Research important when preparing to immigrate to Canada

Doing research and being mentally prepared are very important for newcomers to Canada. A recent Royal Bank poll found that more than 58 percent of Chinese and South Asian immigrants said that emotional preparedness is the key to adjusting to a new life in Canada.

An important aspect of mental preparation is understanding the financial challenges that a new immigrant can face. Currently, under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, an immigrant must have at least $11,115 CAD in available funds if he is immigrating alone (the required funds increase when more family members are accompanying). Although these funds should sufficiently sustain a newcomer to Canada for a couple of months, many find that these funds can run out quickly.

The survey also found that more than 47 percent of immigrants conducted online research before coming to Canada to understand what they would be facing when arriving in the country. Some new immigrants are surprised to learn how many hours Canadians work and what skills are required to get a job in Canada.

Are you ready to immigrate to Canada? Find out if you qualify by completing our free Canadian immigration assessment form.