Just reviving this thread because I replied to another member's PM with some information which I believe would be useful to others as well.
I'm in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. My landing was as smooth as could be. Waiting in the queues was longer than the actual time spent with the officers! Very welcoming and very professional. I was impressed. Took me all of 45 minutes to make it from disembarkation to the taxi stand (and that includes a frantic 5 minute search for my baggage which BA had 'helpfully' resettled near their counter!) after completing all the landing formalities. It can be as fast or as slow as you make it. As with anything else in immigration, you decide how the process will treat you. So be prepared with everything and be confident, professional and courteous in your interactions with the officers.
Key observations from personal experience so far
1.
Landing
At landing, be confident and smile when you can. Don't be grumpy or tired or evasive when you answer questions. Answer all questions with a quick Yes or No and the smallest possible explanation. Avoid explanations unless specifically asked for. Do NOT attempt to be over friendly or engage in long random conversations at Passport control or Immigration or Customs even if the officer is from the same country/region as you are (that does NOT mean that you have to be non communicative though!). The officers will be helpful but some of them might just mistake your over friendliness as a sign of nervousness and probably ask you additional questions which wouldn't have popped up if you hadn't engaged in casual banter. Be extremely professional, polite and respectful while dealing with them. Once you are a PR, you can be as friendly and verbose as you want with everyone.
2.
POF and cash
Carry enough cash/travel cards to survive for 6 months without a job - that will be roughly equal to your POF. Declare anything more than $10000 upfront. Do not make them catch you sneaking in funds. Once in Canada, open a bank account right away and put your money into a Checking account. Most immigrant friendly Canadian banks are not generous with banking transactions - avoid overusing your debit card and know everything about your banking rights before signing up with a bank. Scotiabank and CIBC are both very welcoming and I recommend them for fresh immigrants.
3.
Food @ landing
Try and avoid bringing in edibles - Canada is strict with food imports. Most people bring in stuff all the time without any problems but you don't want to be the one who is stopped to have their baggage checked thereby delaying the landing process. it isn't a crime but it will make you nervous at landing and you don't want that. Declare all food items upfront on the B4 form. Most processed edibles and other food items are fine (
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990) but everything is available locally and there really is no need to fly in anything from outside unless it is your long dead great grandmother's last batch of marinara sauce whose recipe sleeps peacefully with her (you know what I mean!).
4.
Documents @ landing
Passport(s), COPR(s), extra photographs, 2 copies of B4 form (for goods carried along with you), 2 copies of B4A form (if you have goods to follow), local Canadian address printed on plain paper and POF (in the form of cash/travel card/travelers cheques/recent Canadian or foreign bank statements/fixed deposit receipts) are enough for a smooth and safe landing for most immigrants and these should be in your hand baggage so that you have easy access to those when required. If you have any special circumstances (carrying a pet or importing your car, for instance), keep those documents on person as well.
5.
Weather
Be prepared for cold weather if you are coming over anytime between November and April. Carry and wear some warm clothes and buy more locally when you arrive. Download the Weather app on your smartphone - the MOST important app for the first few weeks. It will help you know what to expect later in the day/week so that you can plan your time better.
6.
First day/week in Canada
Focus on settling down first before going job hunting. Getting a SIN, bank account, mobile connection, Internet/broadband, driver license, buying a car, finding a place to live, groceries and essentials are more important in the first few weeks/month. Job hunting can be done on the Internet simultaneously or it can wait for a while. Walk into Services Canada at the first available opportunity and they will help you with how to get some of the other stuff done (if you ask them nicely and if they aren't busy).
7.
Initial expenses
Things will feel expensive especially as you probably aren't earning and because you wouldn't know the best bargains in your neighborhood so be prepared to feel financially insecure for the first few months. The larger your family, the more you will spend. Spend wisely but don't skimp on essentials. Warm clothes, nutritious meals, healthcare aren't luxury, they are essentials. Some provinces don't provide health insurance from Day 1. Invest in a health insurance plan before you arrive (if possible) or buy one immediately afterwards - get something that covers you for 90 days and includes travel insurance as well (if you're getting this done before landing in Canada). Ask recommendations to good realtors - they would typically charge the owner (not you!) so you can have someone doing home hunting on your behalf and you might not have to pay them anything at all.
8.
Networking
Start networking within your own regional/national/religious/familial community - they would help a lot upfront. Don't restrict yourself to those people/groups but start with those and then expand your personal and professional network. Improve your language skills, look out for provincial organizations who can help you for free. Get on LinkedIn if you aren't there already. Customize your resume to Canadian styles - there are formats available online. Get a local phone number and put it in there. Anglicize your name on the resume if your native name sounds too exotic - unfortunately that's the first thing that gets judged and your resume will be binned before they've finished reading your long surname. This doesn't mean that you invent a new name for yourself as that's misrepresentation but do consider some possibilities of somehow making your ethinc or geographical identity less conspicuous during the first glance at your resume. Canadian employers are required, by law, to NOT discriminate on the basis of identity but it happens all the time. There are job sites all over the place - apply wherever you think you have a fighting chance. Don't expect responses in hours/days, it typically takes weeks/months to get a response, if at all.
9.
Right job MYTH
Don't wait indefinitely for the right job - they don't exist for fresh immigrants. Accept any job connected to your NOC or area of interest and don't mind the pay/position for your 1st job. It is better having that job for now than feeling suicidal after 6 months of job hunt looking for the right job and burning all your cash. I strongly advise NOT to take survival jobs at gas stations or fast food outlets but do it only if there is no other option. Accept any job in the ballpark of your NOC even if it means that you drop 1-2 levels below compared to your last job. Swallow your pride for now. If you work hard (which you will considering you're a fresh immigrant in a foreign country), let the results speak for themselves and negotiate for a better position 6-12 months down the line.
10.
Get used to rejections
Always remember that immigration was your personal decision and, technically, the country owes you nothing beyond allowing you to come in and make a life here. They will still help you wherever possible but don't take them for granted. Be grateful for any support you receive from them but be prepared for rejections and disappointments. If you've ever worked in Sales, you'll know the feeling of living with a 1% success rate all the time. Most salespeople in the World have 99 disappointments for every 1 sale that goes through and that's a hard life but that 1 success more than makes up for all the disappointments and gradually one gets better at improving their success rate as well. That's the general idea with immigration as well. Get used to it.
The economy isn't great right now. Unemployment rates are lower in Ontario and BC (compared to the national average) but all other provinces have challenges especially in the bigger cities which attract most immigrants. Explore smaller cities - Canada is much more than just GTA, Vancouver and Montreal. Most professional jobs would involve higher levels of competition so be prepared for early rejections. Also be prepared to not have it easy if you don't have any Canadian work experience. Be prepared to feel frustrated, depressed and morose after the early euphoria of having finally made it to Canada.
Bottom line, be prepared for rejection. A lot of it. Till you find your place to shine. Which you will. Always remember that you made it this far and there is no reason you won't make it further. The only person holding you back? Look in the mirror.
All the best!
