Mr. Maple Leaf promised me a visa!

[Lily]

 

They called me yesterday, and now I have their letter in my mailbox with further instructions.

So yes a Russian single girl can get to Canada on her own!

[viking]

Oh, Oh. watch out Canada.!!!

[Admin]

 

They called me yesterday, and now I have their letter in my mailbox with further instructions.

So yes a Russian single girl can get to Canada on her own!

WONDERFUL NEWS Lily!

Congratulations!!
- Dan

[Gator]

Fantastic Lily!!!!

I have followed your saga for a few years, and finally some great news.

I assume this is a work visa.  Where in Canada do you plan to settle?  There are stark differences.  


I found Toronto to be very cosmopolitan with a variety of ethnic populations.  Just visited Montreal - in that short time the French Canadians impressed me as interesting fun loving people.  Unlike the European French, the French Canadians spoke with me even though I did not know their language.  I like Vancouver the best, but I am a nature boy.  In between these cities, I heard that Moose Jaw has good outdoor hockey rinks.    

[TwoBitBandit]

You'll like Canada.  The weather in Canada will remind you of home.   

[BillyB]

Gratz Lily! Vancouver B.C. is indeed a beautiful city and if you choose to go there, you will practically be my neighbor! I'm on the other side of the fence a few hours away near Seattle.

[RussianWind]

What do you plan to do there?
It's good when dreams become true. Hope you will like it there. Two of my friends moved back after an independant immigration to Canada.

[BillyB]

Two of my friends moved back after an independant immigration to Canada.

I would say it's tougher on women who independantly move to a new country compared to the women who may have a loving husband to help them get around town and adapt to a new culture.

I read enough of Lily's post to understand that she is a happy, intelligent, and strong woman and I'm sure she'll make her happiness wherever she goes. She should also know she has the respect of many forum members and if she needs, we'll come over and visit, help her adjust and keep her from feeling alone.

[Boethius]

Fantastic Lily!!!!

I have followed your saga for a few years, and finally some great news.

I assume this is a work visa.  Where in Canada do you plan to settle?  There are stark differences.  


I found Toronto to be very cosmopolitan with a variety of ethnic populations.  Just visited Montreal - in that short time the French Canadians impressed me as interesting fun loving people.  Unlike the European French, the French Canadians spoke with me even though I did not know their language.  I like Vancouver the best, but I am a nature boy.  In between these cities, I heard that Moose Jaw has good outdoor hockey rinks.    

You mock it, but Moose Jaw has outstanding spas.  It is located adjacent to very mineral rich hot springs.  

http://www.templegardens.sk.ca/


Congratulations, Lily, and good luck.  I know you will do well in Canada.  I recall you saying you were interested in Toronto.  It is a lovely city.  A little too much smog for my liking, but its energy reminded my husband of "home".

[Misha]

Two of my friends moved back after an independant immigration to Canada.

Some people are simply not cut out for immigrating and living in another country. There are days that I wish some more immigrants would follow your friends example 

[JR]

YAY Lily!!! Persistence pays off

[Sculpto]

Great news Lily!  I am sure you will do well in Toronto..its an excellent city with tons of art and culture.  I just hope you like to drive a car..

[Lily]

My dears, thank you very much for your kind words! I never doubted that my news finds your welcome

Now some more details on my path.

Gator, no it is not a work visa. I wish I had one! It would save me a lot of trouble by provision of work and income right from my first days in Canada. I have heard some talks about finding a work abroad while staying in another country, but I just don't believe in them. Despite all technical capacities like sametime videoconferencing, calls, etc., the labor market remains steadily local, and tends to recruit people who are already in town. Perhaps being hired from a different location within the same country makes sense, but it seems to be rare again. Therefore, people move first, then look for a job in a new location.

Maple Leaf has several opportunities to became a Canadian. We talk about immigration here, not about a temporary work or study, or asylum. There are following immigration categories:

Skilled workers and professionals - for people who want to settle and work in Canada (outside of Quebec);

Quebec-selected skilled workers - For people selected by the Quebec government to settle and work in Quebec;

Canadian Experience Class - for people who have recent Canadian work experience or have graduated and recently worked in Canada;

Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people - for people who want to start a business in Canada;

Provincial nominees - one of Canada’s provinces or territories can nominate you to settle and work there;

Sponsoring - to be sponsored by a family member to join her/him in Canada.

My category is # 1. Skilled workers are selected as permanent residents based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other criteria that have been shown to help them become economically established in Canada.

That's it. Canada believes that your Lily sufficiently demonstrated her ability to establish herself in Canada.

Official source is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp

Before filing, I attended two seminars given by Canadian Embassy in Moscow for prospective immigrants. The audience, who crowded a hall, asked questions, and I heard one guy asking: 'If I immigrate to Canada as skilled worker, and I will not look for a job and never work, will I be sanctioned in any way?' The officer replied that he will not.

The skilled workers category seems to be a really independent one. Despite Canada expects us to locate jobs and start paying taxes asap, it sill leaves us with a choice what to do with our lives. So I can work or not, study or not. Or I can marry a fine Canadian man and make his life better and this may also be my primary occupation for good. With this type of immigration, I can do anything that I can!

[Lily]

I would say it's tougher on women who independantly move to a new country compared to the women who may have a loving husband to help them get around town and adapt to a new culture.

Sure Billy. It would be a lot easier and nicer What is more fulfilling than entering a new life with your loved one. However, so far I haven't been blessed with this. I would not hesitate to immigrate with my man together, otherwise. My single situation does not make my life worse in any way; it just does not make it better. This makes a difference

No doubts it is very interesting to look at the marital status of the immigrants. From visiting the immigrants fora, I got the impression that the overwhelming majority of them are couples with 1 -2 kids. Incidentally I came across singles.

