Immigrating to Canada. Please Help

[Pauland Stacey]

Hi all.

My fiancee and I are looking at moving to Canada in the future and are after any information that is available and that would be of help to us in getting the process underway.

I am 26 and my fiancee is 22. We have a 5 month old son. I have been working in the Plumbing & Heating industry all my life and I am currently working as a sales rep for a Plumbers merchant in SE England. I am also looking into doing the full plumbing course to get my qualifications.

My fiancee has worked with horses in the past and is looking into do a horse mangement and instructor course so that she will be able to open her own riding school.

We are also looking into property developement over here as a source of income to keep us going if we are unable to fullfill our dreams of being able to work in Canada.

If there is anyone out there that would be able to help us in our dream, any information would be gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance

Paul and Stacey

[Leon]

If you became a qualified plumber, you are on the most wanted list for federal skilled worker so if you otherwise qualify, no problem to apply.

[Pauland Stacey]

Would it be best to get qualified in gas fitting or general plumbing???

[Leon]

The list of the 38 occupations for skilled workers is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-instructions.asp#list  Plumbers and steam fitters are both on the list but gas fitters are not. 

For occupations under pressure in different provinces, means it's easier to get a work permit if you decide to come in on a temporary work permit and apply for immigration later, for AB plumbers and steam fitters are also both on the list, for BC they have steam fitters and gas fitters.  You can see those lists at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/occunderpres.shtml

So from that, I would say that general plumber is better because you have the option of FSW.  If you would rather be a gas fitter or it works out better for you, you would have to find a job online and come in on a temporary work permit.  You can look for jobs in Canada at http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/srch_eng.aspx?ProvId=99&Keyword=&OfferpPage=50 to see if you can find more plumbing or gas fitter jobs and which pays better.

http://www.workdestinations.org/occupation_keyword_search.jsp;jsessionid=42223B0771CC8DC385159916B5D65B82?lang=en will tell you what you have to do to get licensed in different provinces.  I have heard that plumbers in AB have to take a test within 6 months of starting to work and if they don't pass, they go home.  I don't know about gas fitters and don't know about other provinces.