Location: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Posted on: 13-09-05 08:18:25
Guys,
I was referred to this portal as I am contemplating starting the long process of trying to get a Canadian visa for myself and my family. To put it plainly, I am not sure if it is the right move after reviewing some of the sad tales on this site, but then there were some interseting reads too!
I am now 37, with a wife and 2 young kids (6 and 1 yr old), working as General Manager with an international oilfield services / well test company in the Gulf. An Instrument Engineer by profession, my background is Senior Level Services / Business Development / Technical Sales / Marketing for 15 years, the last 8 of them in the Middle East oilfield sector. I currently take home around USD 50-60 K pa and it is a very comfortable life.
The reason I am looking at Canada as a long term prospect is the "quality" and "free" education that I hear is available to all and the social security and healthcare benefits that my wife and I would be guranteed in our old age. So first is this TRUE???? Secondly, considering my current income is totally TAX FREE, and I may have to struggle to get a similar job in Canada (provided I get a visa first), will this be financially rewarding at least after 2-3 years residence in Canada?
There are quite a few queries that I have, but guess this should be good enough for a start - would appreciate your comments / suggestions / advise, etc
Cheers,
Gulfboy.
Location: in the heart of Mrs Saga
Posted on: 13-09-05 09:37:08
Gulfboy,
Unfortunately, Canada offers a very limited scope for foreign educated Engineers...........
If you ever decide to come to Canada, bring enough cash with you to buy two houses of your choice on full down payment (hurry, start saving now
).
You can live in one of the houses, and rent the other one out.
My formula for a living a good life in Canada is having liquid assetts of around a million CAD, before coming to Canada (now dont ask me, if someone had a million CAD, why would he want to come to Canada, there are many good reasons to live in Canada, if you ignore the job scene).
Coming penniless to Canada just increases the chances of another failure (or you could call it a sacrifice for your next generation)!
Coming to Canada, just because of the "quality and "free" education, and healthcare benefits is a debatable subject......check out the forum for the discussions
Also remember, nothing is free in Canada, all benefits are paid for through your tax dollars 
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Deal With Reality or Reality Will Deal With You
Quote:
Orginally posted by gulfboy
I am now 37, with a wife and 2 young kids (6 and 1 yr old), working as General Manager with an international oilfield services / well test company in the Gulf. An Instrument Engineer by profession, my background is Senior Level Services / Business Development / Technical Sales / Marketing for 15 years, the last 8 of them in the Middle East oilfield sector. I currently take home around USD 50-60 K pa and it is a very comfortable life.
Gulfboy.
By the time you get the visa you will be around 40. Consider the age factor.
One thing I could say with confidence is that you are NOT going to get a general managers job in your field, if you do get a job at all in the first place without going through reeducating yourself / going through the provincial licensing schemes. Its not impossible, people may have done it, but we are talking of the chances.
Are you willing to start from scratch, i.e. at a Junior level?
Smaller economy , small job market. Thats Canada.
Its base is manufacturing. They dont really need that many white collar people.
YOu can do what many from the Gulf region do. Keep working there and let your family live here. Your kids will have the future you intend for them, you will still be in your position and have a sense of accomplishment, which is very important in life.
Read this when you have some time. Some interesting experiences and conclusions from both sides of the debate.
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/articles.php?SID=1
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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
Location: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Posted on: 13-09-05 10:07:14
Faisal.
Thanks for the advice - for me it is a matter of going back to India or migrating to a place like Canada in another 4-5 years. Unfortunately, the 1 mill CD may not be at hand by then.
Yes - I need to check on the "benefits" part, so will make a deeper study of the contents of this portal.
Gulfboy
Out of sheer curiousity, How do you propose to live in canada for lifetime without a job if you
have 1 million dollars in liquid cash?
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Live and Let Live
Location: in the heart of Mrs Saga
Posted on: 13-09-05 13:05:05
Quote:
Orginally posted by chittesh
Out of sheer curiousity, How do you propose to live in canada for lifetime without a job if you
have 1 million dollars in liquid cash?
Did I say that anywhere?
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Deal With Reality or Reality Will Deal With You
for your Expirience your only choice is the province of Alberta in the oil field.
alberta is a white dominanted province almost 90 % whites.
It is a beef and pork province "for the religous minded".
Also you are from middle east so your expenses will go up and savings will go down once you move to Canada.
also all the alberta oil and gas plants that you will be working in are situated in the forest so you have to deal with grizzly bears and cold winter minus 40 degc.
other wise it is a beaitiful country
you may have to take a juniur position initially
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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership
