Canadian Immigration Guide what to do before moving to Canada
Canadian Immigration, or moving from your country to Canada is like moving from one city to another, but on a bigger scale. You have to close your affairs in the old city and get employment and a place to stay in the new city.
For your Canadian Immigration, you will need to have the following:
ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS
A valid passport A
Canadian Immigration Visa
and Confirmation of Permanent Residence Documentation of all the belongings you will be bringing to Canada, stating when it will arrive and how much it is worth. Enough money to cover your living expenses for the first 6 months of your Canadian Immigration.
OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS depending on your personal situation
Birth certificates or baptismal certificates Marriage certificates Adoption, separation or divorce papers School records, diplomas or degrees Trade or professional certificates and licenses Letters of reference from former employers A résumé Immunization, vaccination, dental and other health records Your driver's license, including an International Driver's Permit A reference from your car insurance company
THINGS TO DO
Finalize your affairs with the Income Tax and Revenue department in your country Close all your non essential bank accounts Keep a current account in your country of origin and make sure it has internet banking Open a Canadian Bank Account and make sure it has internet banking Have a valid Credit Card, preferably with online payment options Cancel all credit cards you no longer need or want Update your will and if needed, have a power of attorney Notify your doctors and dentist that you started Immigration procedures and get copies of your medical and dental records Have a record of all your prescriptions and make sure you have enough supply of your medication to last for a one to two months Get medical insurance to make sure you are covered until your Canadian Health Insurance kicks in. Get travel insurance and insure your belongings Notify Gas, Hydro and other utility companies of the date you are leaving Notify every one, including the postal service of the fact that you are immigrating and arrange for someone to forward your mail Open a free email account at www.Canada.com or www.hotmail.com so you can keep in touch with everyone until you have an Internet Service Provider once you are in Canada.
WHAT CAN YOU BRING INTO CANADA
Canada has strict laws about what goods you can bring into Canada
Tabacco: You can bring in up to 200 cigarettes Alcohol: you can bring in 1.5 liters of wine or 1.4 liters of alcohol
Unauthorized firearms, explosives, fireworks and ammunition Narcotics, other than prescription drugs Meat, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables Plants, flowers and soil Endangered species of animals or products made from animal parts, such as the skin, feathers, fur, bones and ivory Cultural property, including antique and cultural objects considered to have historical significance in their country of origin
Canada's public health-care system provides insurance coverage for health-care services to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The federal government sets health-care standards for the whole country, but the programs are run by the provincial ministries of health. Apply for provincial health-care coverage as soon as possible after you arrive. British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick have a three-month waiting period before you become eligible for medicare coverage. Buy private health insurance coverage for the first three months of your Canadian Immigration. You will need a family doctor in Canada to get new prescriptions, so bring a supply of your medication to cover you untill you have found a new family doctor.
Have your documents translated in English or French before you leave for Canada. Essential documents for looking for work include: A résumé of your education, work and volunteer experience, and your skills and qualifications Diplomas, degrees, certificates and other qualifications Letters of recommendation School records or transcripts. Improving your English or French before coming to Canada would be extremely beneficial Research the labour market in the part of Canada where you plan to settle. Have your credentials evaluated and compared with the Canadian education system to make it easier for employers to determine whether you meet their job requirements.
Most immigrants settle in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver, the three largest cities. The medium-sized cities like Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, London, Windsor, Sudbury, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria have as much to offer as the larger cities with a better quality of life. Some people prefer to live in smaller cities and towns. Depending on your skills or professional qualifications, some regions may have better job opportunities than others. Visit the websites of each
Province and Territory
to see what each has to offer. Research the labor market trends in the area where you want to live. A good idea is to visit the area you would like to immigrate to.
Canadian Immigration, or immigration to any country, is a huge step, and it can be costly. Remember, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER so do as much research as possible. Don't use this Canadian Immigration Guide as your only information. There are many agencies who will assess your situation and for a fee will do the paperwork involved in VISA applications for you. But before you spent any money, check out all the free information on the Internet.You do not have to use an Canadian Immigration Agency, you can apply online and go through the application process yourself.
Disclaimer: This webpage is an online information service provided by www.the-happy-immigrant.comSome of the information presented here is based on my own Canadian Immigration experience. In order to provide information as accurate and up to date as possible, much of the information has been taken from the official Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. This information is not represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
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