Hi everybody,
I will like to share my landing experinace and first couple of months in Canada, i hope this will give some idea to rest of members
1. before you leave make sure that you have wighed your baggage exactly, if it says 30 KG and 2 bags than you will just be able to carry that, even more if you have a stopover and have more than 24 hours gap between two flights at the stop over. Ideally try to book a flight which books your bags to your destination.
Please make pre arrangement for your housing before you leave, lot of places some sheap some expensive. I stayed in place owned by Sunny newcomers, you could find them on internet, for a room with shared bathroom rent is 648 CAD including utilities and Internet.The place is basically three bedroom duples with pleople staying in rooms and sharing one full bathroom and one small bathroom.Personal privacy is limited to you room only.They also provide airport pickup for 40 CAD which is fair cost in toronto.If you have less luggage you could public transport as well. Go to TTC.com and find the route options which you will have to take to reach your destination. It will cost 3 CAD per person.
2. Landing experinace is straight forward, have the money available with you in case customs ask you, they didint ask me but still mentioned it to them and they made a note on the COPR copy which i got. It takes 30 mins to 1 hour to complete the formalities depending on rush. Try to take a flight which lands during day time. Some times customs are closed during night hours and they will then ask you to come back to get your goods to follow list signed off, It is no hastle to come back, but if it can be avoided then try to do so by landing during day time before 1900 hrs.
3. Have your list ready with photograps and every thing, take some time to take pictures and print them on A2 colour printer and write brief discription , both for good on hand and goods to follow. All the forms will be filled up by officers so no need to prepare any documents.If you are carrying more than 10 K CAD in cash you will have to declare it at customs post. it is simple and staright foward, people will guide you.
4. If you are landing in Toronto than the trolleys in airport are paid, 2 CAD per trolley , so have some loose cash handy, or carry your baggage.In vancouver trolleys are free so use them, no need to pay to porters as they are waste of money, unless you are looking for them to take your baggage on trolley and drop them after 200 mtr outside the gate. In toronto i didnt see any porters.
5. Once outside if you have arranged transport you will have to get in touch with your driver, so will have to use public phone. keep couple of CAD handy for this.
6.After you have reached your room, if there is time first thing you need to do is buy a mobile, walk into any Rogers, Bell or Telus branch near you and have a prepaid mobile sim card to use on your unlocked phone. You can later convert this number to any other service plan or service provider, but intially this will give you a number.
7. open a bank account. walk into any bank branch and they will do it for you. I would recommend TD bank as thier service is better and foremost cheap.All banks will gice you free Credit card with 1000 CAD limit from Visa, Take that, this will help you start your credit history. Even if you have cash use your credit card , evry transaction will build your credit score. And pay it off as quickly as possible.
8.Housing- Appartments in Toronto are from 800 CAD, Most important thing to remember is that size of appartment in Toronto is very small a 2 BR will not be more than 1000 Sqf in 99 % cases. Closer your are to downtown costlier it is, Try to find a appartment which is walking distnce to subway station or maximum 5 stops on Bus. You will have to travel a ot intially and this will save you lot of time and headache till you get a car.
8. As a new immigrant to rent a house you will either need a employement offer, a Cosigner for your Lease( Could be friend or relative) or have to put in six months rent as Deposit. Look at your circumstance and be ready for this.
9. Next go to Service ontario and apply for your Health card, even you are not eligible, apply it, check documents you require.
10. Driving license, lot has been written about this already, i will just add this, make sure that name on your driving license and passport are same. In dubai RTA has habit of adding fathers name, which does not match with your passport name.
11. Jobs- Unless untill you are from specialised stream like computer programmer ... all your previous experinace is null and void in canada.I have seen guys from UK with 10 Years Finance exprinace not getting thier experinace recognoised. Same is for all the construction and other enginerring jobs. You have to be prepared to start your eductaion and do some certificate and or diploma course, work as voulunteer and or part time jobs. I am personally not in favor of so called survival jobs as i have lot of people here who get stuck in there survival jobs and then loose complete connection with thier orignal field. But some have had other experinence.
12. If you are coming from Dubai, then cost of living is higher in toronto than dubai. Grocery, Fuel , are expensive.
13 . Most redeculas thing is car insurance , car insurance can be from 500 CAD to 1000 CAD per month, which is lamost equal to the emi of your car loan.
14. rest life is good, people are generally good, lot of thing to do and see, Toronto as a city in my opinion is not as good as dubai in lot of aspects like infrastructure cleaniness, but it is good in lot of other aspects.
Last try to land during summer times i.e. between march and october, you will have easy time settling down.
Best of luck to all.
If you want to have a feel of toronto in Dubai then go to Dragon mart..... you will understand this once you land here
