I have come to a decision.
The list of 38 occupations was released a couple of weeks ago and whilst my legal job was not on the list accountants and financial auditors were. However, I have only just started my AAT course which does not even come close to the level required for Canadian immigration.
For now my plans to move to Canada are on hold. I am not a great studier and the thought of doing another four to five years really does not thrill me. Who knows what the future might hold. The immigration rules might change again in which I will gladly reconsider.
Life is too short to worry about the right choices to make. For now I am just going to see where life takes me; if I end up in Canada then so be it.
Pulling on the stress strings.
Everybody who is thinkng or have applied for Canadian immigration after February 2008 are waiting for an announcement that may well end their dreams of immigrating to Canada. There are rumours that immigration in the skilled workers class will be limited to only 38 occupations. Nobody is sure what exactly this means; whether those who have applied and come under those 38 occupations will simply have their applications fast-tracked and the other applications will have longer waiting times; or whether those whose occupations are not included in the 'big 38' will have their applications terminated altogether.
From what I have read those in the 'big 38' and those with job offers will have their applications fast-tracked, and other applications will be placed in a quewe for processing. Let's hope so, I'd rather wait longer for my visa then not to have any hope of leaving England.
An offical announcement will be made sometime in November. Until then everybody is on tenderhooks.
Nearly There!
Wow, has it really been that long since I updated? Well just another 12 months of full time work and I will be able to apply for immigration to Canada. I will have 67 points by then, so I don't think I will gain anything by taking a French test, but we'll see.
I have also decided to get another qualification. I am starting an
accredited accountancy course in a few months which should hopefully be finished by the time I move. This doesn't really have anything to do with moving to Canada. I lost my job a few weeks ago working as a conveyancing assistant and have decided that a career in law in too volatile to continue with. By
re-qualifying as an accountant there are a lot more opportunities available here in the UK. It is also a lot more transferable to Canada than my Law degree is. So accountancy is an added bonus as far as adaptability goes.
I have also seen a number of videos on
youtube about how immigrants find it hard to find jobs at the level they practiced at back in their home country. I am not surprised that some feel cheated. However, I also understand that to start again in another country will be hard work and sometimes you just have to accept that starting again really does mean that. I always accepted that no matter what level I got to in my career in the UK it would not count for much in Canada. That was clear from the beginning. I am fine with that, so long as I accept that a job is a job and you have to work your way up the ladder just like back home. It is true for other countries as well. My friends have just moved out to Australia and are finding jobs at a basic level. They knew that was always going to be the case and are fine with it. They have always felt that a move abroad was a better option than staying in the UK.
The rules have changed.
I have just seen on the immigration website that the rules regarding immigration processing have changed. The Immigration Department can now
be more selective of those they want to immigrate sooner to fulfil short term labour needs. From the information I have gathered they are interested in people who have post secondary education (university) and they will be looking to process those applications faster, depending on the degree/job. What this means for me I have no idea, I do fall into the wanted category, but from what I can see there does not seem to be a major lack of Legal Assistants in Canada.
The processing times have also changed. The minimum processing time for the London Office is now 31 months, up from 26 months previously. On the plus side the maximum processing time is now 38 months, a big drop from the 5 years previously. I am assuming the new processing rules may vary these times.
In all honesty it takes as long as it takes. So long as I get there in the end it will all be worth it.
Time to get serious.
OK, so it's nearly April already and time is flying by. I need to get some things in order. First of all I need to get my
academic credentials assessed. I have no idea how long that is going to take, but is OK
because I have until February 2009 to get that sorted. I then need to decide when to take my French test. It will be some time after
February 2009 as this will mean that I will only have to get basic levels in French to qualify for immigration. The money requirement is not a problem.
It will probably happen at the very last minute because time has a
habit of
creeping up on me. It will get done eventually though.
Well I will be able to hear first hand the pros and cons of moving overseas. One of my friend is leaving for Australia in a month. It will be slightly different for her because she is going with her husband, but there are always challenges no matter how many people you move with. She is
terrified, but I am sure she will not regret this
adventure she is embarking on. I am sure her experience will help me when the time comes to leave this green and pleasant land.
New Year, New resolutions
Well, it is now coming up to the 12 month countdown to apply for immigration. I now only have to reach basic level for French language ability to get the points, I just have to get off by arse and start learning! I should start as soon as possible givent how fast last year went. I am going to draw up a timetable.
I am a lot more montivated than a couple of months ago. I have recently found out that one of my colleagues had live in the Niagra Falls area for six years. She loved it out there and wished she hadn't come back. Another colleague had a friend immigrate out there who said that standard of living compared to England makes it all worth it adn more.
So there you go, a renewed enthusiasm for a new life.
Sorry for the lack of updates
Well, I can't believe that it's November already. I have been meaning to update for a while but to be truthful I have had the attack of self doubt about whether a move to Canada will work. I work as a Residential Conveyancer Paralegal and I am fully aware that the laws are very different in Canada (although they are based on English Common Law). There are plenty of work available for those who have experience in litigation or corporate law, but those are the areas of law I have absolutely no interest in. I have been looking at job websites and there are very few jobs available for Residential Property. The requirements are not necessarily a problem, there are training courses in Canada that will get me trained in the common software that will be used, it's just convincing the employers that I am willing to learn and that I am fully aware that the system in Canada is different.
I guess I shouldn't really worry, but I can't help but wonder that when the time for interview with the immigration office comes they will pick up on this weakness and possibly refuse my visa. I really don't want to change my job or the area of law a work in. I have learned that if you change things like that it just makes the situation worse. I guess that I will just have to see what happens. If anybody has any information about the situation please feel free to leave a comment.
