Canadian / New Zealand People - Imigration ?

[wingnut]

Evening All

Mrs Edz and I are seriously considering upping sticks and moving abroad from the UK. We're very interested in Canada and New Zealand at present and have done a little research but I'd love to hear from anyone in either place as to our prospects, employment in the area and just some general info.

I'm 33 and Mrs Edz is ...cough...of a similar sort of age

I have over 14 years experience in the telecoms/networking/IT administration/systems admin/linux/unix/asp/sql/web design areas

I was also a programmer / software engineer for 6 years (well, ongoing as my job calls for all sorts) and ran a hotline as well as being principle software engineer for a telecoms company for 2 years.

(I also have graphics design, technical writing and layout skills)

I have successfully edited DV and performed DVD authoring - but nothing official on those only spare income jobs of a high standard

I have BTEC (2 year course equal to 7 A Levels at A grade), 8 GCSEs top passes and other skills.

Both of us are healthy although I did lose my mother to cancer in 97.

So, what do you guys think ? Where do you suggest and whats the work like around there for someone with my skill set..
Oh and we have two cats Wingnut (see my piccy) and Jez

Cheers all

Edz

[BJ_M]

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/Unofficial/Canadiana/

might help ///

i think canada is great -- NZ also sounds like a niffty place ..

[pacmania_2001]

Either of them are good.

If you move to New Zealand just be prepared to put up with their annoying accent and their attraction to sheep.

[g_shocker182]

Sure Canada's great - if your a Michael Moore fan.




Sorry I just had to. I don't why I keep bringing him up. It a problem I have .

[/DISCUSSION OF THAT PERSON]

[BJ_M]

Sure Canada's great - if your a Michael Moore fan.




Sorry I just had to. I don't why I keep bringing him up. It a problem I have :wink: .

[/DISCUSSION OF THAT PERSON]

Michael Moore and canada -- ????? no connection at all ..

[pacmania_2001]

Michael Moore was born in Flint, Michigan. The only connection I can see between him and Canada is his segment in Bowling for Columbine.

Wingnut, have you been to either place before on holidays? It might be worth spending a month or so at each place just to get a feel and see which one best suits you.

[Ziffelpig]

You can't beat the West coast of Canada, beautiful British Columbia. The only scary thing about Canada is our Liberal (federal) government, and were big on socialism. You should not have problems immigrating or finding work in your field here either, not so sure about NZ.
My wife and I honey-mooned in NZ another beautiful country and we would like to live there someday, its close to Oz(we have several relatives there), Fiji etc.
I'm a sun and sand kinda guy and could care less if I ever saw snow again but I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence till you get there.

[housepig]

funny, I was just looking into this myself... I might be looking into it harder after November.

check out www.cic.gc.ca for Canadian Immigration info, it's got a ton of data & worksheet-style stuff to see if you qualify as a skilled worker.

[rhegedus]

funny, I was just looking into this myself... I might be looking into it harder after November.

What's wrong with Minnesota? I was thinking about moving to the US a while back - Minnesota and Wisconsin were high on my list.

[housepig]

funny, I was just looking into this myself... I might be looking into it harder after November.

What's wrong with Minnesota? I was thinking about moving to the US a while back - Minnesota and Wisconsin were high on my list.

Nothing is wrong with Minnesota - it's great. After growing up on the east coast (Washington D.C. / Northern Virginia area) I can wholeheartedly recommend Minneapolis / St. Paul as a great place to live.

My reasons for looking at Canada are political in nature, so I'm not going to discuss them here.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I've been to B.C,Manitoba and Ontario Canada. B.C. is very beautiful and has great Salmon fishing,Vancouver is very cosmopolitan.Ontario is very cold in the winter but has good hunting and fishing,I like Toronto and Ottawa too.Forget Manitoba unless you like farming.
If I had to move to another country it would be Canada....or maybe Argentina.

[pacmania_2001]

My wife and I honey-mooned in NZ another beautiful country and we would like to live there someday, its close to Oz(we have several relatives there), Fiji etc.
I'm a sun and sand kinda guy and could care less if I ever saw snow again but I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence till you get there.

New Zealand from what I've heard hasn't got as strict immigration laws as other western countries like Australia and the United States.

Thats why people move to NZ for a few years than as part of the agreement between the NZ and Australian government they are free to become Australian citizens. It's like a loop hole to obtain citizenship easier.

