Thanks to one bank being very on the ball, and the second being a tad slow, I've had the forms to close down both shares ISAs this morning.
I'll be posting them back imminently. It's quite a good feeling, knowing that I'll shortly be having checks well into five figures winging their way to me.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
One week and counting
This time next week, I'll have just taken off, and be heading Canada-wards.
Gulp.
Gulp.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
More financial preparations
I've just arranged to close down another ISA; it's not one I've thought about much, really - I set it up around ten years ago, I think, and I've not done anything with it since then. Still, the money in there should be enough to keep me going for a couple of months. And that's definitely worth doing.
On a related note, I've also set up my currency trading account, and made arrangements to send over a few thousand pounds. Once I've got an account set up in Canada, they can then transfer the money in, and I'll have something to live off. Though given what I'm going to need to organise in my first weeks in the country, I suspect that I'll be burning through it in next to no time - if nothing else, two months of rent as a deposit will take a good chunk out of that.
And finally... I've ordered my spending money for my imminent visit next week. I'll need to pick it up in a couple of days; I must say I'm surprised that they don't keep much money in stock for Canada - surely it can't be that unpopular a tourist destination? I'm also quite impressed that the rate from the currency traders is about three percent higher than the tourist rate; that will definitely make quite a difference, considering the amount of money I'm going to be transferring.
On a related note, I've also set up my currency trading account, and made arrangements to send over a few thousand pounds. Once I've got an account set up in Canada, they can then transfer the money in, and I'll have something to live off. Though given what I'm going to need to organise in my first weeks in the country, I suspect that I'll be burning through it in next to no time - if nothing else, two months of rent as a deposit will take a good chunk out of that.
And finally... I've ordered my spending money for my imminent visit next week. I'll need to pick it up in a couple of days; I must say I'm surprised that they don't keep much money in stock for Canada - surely it can't be that unpopular a tourist destination? I'm also quite impressed that the rate from the currency traders is about three percent higher than the tourist rate; that will definitely make quite a difference, considering the amount of money I'm going to be transferring.
Friday, 22 July 2011
Shifting money around
I've also just closed down my Cash ISA (twenty five minutes in the bank, including a number of questions for security); I've already started spending the money, too. There's a form coming about my Shares ISA, too.
I'm quite tempted to shut down all the other little accounts I've got, and just consolidate them into two. Well, three - there's the current account, too, for which the card arrived this morning. I keep thinking of having one account which I'll use to fund proper money transfers, and one I use to top up my cash passport card. Just because I can.
It's surprisingly hard to access my own money; it's almost like the bank wants to keep it.
I'm quite tempted to shut down all the other little accounts I've got, and just consolidate them into two. Well, three - there's the current account, too, for which the card arrived this morning. I keep thinking of having one account which I'll use to fund proper money transfers, and one I use to top up my cash passport card. Just because I can.
It's surprisingly hard to access my own money; it's almost like the bank wants to keep it.
One step forwards....
I'm starting to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew. I know it's not really an issue, but try telling that to my subconscious.
It's been a fairly productive week. I've made contact with a friend I was at university with in the way back when, who's living fairly close to where I will be, so we're hopefully meeting up while I'm on my flying visit. I've also picked up my tickets, too; though they were a little less helpful at the travel agents when it came time to get holiday money. I'm pretty sure there won't be many people wanting to travel to Canada with just $30 in cash.
On the downside... It's finding somewhere to live that's preying on my mind right now. I know that it's not an issue really - I've got enough savings that I could stay in a hotel for, well, quite a while. I think it's somewhere around three years.
But finding an apartment? Hmmm... I've found a couple of property websites, which have helped, and at least one of the rental agents there is proving helpful. Admittedly, their first suggestions for an apartment had me wondering if the rent they suggested was quarterly, so I've asked if they have anything in a more sane price range (that said - the price, I think, was about the same as staying in a hotel for the same amount of time....)
I think my big issue right now is getting around while I'm there. The whole driving thing scares me a little, and it's something I'm putting off for a little while. I can get used to driving on the wrong side of the road, but it's the stuff that everyone knows about and so never thinks to discuss that gets me; like being able to go through a red light if you're turning right.
So I need to figure out how I'm going to be visiting apartments without driving;it'd be lovely to get something a good way out in the suburbs, but getting around will be a pain.
Ah well; maybe whining about it online will help.
