Leaderboard

Let me start by saying, moving to Canada has been the best decision for me, so don't get me wrong. I have been reading and enjoying different views shared on this forum. I've seen burning desires from aspiring immigrant, the joy of many new immigrants for making it over here, the older generation of immigrants who gives fantastic advice based on their experiences. Life is funny. Let me start by sharing a joke I read somewhere, neurotics are those who build castles in the sky, psychotics move into them, and psychoanalysts charge them rent!. Like all good jokes, there is a strange kind of truth in it But here is my point, troubles in life come when we believe the myth that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. We are taken over by envy, believing that other people have the good stuff and then feeling depressed, anxious, and persecuted by the belief that we have so little. We are taken over by greed, wanting more and more and more, feeling that what we have cannot ever be enough. Robert Fulghum, author of that classic book "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" put it this way: "The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you are." What will make you successful when you get here is not just because it's Canada, it is your ATTITUDE! All the best in your journey.

Hi Tahlita, Welcome to the forums! To answer some of your questions I will give a short, simplified explanation of citizenship and permanent residence. There are some exceptions, other rules etc., this is just a very generalized explanation. There is really only one kind of citizenship, being a citizen of Canada. It is different being born in Canada and being a "naturalized" citizen but that is not something you have control over anyway and for most practical intents and purposes all Canadian citizens have the same privileges and are seen as the same by government. Having "permanent residence" status is almost the same as being a citizen, you can see it as the step before becoming a citizen. For most practical intents and purposes, "permanent residents" have almost all of the same privileges as citizens. Some of the differences are that you cannot vote in elections as a permanent resident (PR), you cannot do some high security clearance jobs and of course you cannot get a Canadian passport until you become a citizen. Otherwise you have the same access to schooling and health care that citizens do, you can rent and find jobs and be seen equal to a citizen in almost all cases. You can apply for Canadian citizenship once you have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 3 out of 5 years. One way to become a permanent resident immediately is to immigrate through the Express Entry program that the Canadian government offers. I would recommend reading up about the different immigration options on the official Canadian Government website here, making sure your are eligible, which ones you qualify for etc. There are a few options, each with their own rules and it is a whole study on its own. There is also a lot of information on forums like these. You can also be in Canada legally on a work visa or student visa but as far as I know with these visas you would still need to apply for permanent residence first before getting citizenship, so it would be first prize if you can immigrate as a permanent resident immediately. Giving a rough estimate of the amount of money you would need to survive is really difficult. Cost of living differs vastly depending on where in Canada you live and your lifestyle and priorities. What is "affordable" to one person might be really expensive to the next depending on how much you earn and spend etc. If you immigrate to Canada through Express Entry without a job offer the Government of Canada requires you to have enough money (according to their calculations) to survive for at least 6 months without a job. For your family of 4 people that amount is currently $23,181 (CAD), so you can be sure that you would need at least that much before being able to immigrate through Express Entry without a job offer. You can perhaps start by looking where in Canada you are more likely to find jobs or where you want to live and then you can ask more specific questions and do more specific research about expenses in that area. Canada is a massive country and the provinces are almost like little countries with some having their own rules about certain things. Health care is mostly free, but in BC for example you have to pay a small fee per month which they are planning to remove as well in the next few years. This health care includes seeing doctors/specialists, emergency care etc. but does not include dental and eye care and prescription medicine for which you would need extra coverage. Some employers include this extra medical insurance as part of your employee benefits. I cannot really comment on how good the health system is as we haven't really had to use it extensively. We've been to walk-in clinics a few times and received excellent service even though we had to wait 3 hours or so each time (this is how walk-in clinics work). My suggestion would be to start by looking which immigration program you qualify for (based on your age, qualifications, industry that you want to work in, financial situation etc.) and read everything you can about the process. Here are some links to get you started: Good luck! 🙂

Behave Anelle!

You will fit in just fine in Canada with all your disclaimers so as not to offend anyone Welcome, and you already had great advice!

