Considering permanently moving to Canada from Britain

[DavidLaw]

We are considering permanently moving to Canada from Britain, but want to try it out for maybe a year before making a final decision.

It would be two adults (married) and our 14 year old son (currently home educated).

I have an online business (registered self-employed in the UK for about 10 years) and as long as I have decent Internet access and a PC can work anywhere in the world. Thinking along the lines of a one year working holiday, but I won't be looking for work in Canada per se, I make the majority of my income from the USA, barely have any UK clients and don't look for local clients, so won't be taking work away from Canadians (I offer SEO services, so my business is all online).

I understand education is important emigration wise, went to Uni (studied molecular genetics), but couldn't finish the degree: dropped out on medical grounds (back problems) in the final few months (just had exams to sit, but literally couldn't sit in a chair!), started a business which is doing very well.

My wife doesn't work (that won't change) and I make more than enough money for us to live comfortably in the UK (we have savings).

What we are thinking is rent a place in Canada (Vancouver looks awesome, sounds exactly what we want from life) for up to a year, see what we think of the place while keeping our home back in the UK. If we like the place buy a house (probably pay 50%+ deposit or maybe pay outright) and sell our home in the UK.

I've not spent a great deal of time researching the actual Canadian immigration policy (hence this post). Although I'm self-employed, I don't really fit the criteria for 'easy' immigration, not planning on investing money directly in Canada for example and don't fall into the self-employed categories that gain points.

I have medical issues, had an operation on my back ~20 months ago to fuse a couple of discs, it's helped but not 100% and still on pain killers (opiates) which I'm planning to be off completely (or at worst a low dose) in a couple of months (slowly weaning myself off them). I'm currently not seeing any specialist medical professionals, but who knows the future.

Looking for information on what our options are? Are we likely to run into any major hurdles based on the above information?

David

 

[PMM]

Hi

We are considering permanently moving to Canada from Britain, but want to try it out for maybe a year before making a final decision.

It would be two adults (married) and our 14 year old son (currently home educated).

I have an online business (registered self-employed in the UK for about 10 years) and as long as I have decent Internet access and a PC can work anywhere in the world. Thinking along the lines of a one year working holiday, but I won't be looking for work in Canada per se, I make the majority of my income from the USA, barely have any UK clients and don't look for local clients, so won't be taking work away from Canadians (I offer SEO services, so my business is all online).

I understand education is important emigration wise, went to Uni (studied molecular genetics), but couldn't finish the degree: dropped out on medical grounds (back problems) in the final few months (just had exams to sit, but literally couldn't sit in a chair!), started a business which is doing very well.

My wife doesn't work (that won't change) and I make more than enough money for us to live comfortably in the UK (we have savings).

What we are thinking is rent a place in Canada (Vancouver looks awesome, sounds exactly what we want from life) for up to a year, see what we think of the place while keeping our home back in the UK. If we like the place buy a house (probably pay 50%+ deposit or maybe pay outright) and sell our home in the UK.

I've not spent a great deal of time researching the actual Canadian immigration policy (hence this post). Although I'm self-employed, I don't really fit the criteria for 'easy' immigration, not planning on investing money directly in Canada for example and don't fall into the self-employed categories that gain points.

I have medical issues, had an operation on my back ~20 months ago to fuse a couple of discs, it's helped but not 100% and still on pain killers (opiates) which I'm planning to be off completely (or at worst a low dose) in a couple of months (slowly weaning myself off them). I'm currently not seeing any specialist medical professionals, but who knows the future.

Looking for information on what our options are? Are we likely to run into any major hurdles based on the above information?

David

1. For a working holiday visa, you have to be between the ages of 18 and 35 BUT the WHV in the UK will be taken back from Bunac in 2011, and no information will be posted by CHC until January/11 see: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/work-travail/index.aspx
2. With no degree and unless you have 1 year's experience on the list of 29 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-instructions.asp#list or have permanent job offer in Canada, you won't qualify for Federal Skilled worker. You could look at the PNP program for BC http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/immigration/come/index.page?
3. You are likely to run into major hurdles.

 

[Leon]

Yes, you don't really fit well into the existing immigration system. You can come as tourists for up to 6 months, ask for an extension for another 6. Maybe you will get it. You will not get health care as tourists so you will need medical insurance. You might have problems enrolling your son in school but if he is home schooled anyway, then no problems.

