Moving to Canada from South Africa

[candicew]

My boyfriend & I have lived together for nearly a year now. We have been dating for about 1 year and 7 months. I am a South African citizen as is my boyfriend but he has a British Passport. We are looking to leave South Africa due to extremely high levels of crime here- in fact I have been car-jacked, had a smash and grab and have been held up in my brothers house by 5 armed robbers amongst other things.

The thought of living in South Africa for the rest of my life does not sit well- if anyone knows what South Africa is like they will be able to tell you that the crime situation is just getting worse. I am not prepared to raise a family here and that is why I would like to leave.

I have researched Canada and Toronto in particular.

Does anyone know of the requirements one must have in order to apply to move over to Canada? Perhaps there is someone from South Africa who now lives in Canada that can tell me how to go about doing this?

I would really apprecaite it! Thanks

[thaiguy]

Take the online assessment for skilled workers here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/assess/index.asp

[candicew]

Thanks very much. I appreciate it.

[FrancoisW]

Hey Candice, I'm also looking @ immigrating with my fiancee from SA...
(I've the crime wasn't bad enough with the mines closing because of the power problem)

SA is a JOKE!

Will post here if I find anything worth your time about immigrating but i've been told that a sponsor makes a big diff.
Please post if you find something out :-)

Good luck and hope you come right.
Ons moet net ook bid vir die land...

[candicew]

Hi Francois.

I hope that you are well.

My boyfriend and I have decided to go to the Canadian Expo that is in London in June this year. Check it out: http://www.expo-canada.com/

We have also gone to immigration lawyers- we qualify but its quite costly so it is definitely easier to get a job first.

Good luck! No offense to SA but I cant wait to get out of here...

[hallie]

Hey guys,

Speaking as another South African in the same process, I wish you well but really suggest that bad-mouthing your country isn't very helpful.  We all know the problems, but there's a lot of fantastic stuff too.  If you think you can make a better future elsewhere, that's great -- look the future with a positive attitude.  But please -- saying "no offense but..." doesn't excuse offensive statements.

All the best,
Hal