Some days are like this... Please don't get me wrong. I love life. I love living in Canada. When we sleep with open windows at night and get that whiff of salty sea-air, I'm thankful that we live in a safe neighbourhood.When I watch bald eagles soar above our home, I have a lump in my throat.When some ring-necked turtle doves coo their woeful songs in our backyard, my heart cries with them. Their songs unlock wonderful childhood memories of growing up in Natal...It's not easy living in a foreign country as an immigrant. Regardless of your status, whether you are a permanent resident or citizen, inside of you, the real core of who you are - it stays the same.I am still Ingrid, born in Pietermaritzburg, raised in a German community. I am still the wild-child-Ingrid who ran free on the South Coast of Natal; swimming, biking, climbing trees, eating pineapples by cutting off the tops and scooping out the flesh with a spoon; having many a close encounter with mambas, puff adders and other creepy-crawleys. I am still the same Ingrid who studied at Tukkies, worked at UNISA, met my Englishman, married, moved to Botswana. And yet, everything has changed.I now belong in a different country, and there are times I still feel I don't belong.There are days when I am oversensitive and somehow people's comments hurt more than other days. There are days when I feel as if I have lost my balance and perspective because life just seems to pinch in so many ways.There are good days too. Absolutely glorious days! Many of them. Days when we visit with friends - Canadian, South African, whatever - and we laugh until our stomachs hurt. Or we become quiet when we remember something of significance. Nostalgia that sets in so easily. The nostalgia that gets to one at times and leaves you sad, grateful, lonely, remembered, seeking, found, lost, at home...all at the same time. Besides South Africa, I have lived in Botswana, Australia, America. Had long, extended visits in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Israel. Travelled Europe and other countries.I love other cultures so I am always learning, experiencing, wanting to explore. I don't think that will ever change for me. I can do a road trip or any other type of travel experience at the drop of a hat. It's what adds colour and spice to life! Meeting people who are all so different and beautiful and sad and complex and amazing...I love it! But why does one have these days that are like this?That is a question I have asked myself many times.Perhaps it is my generation? I look at my sons and they are planted. Rooted. At home.Both of them have gorgeous Canadian girlfriends. This is where they are settled and feel at peace. Their memories of South Africa are fading a bit. Understandably so. They never lived there as long as we as parents did.It's not that I want to move back to South Africa. Not at all.I am quite content to live in British Columbia. It is a stunningly beautiful province. We're in a good place. Fact. And yet... Maybe it is a mom-thing.Moms agonize about anything and everything it seems. We lie awake at night, crying softly into pillows. We cry because we miss something...someone...of days gone past. I think sometimes we are sad and we don't even know why.We cry because of what we had and lost and for what our kids will never have. Like my Dad. He passed away in 1989 so our youngest never even met him. But that's life right? It doesn't really have anything to do with immigration, but as moms we are saddened by the fact that children grow up without their grandparents. My husband's elderly parents are both still alive, living in SA. My mom lives in Arizona. The scatterlings-syndrome. We have been diagnosed as immigrants! Somehow living in another country makes life feel more "dangerous" at times. Perhaps it is because of not having the same extended family support-system we used to have, so when someone has a car accident or has to go to hospital, it feels more overwhelming that what it would have felt "back home." I have always chosen to help others. That's my way of coping with hardships or lonely times. I look for people in need and do what I can to extend a hand of support.It has been a carry-through for me many times. Perhaps that's why I am even writing this today: to let others know that when they feel wobbly, unbalanced, alone, crazy, downcast, frustrated, lonely and bewildered at times...they are not alone.Fortunately these days become less as the years go by. We learn new coping mechanisms, make new friends, take up challenging jobs, learn new skills or hobbies...and we adjust.We plant gem squashes because it gives a sense of home. We learn to love hockey, so that we can understand and be part of the culture. We make our own biltong and we chew on a bit of what we once had.It feels good when we can be like this. Our feet are firmly in Canada, our hearts are here, but we allow ourselves a little bit of what we still are inside.Africans by birth. Immigrants by choice.A privilege not