Found this on the web and hope it would keep us informed of the process we would all be going through soon. Enjoy ;D ;D ;D
Dear Mates: Following are the information's which i gathered from different sources and now,would like to share with u.
THIS IS A FIRST CUT
WHERE PEOPLE LIVE
Although Canada has a huge landmass, most of its 31 million people—80 percent—live in towns and cities in the southern areas of the country. Most of Canada's population lives within 250 km of the United States border.
Canada has 25 cities with populations of more than 100,000, but which account for less than one percent of Canada's landmass. With 31 million people, Canada is the 33rd largest country in the world in terms of population.
MANY CONGRATS TO ALL OF U, WHO HAVE GOT THE MAPLE LEAVE BUT NOW ............. BE READY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ARRIVE READY FOR TWO INTERVIEWS
When you arrive in Canada, you will have to go through two screening interviews. If all of your documents are available and in order, your interviews should be over quickly.
First interview—official documents
An officer from the Canada Border Service Agency will greet you. The officer will ask to see your visa and travel documents and check to make sure that you and any family members traveling with you have the proper travel documents. The officer will find out about your health and will ask you questions similar to those on the immigrant application form.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
• Are you traveling with your family?
• Have you been convicted of a serious crime in your home country?
• How long do you plan to stay in Canada?
• How much money do you have with you?
• Are you healthy?
• Have you been to Canada before? Were you required to leave?
After you complete your first interview, you will meet with another officer from the Canada Border Services Agency. This officer will check the items you are bringing with you. At some ports of entry you will work with the same officer twice.
Second interview—personal goods
The second interview is for you to declare what you are bringing with you into Canada.
The officer will ask to see your declaration card. You must tell the officer you have arrived in Canada to immigrate. At this point the officer may direct you to another area for the customs procedure.
You must give the officer the list of the items you are bringing with you and a list of the items that will be arriving later. The officer will go through both lists with you and may ask questions about some of the items. The officer may also inspect your luggage.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
• What are you bringing with you to Canada?
• Do you have any live animals or plants with you?
• Do you have any firearms, ammunition or fireworks with you?
• Do you have any meat or dairy products with you?
• Do you have any fresh fruits or vegetables with you?
• Do you have any items from endangered species?
Your First Steps in Canada
• PR Card
Make sure you send in your form for your Permanent Resident Card. The Permanent Resident (PR) Card is a wallet-sized plastic card. You will need this card whenever you re-enter Canada. It is proof of your permanent resident status.
• SIN Card
• Applying for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) should be one of your next steps after arriving. Without this number, you cannot get a job or apply for any government assistance or credit. In fact, without it, you are virtually a person without an identity in Canada.
• Medical services card
• Apply for coverage in Canada's health care system in your province right away. In several provinces there is a three-month waiting period before you will be covered by the public health care system, which is why I recommend applying immediately upon arrival.
• Hospitalization, clinic visits and most doctors' services are available free of charge to all residents of Canada registered under the national insurance program, although it is important to note that prescription medications are not covered by the Canadian medical system.
• In most provinces, Medicare is totally funded by the province. In some provinces, however, everyone must pay medical insurance premiums to help fund the program. In many cases, employers in these provinces pay the medical insurance premium on behalf of their employees as a benefit of employment. Also, seniors or those on income assistance may have their medical premiums covered in these provinces.
• Provinces also differ regarding which services are included and which are not included under their health care plans. Basic general physician services as well as basic hospitalization are covered in all provinces. But other services, such as ambulance, chiropractic, and physiotherapy services, may or may not be covered, or there may be a user fee involved.
• Medical insurance
• If you live in a province where there is a waiting period for medical coverage, ensure you have private medical insurance to cover you and your family in the interim in case you need any emergency or other health care for that time.
• Child Canada Tax Benefit
• Another first step is applying for the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Did you realize that you may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Government of Canada if you have children? The Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) is paid monthly to the parent most responsible for caring for any child under the age of 18. Payments are determined by family income and the number of children in a family.
• Finding accommodation
• A big first step is finding accommodation. While you will have arranged temporary accommodation from your country of origin, now it's time to find a good place to rent for the medium term.
• The best place to search for a rental is the internet and classified newspapers. You could also buy a public transit day pass and visit various residential neighborhoods, where you will likely see posters in front of some apartment buildings, advertising their rentals.
• There are many types of rentals: apartments, houses, condominiums (condos) and shared housing.
• Most newcomers rent an apartment as their first home in Canada. Most apartments for rent are empty, but some buildings offer furnished apartments as well (usually short-term rentals). You have to keep the furnishings in the same condition as they were at the time you rented the place.
