Nice places to live in Cornwall

I know I'm jumping ahead now, because I haven't sent off any applications, but I've got a plan in the works at least.

I know I can go over with no problems, I know my boyfriend will be able to go over using the 'unmarried partner visa' and I'm in the beginning stages of getting my little dog set for the PETS Scheme. All the fine details are coming into play.

Now for the fun and exciting stuff, finding a place. Not that I'll be signing any rental agreements this month, but I'd like to see my options and areas.

I used to live in Bodmin, and I just remember how much me and my family loved being near the coast. So what are the good areas now? Nothing too touristy (I realize this will be more in the south) How about St Austell, Launceston? How are they? Price wise too?

I can't wait to move. the excitement is starting. I'm in trouble! HAHA

Cool that you're coming to Cornwall! That's where I am now You probably already know that it's not the cheapest place to live.
I can tell you that Newquay and surrounding area is VERY is expensive and touristy in the summertime. Truro and St. Austell aren't priced much cheaper and St. Austell is kind of run down. If you wanted to live near St Austell (for shopping or whatever) go for Bugle or maybe St Dennis. Looe, St Ives and Fowey also tend to be expensive and touristy.
The cheapest I found were Bodmin and area, Launceston and Honiton. Penzance and Par are priced OK but I don't know how they are tourist-wise.

thisiscornwall.co.uk/property <<< have a look there nearer the time and it should give you a better idea.

sorry Honiton is actually in Devon so scratch that lol

Thansk for the information retro. What made you go to Cornwall?

I realize it is getting touristy by the minute, I've recently got in contact with old, old friends that I used to go to school with, and they are constantly complaining about the tourists. haha!

Thanks for the link, I'll check that out over the next few months, I am just eager to move over there =)

Oh the tourists weren't so bad this year because the weather was really really crappy all summer! yay
I came to Cornwall to be with my fiance and I honestly think it's one of the beautiful places in all of England! We're going to apply to get married and then I'll switch over to a spousal visa. Hopefully it will all go smoothly
It would be cool to meet other Canadians in the area, we should get a bunch of us together and go for a drink sometime! Where in Canada are you coming from?

I agree, Cornwall is beautiful. I left England when i was 11 so my memory of it now is extremely vague =) But i remember going on lots of outings to so many different places. Can't wait to explore the Country all over again with my boyfriend.

Congrats on the engagement/wedding! Good luck with the Visa situation, I'm sure that will be a stressful process. =)

We live in Ontario right now. what about you?

Did you have a job lined up before you left? Or did you find one when you were over there? How hard was it to get your National Insurance Number?

Sorry for the billion questions. =)

lol don't worry about the questions I'm happy to answer! ask away

I lived in Saskatchewan before I came over here. I didn't bother with the job hunting until about a month after I arrived as that's when all the summer jobs popped up. Your NI Number is easy enough to get, all you have to do is go for an interview at the JobCentre and show proof that you're employed or looking for work. I did have some trouble opening a bank account, but that was the fault of my employer at the time!

Are you planning to live in Cornwall permanently or move around alot?

Thanks for the congrats ^_^ I'm hoping the whole thing is as stress-less as possible! I'm worried most about the money it's costing. the gov't seems to be hiking the prices of visas up all the time

It is always nice knowing someone who has experienced the move. Although the info on the UKVisa is great, i find myself lost in most of it. =)

Yeah I plan on staying in Cornwall, I just don't know where abouts in Cornwall.

I know what you mean about the Visa, my boyfriend and I are going to use the 'Unmarried Partner Visa' it is $1200, luckily we won't have to worry about any other visa's, and it should be good until he wants to apply for British Citizenship. We are lucky that we can prove our living together for 4 years, otherwise i'd be lost.

So you had trouble with the bank account? What did you do to have access of funds before opening an account? Can you just use a bank machine and draw out money from a ATM, like you can in the states? Or is it run completely different over there?

You can use your Canadian debit card in the ATMs over here but I don't know about in the shops as they have a chip and pin card system. I know they can swipe a credit card but I've never tried my debit.

I only had trouble opening a bank account due to my first employer, Morrisons. Basically, the bank needed a letter from them to confirm a few details, including my address. In total Morrisons wrote about 3 letters, none of them had my address in it (there were 3 letters because they kept doing it wrong and I had to keep going back.) I went to them and said "look I NEED you to write my full address in this letter else the bank won't accept it." They THEN told me that they were definately NOT going to put my address in the letter because of some confidentiality thing. Even though I had given them permission. I ended up getting my wages from there paid into my fiance's bank account.
I soon got a new job though, and my new boss wrote me the letter without even batting an eye. No issues at all

When are you sending off the visa app? The unmarried partner visa is only valid for 2 years and then he will have to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. He'll also have to take the 'Life in the UK' test before he applies for it. ILR is up to £750 now and I hate to think what it's going to be when it's my turn to apply for it

I've heard a few horror stories about setting up bank accounts. Funny, here in Canada, you don't need anything really to get an account, any kid can get one.

So you had no problems looking for jobs? What is your line of work? Did you notice a considerable cut in your pay compared to Canada? I've heard stories about that too.

Yeah I saw the 2 years bit, but I also read that if you can prove that you've lived together for 4 years, you can go over and apply for the ILR automatically. 750 pounds on top of the 1200 for the visa. YIKES! Well that is good to know.

I won't be sending off the application until about 3 months when we are ready to leave, so probably February/March time.

I just scheduled my little dog for a microchip appointment next week, have to get her ready for travel. Plus I just sent off my application to become a Canadian Citizen. I want to go over now, but I have too many things to prepare.

Look forward to chatting with you more about your experiences. I'm sure many more questions will arise over the next few weeks/months. haha!