Hi Guys,
Good to come back to this threat. It has been a really busy one month for me.
I finally landed in Montreal 4 days ago. Was a very long flight via Paris. Touched down by 4:48pm local time and immediately readjusted my watch lol! While on board before landing we were given the customs declaration form to fill out what ever thing we are carrying and what we plan to bring later. I then moved in through a very long queue and reached the first immigration officer who checked my pp, flight ticket and that declaration paper, made some marks on it and asked me to proceed to the counter IMMIGRATION 2. In that hall there were two sets of counters, one for the CBSA and one for Imiigration Quebec. I got a token and to my greatest amazement I had about 30 people infront of me. Average waiting time before being called was about 2 and a half hours------was pissed off----but whatever! Finally they called me at the CBSA counter and checked out my COPR and passport. Asked me how much i had on me and noted it down on the declaration form i filled on board. She was very simple and we conversed freely in both French and English...no pressure. Then she asked me to sit for 10 minutes after which she called me back and and handed my passport to me, after having used a Pen to Cancel my Precious visa! Surprised!!??!! Lol, I almost got pissed off then she stamped the opposite page with an entry stamp and told me, Sir, You are Welcome to Canada. You are now a Permanent Resident. You got the same Rights as any Canadian citizen but for voting. Don't let anyone intimidate you....lol i loved the last part! She then sent me to the Quebec counter where I was preached the Word of Quebec lol. The lady at that counter took my 20 minutes to let me know what to do in the subsequent days to make my settling easier. She gave me a whole pack of documents and booklets .... which I haven't even opened any till date lol. Then she said i should guard my COPR and CSQ preciously and keep them where i keep my pp. I was given a website to update my address when I get one for my PR to be mailed within 3-4 months as per her, and also asked to present my self at any Service Canada office for my SIN. I was then redirected to the baggage area where I found my stuff all waiting for me at the Airfrance Belt. Got them and within 2 minutes I was outta the Trudeau airport!.....Day 2 I went with a friend to the nearest Service Canada here in Saint-Laurent and showed them my pp and COPR. Within 5 minutes they called me in and gave me my SIN and asked me never to share it with anyone. On the next street, there was an agency that helps new immigrants get basic jobs for their bills for the start! Guess what, I went in there for a general job like sales, dishwashers etc...but as u can guess, after seeing my Comparative Evaluation that equates me to a Quebec Bachelor degree in Nursing, he offered me a job in the hospital! That was on my day 2 of landing! This is for sure some promise land. This job is not directly linked to patients but at least I am allowed to pack and parcel their medical equipment and deliver them to their different floors! I started working 8 hours on my day 3 here in Montreal without even having the time to go round and learn new things. I will be learning during the weekends and working from Monday thru Friday......lol.
I was also told I could drive for the first 6 months with my country's license, so I will be doing that by next week. I checked into a friend's place. Since today morning we have been going round looking for my own place. Most of the places get free by July...thats the turnaround time here in Canada. Hope to get one so I can move in by June1.
This is a really long one but the goal of it is just to let you all know that you have to be strong and courageous. Have faith in the God you serve, and he will always provide your heart desires in his own Time. I am praying for you still on the train. Your time is not far from here.
God bless you.
Stylove.