Here is some statistics on the immigrants (permanent residents) to Canada and their marital status. It counts economic migrants, family sponsored, refugees, etc.

2008, single males 25,168
2008, married males 73,618
2008, separated/divorced males 5,598

2008, single females 55,002
2008, married females 134,948
2008, separated/divorced females 6,984

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2008/permanent/15.asp

[UTRO]

What do you plan to do there?
Hope you will like it there. Two of my friends moved back after an independent immigration to Canada.

Lol! Yes, I'm sure this has never happened to any Russians who Immigrated to the USA or Europe! Immigration to Canada and Immigration period, isn't for everyone.

[UTRO]

Hey Lily! That is Great News indeed!!
Sveta and I live about an hour north of Toronto in Barrie. Well Sveta doesn't yet....! 
Hopefully we will plan to run into you one of these days
Best Wishes for a smooth Transition.

[RussianWind]

Lol! Yes, I'm sure this has never happened to any Russians who Immigrated to the USA or Europe! Immigration to Canada and Immigration period, isn't for everyone.

Honestly I didn't understand your sentence. I speak only of independent immigration, Canada welcomes them more than any onther country. My friends both have Canadian and Russian citizenship, one stays most time in Moscow, another one met a Hungarian and moved to Hungary. They did it not because of difficulties but because they didn't like it. You can laugh but these are facts, after 5 years or so they left the country.

[Lily]

What do you plan to do there?
It's good when dreams become true. Hope you will like it there. Two of my friends moved back after an independant immigration to Canada.

So far I plan to go to T.O. What to do there? Well, first landing a temporary place, then getting a SIN, opening a bank account, ordering a PR card, arranging a mobile phone, finding more or less permanent home to rent. In between I probably register for some professional training or/and exams, join some professional organizations to network, make visits to a number of organizations that assist newcomers. And networking, networking and more networking.

Yes I heard of and even witnessed cases when immigrants returned back to Russia. In all of them, the prospects to return were better to them than to stay. One guy who immigrated with his wife being principal applicant had no profession in hand, apparently limited English and was unhappy in Canada because he only could land menial jobs. In Canada, his wife left him, and he couldn't find another woman. In 3 years after getting citizenship he returned home and now lives with his parents. He has same types of jobs here, but he doesn't feel himself inferior any more.

[RussianWind]

I thought Canada required 5 years, no?

Anyway Lily, you seem to be a strong and purposeful woman, you should do well. Find a nice Canadian who will cherish you there

[docetae]

Good luck Lily, I went to Canada with the same visa than you. In fact this is more easy (despite this is long process) to get skilled visa worker than to sponsor your own wife..

In which province do you plan to settle ?

[Lily]

RussianWind, thank you for your wishes to me I have hard that the required Canadian residency should be about thousand and something days in order to apply for citizenship. I didn't check it, as this is not very relevant for me at the moment.

docetae, nice to hear that you went the same path as me! Yes I also share an opinion that it is easier to get in Canada through a skilled worker visa.

Therefore I highly recommend it to beautiful (and determined ) Russian ladies. It is better than a marriage agency 

[Misha]

RussianWind, thank you for your wishes to me I have hard that the required Canadian residency should be about thousand and something days in order to apply for citizenship.

Three years. You have to spend the equivalent of three years in Canada to apply for citizenship. If you leave the country, those days do not count as part of the three years and you will have to make up those days before you will be qualified to apply for citizenship. Next summer, my wife will be eligible, so I will have to start reading up on how to apply for citizenship.

[MatryoshkaMan]

Well Lily soon you will be a fellow Canuck! Welcome to Canada and all the best!

[UTRO]

Honestly I didn't understand your sentence. I speak only of independent immigration, Canada welcomes them more than any onther country. My friends both have Canadian and Russian citizenship, one stays most time in Moscow, another one met a Hungarian and moved to Hungary. They did it not because of difficulties but because they didn't like it. You can laugh but these are facts, after 5 years or so they left the country.

RW, I wasn't laughing at your friends, their situation or other Russian Immigrants' situations. I apologize if I came across like that.
I just thought it was funny or 'odd' how on one hand you wished Lily well, but then added what came across to me as a warning of Immigration to Canada, gone badly, without explanation. I didn't find this particularly supportive to Lily.

Hope you will like it there. Two of my friends moved back after an independent immigration to Canada.

Unfortunately many Independent Immigrants do leave their native countries with the belief that life will instantaneously be better/easier for them.
Depending on the status they held and enjoyed in their native country, this is not usually the reality. A Russian Labourer who Immigrates to the West is probably going to find that the fundamentals make it easier for him to succeed, than it does a Russian Lawyer or Doctor. At least, during the interim years.
Those who leave Russia for the West knowing and accepting that their education will need upgrading, their profession is not up to Western 'standards', their profession is not recognized, they are employable as Law Clerks not Lawyers, their social circle has disappeared, they need language upgrading, they (may) have no family, their social status will drop substantially, there are no Banya, etc...

The Immigrants who are aware of and accept these realities before arriving, are the Immigrants who will most probably succeed.

[RussianWind]

I just thought it was funny or 'odd' how on one hand you wished Lily well, but then added what came across to me as a warning of Immigration to Canada, gone badly, without explanation. I didn't find this particularly supportive to Lily.

It is how to look at it. There is nothing worse than crashing of your dreams because you were wearing pink glasses. I am sure Lily would prefer to know the other side of a coint than not to know. For some reason you consider that everybody who moves to your country must love it there a priori. And I said: "I hope you will like it" because she put so much efforts for it and will do more. Whatever I say here she will not change her mind but will think about difficulties in advance.
One thing is when you move to your husband, another is when you are struggling alone.