all have.And therein lies some guilt.A few people here have commented on whether they still read SA news... I did. For a long time. There was this dreadful sense of obligation and responsibility riding me. I just had to know what was going on in South Africa!Why, I am not sure. There is seriously nothing one can do about it, other than pray, keep in touch with loved ones. This terrible storm has subsided within me. I am learning to relax and be at peace that where we live, is safer than most S.Africans have it. We only have power failures when there has been a storm or when a silly raven flies into power lines, causing a transformer to blow. I can take the dog for a walk at 11pm at night, by myself, and I have absolutely no fear of being attacked.We have it good. I count my blessings and my heart is filled with gratitude. And I am learning to let go of that false guilt that we can be here...while others are being attacked, murdered, robbed and raped in SA. It is not easy to come to this place, but it is possible. I have wanted to write this piece for a long time now. I have wanted to share with newcomers that life is good here, yes. Very good, in fact. But certainly not always very easy. One thing that helps you survive, is to have a heart of gratitude. Tough I know, but it is harder if you don't cultivate it.So easy for people to gripe when culture shock hits them, or the white stuff stays on the ground too long, or your spouse is unexpectedly laid off.We went through twenty months of unemployment for my husband when he was laid off when the economy slid downwards a few years ago. Those are days I do not wish on anyone. We were shaken to our core and our ordeal became a natural sieve to determine who were truly friends. Not many people stay around when you're in a crisis like that. Everyone loves a winner right? However, when circumstances beyond your control leave you in a vulnerable place like that, there is nothing one can do but buckle down and take one day at a time. We were stretched beyond anything we'd ever experienced. But, in the end, we came through it stronger; not just as survivors, but as overcomers. I don't know how others have experienced going through a crisis in a foreign country. Did you also experience deeper vulnerability than when you were in SA where close friends and family were more readily available to lend support and help? It is something I have become increasingly aware of over the years as I have watched others go through tragedy or personal crisis situations. We need a support system - even a cyber network like SACanada gives one a much-needed and appreciated place where you can vent, ask questions, share sorrows and joys, feel accepted. Personally, what carries me through days or seasons such as this, is my relationship with the Lord. The Psalms are full of passages that talk of the Lord being there in the day of trouble, loneliness, when all have turned their backs on you, when destitute...I know He hears me, even if there have been times when I have hardly had breath to talk to Him. He reads my heart and He knows all that is happening to me/us. God is good! I guess this piece of writing is probably mostly me processing the decades we have lived outside of SA, the people we have seen come and go, the good and the hard times. These things all happen yes, but we have so much to work with and for here, in Canada. I love being a part of SACanada where the "old timers" can share from own experiences, hopefully sometimes even advising some newbies to avoid pitfalls and potential obstacles. That sure makes the transition easier. We have only recently assisted a young S.African girl with easing into life in Canada. I was surprised to see how different her adjustment was to ours. Her culture shock revolves around small issues such as the fact that people here buy from thrift stores, that you lose your SA driver's license when you get a BC license, how to (properly) pack a dishwasher/use a garburator and the challenges of bussing all over the district. For me as a mom it was more about schools and education, what kind of friends our youngest would have at school, best place to shop for necessities and so on. So we each have different challenges in adjusting and making this country "Home." If you have had "some days like this," rest assured. It's normal. Most, if not all immigrants, new or veteran, have them. It can be triggered by something as small as a smell that reminds you of home, to receiving news of the death of a loved one in SA. Emotions, memories, thought-patterns and behaviour can be put on a roller coaster, leaving you exhausted, depressed, sleepless and mopey. But as always, life runs in seasons and cycles and the sad or tough times always eventually change into deeper times of refreshing, fulfilment, contentment and making peace of who you are, where you are and why you are where you are! Life is good in the immigrants' lane! Blessings to you! Ingrid Brunkhorst Hurrell, Vancouver, BC. September 2013.

