Magic Canada sticker affixed to my wife's passport. What now?

[gongdi]

My wife received her immigrant sticker on her passport. We will be leaving for Canada soon. What do we do, how do we do it and in what order do we: get wife official PR, SIN card, health card, tell the customs guy at the airport, and "flagpole" (whatever that is)?

I understand that some of these services are provincial and others federal but is there an "all-in-one" govt services centre for those immigrants fresh off the airplane who need all these things at once?

 

[Pippin]

Service Canada. Look for the nearest address where you live in Canada. Good luck.

 

[truesmile]

First thing is to complete 'landing procedures'. (You don't need to 'flagpole', that is for those who are IN Canada when they receive their COPR.) At the airport, once you hand your papers over to the customs officer your wife (you can go too) will be directed to another area where your wife will be asked a few questions, including verification of Canadian address and he will say "Welcome to Canada". Her PR card will arrive in about 74 days.

Second thing is to visit a 'Service Canada' location (this is federal) where your wife will get her SIN# which she can use right away. The actual SIN card will be mailed to you later.

Finally you will visit the appropriate provincial office ie 'Service Ontario' if you're going to that province, to apply for HealthCare (get her Health card). Each province has different rules, (in Ontario it would kick in 3 months from her landing date).

And that's it! Safe travels!

 

[screech339]

Second thing is to visit a 'Service Canada' location (this is federal) where your wife will get her SIN# which she can use right away. The actual SIN card will be mailed to you later.

Some Service Canada Location won't accept COPR as supporting document for SIN. Some are required to wait for PR card to come in the mail first before applying for SIN.

screech339

 

[truesmile]

If a given location won't accept your COPR, just say "Thank you very much", and go to a different Service Canada location. You are entitled to a SIN# as soon as you are "PR", and you are that once you have landed.

 

[screech339]

If a given location won't accept your COPR, just say "Thank you very much", and go to a different Service Canada location. You are entitled to a SIN# as soon as you are "PR", and you are that once you have landed.

I agree with you. You are entitled to it, but try telling the ones who couldnt get their SIN on landing and only to be told at every Service Canada that they need to show PR card first. Mind you I am refering to those who applied for PR inland. Those who applied for PR outland, can get SIN right away at Service Canada. Outland get SIN right away, Inland have to wait another 70 days before getting SIN. Now how unfair is that.

screech339

 

[truesmile]

For me that's not even an issue of fair or unfair. That's blatantly contrary to Canada's ______ policy (insert appropriate word in blank space provided). Now THAT is something I would go to my MP for, and everyday too while not able to work.