Scottish Couple looking to move.

[Scotscpl]

We are a Scottish couple from Aberdeen in Scotland. We decided to look into the possibility of emigrating to Nova Scotia.
I'm looking for some pointers into whether the process would be difficult for us.
I'm 51 and I've been truck driver for the last 10 yrs. My partner is 48 and has been working with special needs adults for over 10 yrs.
Would finding a job be difficult for us? We'd be looking to rent a one or two bedroomed house. Are monthly rents expensive? Are there any other routes wo0rth exploring regarding housing apart from buying.
Any info would be very welcome. The whole thing seems a bit daunting.

 

[PMM]

Hi

We are a Scottish couple from Aberdeen in Scotland. We decided to look into the possibility of emigrating to Nova Scotia.
I'm looking for some pointers into whether the process would be difficult for us.
I'm 51 and I've been truck driver for the last 10 yrs. My partner is 48 and has been working with special needs adults for over 10 yrs.
Would finding a job be difficult for us? We'd be looking to rent a one or two bedroomed house. Are monthly rents expensive? Are there any other routes wo0rth exploring regarding housing apart from buying.
Any info would be very welcome. The whole thing seems a bit daunting.

1. As Skilled Worker applications are closed at the moment, and with your age and your occupation (semi skilled) it is unlikely that you would qualify as a Skilled Worker federally, you will see if there is any hope in the Nova Scotia Provincial Nomination Program. See: http://www.novascotiaimmigration.com/immigrants/immigrating-to-ns
2. As a long distance truck driver, if you can get a Labour Market Opinion from a firm in Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan (I know it isn't NS, but they don't have a PNP for truck drivers) and work on a Temp Wor Permit for 6 months, you can be nominated in those provinces for PR. Note as the job is Semi Skilled your spouse won't be able to work until you receive your nomination.

 

[Leon]

Driving a truck is not considered skilled work and working with special needs adults, it depends on what her education is. Not being skilled means it is hard for you to immigrate.

Your partner could possibly get a job as a live-in caregiver for a special needs person but that would mean that she has to live at their house. If she does that for 2 years, she would be able to get an open work permit and apply for permanent residency, for you too. However, being apart from your wife for 2 years might not be something you want to do unless you are desperate.

As a truck driver, there are a couple of provincial nominee programs that would let you apply for PR with employer support but not Nova Scotia.

You can read about the requirements of different programs here:
BC: http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/immigration/come/work/about/strategic_occupations/entry_level/trucking.page
SK: http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/sinp-drivers-questions
AB: http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/immigrating/ainp-eds-semi-skilled-criteria.aspx

Your first step would be to try to get a job offer as a long haul truck driver in one of these provinces. If the employer is able to get a labour market opinion, you can apply for a work permit.