Landing, SIN, OHIP, Bank, DL, CCB within 24 hours

[jamesmcdowell]

Everything went smoothly and I would like to thank everyone for the information posted in this forum. I am sharing my landing experience and my first day in Canada.

I am an OINP Outland whose AOR is in January 2017. I received my COPR and passport back 5 days ago for myself, my spouse and my children. We booked our air tickets the same day after receiving the documents from CIC Ottawa.

Prior to leaving, I opened a UPS mailbox in Ontario area as I have no relative or friends in Canada. I understand you will need to provide a Canadian address for most formalities. I contacted 5 locations by email and they all responded the same day. I picked the location that looked like a residence address (I avoided addresses that contained the following words "basement", "unit", "shopping mall").
The UPS store will email you the application and you will have to fill it out and email back with your credit card info so they can charge you. I got confirmation of my new Canadian address the same day.

I gathered everything that may be needed for landing and settling down the next day.

On the third day I flew to Pearson airport (YYZ) with my family. I left at 8am and landed at Terminal 3 at 9:30am, we were given a form about goods to declare while on the airplane. You will have to check No for most or all of them (I had only $1,000 in cash). Before seeing the POE agent at the airport we had to scan our passports and take photos (except children), then the kiosk will generate a receipt. It will ask you the reason for coming to Canada so remember to select "immigration". Then you go to the line with everyone (visitors and Canadian residents in the same line), then give the receipt and your passport to an agent, and he will ask if you're here for landing then will cross out your receipt with a highlighter (the receipt from Canadian residents or visitors are not crossed out for some reason). He will direct you to go to a large room with glass windows on left. There will be 2 different lines, one for new residents or students, and the other one is for visitors with visa and working visa. So we went to the new resident line. We were unlucky because there was already about 80 people from a flight from India that landed before us! I notice that POE agents are doing racial profiling, they allowed whites to skip the line (it was a bunch of non whites and 4 whites scaterlt stand within the long line, they asked directly the 4 to go the last line for fast processing). We had to wait for 2 hours until it was our turn. My children needed to go the bathroom so I was allowed to take them to an area in the side of the room, I see a handcuffed guy sitting by himself. When it was our turn, there was already another 80 people after us from another flight from China. We presented our COPRs and passports to the POE agent. He just told us to have a sit in the waiting area and he would call us in 15 minutes. After sitting for 5 minutes, he went to the waiting area and asked me for a Canadian address so I gave him the UPS mailbox address. Then we had to wait another 30 minutes. While waiting, there was a Chinese woman that was questioned in the glass office near the waiting area. There were 2 agents and a Chinese translator that asked her aggressively why she came to Canada with a student visa in august while her program start next year in January. She had only $3k and no where to stay and no relative in Canada. She was immediately deported and handcuffed. After the incident, our name was called in the intercom and we went back to the booth with the same POE agent. He started to ask me if I was refused entry to Canada for any reason and if I committed any crime. I answered no to both questions and he asked me to initial next to the NO he wrote down on the COPR. He did the same with my spouse, I just had to sign and initial for my children. Then he pointed me to the Service Canada office which was in the same room before you leave for the baggage claim area (Service Canada is located at both Terminal 1 and 3). I realized that I took all my documents for nothing as he never asked for my bank statements or declaration of goods to accompany or to follow.

I went to the Service Canada office and there was already a girl waiting to get my info, I first had to pick up brochures and a welcome red bag. The lady that gave us the brochure opened one of them and told me to apply asap for Child Benefits as she saw I had a handful of children. Then I was given 2 slips to enter our parents names with a number written on it. We had to wait about 30 minutes until our ticket number was called and the guy in the booth took the 2 slips with the COPRs. We were told to wait again in the waiting area. After 15 minutes he came to see us with the printouts with our respective SIN. I've noticed that the guy were interrogating all students with a visa (the reason for coming, what college he got accepted, what program, where he would stay, etc) so I became anxious, but he never asked a single question to us. Then we walked out the immigration/Service Canada room and walking out the room was the baggage claim. Since we've been waiting for 3 hours, our luggage were kept at the airline baggage claim kiosk. We got everything and on the way out, a customs agent ask for the receipt that was crossed out and asked if we were landing and asked if we had any goods to follow and we said no so she let us go (I was never asked for accompanying goods).

 

[jamesmcdowell]

Then we walked to the rental car to pick up our car. It was already 1pm so we decided to stop by a Wendy's to grab something to eat.
We decided to do the rest of our paperwork in vicinity of the airport as our hotel was nearby.

