Emigrating to Canada
 

Hello guys and gals,

I've had this idea for a couple of years to move to Canada to eat bacon and watch hockey. I'm at a point now when this seems possible and I'm looking into the whole thing, and I'd like some help. If anyone has any information or experiences, please chip in and let me know!

I'm Polish and 27 with a BA (sociology) and a MA (military science/national defense) on the way. I also have work experience in the petroleum industry (non-engineering, managerial) and web-based advertising project management (1-year and 6 years, respectively). My mom and her parents lived in Canada and the US for some 10 years in the 70-ies as embassy staff. As a Polish citizen, I do not require a visa to travel to Canada, but I do require one to stay & work. My options so far include:

1) Federal skilled worker visa - Applying for this kind of visa grants all sorts of cool rights and is generaly the most comfortable. With my education, work experience, language proficiency and all sorts of yadda, I'm well above (I think!) the stated requirements.

The cons are that there's over 1,500 CAD in fees (doable). The biggest drawback is that processing times are given ranging from 18 to 60 months. That's... (calculates in head) ... a lot.

2) Studying - I checked out some universities and I'm eligible to sign up for a MA graduate course in sociology, having a prior BA in that field. If I go with this option, I'd have to drop all the documents off by January 2010 and start studying in September 2010.

The downside to this plan are the costs - there's around 7,000 CAD in tuition a year for three years. Half of this fee can be worked back in scholarships, but then there's around 10,000 CAD a year living expenses, and if studying there is anything like studying in Poland, I'm not sure I could pull that off with an extra job.

3) Leave now and try to get a work permit there - I think it's possible to leave and try to get a work permit from Canada, which seems like less hassle, but is a bit more risky. I haven't researched this very well.

4) Get an invitation from a Canadian company - It's an option I hear, but I haven't really gotten around to figuring out how to pull this one off.

I've checked all the basic information on various government websites, and that's all I got so far. If anyone has any clues, tips or experiences, PLEASE let me know!

Chris

Don't get fooled. There's no such thing as Canadian Bacon (unless of course you are in the US). Bacon to us is the sliced smoked side bacon that everybody else eats. What Americans call Canadian Bacon is in reality ham slices that are commonly found on Egg McMuffins. We call those ham slices.

DON'T GET FOOLED!

As for the hockey, check. You're good to go.

Thank you for saving me from disappointment. I guess there's always maple syrup.

I like option number 1 as the most doable. Is the 18 month threshold the confirmed lower limit? Or hearsay? Sometimes when you are arranging a move like this, a year or so goes by very quickly.

You could also try option 2, while waiting for option 1 to pan out. Costly? Yes, but I am paying $7 grand a year right now for my son's engineering degree. So not totally out of line. It's the living costs that will hit you. Maybe a rich girlfriend option should be in your list....

Combining 1 & 2 also seems the best way at the moment for me, but there's a thing - I'll need a study visa for number 2, and I'm not sure I can apply for one if I have papers in for number 1, and vice versa.

The wait times come from the Canadian government, through multiple sources. They do state that there's a program running since 2008 to reduce the wait times to 6-12 months, but I have no idea how efficient they are in introducing it.

In regards to money - I have a paid-for appartment in Warsaw that I could let go for around 100.000 CAD. That's all I have though, and if I stick with it, I can pull around 800 CAD a month from renting it, which would cover most of the costs... kind of (would need to pay for someone to manage this, also, tenants change and there would be months without payment for sure).

The last two options I'd consider as contingency plans.

you forgot one other option that Leto alluded to...

im assuming your single, so go find yourself a nice canadian girl and get married to her :D

she'll cook you canadian bacon in the mornings, and you'll half your expenses.

Only if she has a prior history of being a teenage pop star.

ughhh she's wearing a hated Ottawa Senators hockey sweater....

i've wanted to move to canada for quite some time.

seems more difficult than i thought.

on your way through airport security, if you see a stapler or a loose chair, for God's Sake:

DON'T PICK IT UP!!





too soon?

Hehe, the Mounties will get you for sure........it's never too soon for a good chuckle.

dude just apply, we take anyone lol. Or do what all foreigners do, get a visa, move to Toronto, never leave. Worst case scenario, you become another over educated taxi driver lol

---------- Post added at 01:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 AM ----------

If you going that way I don't think your living expenses will be that high. Correct me if im wrong but im going back a couple of years but to stay on campus res is around $2500 for the year (sharing with 3 other roomates and depending on which school). Also if i remember correctly you can opt to stay on res for summer break (only if your returning in sept) for around $500.

a res room at Ryerson with a meal plan is current in the $8,000 range for a single.

From what I've notcied, things have picked up in my part of the country (calgary). And your background in petroleum would be beneficial to finding employement. And having a BA would definately be an asset, as most people I know in the petroleum sector here, have little post secondary education. And plus whats one Polish dude, among a group of Newfies? You'll learn that joke and many more when you get here.

Talk to an immigration lawyer?

I would move to Canada if I could take my toys with me. But I can't.

I may retire in Canada. It seems like a more civilized place to be old.