It's been a fairly productive week. I've made contact with a friend I was at university with in the way back when, who's living fairly close to where I will be, so we're hopefully meeting up while I'm on my flying visit. I've also picked up my tickets, too; though they were a little less helpful at the travel agents when it came time to get holiday money. I'm pretty sure there won't be many people wanting to travel to Canada with just $30 in cash.
On the downside... It's finding somewhere to live that's preying on my mind right now. I know that it's not an issue really - I've got enough savings that I could stay in a hotel for, well, quite a while. I think it's somewhere around three years.
But finding an apartment? Hmmm... I've found a couple of property websites, which have helped, and at least one of the rental agents there is proving helpful. Admittedly, their first suggestions for an apartment had me wondering if the rent they suggested was quarterly, so I've asked if they have anything in a more sane price range (that said - the price, I think, was about the same as staying in a hotel for the same amount of time....)
I think my big issue right now is getting around while I'm there. The whole driving thing scares me a little, and it's something I'm putting off for a little while. I can get used to driving on the wrong side of the road, but it's the stuff that everyone knows about and so never thinks to discuss that gets me; like being able to go through a red light if you're turning right.
So I need to figure out how I'm going to be visiting apartments without driving;it'd be lovely to get something a good way out in the suburbs, but getting around will be a pain.
Ah well; maybe whining about it online will help.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Another week down....
It's been a pretty busy week, which is the main reason I've not updated here for a while. On the one hand, I've gotten a lot of things done; on the other, I still don't feel like I've made much actual progress....
In no particular order.... I've booked a quick reconnaissance visit to Canada, for five nights. The main purpose of that will be to go through the last of the paperwork and get my proper Permanent Resident card. Well, to start the process of getting the card; it'll be posted to me in a couple of months. Though while I'm there, I'm also going to get a little apartment hunting in, as well as opening up my bank account. I may also use it to visit a few employment agencies and give out copies of my CV (sorry, resume), though if they're anything like the ones over here, they won't be interested in anything that isn't sent electronically. I'm not too worried if I don't manage to do the agencies this time around, though; I've got enough savings that I can live for a while without a job.
Secondly, I've added my mother to my bank account. Well, I say added - they insisted we open a new account, and then proceded to try and sell us additional products. I was very unimpressed... It seems that if you go through things the right way, then you get to jump through all sorts of hoops - if I'd just left my bank card and PIN with my mother, we'd've avoided all this.
Thirdly, the decorator has been round to look at the house; I'm expecting a quote from him next week
Fourthly, the electrician's also been (at 8pm on a Friday night - now that's a level of service I've not seen for a long time.) He's given me a quote already - he didn't go pale when he saw the house, so I'm taking that as a good sign.
I wish someone had told me how expensive moving internationally was likely to be. Alternatively, if someone did tell me, I wish I'd listened.
In no particular order.... I've booked a quick reconnaissance visit to Canada, for five nights. The main purpose of that will be to go through the last of the paperwork and get my proper Permanent Resident card. Well, to start the process of getting the card; it'll be posted to me in a couple of months. Though while I'm there, I'm also going to get a little apartment hunting in, as well as opening up my bank account. I may also use it to visit a few employment agencies and give out copies of my CV (sorry, resume), though if they're anything like the ones over here, they won't be interested in anything that isn't sent electronically. I'm not too worried if I don't manage to do the agencies this time around, though; I've got enough savings that I can live for a while without a job.
Secondly, I've added my mother to my bank account. Well, I say added - they insisted we open a new account, and then proceded to try and sell us additional products. I was very unimpressed... It seems that if you go through things the right way, then you get to jump through all sorts of hoops - if I'd just left my bank card and PIN with my mother, we'd've avoided all this.
Thirdly, the decorator has been round to look at the house; I'm expecting a quote from him next week
Fourthly, the electrician's also been (at 8pm on a Friday night - now that's a level of service I've not seen for a long time.) He's given me a quote already - he didn't go pale when he saw the house, so I'm taking that as a good sign.
I wish someone had told me how expensive moving internationally was likely to be. Alternatively, if someone did tell me, I wish I'd listened.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Renting the house
The gentleman from the letting agency has just left, and it was considerably more optimistic than I'd thought.
His first impression was that the house needs redecorating - hpmf I say - but aside from that.... I'll need to get the gas and electricity tested, and a bannister installed on the stairs upstairs, but his company has contacts that can deal with all of these. Rent in this area is a little higher than I was expecting, and so it's probably worth getting the various bits of work done first - it should pay for itself.