The day before we flew, I made an appointment at 2pm with TD bank to open an account. I luckily left the airport on time for the appointment. I arrived at the bank branch and waited maybe 5 minutes until I was helped by a financial service representative. I opened a checking, saving and unsecured credit card ($1k credit limit) without any difficulty for myself and my spouse. I even opened savings accounts for all my children. He even set up our government direct deposit to get our tax refund or child benefit. Everything was done within 1 hour. There were the financial service representative, the branch manager and the investment specialist in the same room to assist us. Their service was impeccable. They just needed to see the COPRs, passports, and SIN. I gave our UPS address for our mailing address. I received the debit card immediately.

Then I left the bank and drove directly to the ServiceOntario to get our OHIP health cards. The wait time wasn't too long as there were about 15 people waiting, we were very lucky and had a lady that had to leave earlier so she gave away her ticket number so we didn't have to wait at all. The documents required were the passports, COPR and proof of residency. I gave the statement provided by TD bank with our UPS address. The clerk was a girl and she entered the information into her computer. Then she got stuck with the address field as the system won't recognize the UPS address as the mailing address. So she asked me if I had a phone so she can check online the address. I had a phone but it won't connect to the internet. So she went to the back office, and returned after a few minutes. She asked me if the address was a PO box and I confirmed it. I told her I was still staying at the hotel and I didn't have a definitive address yet. So she asked me if I had any relative I could use as an address. I told her we had no friends or relative. Then she started to think for 30 seconds then asked me if I was in Canada before, so I told her I came her as a visitor back in January and stayed for a month, then she asked me what date then she entered the date in her computer. Then she took a photo of me and my spouse, then printed confirmation of our health coverage. For some reason, our coverage already started that day and I noticed that she entered my first day in January. I didn't questioned her about that detail but she told me that I will receive the health cards in 6-8 weeks at the mailing address I provided. I asked her how to change the address once I settle down and she told me online or by phone.

Then I decided to try to exchange our driver license as I'm from a reciprocal country. Arriving at the DriveTest centre, we were shocked by the line outside the office. There were about 200 people waiting outside lining up along the building walls! It was like a Black Friday at BestBuy lol. So we decided to come back later during the day in the hope there would be less people. So I decided to go check in at the hotel and I started filling out our Child benefit application since we had direct deposit set up and our SIN, and I mailed it at the post office near the hotel. Then we drove back to the DriveTest center and there were maybe 30 people left 30 minutes before the office closes. So we took a chance and we joined the line. We were lucky because we were the last people they accepted into the building and the people behind us had to come back the next day. Inside the building , we had to wait in line with the group that was admitted inside to get a ticket number. We filled out our application form while waiting for our number to be called. The application had only 3 boxes with 3 questions asking about if you wear glasses, and other basic questions. There was also a small piece of paper where you had to enter your address, I wrote down our UPS address. We waited for about 30 minutes when my number was called then the next one was my wife. They just asked for my driver license, DL abstract and passport. Surprisingly proof of residency is not required so you could put any address for your drivers licence. I had to pay $90 by using my new Canadian debit card. Then she gave me a green slip as a temporary driver license until I receive the actual DL card by mail in 6-8 weeks.

Now with my temporary driver license I decided to stop by the UPS store to pick up my mailbox key. I met the owner with whom I've been exchanging email. A very nice guy.

At the end of the day, I tried to create a CRA account after reading the brochure from Service Canada. But it won't allow me and says they need to verify my information and I have to call them. I found out that I have to submit the paper tax application the first time before I can create an account and do my taxes online.

So I was luckily able to get all my paperwork done within 24 hours. Everyone was nice to us (except the clerk at the DriveTest centre as she yelled at me because I forgot to initial a line, she was nasty).

 

[canuck78]

When are you returning after your soft landing? You normally shouldn't have received an OHIP card or child benefit if not remaining in Ontario/Canada.

To meet the minimum qualifications for OHIP you must:

• be physically in Ontario for 153 days in any 12‑month period
• be physically in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after you began living in the province
• make Ontario your primary home

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You don't qualify for OHIP. You will qualify 3 months after you permanently move to Ontario. If you use any healthcare services before that point, you will be committing fraud.

 

[jamesmcdowell]

That wasn't a soft landing, I already have a job and I'm starting this coming Monday.
I was also pretty sure I needed to wait 3 months before I can use the health card. I didn't want to tell her she was wrong so I didn't question her. I already have health insurance through my company so it doesn't matter to wait 3 months before I can use OHIP.