What @LidiaS77 said You can definitely go for upfront medicals just be sure to go to practice where this is often done otherwise they're going to say "but you don't have the right paperwork!"

Same here. We are not remotely religious and don't plan on getting married at all if we can help it. We are applying as common law partners with my boyfriend being the main applicant. So long as you have some kind of documentary proof as per the guidelines, you will be fine. Stuff like joint accounts/co-signed leases/shared household expenses on big items like furniture etc. is all you usually need. So long has you guys can show you're in a real relationship and have been living together for at least a year. And if you don't have those, there's a statutory declaration you fill, sign and then find a commissioner of oaths to authenticate. You should also provide photos that show you presented as a couple for public outings/events especially with friends & family. Also you can get friends and family to write letters supporting your relationship history.

Short answer: there's no benefit in getting married. As long as you are added eachother's application (assuming both of you will try for ITA) or whoever will be the main applicant will add the other as a dependent and you can prove common-law as per the CIC guidelines you are good to go. My husband and I were common law at the time of receiving our work permit (he was my dependent on the application so he could apply for an open work permit) and subsequently we both got PR as common-law (he was my dependent on the application). We got married later, on our own terms.

Actually we encourage public postings of questions in order to help grow the body of knowledge of everyone. Unless it's a confidential or awkward question.

I have finally landed! So happy to be in Canada I landed at the beginning of May, missing a huge windstorm by mere hours. I flew via Zurich overnight from Johannesburg, and landed in Toronto around midday on a Friday. It was a bit strange boarding a flight at 9 am, flying all day, and then landing at noon … Going through customs and immigration took about 1.5 hours – a fair amount of people in the queues but it moves swiftly. Got my SIN and all the stamps on all the paperwork – everyone really was as nice as you have been told, and I got quite a few “Welcome to Canada!”s as I went along. I got a new simcard right in the terminal where you exit from arrivals, so that was pretty convenient. I opened a bank account at RBC on Saturday – quick and easy. I transferred funds from a FNB Global Account, and there was some confusion about SWIFT codes (RBC and FNB had different codes for the branch – FNB was right …) but it all got sorted. Right off the bat I got a cheque and savings account set up, and 100 cheques – yes, people really do still use cheques here! Everything gets posted to you, so having a local address is crucial. I got a PRESTO card as well, which is similar to London’s Oyster card. You load money on it and can use basically all the public transportation. There are different rates on the various systems though. For example, I am in Durham Region (just outside Toronto) and those buses have a flat rate regardless of how far you go. The GO train into the city is operated by someone else, and that fare is dependent on how far you go. You MUST remember to tap your card on and off to avoid the maximum fare (I forgot once, and ran back like a madwoman to the station to tap out …) There are loads of bus stops everywhere, which is great, although it does take a lot longer to get to where you are going on public transport (I am finding it is on average about double the time that a car would take). I have tried a bunch of transport apps, and really, the Google Maps app is all you need. It gives the bus number, tracks the stops as you go, and has been spot on so far. One thing about the bus stops here is that a lot of them don’t tell you which buses stop at that spot or where they go. You just have to know …. I spent a weekend in Toronto with other friends of friends [It is amazing how many people hear you are going to Canada, say “Oh I know So-and-so lives there – you should call them!”, and then you have another tour guide or place to stay!]. They took me to Niagara Falls (amazing! Definite must do), Red Lobster (sort of like a classier version of Spur but for seafood – was great), and then we just walked the city for a few days. It was wonderful to stroll around at midnight and see so many people, including families, out and about. There are so many green spaces that people actually use, the city is very clean, lots of events going on all the time, and it felt really safe. Loved it! I randomly met another South African outside the local pub, and after a few weeks of chatting, was invited up to a cottage further along the East Coast. When Canadians speak about going to their cottages, it really can mean anything from a McMansion, to a rustic house, to a shack without electricity. I went for the Canada Day long weekend – it was incredible! The cottage was on a lake, with miles and miles of forest around. We swam in the lake every day – the cleanest water you can imagine. All the people staying near us pooled their fireworks and had a huge display on the Sunday night. People are quite patriotic, but in a nice polite Canadian way Job hunting has been a bit challenging – apparently most people take their vacations at this time as schools are out and the weather is fantastic, so I am just being patient and keeping at it. People have been quite forthcoming with advice and leads, and there are many resources that you can make use of. Speaking of the weather, sjoe, it has been HOT! With humidity, it feels like it is high 30s and early 40s most days. So definitely happy to have 4 seasons! (Although the Canadians are quick to tell you to wait until February, and then decide if you still like the weather ….) Nevertheless, it has been fantastic to see the trees turn green and the gardens blossom. Everywhere you go there is greenery and pops of colour everywhere. And so many big trees! Strolling around the neighbourhood and enjoying people’s gardens is really a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Overall, my landing experience has been more than I could have hoped for. Things function as expected, people are generally really very nice and quite helpful, and notwithstanding a few inevitable bumps along the way, I am just thrilled to be here!

As the motivational speakers always say: your attitude determines your altitude. Or as I prefer to say - a good attitude in a bad place is better than a bad attitude in a good place.