I was quite surprised that he said not to leave electrical appliances. For one thing, they'll need to be tested to make sure that they're not lethal; for another, if they're on the inventory, then there's an onus on the landlord to provide a new one if the existing one breaks. That does make sense, now that I've thought about it, but it wouldn't have occured to me otherwise.
I wonder if I can talk him into leaving all the electrical appliances off the inventory... Failing that - anyone want a well-used microwave?
His first impression was that the house needs redecorating - hpmf I say - but aside from that.... I'll need to get the gas and electricity tested, and a bannister installed on the stairs upstairs, but his company has contacts that can deal with all of these. Rent in this area is a little higher than I was expecting, and so it's probably worth getting the various bits of work done first - it should pay for itself.
I was quite surprised that he said not to leave electrical appliances. For one thing, they'll need to be tested to make sure that they're not lethal; for another, if they're on the inventory, then there's an onus on the landlord to provide a new one if the existing one breaks. That does make sense, now that I've thought about it, but it wouldn't have occured to me otherwise.
I wonder if I can talk him into leaving all the electrical appliances off the inventory... Failing that - anyone want a well-used microwave?
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
International Removals
I'm intending to take as little as I can - the furniture here is mainly Ikea stuff, and I'm not especially attached to any of it. So I'm pretty sure that the cost of replacing it in Canada will be cheaper than sending it abroad.
I've just been visited by a rep from a removal company, and I'll be getting a quote through in the next few days. It's quite scary, looking at the amount of stuff I've accumulated, and realising just how little of it I actually need, and how little I'll miss most of it. I've got quite a lot of books - I've not counted, but it'll be well over a thousand - and I want to rehome as many as I can. At the very least, there are a number of charity shops on the local high street who I could swamp with extra stock; but I'm hoping various friends will be interested in taking a few.
It was quite scary to stand in the back bedroom and realise that all I really want to take with me are some of the books; the lego; and the portable harddrive, once I've done a backup from the PC. We didn't even bother looking in the cellar ("Yeah, there's more books down there" - I think it's around 10 crates)
So now all I need is somewhere to send them.
I've just been visited by a rep from a removal company, and I'll be getting a quote through in the next few days. It's quite scary, looking at the amount of stuff I've accumulated, and realising just how little of it I actually need, and how little I'll miss most of it. I've got quite a lot of books - I've not counted, but it'll be well over a thousand - and I want to rehome as many as I can. At the very least, there are a number of charity shops on the local high street who I could swamp with extra stock; but I'm hoping various friends will be interested in taking a few.
It was quite scary to stand in the back bedroom and realise that all I really want to take with me are some of the books; the lego; and the portable harddrive, once I've done a backup from the PC. We didn't even bother looking in the cellar ("Yeah, there's more books down there" - I think it's around 10 crates)
So now all I need is somewhere to send them.
A bad night
I managed to wake up a good couple of hours early this morning; I think it's mainly to do with worrying about a bank account.
I'm quite extraordinarily good at making myself fret about things like that. It's not really an issue - it's just me being prepared - as I can quite easily load up a card with enough cash to tide me over from when I arrive in Canada to when I've opened an account and can start transferring money over.
But that doesn't stop my subconscious from sticking its metaphorical oar in, telling me that it's clearly a sign and that I should just forget the whole thing.
On the other hand... It does suggest that it might be worth flying over for a few days in a couple of weeks to get things like that sorted out (I know, how petty of me - spending the best part of a thousand pounds, to avoid paying HSBC £100 to set up an account); but it will also help me get accomodation sorted, too, so that would be one fewer issue to worry me.
I'm quite extraordinarily good at making myself fret about things like that. It's not really an issue - it's just me being prepared - as I can quite easily load up a card with enough cash to tide me over from when I arrive in Canada to when I've opened an account and can start transferring money over.
But that doesn't stop my subconscious from sticking its metaphorical oar in, telling me that it's clearly a sign and that I should just forget the whole thing.
On the other hand... It does suggest that it might be worth flying over for a few days in a couple of weeks to get things like that sorted out (I know, how petty of me - spending the best part of a thousand pounds, to avoid paying HSBC £100 to set up an account); but it will also help me get accomodation sorted, too, so that would be one fewer issue to worry me.
Monday, 4 July 2011
A bank account
Well, today has proved surprisingly frustrating.
I've got details on a handful of banks in Canada, all of whom are supposed to offer packages for immigrants that you can apply for before you leave. I recklessly decided to try and open a bank account before I leave, so I can transfer cash now and have it waiting when I visit the branch in person.
Now, that sounded simple. If only it was that simple in practice....
