just not that easy. we don't have that luxury anymore. it's shitty, but i guess necessary in some cases. blah. good luck.

[MC Moot]

You know, I *am* a healthcare worker. Dental secretary....Bueller?

Well if you were a "certified hygenist" it would certainly aid your cause....anyway's,take off to the great white north,it's the beauty way to go....http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html .....X-ray technicians are in constant need....honestly immigration in our socialist utopia favors healthcare over business cred with regards to paper,unless your Ivy league,being head hunted by a fortune 500 corporate or conglomerate....your pal,Ferris(y)

[QueenAdrock]

moving to another country like canada is just not that easy. we don't have that luxury anymore. it's shitty, but i guess necessary in some cases. blah. good luck.

Well the thing is it'd be a temporary move. I wouldn't be getting permanent resident status or citizenship or anything like that. It's an agreement that I'd be there for a year, work, and then GTFO.

It looks as though I may have to consult an immigration lawyer to weigh my options and I'm also going to go to the Canadian embassy this weekend to talk to them (yay living in DC!). The good news is it IS done, the bad news is it looks like it's going to be a difficult process.

[QueenAdrock]

And *if* I did that points system correctly...I got

20 points for your education
10 points for your age
20 points for English/French language ability
19 points for your work experience
0 points for arranged employment
4 points for adaptability
73 total points

I have 2 college degrees (a two-year and a four-year), am 23, high proficiency in English and basic proficiency in French, have 3 years of relevant work experience to skill set B (secretary in the medical field), and not sure what else.

That's 6 points above what is needed (67). But I don't know if I did it correctly, because there was some stuff that was like "It could be either this, or this..." Hmm.

[beastiegirrl101]

i say do it, but do it for yourself. try to get your own life there, not just be droppin' gf. so, go, and get your own place and try to make friends and all that stuff that make a person happy. and the fact that you're near your bf makes it a lot nicer and easier to situate yourself. the immigration stuff will sort itself out, i promise.

go on and be a grown up ;)

extremely well said. My thoughts exactly.