Checklist for landing-Need advice

[TRUENORTH_4M_C2C]

Hello everyone,
Words aren’t enough to describe how much this forum has been a help to me although this is my first post under settlement issues. As you can all see below I have received COPR and is valid till JULY 2016. I’m in no rush so planning to land by May 2016. I have carefully started preparing a checklist that will help me land in Canada without any hassles and request all the seniors and the forum members to suggest and help me see through if I’m missing something?
Here’s the to-do list before booking flight tickets: (Hope this will help others too)
1. Get a professionally written international resume in Canadian format for job search (I’m from India and still looking out for a decent company who could do this for me..)
2. Get travel insurance ~ ( I have carefully studied various policies and found Mannulife and Allianz to be good although not sure how much money insured is good in Canada 25,000/50,000/100,000$ and request seniors to help me with this)
3. Get proof of funds.
25% of the declared amount in cash
75% of the declared amount as travellers cheque.
(Should I carry all the cash in CAD or as INR since there will be many connecting flights and layovers. Need advice on this)
4. Travel luggage: Get travel luggage as per flight specifications.

• 2 piece Check in luggage= Each 23 kgs (23+23=46 kgs)
{To avoid extra charges for oversize or overweight baggage, your checked bag must: weigh 50 pounds (23 kg) or less. not exceed 62 inches (157 cm) when you total length + width + height.}

• 1 Carry on luggage-7 kgs {55cm x 45cm x 25 cm}
• 1 laptop bag
5. Get my local debit card activated for global usage and net banking as well (although I’m not sure if this will be any necessary..?)
6. Apply for my International Driving license at local RTO.
And finally flight tickets…. Am I missing anything? Any help would be appreciated…
Thanks in advance.

 

[atzquebec]

You might want to take the following as well:

1. Passport size photo for PR cards (check the CIC website on Photo specs, also mentioned in the forums)
2. "Address" to be given at the time of landing to the immigration office to receive your PR cards
3. List of items you will be bringing to Canada at a later date. Which you have to input in your one of the forms that will be given to you at the time of landing (this will serve as an expetions to customs duty for bringing in goods later)
4. If you plan on getting Canadian driving license, then letter from the local driving authority on driving experince and license details.
5. if you have children - vaccination form (sent with COPR) filled by your child's doctor.

 

[TRUENORTH_4M_C2C]

Thank u Atzquebec... added all ur points in my checklist except 5th one as it is irrelevant for me.

After u mentioned about goods i started searching for info, and came across an old thread by qorax about "goods to accompany/follow"..was very helpful... Thank u so much

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

1. Get a professionally written international resume in Canadian format for job search (I’m from India and still looking out for a decent company who could do this for me..)
2. Get travel insurance ~ ( I have carefully studied various policies and found Mannulife and Allianz to be good although not sure how much money insured is good in Canada 25,000/50,000/100,000$ and request seniors to help me with this)
3. Get proof of funds.
25% of the declared amount in cash
75% of the declared amount as travellers cheque.
(Should I carry all the cash in CAD or as INR since there will be many connecting flights and layovers. Need advice on this)

1. You don't need to paid for Canadian Resume, just use Google to find Canadian style resumes as samples (better if are related to your profession), look for US samples to copy some ideas.

2. Travel Insurance is good but you need to know if you'll have Provincial Health insurance when landing of after several months, it's depends on the provinces, so try to get the information to include appropiate health insurance if required (Alberta provide health insurance when landing, BC and Ontario after 3 months I think...)

3. This isn't not a rule about funds as far I know.
Just carry enough cash for first weeks, traveller checks is a good idea but I don't like to travel with too much money/checks, you van order wire transfers when you have a bank account here. Also Credit cards are useful.

After landing go to Service Canada and obtain a SIN (Social Insurance Number), then you can open a bank account.

