Hi,
I landed as a permanent resident yesterday, after arriving in Ottawa on Jan 10th. I've manage to accomplish several things since arriving and i thought others might find it useful if I shared some of what I've found.
Arriving - I arrived with my wife and daughter (both Canadian). All I said was I'd applied for permanent residence and was visiting at this point. No quizzing from immigration, no mention of dual intent, or need to show proof of funds or proof of my PR application.
Car - We decided to do a lease takeover since we found my wife has a good credit record as she has had a Canadian credit card all the time she was in the UK. Dealer registered the vehicle in my wife's name with no issues, since she exchanged her UK licence for an Ontario one in our first week here. Most notable was insurance; several posts have mentioned Johnson insurance as offering good rates to new arrivals and honouring overseas driving records. I can confirm this is the case - Johnson were by far the most competitive quote, and the only insurer to honour my wife's full Ontario driving history since she obtained a G licence in 1989. They also took our UK insurance history into account since 2011, and did not even need to see a letter from the company who insured us from 2012 to 2016.
COPR - I recieved this with no big issues. Only minor glitch was being asked to upload a scan of my passport to myCIC, when the myCIC site gave me no option to do this. So I attached the scan as a case specific enquiry.
Driving Licence - Here is where the real surprises and excitement start. I'd thought I'd need to wait until I had the COPR in hand until I could do things like driving licence.... NO! DriveTest centre on Walkley Road Ottawa exchanged my UK licence for a temporary ON one and only needed to see my UK licence. No COPR or proof of address needed.
Bank Account - Ditto. BMO at Elmvale Ottawa only needed to see my UK passport and (I think) my temporary ON licence. No COPR needed. And they give new arrivals free banking for a year (I think other banks do this too).
Landing - The really fun bit! I had called the call centre when I got my COPR, and was told I could land as a PR at the CIC office on 365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of any month, 10am to 2pm, no appointment needed. The errors and omissions in this advice became apparent yesterday when I went to 365 Laurier Avenue West to be met with blank looks, shaking of heads and "call centre wrong again" comments. After a bit of digging, one fellow directed me to 200 Catherine St. This was the right office, however no person or document had stated that I needed yet more photographs or that my sponsor also needed to be present! Luckily my wife was also in the downtown area so we met up after I nipped to Staples to part with yet more dollars for yet more photos, and we went back to 200 Catherine where I finally landed as a PR. We needed to show proof we continue to live together, which we did by showing our ON driver licences. Utility bills stating both names would also have worked.
OHIP and SiN - Leaving these for now. OHIP, my wife was told to wait until she had her photocard ON driver licence to show proof of address, so I will do the same.
Hope this info is useful. Bear in mind that it worked for me in Ottawa but no guarantee it will work for you too!
Andrew.
I landed as a permanent resident yesterday, after arriving in Ottawa on Jan 10th. I've manage to accomplish several things since arriving and i thought others might find it useful if I shared some of what I've found.
Arriving - I arrived with my wife and daughter (both Canadian). All I said was I'd applied for permanent residence and was visiting at this point. No quizzing from immigration, no mention of dual intent, or need to show proof of funds or proof of my PR application.
Car - We decided to do a lease takeover since we found my wife has a good credit record as she has had a Canadian credit card all the time she was in the UK. Dealer registered the vehicle in my wife's name with no issues, since she exchanged her UK licence for an Ontario one in our first week here. Most notable was insurance; several posts have mentioned Johnson insurance as offering good rates to new arrivals and honouring overseas driving records. I can confirm this is the case - Johnson were by far the most competitive quote, and the only insurer to honour my wife's full Ontario driving history since she obtained a G licence in 1989. They also took our UK insurance history into account since 2011, and did not even need to see a letter from the company who insured us from 2012 to 2016.
COPR - I recieved this with no big issues. Only minor glitch was being asked to upload a scan of my passport to myCIC, when the myCIC site gave me no option to do this. So I attached the scan as a case specific enquiry.
Driving Licence - Here is where the real surprises and excitement start. I'd thought I'd need to wait until I had the COPR in hand until I could do things like driving licence.... NO! DriveTest centre on Walkley Road Ottawa exchanged my UK licence for a temporary ON one and only needed to see my UK licence. No COPR or proof of address needed.
Bank Account - Ditto. BMO at Elmvale Ottawa only needed to see my UK passport and (I think) my temporary ON licence. No COPR needed. And they give new arrivals free banking for a year (I think other banks do this too).
Landing - The really fun bit! I had called the call centre when I got my COPR, and was told I could land as a PR at the CIC office on 365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of any month, 10am to 2pm, no appointment needed. The errors and omissions in this advice became apparent yesterday when I went to 365 Laurier Avenue West to be met with blank looks, shaking of heads and "call centre wrong again" comments. After a bit of digging, one fellow directed me to 200 Catherine St. This was the right office, however no person or document had stated that I needed yet more photographs or that my sponsor also needed to be present! Luckily my wife was also in the downtown area so we met up after I nipped to Staples to part with yet more dollars for yet more photos, and we went back to 200 Catherine where I finally landed as a PR. We needed to show proof we continue to live together, which we did by showing our ON driver licences. Utility bills stating both names would also have worked.
OHIP and SiN - Leaving these for now. OHIP, my wife was told to wait until she had her photocard ON driver licence to show proof of address, so I will do the same.
Hope this info is useful. Bear in mind that it worked for me in Ottawa but no guarantee it will work for you too!
Andrew.