My wife and I are landing in Toronto at the end of September! Can't wait! In the meantime, I've been doing a lot research on the 'day-to-day' stuff and how to prepare for it but something bugged me for a while now on the driver's license thing in Ontario. I finally got to this post yesterday and realised (whilst saying some other words) that we need an RTMC confirmation letter for our driver's licenses. From what I could gather on this forum is that each province has it's own way of going about issuing of licenses even if a website says 'this is required' or 'that is required' but Ontario seemed to definitely want the confirmation letters (I'll confirm this once we have landed and gone through the process ourselves). I thought I'd share my story here seeing as it is relevant to some of the points in the original post. I sent an email to the RTMC last night (7 August 2018) using their general email address on their website (ctc@rtmc.co.za) giving them our full names, ID numbers and contact details. To my complete surprise they responded at 12:00PM today (8 August 2018) and said our confirmation letters were ready for collection. Say what? Yes! A turnaround time of less than 24 hours (it wasn't even 18 hours). The email stated that we must collect it from the Midrand offices which coincidentally is where I live, until September 2018 at least. I drove out to the offices with our ID documents in hand, got there, waited for about 10 minutes after signing in and got the letters. There were no errors on the letters! So there you have it. One less document to get ready!

Hi guys, we finally received our ITA today 5 September 2018 and we’re over the moon. One step closer. I’d like to know if going for an upfront medical exam is recommended in order to speed up the application process? Or is it just advisable to wait for instructions from IRCC? We are able to come up with all the other documents in the next 2 weeks or so.

Thanks. Just going to go that route now. Waiting for a banker to be allocated 🙂

Yes this wait is really patience testing 😔 see you there soon!

Congrats !!! See you over there 😋

Good day Peeps I would like to ask a few questions and will appreciate any advice or inputs, apologies if this has been asked before, 1. On our COPR there is an area where it states **City of destination :Toronto.** The plan is to settle in Calgary, we received direct ITA not PNP Will there be a problem if we land and activate in Calgary or is this a non-negotiable requirement that we land and activate our PR's in Toronto before going to Calgary. 2. Still shopping around in terms of flights and when to leave S.A, there are quite a lot of flights that are considerably cheaper when landing in Toronto first before going to Calgary. The layover is 2h45. Keeping this in mind will this be enough time to go through customs, Immigration, activate PR, other formalities and still catch the flight to Calgary? As I know that you HAVE to activate your PR's at the Canadian Port of Entry. 3. A bit embarrassed to ask this...On our COPR there is a watermark " NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL". Is this just to indicate we cannot hop around Canada with the COPR document and this should be signed off to obtain PR. Don't want to pitch up at the airport and then the immigration officer tells me that I need more documentation as the COPR indicates not valid for travel etc. PS - I would not have been successful without the help of this forum, forever grateful. Regards

In the GTA there are several free resources to get help. Google places like Access Employment, TRIEC and The Centre for Education and Training ( www.tcet.com). The all offer free mentoring, resume writing and job search skills.

Ek is besig om ondersoek in te stel by afstandsonderriginstellings in Suid-Afrika asook by ons plaaslike onderwysdepartement om uit te vind wat die moontlikheid is om deur afstandsonderrig dalk Afrikaans as tweede taal vak erken te kry. Al hoe meer universiteite in Kanada begin nou aandring op tweetaligheid vir toelating. Hierdie is nie noodwendig sodat die student albei tale prakties kan gebruik nie, maar dis allerweë bekend dat studente wat meer as een taal magtig is, statisties beter presteer op universiteit of kollege. Indien ons dit kan regkry om Afrikaans so as tweede taal erken te kry kan dit vir baie immigrante van voordeel wees. Nou wil ek graag dié ouers (enige plek in Kanada, of selfs nog in SA) wat in so iets sou belangstel uitnooi om my te kontak by epos. Ek sal dan onderneem om julle op hoogte te hou van verwikkelinge. Dit sal ook vir my as maatstaf dien om te sien wat die belangstelling is. Julle terugvoer sal baie waardeer word! Lyné

They have worked with Jacobs, and maybe Worley Parsons. I did look up what it stands for, and told him, but it did not ring a bell. If I search for EPCM companies in Canada, most seems to be oil and gas. It may be something to consider as you write up your resume. Look up the jobs you want, and then frame it in the terms they show it there. Did you mean end of next year? If you meant end of this year, then your choice is pretty much NZ. ( I also realized this morning that waste water can also mean industrial waste. We have just been using the term to mean people waste so long that it stuck in my mind like that)

