Keep in mind there are almost no jobs!

[info-gc]

But 50% general labor force umemployment is cuckoo.

Nobody knows the exact unemployment rate. You may be surprised. As I said most unemployed people do not even count.

On the health care system, not sure what Australia is like in this respect, but you will be surprised here. Sometimes you have to wait 2 years to see a specialist. Then they only work 8:30-4:30, so you have to leave work for any appointments.

Student loans are interest free for the duration of your training. As soon as you graduate, interest starts to accumulate. I know people that today, 5 years after they graduated are only managing to pay the interest on their loan.

You have a point on the Environment, but most of us will live in big city centers with all types of pollution.

 

[Emcool00]

@canada0801,
We on this forum should encourage everyone to relate their situations in canada exactly as it is, negative or positive(cant be positive for everybody definitely) and then leave every reader alone to make up their mind based on what they have read.It is definitely not fair to criticize info-gc for his being bold enough to share his situation with us and it is also wrong for you to want to want to impose your own views on us.If you have landed and have a different story or perspective go ahead and tell us and allow us to make up our minds about what awaits us in canada.As you implied above different people have different reasons for wanting to migrate and you should not assume that your reasons are superior to those of others.So the importance of this kind of post from info-gc is that it serves as a wake up call for those with economic reasons for migrating to think twice or re-stategise and there is nothing wrong with that.
So if anyone has any stories to tell or info to share please go ahead and some of will be glad for it.

 

[canada0801]

@ canada0801,
We on this forum should encourage everyone to relate their situations in canada exactly as it is, negative or positive(cant be positive for everybody definitely) and then leave every reader alone to make up their mind based on what they have read.It is definitely not fair to criticize info-gc for his being bold enough to share his situation with us and it is also wrong for you to want to want to impose your own views on us.If you have landed and have a different story or perspective go ahead and tell us and allow us to make up our minds about what awaits us in canada.As you implied above different people have different reasons for wanting to migrate and you should not assume that your reasons are superior to those of others.So the importance of this kind of post from info-gc is that it serves as a wake up call for those with economic reasons for migrating to think twice or re-stategise and there is nothing wrong with that.
So if anyone has any stories to tell or info to share please go ahead and some of will be glad for it.

Just as referenced poster has opinion to share, so do i. That includes my opinion about his or her opinion, nothing more or less

 

[BobbyB]

@ canada0801,
We on this forum should encourage everyone to relate their situations in canada exactly as it is, negative or positive(cant be positive for everybody definitely) and then leave every reader alone to make up their mind based on what they have read.It is definitely not fair to criticize info-gc for his being bold enough to share his situation with us and it is also wrong for you to want to want to impose your own views on us.If you have landed and have a different story or perspective go ahead and tell us and allow us to make up our minds about what awaits us in canada.As you implied above different people have different reasons for wanting to migrate and you should not assume that your reasons are superior to those of others.So the importance of this kind of post from info-gc is that it serves as a wake up call for those with economic reasons for migrating to think twice or re-stategise and there is nothing wrong with that.
So if anyone has any stories to tell or info to share please go ahead and some of will be glad for it.

Absolutely!! Well said, Emcool00. The guy (info-gc) is not stopping anybody from immigrating to Canada, infact he can't.
He' s only airing his experience and the situation on ground, which is of course not what most people want to hear. It's up to each and every individual to decide for himself. Everybody should be allowed to air their opinion and people should tolerate each other too.

 

[caribgrl55]

I agree with Bobby B. This forum is for learning from each other and sharing our individual experiences. Sometimes we hear lovely success stories, and other times they can be sad or depressing. We should feel safe enough on this forum to post our opinions, even though all may not agree. At the end of the day, we each have our own minds to make our own decisions, and it is up to you as to whether or not you use posts here to assist you on your journey.

Most of us here are working towards a similar goal, and there will always be obstacles of many kinds along the way. Good luck to everyone!

 

[lloydnina]

Nobody knows the exact unemployment rate. You may be surprised. As I said most unemployed people do not even count.

On the health care system, not sure what Australia is like in this respect, but you will be surprised here. Sometimes you have to wait 2 years to see a specialist. Then they only work 8:30-4:30, so you have to leave work for any appointments.

Student loans are interest free for the duration of your training. As soon as you graduate, interest starts to accumulate. I know people that today, 5 years after they graduated are only managing to pay the interest on their loan.

You have a point on the Environment, but most of us will live in big city centers with all types of pollution.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM- i am a healthcare professional, i am pretty sure that anywhere in the world..if you need a specialist in a public funded healthcare- you need to wait unless its very urgent. The govt will not let you wait for two years if you need an appendectomy but you will do if you need a joint replacement unless you have a private insurance. This better than healthcare system in a third world country which you will wait until you die.

STUDENT LOAN- Studying is an option if you don't succed in the next 3 yrs after migration, this will ensure you of a good job and a good pay. You are wrong about your statement that its interest free only during your training because you will not pay any amount during your training as you are considered as a student with no income yet..they will only ask repayments if you get a job after your traing and the pay that your getting is more than enough to give you a decent living...whether its interest free or not, after your training,if you get a good job with a good pay,i am sure you won't mind paying a bit of an interest to thee govt that helped you to get a good paying job, so that they can other students as well.

ENVIRONMENT- You have a choice of living in a city or suburbs. City gives you a busy life, excitement and probably more opportunities..while suburbian give youa quiet, peaceful living. You have a choice, but i am pretty sure, even in the city, its nicer than where you came from..otherwise you shouldn't really consider migrating.