[SquirrelDip]

Canada: US neighbours...
New Zealand: Ausie Neighbours...

Who can you tolerate longer?

[pacmania_2001]

Canada: US neighbours...
New Zealand: Ausie Neighbours...

Who can you tolerate longer?

It's like what I used to say to Americans when I was in the US and they always asked about NZ as if it were an Australian state;

New Zealand is to Australia what Canada is to the US.

[rhegedus]

New Zealand is to Australia what Canada is to the US.

You mean Australia Jnr and America Jnr?



- sorry, saw THAT simpsons episode recently....

[ChrisX]

Canada: US neighbours...
New Zealand: Aussie Neighbours...

Who can you tolerate longer?

Canada during winter as very cold place and New Zealand can be rather cold during winter and very quiet.

NZ is a nice place and my friend wants to move there one day as he is tired of Sydney's crowds, the traffic, and getting so expensive.

NZ can a sleepy place and someone can get bored as isn't much there, not much entertainment and not many places to go.

Getting a job maybe difficult and NZ a great place if someone wants to retire in peace and quiet.

Immigation for me to NZ is automatic and I no need to do much. I just bring my Australian Passport and can stay there as long as I want.

[wingnut]

Hi there,

wow lots of movement on this thread since I checked in last !

Wingnut, have you been to either place before on holidays? It might be worth spending a month or so at each place just to get a feel and see which one best suits you.

We are planning on spending a few weeks in Canada at some point this year, with a visit to New Zealand next year although it must be said at present we are leaning towards trying to get into Canada before New Zealand. No offence to Kiwis we love the look of New Zealand, (and immigration seems easier there), but it would mean being an awfull lot further away from Mrs Edz family, (18 hours or more flight versus 7-8 hours) which given their age seems a long time to fly.

The main crux looks like its going to be employment. My skill sets are flexible and I've been most things in the IT/telecoms industry from a BT engineer back in the 90s through network engineering, programming (although Im not keen to go back to application development), web design/graphics design/office automation etc.

You can't beat the West coast of Canada, beautiful British Columbia. The only scary thing about Canada is our Liberal (federal) government, and were big on socialism. You should not have problems immigrating or finding work in your field here either, not so sure about NZ.

That sounds like very good news to me, especially since we seem to meet the points requirement according to the immigration web site.

funny, I was just looking into this myself... I might be looking into it harder after November.

check out www.cic.gc.ca for Canadian Immigration info, it's got a ton of data & worksheet-style stuff to see if you qualify as a skilled worker.

Thanks for the links, at the moment we're in very early stages but it looks like I meet the requirements which will hopefully make things a little easier.

Canada: US neighbours...
New Zealand: Ausie Neighbours...

Who can you tolerate longer?

[gmatov]

If you were into IT in the '90s, you'd be safe most anywhere.

I think housepig might be referring, with the November remark, that he thinks if GW gets in again, the Draft will be reinstituted, Canada might be a good place for our young.

November might be too late. After re-election, the border will probably be highly restricted, show your draft card.

Anyhow, the west coast of Canada is supposed to have mild but rainy winters.

You'd earn more in terms of USD there, as it seems the buck isn't what it used to be. Hell, not in NZ coin, either, nor in most others but the Chinese money, as they refuse to revalue it to keep a competitive advantage over us (US that is).

Good luck, wherever you decide to emigrate to.

Cheers,

George

[wingnut]

If you were into IT in the '90s, you'd be safe most anywhere.

I think housepig might be referring, with the November remark, that he thinks if GW gets in again, the Draft will be reinstituted, Canada might be a good place for our young.

November might be too late. After re-election, the border will probably be highly restricted, show your draft card.

Anyhow, the west coast of Canada is supposed to have mild but rainy winters.

You'd earn more in terms of USD there, as it seems the buck isn't what it used to be. Hell, not in NZ coin, either, nor in most others but the Chinese money, as they refuse to revalue it to keep a competitive advantage over us (US that is).

Good luck, wherever you decide to emigrate to.

Cheers,

George

Thanks for all the info guys and your comments on being in IT since 90 are very re-assuring. Mrs Edz and I are due for a sit down and a thorough pouring over maps this weekend. Wherever we end up those of you who live there and offered so much helpfull advice give me a shout, I think I owe you a beer !

Cheers

Edz