Go to a Registry and request Health card (if province allow it)

Probably first thing to do after get SIN, or before, is to get a Canadian phone number, if you bring a unlocked cell phone you can buy just a a prepaid Sim card to start, note not all the abroad phones are compatible with Canada carriers, Usually FIDO., Wind and koodo works better initially but after some time is better get a new phone and contract with Virgin

Driving license, if your current license is not in english you'll need a international Drive License, I recommend to get one even if your license is in english

It depends of the province rules how long you can drive wig your current license, look for information before leave.

 

[TRUENORTH_4M_C2C]

Thanks for your inputs..

Im planning to land in Ontario which has the wait of 3 months, so i guess i should have insurance to cover it.

Travel Insurance is good but you need to know if you'll have Provincial Health insurance when landing of after several months, it's depends on the provinces, so try to get the information to include appropiate health insurance if required (Alberta provide health insurance when landing, BC and Ontario after 3 months I think...)

I just don't understand this part ??? What is a registry? and what do u mean by "if province allows it"??? U mean service Canada?

Go to a Registry and request Health card (if province allow it)

Good that u pointed out this to me early. Ok i shall buy a new phone once i get SIN. I did some researching on this after ur suggestion, and found a number of cellular services including Virgin as u pointed. Could u tell me which one is better in Ottawa from ur knowledge? so that i will do more reasearch on it prior to landing..

Probably first thing to do after get SIN, or before, is to get a Canadian phone number, if you bring a unlocked cell phone you can buy just a a prepaid Sim card to start, note not all the abroad phones are compatible with Canada carriers, Usually FIDO., Wind and koodo works better initially but after some time is better get a new phone and contract with Virgin

Thanks

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Thanks for your inputs..

Im planning to land in Ontario which has the wait of 3 months, so i guess i should have insurance to cover it.


I just don't understand this part ??? What is a registry? and what do u mean by "if province allows it"??? U mean service Canada?

Good that u pointed out this to me early. Ok i shall buy a new phone once i get SIN. I did some researching on this after ur suggestion, and found a number of cellular services including Virgin as u pointed. Could u tell me which one is better in Ottawa from ur knowledge? so that i will do more reasearch on it prior to landing..

Thanks

I don't know about Ontario but here in Alberta you can deal with Provincial paperwork at a Registry, is like a Provincial Office.

You can request Alberta Health Card, driving license, marriage license and much more.

As you know Ontario request a 3 months wait for health insurance but you can go to ask for details (perhaps even apply in advance) to a Ontario Provincial Office (I don't know if our there are using Registries like here)

I don't know about cellphone coverage at Ottawa but at Canada there are only three nation-wide cellphone networks: Telus, Bell and Rogers (as far I know).

Telus and Bell are usually the best (Roger is improving but in AB sometimes isn't good), but expensive.

Virgin is a bit cheaper and uses Bell network so is pretty good.

Cellphone is expensive here, and sometimes you have extra charges for almost everything, at the start you can get a cheap prepaid card but as soon you're settled it's better switch to an all-included plan to avoid surprises.

 

[dr-kk]

Really appreciate

Can u please tel me what things to carry regarding landing in summer.

 

[TRUENORTH_4M_C2C]

I don't know about Ontario but here in Alberta you can deal with Provincial paperwork at a Registry, is like a Provincial Office.

You can request Alberta Health Card, driving license, marriage license and much more.

As you know Ontario request a 3 months wait for health insurance but you can go to ask for details (perhaps even apply in advance) to a Ontario Provincial Office (I don't know if our there are using Registries like here)

I don't know about cellphone coverage at Ottawa but at Canada there are only three nation-wide cellphone networks: Telus, Bell and Rogers (as far I know).

Telus and Bell are usually the best (Roger is improving but in AB sometimes isn't good), but expensive.

Virgin is a bit cheaper and uses Bell network so is pretty good.

Cellphone is expensive here, and sometimes you have extra charges for almost everything, at the start you can get a cheap prepaid card but as soon you're settled it's better switch to an all-included plan to avoid surprises.