Ive been in your shoes mate, believe me. Now, I am starting to correct my life…like what I wrote before, we hold our success, if we did get stable job in our home country why not in Canada? If I would again start from scratch, I mean get qualification that they need, why not..anyway, it’s a new country- a new life. Its risky, I know. But atleast I got a 50% chance of improving my life than none by staying in my homeland. Don’t get me wrong, ilove my homeland but sometimes we need to think wisely.

 

[canloverdream]

What he is saying is the truth. We came to canada with all the enthusiasm and hope for a better life my husband being a professional and me a graduate. The reality is not as it is portrayed. My husband was a bank manager back home and i was working in the uk we gave up everything to come to canada and to get a job here is much much much harder than you think. we live in mississauga all our savings have gone and we r living on factory work salary. Our only consolation is that our eldest son is going so well in school.

 

[info-gc]

lloydnina,

In my second post, page 1 I mentioned retraining - 2 years.

This was a Government funded program which provided partial tuition payment AND ASSISTANCE WITH LIVING EXPENSES. I took a student loan which started to accumulate interest in the summer months between the two academic years. Due to fortunate circumstances at the time I managed to pay the loan off and am currently not in debt, not yet.

The good news: The program was generous, good and I graduated and took a diploma. Something that, no doubt, cannot happen in a number of countries. It is not enough to be able to afford the tuition; you also need someone to support you financially as working and studying at the same time is impossible. Universities here make you busy since day 1.

The bad news To take advantage of this program one needed to have had an active EI claim in the past 3 years. Furthermore, last year the funds were reduced in such a way that they no longer cover anything more than $1,000. (in comparison the tuition fees for one year I was supposed to pay were over $5,000) But the ultimate bad news is, I did not get a job after completing the program. The group started with 20 students. About 12 of us graduated on time. The other 8 could not handle it.

The basic math is:

Canadian population: 30 mil
Workforce (lets say 1/2) 15 mil
Unemployment (lets be conservative and go with 10%) 1.5mil
Now imagine you have 1,500,000 unemployed and you are adding another 500,000 to this number.
Obviously the idea is that in 2011 the Canadian industry will generate 2,000,000 new jobs???
No, nobody is saying that, in fact jobs have been diminishing. They are outsourced to places with cheaper workforce.

So how are you going to survive, or how am I going to survive is a really big question. On the bright side (for me) I never sold any property before moving to Canada and yes, there are still some friends I may find back home.

 

[mailvdutt]

Info-gc :You should go back, may there is some hope from where u came from

Rest: Plan and try ur luck, u could be sucessfull.

I planned to apply last year in september, i read lot of these news /blogs which were disheartening .
I strongly believe one has to try, at least i don't want to look back at the age of 50 & regret for not trying for better prospects.

Thanks to canadavisa.com posts , i did my application processing on my own.

God has been kind to me, i hope he is to all

 

[info-gc]

i don't want to look back at the age of 50 & regret for not trying for better prospects.

These were my thoughts when I was 23, but now I am ready to sing a different song.
Overall, I am happy to have visited the places that I did. The humiliation and desperation can, however ,be unreal.

If you are ready to wave good by to the fees you've paid and the airplane tickets and if you have a set plan in mind, (like you go back after 5 or 10 years of trying to break the wall) you should be OK.

I have seen people pay their immigration fees only to visit Canada, take a look and go back never to return again.

 

[Neel09]

Hi,
I landed in edmonton in june 2010 and then came back to US where i am working as a registered professional civil engineer. 2 weeks back i sent my resume to two top notch companies in Canada, just to taste the waters from US as advised from Malivdutt before. They did phone interview, and called me for face to face this week. I came to edmonton yesterday and met one company yesterday and met one today. They both offered me the job in same field and same designation what i am working in US. ( infact more better and more interesting and top of it its paying me much higher than my current company in US). I have already decided which one to join.

I am going back to US tommorow but will be moving back to edmonton by first or second week of December. They want me to start from 13th Dec. So things are not bad here. I should say canada is doing much much better than USA in terms of civil engineering. Trust me as i saw it when i saw the range of projects are done in alberta by these companies.

That said, i know this one does not fit in this forum heading, but is there anyone in edmonton willing to share an apartment? Or if you even know of any good apartments in the south side near Whyte Avenue please let me know i can rent the whole apartment.

Thanks

 

[canada0801]

What he is saying is the truth. We came to canada with all the enthusiasm and hope for a better life my husband being a professional and me a graduate. The reality is not as it is portrayed. My husband was a bank manager back home and i was working in the uk we gave up everything to come to canada and to get a job here is much much much harder than you think. we live in mississauga all our savings have gone and we r living on factory work salary. Our only consolation is that our eldest son is going so well in school.

If you really think you fare worse than you did before why don't you go back to where you came from?
Does anything or anyone in Canada prevent you from moving back?

 

[info-gc]

Does anything or anyone in Canada prevent you from moving back?

This is not the main concern.

I started the thread to let you know of what you can expect.
If most of you knew for sure what will happen, it is likely you would never consider coming here.

There are reasons for which you come to Canada. My main reason was to explore the place and do some hiking but I also thought of having a comfortable life.

Now with the limited prospects for meaningful work, mounting bills, the kids and the inadequate place to live the situation is anything but optimistic.

I encourage the fellow from Vancouver who states there are many IT jobs, to help out some of you guys with finding IT work.

Neel, yours is one hell of a story. Did any of the two companies disclose to you what made you stand out in the crowd or you were the only Civil engineer to apply to those jobs? Best of luck in Edmonton!

 

[canada0801]

This is not the main concern.

Whatever the main concern is, was there anything that stopped you from returning from Canada ?

 

[info-gc]

Whatever the main concern is, was there anything that stopped you from returning from Canada ?

You know the technical answer to this one, but realistically, it is not that easy. I am considering different options, however.