• Condominiums are privately owned apartments and are likely to cost more and have better living conditions.
• Renting a house can be a good option if you have a large family, but you should expect the rent to be higher. You can also rent a separate suite in a house.
• If you are single, sharing rent with a roommate can be a good way to save money and meet new people.
Crossing the border: documents you need
Prepare your documents with care
If you wish to enter Canada, there are documents you must have in order to cross the border. Without these documents, you will not be allowed into Canada.
You may also need many of the other documents listed below. You may wish to have your important documents translated into English or French before arriving to make it easier for people in Canada to understand them.
Essential documents
To enter Canada, you will need to present the following:
• A Canadian immigrant visa (if applicable) and Confirmation of Permanent Residence for each family member traveling with you
• A valid passport or other travel document for each family member traveling with you
• Two (2) copies of a detailed list of all the personal or household items you are bringing with you
• Two (2) copies of a list of items that are arriving later and their money value
Do not pack these documents in your luggage. Keep them with you at all times.
Before you arrive, you should prepare two copies of a list (preferably typed) of all the goods you intend to bring into Canada as settler's effects, showing the value, make, model and serial number, if the item has one. Divide the list into two sections: the goods you are bringing with you and the goods to follow.
Present this list to the border services officer on your first point of arrival in Canada, even if you are not bringing in any goods at that time.
You can make the process easier by completing a B4 form in advance and presenting it to the officer when you arrive. Visit the Canada Border Services Agency website to download a copy of the Form B4, Personal Effects Accounting Document.
Disclosure of funds
If you are carrying more than CDN $10,000, tell a Canadian official when you arrive in Canada. If you do not tell an official, you may be fined or put in prison. These funds could be in the form of:
• Cash
• Securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
• Negotiable instruments in bearer form (for example, bankers' drafts, cheques, travelers' cheques or money orders)
Find out more about your responsibilities to disclose funds either before you leave or once you arrive in Canada.
Health documentation
Children in Canada are vaccinated—also called immunized—beginning when they are newborns. Vaccinations help to prevent serious infections or diseases.
When you travel to Canada, bring official documents that state what vaccinations you and your family have already had. If you or your child has not been vaccinated, call your doctor or local public health clinic right away.
In Canada, immunization or vaccination records are required for children to enroll in school.
Other documents you may need:
• Birth certificates or baptismal certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Adoption, separation or divorce papers
• School records, diplomas or degrees for each family member traveling with you
• Trade or professional certificates and licences
• Letters of reference from former employers
• A list of your educational and professional qualifications and job experience (for your résumé)
• Driver's licence, including an International Driver's Permit and a reference from your auto insurance company
• Photocopies of all essential and important documents, in case the originals get lost (be sure to keep the photocopies in a separate place from the originals)
• Car registration documents (if you are importing a motor vehicle into Canada)
Customs declaration card
Before you arrive in Canada, you may be asked to complete a Customs Declaration Card. You must complete this card before you meet with customs and immigration officials, even if you are not a Canadian citizen. If you are traveling by air, it is a good idea to complete the card before you leave the airplane.
What to declare
Use the Customs Declaration Card to declare the following:
• Any items that you must pay duty on, including alcohol, tobacco and gifts that you are bringing in to Canada
• Any business goods, plants, food, animals, firearms or other weapons that you are bringing into Canada
• Any amount of money more than CDN $10,000 that you are bringing into Canada
Do not use this form to list the personal and household goods that you are bringing with you or are following you to Canada. You will show your lists of those items separately to a customs officer.
Declare all items
If you do not tell an official that you are carrying items that should be declared, you may be fined or put in prison. The money you declare can be in the form of cash, securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures or treasury bills) or negotiable instruments in bearer form (for example, bank drafts, cheques, travellers cheques or money orders).
IN THE NEXT CUT
• Documents you can't forget to bring to Canada — an overview.
• 3 more things you need just for landing
• Get your credentials assessed
(a) Regulated occupations, including trades
(b) Non-regulated occupations
• To study
• Understanding the credential assessment process
• Assessment agencies
• What you can bring with you — personal and household items
• Transferring finances
• Things to know about jewellery and valuables
• Medical and immunizations records to bring
• What to know about medical insurance
• Professional documents you can't forget
• Tips for shipping personal effects
• Essential to-do items after your arrival in Canada!
• First year in Canada, first day at school
• Employment Mentoring Program (EMP)
(Do pray for those, who are still in process......)
