Finally, I got my visa today

[Ha Nguyen]

Hi everyone,

I am very very happy today when getting my visa. After 8 months with great effort and patience.
I am going to land to Canada next week.
I just have some question about after landing: When can I get the Permanent Resident Card? I have US Driver License, so how long can I use it in Canada before I can apply one in there? Can I apply to any courses or school in Canada or finding a job or open bank account right after I get there or Do I have to wait to have PR card first?

Thank you for your advice and good luck to all of you!

 

[AllisonVSC]

Congrats! Your PR card will be mailed to you (in Canada) about a month after you land, but you can apply for your SIN and health insurance with your COPR and passport both at Service Canada locations, I think. You can also exchange your US driver's license at a Drive Test center, though you may have to provide a driver's history depending on what state you are immigrating from in the US. I also think you can keep your US license for about 3 months but I am not sure. Are you bringing a car with your goods, because that is a lot of other steps after landing?

 

[kolibri]

Make sure to get a driver abstract from the Secretary of State - that will help you to get a cheaper car insurance (some insurance companies are the same as canadian employers - request ONLY canadian experience; however search around - some do accept it). And also make sure to get a letter from your current insurance company stating how long you've been with them (the more years the better - if you had various try to get from all companies).
You will have to exchange you US driver license for Canadian one, but you won't need to go through exams again, only vision test.
You don't have to wait for PR card to arrive to open a bank account. As far as job search - good luck (as I said earlier - some canadian employers - request ONLY canadian experience - but it also depends on the field you are in), so start looking NOW. SIn number will be issued immediately (a printout you can temporarly show to employer until the card arrives ~ 1 week).
GOOD LUCK and WELCOME to CANADA!

 

[Ha Nguyen]

I will go to Canada by plane.
I already got the abstract from California DMV. My husband (live in Edmonton, AB) already added me in his insurance policy plan so Can I drive the car immediately after I get there? Do I need to go to the government office to apply for my PR card or they will send it to me automatically? Where can I get the SIN number? My husband address has changed after the application was done, so do I need to inform the Border and Immigration about that when I land as I see in the document attached with visa, there is a form to fill when I land?
Any one has any experience with the Border and Immigration at the airport? I dont know how long does it take and what questions they gonna ask? How many steps to go for the landing process?

Many thanks

 

[kolibri]

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/index.shtml

here is the info about SIN
go to the nearest service Canada office to apply

pr card will be sent to you to the address you will give them at landing


I drove by car- don't know how it's done at airoport. They just asked me where I'm going to live and my marital status. Also I had my stuff moved from us to Canada- so I had goods to follow list