Thanks for the inputs... I did some home work and i'm quiet surprised after reading about cell plans in Canada...lot of Weird concepts unheard before in India. :-\

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Thanks for the inputs... I did some home work and i'm quiet surprised after reading about cell plans in Canada...lot of Weird concepts unheard before in India. :-\

yeah, I came from Europe and some concepts are pretty weird for me too, like:

- incoming calls can be chargeable to your bill
- long distance charges apply really close from you home
- some companies requiring hundred of dollars as payment guarantee.

After several bills with too much in charges (more than $100), I switched to a Full included Plan Canada Wide, that I'm really don't need but helps me to kept bills constant

I'm paying like $72/month or so, new smartphone included in a 2 years contract that's kind of a good deal for Canada.

You can expend less but caring to avoid extra charges.

 

[TRUENORTH_4M_C2C]

Can u throw some light on Internet.. I use Data stick in my home country upto 12 GB during day and 12 GB at nights at 3.1 mbps speed for a month and pay 25 CAD$ for it..how much is it going to cost me in canada??

 

[Duskyblue]

2. Travel Insurance is good but you need to know if you'll have Provincial Health insurance when landing of after several months, it's depends on the provinces, so try to get the information to include appropiate health insurance if required (Alberta provide health insurance when landing, BC and Ontario after 3 months I think...)

Are you sure this is the case for Alberta? That would be quite wonderful! I thought I'd have to cover with some other insurance for a couple of months. Do you by any chance remember where you read that? (I don't doubt you - but since it's a very serious issue, I have to be absolutely sure this is correct.)

Also, can anybody explain the difference between SIN and health card? SIN is national (and the frist thing I should get), and the health card is for the province only? But they cover the same things, or not...? Or is SIN not really related to health insurance? I'm confused...

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Are you sure this is the case for Alberta? That would be quite wonderful! I thought I'd have to cover with some other insurance for a couple of months. Do you by any chance remember where you read that? (I don't doubt you - but since it's a very serious issue, I have to be absolutely sure this is correct.)

I didn't read it, I came to Alberta 4 yeras ago as TFW and get the Health Card in a few days, just need WP and some documents with your address (I wait until rent a flat) or a reference letter from your employer (if any)

Extended work permits – minimum 6 month permits

AHCIP coverage is valid from the date signed (or the date of your arrival into Alberta whichever is later) until the expiry date noted on your work permit that was submitted to Alberta Health when you applied.

Some conditions apply:

http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/registration-requirements.html

http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/registration-requirements.html

Also, can anybody explain the difference between SIN and health card? SIN is national (and the frist thing I should get), and the health card is for the province only? But they cover the same things, or not...? Or is SIN not really related to health insurance? I'm confused...

SIN means Social Insurance Number, it's needed to work, pay/earn Canada Pension and Employment Insurance, and to Open Bank accounts. It's not a Health Card.

Provincial Health Card. Every province has his own rules, AB is available since first day for immigrants (conditions apply), BC, Ontario and other have 3 months delay. Better check Provincial Health conditions before come here.

Provincial Health coverage doesn't include thinks like emergency ambulance and something else, some travel insurance it's a good idea until get employee benefits (usually 3 months after work starts) that can pay part of it.

 

[Duskyblue]

Thanks a lot for the information Gregor.Samsa, I really appreciate it! That's great.

 

[OhToronto]

Thanks a lot for the information Gregor.Samsa, I really appreciate it! That's great.

I think you should take a travel insurance for 90 days, I don't think it covers hospital visit, but will cover hospitalization. There are agencies that help newcomers with free medicals for the initial 90 days, I mean for things like hospital visit etc. I got them for free, but thankfully I never had to use my travel insurance as well as free hospital visits. Proper information is the key to success in Canada. When I came I took the service of redmapleservices.ca who had helped me with all these kinds of services, housing and jobs. Go through website of immigration Canada they also have a wealth of information, and you are at the right place this is an awesome forum.