Tips for New Immigrants

Tips for New Immigrants to Canada

Here are few helpful tips and advice I have to share with new immigrants to Canada.  As a new immigrant to Canada about 20 years ago, I went through some of these challenges while trying to settle in and integrate in the Canadian society.  Many immigrants coming to Canada in the recent years are better informed and prepared due to the popularity of internet and wealth of information available online.  Unlike immigrants like me, who moved to Canada about 15-20 years ago, the immigrants of today can plan their move, come better prepared and well informed to start life in Canada.  As more people reach out to the internet for information, I thought sharing my blog from my personal experience would help.  Here are few basic tips:

Housing

Try your best to rent a basement apartment, preferably furnished in a (TTC 416 area) as your first place of stay.  Websites like Craigslist, Kijiji, Canadiandesi are pretty good.  If you have friends already in Canada, they can help as well.

Reasons why I advise to rent a basement apartment:

•  As a new immigrant, you do not know where you will find a job.  You may find work in another province or in the east of west end (i.e. Mississauga, Brampton, Pickering, Ajax).  You can relocate easily at short notice based on your place of work.
• Many basement apartments are furnished and so you can settle in with ease and not have to look for basics as soon as you land.
• Typically basement rental are cheaper and you can budget your expenses tightly till you find a steady income.
• In my case, we ended up renting a basement for the first few months.  The landlords were a nice couple who would offer to drive us to grocery stores, help and guide us in job search and basically share with us tips on what to do and what not to do.
• Find a basement apartment close to TTC transit as you will rely on public transport when you are new to the county.  So make sure you have a bus/train stop close by considering that winters are tough and long.

Social Insurance Number

The next most important thing is your Social Insurance Number (SIN).  You need this to work in Canada and to file an income tax return. Make plans to apply for a Social Insurance Number for you and members of your family as soon as you arrive.  For more information on obtaining a SIN card, please visit servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/index.shtml.

Applying for a Health Insurance Card

You should apply for a health insurance card as soon as you arrive in Canada. Each member of the family, even babies, must have their own health insurance card. All Canadian citizens and permanent residents/landed immigrants are eligible for public healthcare. To apply for a health insurance card, contact the Ministry of Health in the province or territory where you live.

Education for Children

Public education is run by the province and territories and is paid for through your taxes. Public education is free and available to every child in Canada. If you have kids, register them at the local area school or school board office. Settlement.Org is a great website for all of the above information.

Organizations in Canada Helping Newcomers

There are hundreds of organizations that help newcomers settle in Canada. Many of them represent a number of different multicultural agencies and associations.  They assist you to integrate with the new culture and provide language training, or help you find housing or look for a job, etc.  Here are a few links:

·         http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/map/services.asp

·         http://www.kidsnewtocanada.ca/beyond/resources

·         http://www.prepareforcanada.com/category/settlement-spotlight/

Driver's License

A valid driver’s license is required to operate a vehicle in Canada. Your foreign driver’s license may be valid for only a short time. For more information contact your Provincial Motor Vehicle Licensing Agency.  Here a good link that provides useful details by province. http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/japan-japon/consular_services_consulaires/license-permis.aspx?lang=eng

Free Basic English and French Classes

English and French are two official languages in Canada.  Free language instruction for newcomers to Canada is a program available across the country for permanent residents/landed immigrants. For more information please visit servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/linc.shtml.

Credential Assessment Services in Canada

Most people who plan to come to Canada to settle permanently and who wish to enter the labour force will need to know the value of the education, training, and experience they have acquired outside Canada. The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) is a central source of information about the services and organizations around Canada that can help with the accreditation of internationally acquired skills. For more information, please visit the website at cicic.ca.

Financial

Make sure you choose the right bank and type of account as banks in Canada charge substantial service charges.  You may want to do some research before you come here.  My suggestion is open an account in one of the banks who do not charge any service charges.  President’s Choice Financial Services is one such institution. Track you spending and budget yourself using tools you can find online as savings deplete soon.

Conclusion

Please let me know if my blog was helpful.  As your experiences would have been different from mine your feedback is valuable and may touch the life of a future new immigrant planning to move to Canada.

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