The immigration system is more so geared towards high skill employees or richy rich business people who want to invest major cash. You can look into the BC provincial nominee program or some other provincial nominee program to see if you have the kind of cash it takes to come as an investor.

 

[DavidLaw]

Thanks for the responses,

I took a look at the PNP program and we don't fit with any of the programs. I already have a business and not looking to expand or invest in another business or take on Canadian employees (might later, but no plans currently).

Bit of an oversight not having a program for the self-employed who can easily provide for themselves and dependants to move their successful business to Canada.

I'm not the "richy rich" type as Leon put it ), but I'm earning significantly above the UK national average wage and almost all my money doesn't come from Canada, I'm the sort of person any country should welcome with open arms as I'm exporting a service and generating wealth for the economy I pay taxes in, buy products/services from etc...

I took the "Skilled worker self-assessment" and could just manage 67 points (exactly 67) if I 'exaggerated' on education (although I've been to Uni for over 2 1/2 years I have no qualifications from it, I have a few OU courses that got me into Uni)! I guess I wouldn't have such a problem if I were looking for a Canadian job and had one lined up already.

I wouldn't exaggerate on an actual application, I'd gain just 52 points (62 if I had a job lined up or owning a successful business that can be transferred to Canada counted), read you can still apply and include additional details.

In the UK the coalition government is cracking down on immigration (says it is, but what they have in mind looks like it won't have much impact as most of our immigration is from Europe and we have no control over the numbers, EU matter), how serious is the Canadian government in limiting immigration, are they reasonable when looking at additional information?

Appreciate this looks like it's going to be a pain to get through the process (bureaucrats like their tick boxes), but does it look possible?

Thanks again for the responses.

David

 

[Leon]

The 67 points is a pass/fail. If you don't have them, you will not get in. They would also require you to have completed something at university to get the education points.

Have you looked into Quebec skilled worker? They have a different points system and don't require a job offer although it helps if you have one. Also helps if you know French. You'd have to land in Quebec but you don't have to stay if you don't like it there.

 

[asif4ever4u]

yes you are right dear The immigration system is more so geared towards high skill employees or rich business people who want to invest major cash. By the way if you want to permanently move to Canada and don't want to look back then you must focus on Best states of Canada.

 

[Karlshammar]

By "states" you mean province, right?

Whichever is better is a matter of personal preference and specific goals. You can actually immigrate to Quebec and then move to another province, and vice versa. So the issue is not always fixed, but rather flexible.

yes you are right dear The immigration system is more so geared towards high skill employees or rich business people who want to invest major cash. By the way if you want to permanently move to Canada and don't want to look back then you must focus on Best states of Canada.

 

[NeedleArtist]

A year ago, I was in a position that in some ways was very similar to yours, and yet in other ways is diametrically opposite. My wife and I (49 & 51, respectively) are retired and live a very comfortable life. I recently retired after 27 years in the military and no longer have the need (nor the desire!) to work. We decided that retiring to Vancouver would be ideal for us in all respects, yet we don't fit into any of the existing immigration categories. We can't muster the 67 points for Skilled Worker stream, nor do we have relatives who might be able to sponsor us. We have a fixed (indexed to the rate of inflation) and guaranteed lifelong income of roughly $9,000 monthly, all of which comes in the form of a military retirement pension and investment income. This puts us in the upper middle class income range (well above norm) in Canada, yet we are not wealthy enough to immigrate via the investor/business stream. If I'm not mistaken, at one time in the not-so-distant past, Canada had a stream tailored to retirees interested in settling in Canada. People who, as you mentioned, are net contributors to the economy ... by paying taxes, consuming Canadian goods, yet not taking a job away from other individuals. Unfortunately, that immigration route no longer exists.

Nevertheless, our desire to move to and permanently retire in B.C. was so strong that we were determined to find a way to legally move to Canada and eventually become citizens. Today, we live in a beautiful high rise condo overlooking False Creek in Yaletown (downtown Vancouver). We've been here since May and are enjoying what this wonderful city has to offer on a daily basis! We go to the theatre, walk & bike the seawall around Stanley Park, and ski in Whistler. How were we able to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacle?