CRB - I need to put my phone number in. Except I'm in the UK, and my phone number as a different format. So the whole three-digit city code? Not going to work. I phoned them (thanks, Skype!) and was told to type as much as I could. So on the second attempt, I tried that, and then fell down again. I need two forms of ID - I added my passport as one, and the rest are either things I'll need to be in Canada for, or that I'd need to be a US citizen for. Hmpf.
ScotiaBank - apparently not interested unless I'm coming from China or India
HSBC - they've emailed me a form to fill in. I did try the local branch here, who said they coul take me through the process, and there's a nominal fee of £100.
So I'm not particularly impressed so far.
I've got details on a handful of banks in Canada, all of whom are supposed to offer packages for immigrants that you can apply for before you leave. I recklessly decided to try and open a bank account before I leave, so I can transfer cash now and have it waiting when I visit the branch in person.
Now, that sounded simple. If only it was that simple in practice....
CRB - I need to put my phone number in. Except I'm in the UK, and my phone number as a different format. So the whole three-digit city code? Not going to work. I phoned them (thanks, Skype!) and was told to type as much as I could. So on the second attempt, I tried that, and then fell down again. I need two forms of ID - I added my passport as one, and the rest are either things I'll need to be in Canada for, or that I'd need to be a US citizen for. Hmpf.
ScotiaBank - apparently not interested unless I'm coming from China or India
HSBC - they've emailed me a form to fill in. I did try the local branch here, who said they coul take me through the process, and there's a nominal fee of £100.
So I'm not particularly impressed so far.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
How I went about it
Just in case you're wondering how I went about it....
I used an immigration lawyer to help out. I'm torn about how useful this actually was - they did help immensely with advice and re-writing the paperwork, but I do wonder if I'd have managed by myself. On the one hand, they knew what they were doing; on the other, every piece of paperwork ended up being submitted via them, which meant that it was posted to Canada and then to its final destination, quite often in the UK - I suspect that if I'd done it direct, I could have shaved a month or so off the overall length of time.
I applied under the Quebec Skilled Workers programme. I studied French while I was at University, but let it drop afterwards, because I wasn't using it. Getting in on that program means that you don't have to have a job ready for you; on the other hand, you are expected to live and work in Quebec.
You need to be able to speak French to a reasonably good level, too - I've been taking night school classes for the last eighteen months, as well as getting one on one tuition every week. So I have a nice certificate proving that I can speak French; though I shall be quite interested to see how I manage to cope with the Quebec dialect.
I used an immigration lawyer to help out. I'm torn about how useful this actually was - they did help immensely with advice and re-writing the paperwork, but I do wonder if I'd have managed by myself. On the one hand, they knew what they were doing; on the other, every piece of paperwork ended up being submitted via them, which meant that it was posted to Canada and then to its final destination, quite often in the UK - I suspect that if I'd done it direct, I could have shaved a month or so off the overall length of time.
I applied under the Quebec Skilled Workers programme. I studied French while I was at University, but let it drop afterwards, because I wasn't using it. Getting in on that program means that you don't have to have a job ready for you; on the other hand, you are expected to live and work in Quebec.
You need to be able to speak French to a reasonably good level, too - I've been taking night school classes for the last eighteen months, as well as getting one on one tuition every week. So I have a nice certificate proving that I can speak French; though I shall be quite interested to see how I manage to cope with the Quebec dialect.
A new beginning
It's been a little over fifteen months, and more forms than you can shake a very large stick at, but my visa for Canada arrived this morning.
And the first thing I did? Start a new blog. I'm not entirely sure what that says about me.
The postman actually tried to deliver it yesterday, but I was out, so I had to pick it up from the sorting office this morning. Quite a shame really - not only was yesterday fifteen months to the day since I first sent my application off, but it was also Canada day. Shucks.
I've got until April 2012 to move, and I've set an admittedly arbitrary deadline of the end of August to actually make the move. I figure that that should give me a little motivation to actually get things moving.
I'm currently a gentleman of leisure; I was made redundant from my last job towards the end of 2010. I'd applied for voluntary redundancy in the expectation that I'd get my visa quite a lot sooner than I actually did, so I've been cooling my heels for the last few months. On the other hand, the redundancy money will come in quite useful in helping me settle in. I've not got a job to go to, and have yet to organise anything quite so necessary as accommodation, but these don't seem too important just yet.
The plan.... Well, I (practically) own a house here; and I've got a fair amount of savings. I intend to let the house out in this country, and in the short term, rent in Canada - find an apartment with a six or twelve month lease, and use that time to find somewhere to buy. Then sell the house here and use it as a deposit.