 

[canuck78]

Sorry sounded like a soft landing given your 24 hour sign-up and ups address. Not sure how you got you ohip early but yes you can't use it for 3 months. You may find that when the cards are mailed out they only start in 3 months. Best of luck in Canada.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

That wasn't a soft landing, I already have a job and I'm starting this coming Monday.
I was also pretty sure I needed to wait 3 months before I can use the health card. I didn't want to tell her she was wrong so I didn't question her. I already have health insurance through my company so it doesn't matter to wait 3 months before I can use OHIP.

Your company benefits are merely an extension of provincial healthcare and covers things like dental, prescriptions etc. They won't cover regular medical care like doctor or hospital visits.

 

[canuck78]

Some companies do provide 3 months of emergency coverage for the whole family.

 

[jamesmcdowell]

I was already prepared for it. My company offered the entire package for the 3 months, i believe they cover half of the monthly premiums.
I had to use the UPS address initially because I will stay at the hotel until I find a decent house to buy and it may take 2-3 months. My company covers my relocation expenses such as hotel, rental car, etc. They needed me to start asap because of regulatory restrictions for the position they needed to fill. They would get penalties for leaving the position empty for too long.

 

[canuck78]

Unfortunately many on this forum are immigrating without being able to secure employment in advance and definitely don't have a relocation package!

 

[spyfy]

I notice that POE agents are doing racial profiling, they allowed whites to skip the line (it was a bunch of non whites and 4 whites scaterlt stand within the long line, they asked directly the 4 to go the last line for fast processing).

Thanks for your insightful post! About this one thing regarding racial profiling: I don't think that they racial profile the waiting line. What they undoubtedly do, though, is that you are processed faster depending on what kind of visa/immigration situation you are in. Sometimes they have one guy doing nothing but study permits. And if, say, 80 people are waiting for PR processing but only 4 people are waiting for study permit processing, these four might be taken out of the line for that reason.

The reason why I assume this is what happened is that when I originally came to Canada I had a study permit. There was also several people waiting who arrived in the waiting area before me (not 80 but at least 20 or so) and I was called before most of them. Based on the conversation I had with the immigration officer his job was nothing but study permits that day. The other 20 people waiting were families with little children so I think it is safe to assume they were not waiting for study permits.

As you point out in your report, there was one line for students and new residents. So I think this is what happened. Or, quite possibly, they simply had a connecting flight, they made the POE officer aware of that fact and were put to the front of the line for that reason.

I am, by the way, not denying the significant amount of racial bias that still exists today. Just in this particular case I think that in fact CIC pays a lot of attention to avoid racial bias. They do not always succeed with that of course, but they definitely wouldn't pull people out of a line and fast track them based on skin color.

On another note, mad respect for how efficiently you planned all of your landing procedure!

 

[harmonika]

Thanks for the detailed post.. appreciate it

 

[StonicStone]

Thanks for the detailed sharing on your landing experience.

 

[mehtaworld]

Thank you so much for the detailed post. That's very efficient of you to wrap up things one by one. Btw was there a specific reason you submitted DL abstract at the Drive test Center? Will a comprehensive record be good enough as well?

 

[jamesmcdowell]

Thank you so much for the detailed post. That's very efficient of you to wrap up things one by one. Btw was there a specific reason you submitted DL abstract at the Drive test Center? Will a comprehensive record be good enough as well?

I believe a comprehensive record is even better than an abstract. The abstract contains just basic information such as issue date of your DL, any tickets, restrictions such as wearing glasses. They required the document to be certified. I had to order it ahead of time as it takes 2 weeks to receive it by mail. They don't accept abstract from third parties where you can just print it out. It has to be certified.

I would like to add some tips about building credit in Canada. You will likely get a credit limit of $1,000-2,000 since you're a newcomer with no credit history.
The best way to boost your credit is to have an Amex card in your country. I already had an Amex card with a credit limit of $95,000.
All you have to do is to apply for a Canadian Amex card through Global Transfer, they will use your credit history already established. I was approved for $40,000 which is mostly sufficient.

https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/

You will need to apply by using your Canadian address and Canadian phone number (the SIN is optional, but you can enter the info to link the account to your SIN). They will require you to enter your current CC account info, then wait for a couple of days (or call them immediately after receiving their conformation email with the application code). They will verify your info and you will need to prove you have a Canadian bank account (I used the TD bank account I recently opened). Then they will confirm your application is approved. They will always approve it since you already have an account with them, but your credit limit may vary, you can request an increase during the call. It will be too late to request the increase after you hang up as they will close the application after hanging up.

Of course the best way to build your credit quick is to get a car loan (especially if you can't get a mortgage immediately).

A cellphone plan is another way to build up your credit, however not all carriers report your payments to credit bureaus. Some would just report missed or late payments just to damage your credit, so you have to be careful.