Hmm. I am not familiar with EPCM companies. I am, however, very familiar with Fort McMurray (oil situation), and waste water construction (husband is doing a good chunk of the $1 billion Calgary waste water upgrade currently going on - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/city-bonnybrook-billion-megaproject-1.4747130). Canada has a massive waste water problem. A crap ton (pun intended) of raw sewage is going into fresh water (https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/08/13/one-trillion-litres-of-sewage-leaked-into-canadian-lakes-and-rivers-over-last-five-years.html). The company my husband works for is also doing waste water treatment upgrades in Vancouver and Vancouver Island. There is big money in it at the moment. But that is the construction side. I am not sure how EPCM would feature into that. As for the oil and gas industry. Remember that a lot of people from all over the country moved to Alberta for work. When the work ended, they went back to their provinces. The oil sector in Alberta is seriously depressed. They have started to do some drilling close to Calgary, but that does not seem to translate into more work for people. I am not sure how all that translates to you. Canadians believe that no-one could possibly know what they are talking about unless they got their experience in Canada. Which makes it really hard to get a job offer from SA unless you have some really extraordinary skills that they need. I think the best way to test the water is to simply apply for work. Look on the job sites and see how much work there is available for you. That would tell you which province is better. Also look on the NZ jobsite (https://www.seek.co.nz/ is good) and see what you can find there. Apply for work. Although, be warned, work visas take all of 5 days to process in New Zealand (unlike Canada, they assume that you know what you are doing, even if you did not work in New Zealand yet)(look up your occupation on this list - http://skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz/ - if you are on the critical skill short list, companies don't have to prove that they could find no local to do the work. But even if you are not on that list, it still takes 5 days to process). So, don't apply for work unless you are willing to move in the next month or so if you find something.

Oh, this was SO long ago! We have since moved to rural Nova Scotia. Our youngest is 6 and plays outside by herself, rides her bike in our dead end street, our second youngest is 9 and actually has a lemonade stand at the local post office in summer We live right on the shore of Bras D'Or Lakes and they go down to the beach together (without adult supervision), take the dog for a run in the public woods that border our property, etc.

Hi! It is a daunting task! We had a huge house with 3 kiddies, piles of stuff and a 20foot container.... I worked on a 6 month rule. If I hadn't used it in 6 months it was out. Also I was told that furniture here was incredible expensive...not so true. The kijiji and letgo sites are full of good secondhand stuff for reasonable prices..have a look before you leave to get a feel. I had my mother staying with us to help with EVERYTHING. Plus she wanted to be around the grandkids. Try keep the kids on their regular routine as much as possible. I packed the toys last. I also took 1 suitcase of toys with in our luggage because we didn't have a house yet and the container took 2 months. You also know what you children are really attached to...so slowly hide the rest away and donate or sell it. I also took my pillow and 1 each for the kids on the plane..but I'm just fussy about pillows. I put a dark cover on each and have slept well no matter where we were cos I had my OWN COMFORTABLE pillow with me. Feather pillows also roll up nice and small. Get a cellphone power bank/ battery pack for when you land. There are plugs everywhere but you don't really have the time. You use your phone on the plane and then it's flat when u arrive. Regarding furniture..good antiques are quite expensive here, they wouldn't let us bring our beds and beds are quite expensive. In the end we bought on sale here and paid CAD1400 for a double, twin and king. I wish I had brought more of the antiques with. Obviously no electronics. I did bring my electric toothbrush and my husband's rechargeable shaver. We just put an adaptor on the plug...they haven't exploded yet but I'm cautious. Also remember that most houses come with the basic appliances like washer, dryer, fridge & stove sometimes microwave and central vacuum. My husband was also very excited to point house that comparitably, Tv's are much cheaper here! Our moving company made us lay our stuff out from "most important" to " if there is space" what didn't fit you sell. They were amazing and got it all in actually, but they are experienced and know if it will all get in the container so trust them. We used Execumove. They were packed and done in 2 days, and it started raining on the last day. Remember to arrange a place to stay when the container is packed. Maybe a few days before to lessen the tension for the children. Because when they start they wrap everything first then put it in..so unless you are planning on sleeping in the house full of boxes. Good luck. Remember it is just stuff. You can always spend time collecting new and amazing stuff here. Remember why you are doing it. And remember it is the people who make the family and the memories. You guys will be great! Mackenna

Hi @louisesmith1964, incase you don't have any luck with a shared container, I would recommend you use Ubag to ship your boxes. Their service was amazing when I used them to bring some boxes across.

Try contacting hr/managers directly on LinkedIn. Worked for me.