I'm intending taking a bare minimum of stuff with me; true, the house is fully furnished, but I have no great attachment to any of it (my main criteria for shopping for furniture was "cheap"), so I shall be leaving as much as I can. This does mean I'll need a furnished apartment in Canada, but it also means the house here can be let as furnished.
(Things to do: get landlord insurance; find a letting company; prepare the house for letting - I think I need to get the electricals checked, at a minimum; organise removal of the belongings I'm taking with me)
I also need to get a bank account sorted (I can do this from the UK), and transfer a little money over so it's waiting for me. I just this morning got a pre-paid currency card in $CND, which I can add cash too here and use as a cashcard in Canada; I think adding a couple of hundred pounds to that will help a little.
(Things to do: get bank account opened, and start transfering money to it)
And then I need to figure out how to dispose of the rest of my stuff. I've got quite a lot of it - you know how stuff accumulates - and I'll be disposing of as much as I can. I think it'll be a combination of eBay, Freecycles, and charity shops. I do have a few bits that I'd like to find proper homes for - I suspect that I'll be leaving quite a lot of books behind, for example, and I hope to find a good home for some of them. Especially the good 'uns.
(Things to do: figure out what books I can bear to part with; eBay the ones that are likely to be worth something)
Other than that - it's a case of find accommodation (I'm paying an immigration consultancy, so they should be able to help with that), and book a flight. And the arrange a bit of a do to say goodbye to everyone (Would it be wrong to call it an "... and don't come back!" party?)
That's all I can think of at the moment, actually. I'm sure there's plenty more stuff I'll need to do, but right now I'm a little too distracted to actually think straight. I'll add more here as and when they occur to me.
And the first thing I did? Start a new blog. I'm not entirely sure what that says about me.
The postman actually tried to deliver it yesterday, but I was out, so I had to pick it up from the sorting office this morning. Quite a shame really - not only was yesterday fifteen months to the day since I first sent my application off, but it was also Canada day. Shucks.
I've got until April 2012 to move, and I've set an admittedly arbitrary deadline of the end of August to actually make the move. I figure that that should give me a little motivation to actually get things moving.
I'm currently a gentleman of leisure; I was made redundant from my last job towards the end of 2010. I'd applied for voluntary redundancy in the expectation that I'd get my visa quite a lot sooner than I actually did, so I've been cooling my heels for the last few months. On the other hand, the redundancy money will come in quite useful in helping me settle in. I've not got a job to go to, and have yet to organise anything quite so necessary as accommodation, but these don't seem too important just yet.
The plan.... Well, I (practically) own a house here; and I've got a fair amount of savings. I intend to let the house out in this country, and in the short term, rent in Canada - find an apartment with a six or twelve month lease, and use that time to find somewhere to buy. Then sell the house here and use it as a deposit.
I'm intending taking a bare minimum of stuff with me; true, the house is fully furnished, but I have no great attachment to any of it (my main criteria for shopping for furniture was "cheap"), so I shall be leaving as much as I can. This does mean I'll need a furnished apartment in Canada, but it also means the house here can be let as furnished.
(Things to do: get landlord insurance; find a letting company; prepare the house for letting - I think I need to get the electricals checked, at a minimum; organise removal of the belongings I'm taking with me)
I also need to get a bank account sorted (I can do this from the UK), and transfer a little money over so it's waiting for me. I just this morning got a pre-paid currency card in $CND, which I can add cash too here and use as a cashcard in Canada; I think adding a couple of hundred pounds to that will help a little.
(Things to do: get bank account opened, and start transfering money to it)
And then I need to figure out how to dispose of the rest of my stuff. I've got quite a lot of it - you know how stuff accumulates - and I'll be disposing of as much as I can. I think it'll be a combination of eBay, Freecycles, and charity shops. I do have a few bits that I'd like to find proper homes for - I suspect that I'll be leaving quite a lot of books behind, for example, and I hope to find a good home for some of them. Especially the good 'uns.
(Things to do: figure out what books I can bear to part with; eBay the ones that are likely to be worth something)
Other than that - it's a case of find accommodation (I'm paying an immigration consultancy, so they should be able to help with that), and book a flight. And the arrange a bit of a do to say goodbye to everyone (Would it be wrong to call it an "... and don't come back!" party?)
That's all I can think of at the moment, actually. I'm sure there's plenty more stuff I'll need to do, but right now I'm a little too distracted to actually think straight. I'll add more here as and when they occur to me.
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