I dont know why I am writing this, but I feel that since I have been through the entire process successfully, I must share the experience.
Why Immigrate?
Good question. I suppose everyone is entitled to ones’s views and mine go thus- I had worked for the government long enough to earn a pension, so I took premature retirement and felt that even though India was ’shining’(sic), it wasnt for me and my family. I felt that if I could, I owed it to my children to grow up in a society where there were no double standards- of course I may be wrong, but as they grow up, they will have choices. I just wanted them to have options. I am not a die hard ’desh-bhagat’- no one is these days probably, besides Mrs G!
Why Canada?
I just want to reiterate Lyla’s words- Canada has been voted the best country to live in for an umpteen number of times and the two top cities to live in the world are Vancouver and Toronto. Canada has a multi-cultural society and it is a nation that is primarily made up of immigrants. Canadians are rather choosy who they let into their country (try getting a visa!), but once they do, they really look after them. The health care is great and the taxes are well spent- every dollar goes for the development (remember Rajiv Gandhi- 24 paise in a rupee- it must be 10 by now??). Schooling is good, crime low and quality of life- tops. Jobs?- not a problem there. Weather- winter? I suppose if you have never seen the white stuff, it may throw you off the first year, but I can say this- it is one country where man has learned to live with the vagaries of nature.
The Process
Check out the site- https://cic.gc.ca , it gives you the low down to the entire process. The Canadian High Commission has an office in Delhi and another one has recently opened in Chandigarh. You can take an online assessment, simply download the forms and send in the application. The site is fairly comprehensive and answers all the FAQs. A word of advice- you may take the help of (the many) immigration consultants, it really is a big help. Check with some friends on their experiences before you sign up- they are legal now. If you want my advice, please feel free to M-M me.
Time Frame
The Delhi office has some pretty stiff time frames, but it generally takes less time than that. It took me nearly three years to get the visa, but remember 9/11? There was no work done for nearly an year in the offices and since then things have been moving pretty rapidly. Canada needs educated, english speaking, young, skilled people badly and if you are fitting the point system, you have a 100% chance of making the cut. A word of caution- Canadians hate liars, so be truthful in all the information that you give out.
As for me, I am moving out soon to time it for the school opening time in early September. As for the kids- they are looking forward to no uniforms in schools! And Lyla- I hope to meet you sometime!