Here is our secret ... We decided that I would go back to school! Currently, I am a full-time student at Langara College (at the "young" age of 50) and loving it! This week and the next I am writing final exams for my second term. I begin my third term in January. After much research, it became apparent that the only viable route by which we could qualify for immigration was via the CEC education stream/BC PNP program. If one has around $30,000 to spend (not counting normal day-to-day living expenses) then I believe this can be a potential route for almost anyone. Basically it involves going to school and earning a diploma in a two-year program. Upon completion of the program of study, you become eligible for a 3-year post-grad open work permit. After completing one year of full-time paid work in a skilled occupation (which need not even be related to your program of study!) one qualifies for PR under the CEC (federal) stream. The BC PNP route is even quicker and easier, as it doesn't even require a year of post-grad work, but only a written permanent, fulltime job offer after graduating!

If you have a few extra $$$ saved up that you can allocate to/invest in education (for the sake of approved PR), then this may be a route you should seriously give some consideration to.

Best of luck in your endeavors!

 

[Leon]

I remember you NeedleArtist. Glad it worked out.

The student method works well for a married couple as well because only one of them has to be a student. The other one gets to stay and gets an open work permit to do what they want. For David Law, maybe his wife could be the student and he would be free to continue with his work.

 

[DavidLaw]

I had a look at the Quebec and other Canadian province processes and didn't pass those tests either

Don't speak/read any French, which I guess is a negative.

Interesting idea about studying in Canada, but wouldn't you still fail at the last hurdle when it comes to finding a job?

I'm not looking for work per se, so if I did take that route I'd not be looking for a job after the course. Also I run a business, I (and my wife) don't have the time to study full time for two years. The idea is to move to a place like Vancouver and spend a lot of money on enjoying life while running my business.

I hope it works out for you NeedleArtist, but it's not a route for us.

I'm looking into using the 2 years at Uni towards a qualification that's recognised.

Still can't get over it's so difficult for someone like myself. There's loads of entrepreneurs who didn't finish their education that any country with half a brain would be going out of their way to attract, we generate wealth.

David

 

[DavidLaw]

Been looking at the Self employed route again which I'd discounted early in the research because I'm not really working in "Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport".

I'm looking through the occupations list www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/Occupations.aspx?val=5 and there's possibilities.

Although my main business is SEO consulting (advise medium size businesses on getting decent rankings in Google etc...) I also own around 100 websites and sell my own products (related to SEO and advertising), which could be considered under www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/Profile.aspx?val=5&val1=5121 (5121 Authors and Writers).

I'm a writer, have written hundreds of articles.

I've owned classic literature sites on multiple classic authors for 6 years which is in a culture subject ) I own help type sites (related to SEO, making money online) which could fall under all sorts of jobs described at www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/ViewAllTitles.aspx?val=5&val1=5121 and sell a very popular website theme that includes various advertising platforms and write a lot of support articles for customers (job description: "support materials writer" maybe).

My websites ad revenue alone earn more than enough money to cover the costs of living in Canada. They aren't my main business, they are almost hobbies, but if that immigration option isn't too fussy about job descriptions, might be a route?

Would be easy to gain 35 points at www .cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/selection.asp if I can be covered under one of the job descriptions.

Any thoughts?

David

Wasn't able to post links correctly.

 

[Leon]

Would be easy to gain 35 points at www .cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/selection.asp if I can be covered under one of the job descriptions.

If you click on each category they show you how the points are calculated so you can figure out from there if you have a passing mark. For example, with 5 years of relevant experience, you already have 35 points without anything else.

 

[DavidLaw]

I've been writing articles, building websites etc... on the Internet for well over 5 years (it's around 10 years), so if it counts as a writer (I do make money from it) that would be easy to gain 35 points. My age and ability to speak English is 26 points.

How strict is the occupation requirement when everything else is met? What's the general experience of the self employed regarding matching an occupation to what they do?

David

 

[angelbrat]

Very strict.

Unless your occupation falls into the 26 for the FSW route, you have to look at other options. To come to Canada as an investor ( self employed, start a business etc),you have to have a minimum of $million and also follow the strict rules in the investor category.

You could get an AEO (arranged employment offer) or be nominated by a Provence (PNP) Both these routes require either an approved job offer or a skill needed in the Provence.

Having 67 + points mean nothing, unless you have something else.

From what you have written so far, I believe your best route is to get a job in Canada and apply through AEO or PNP. Otherwise, I cannot see any other option that works for you. Maybe other people more experienced than me can advise.

 

[Leon]

How strict is the occupation requirement when everything else is met? What's the general experience of the self employed regarding matching an occupation to what they do?

I don't know how strict they are. It's not a very common class to apply under. Besides it is slow. If you look at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/self-fed.asp#europe you are seeing London = 43 months so that's about 3.5 years.