After Landing: Share Your Experiences

[canadiangirl78]

I was wondering if anyone would like to share what life was like after The Big Landing. We wait with great anticipation for months or even years to get the visa or for our spouse to get the visa but life after landing isn't always easy. Life in Canada with our family is definitely amazing an wonderful but it can be a big adjustment. Anyone willing to share about life after "Decision Made?".

 

[sariss]

My husband has been with me here since May, but unable to work. It has been a financial hardship trying to support two people on my income.
We got our COPR and went to the border a few days later. There was a glitch in the computer system and it took 2 days for us to complete the landing, after a lot of phone calls and harassing the officers.

Right now we are looking for work for him. We just signed the lease of a new apartment in a town where he has a better chance of finding a job. And life moves forward...

 

[canadiangirl78]

My husband has been with me here since May, but unable to work. It has been a financial hardship trying to support two people on my income.
We got our COPR and went to the border a few days later. There was a glitch in the computer system and it took 2 days for us to complete the landing, after a lot of phone calls and harassing the officers.

Right now we are looking for work for him. We just signed the lease of a new apartment in a town where he has a better chance of finding a job. And life moves forward...

Financial hardship can cause a lot of strain on a relationship! Sorry about such a rough landing but I am glad your husband finally has his PR and is able to work. The news said that job openings will increase in the new year so that is good.

My husband landed in August. We took 6 weeks off to adjust and settle in (I hadn't lived in Canada since I was 17) and then he started looking for work. Then he decided it was the right time to do a career change and we are excited about that but it is hard to break into a new field. Things are looking up but he still doesn't have a permanent full time job and we had no idea it would take this long.

Has your husband used one of the employment centres? Here in Ontario there are quite a few and the two that he has worked with have been very helpful.

 

[bilbol11]

Financial hardship can cause a lot of strain on a relationship! Sorry about such a rough landing but I am glad your husband finally has his PR and is able to work. The news said that job openings will increase in the new year so that is good.

My husband landed in August. We took 6 weeks off to adjust and settle in (I hadn't lived in Canada since I was 17) and then he started looking for work. Then he decided it was the right time to do a career change and we are excited about that but it is hard to break into a new field. Things are looking up but he still doesn't have a permanent full time job and we had no idea it would take this long.

Has your husband used one of the employment centres? Here in Ontario there are quite a few and the two that he has worked with have been very helpful.

ihave been here a couple of weeks ago and i have a social number so where i have to go to get a job i can speak 3 languages frensh english and arabic

 

[canadiangirl78]

If you're in Ontario - northern lights employment centre is great.

 

[sariss]

The town we live in has an employment centre and he has a mentor thankfully. We have put out 25 applications/resumes and hope to hear good news soon!

 

[canadiangirl78]

It does take time. Another route is volunteering. Just gaining that experience can help you get a job. Also try temp agencies.

 

[gsize]

finding a job this time of year will be very difficult. The New Year looks pretty good for Canada. Hang in there, be persistant, and you will find.

 

[Aquaviva21]

I have been here since August.i have been employed since then.i only worked one month as a sales telemarketing being the only choice but I quit it because it was too much pressure on me.bow again I'm jobless it's so tough but there is no shortcut.i am attending some workshops to assist me with job because its different how you do things back home.here I Canada it's different so guys Ig ya coming to Canada don't waste time just do English classes and the workshops for Jon with patient and it will be all good.unfortualtey I hav no single friend so if ya are coming to Canada I wouldnt mind having a friend

 

[sariss]

Hubby got a job! It seems like its just part time to start but its better than nothing!!

 

[vinlander]

My wife landed nov 27th and she already was doing voluntary work in an immigrant woman integration center since she got her OWP last fall.
They finally hired her for a 6 months contract starting in january 2013.
Finally some money and self estime back for her, it might just be a low waged job compared to what she should get in the future with her level of education and experience, but that will help in any case.

 

[canadiangirl78]

Hubby got a job! It seems like its just part time to start but its better than nothing!!

It doesn't matter - any kind of employment is a huge achievement! Congrats!

 

[canadiangirl78]

My wife landed nov 27th and she already was doing voluntary work in an immigrant woman integration center since she got her OWP last fall.
They finally hired her for a 6 months contract starting in january 2013.
Finally some money and self estime back for her, it might just be a low waged job compared to what she should get in the future with her level of education and experience, but that will help in any case.

It is a start! It is frustrating to have to start at the bottom but it will be worth it.

 

[Tipha]

I landed almost 2 months ago, we got me my SIN pretty fast and i applied since then to a lot of jobs! Right before Christmas and i never expected it, since its usually difficult before the holidays, i got a job interview but still waiting on getting an appointment with them......But at least it pushed a bit of my confidence, cause if you apply to a lot and nothing happens it can get you down. At least we dont have a lot pressure on us money wise, cause we live with his parents right now and its ok for me to not yet earn money and i still have some money to last for a while that i brought with me. Still we hope to move out soon and that can only happen when i got a job, so i have a big motivation, even though i get along well with his parents, its nicer to have your own place of course.
If i wouldnt find anything the next 2-3 months, i would try for sure volunteering or an agency.

 

[flyonthewall]

Bummed to hear of everyones negative experiences... seems we are some of the lucky ones.


I am Canadian, we sponsored my American husband. Our application was processed faster than most (we've been together for 12 years and he is a born US Citizen). I was expecting more of the landing. But it really was "no big deal." The lady looked at his COPR, stamped it, made him sign it, and that was that. Easy peasy.

I was more excited than him. He hasn't had to look for a job since he can work for his US based company from Canada. He will start looking for one soon. He has obtained a credit card in Canada, his SIN number, and I'm signing him up for MSP now. Lucky for him, he has very little to do but enjoy the benefits of a type-a wife. We had bought a condo together a year and a bit ago, with some help from my parents since he has no credit here. So I can't say we have struggled there, either.

I'll update when the job hunt happens, but he's a skilled worker, so chances are it wont be that tough for him.