And just to update you with the Seminar that we have attended, here are the details.
The
Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA) organized by IOM - International Organization for Migration. Their address is
24th Floor Citibank Tower
8741 Paseo de Roxas
Makati City
When we got there, we only presented a valid ID to get a visitor's pass. Then at their office, I presented our Medical request since we do not have a yellow flyer and a visa yet. A yellow flyer will be mailed to us once our passport came back after visa stamping.
The seminar was 8 hours and ultimately informative. The facilitator started by asking us where is our destination and told us to group ourselves based on our destined province, so we had a chance to talk to them during the break. I met one who is going to leave tomorrow, the other couple is under PNP who were petitioned by their children.
The topics were multitudinous, the speaker discussed everything we must know about going to Canada:
General Info about Canada
What to bring and not to bring
The process once you land at the airport
What are first things you must do when you arrived
Culture Shock
Employment
About your child's education
Benefits
Taxes, Housing, Food
Seasons : How to prepare for the winter
Traits and Practices of Canadians
It's Seminar that you would recommend to everyone - a must to attend! They also showed video clips, though outdated but still applicable and informative.
At the end of the session, we were given a certificate with a lot of pamphlets and booklets with topics of what were discussed. ;D The coffee and tea are free flowing and there's a snack in am and pm.
And it's all free! Just to compare with PDOS which has a fee of P400 and I don't know if you can even have a sip of a coffee.
I suggest that you attend this as early as possible so you can have a lot of preparation. Me and my husband just realized that its not easy to migrate there. :'(
We need a lot of strength, determination, willpower and all the other aspects that are needed to succeed in Canada.
Bring with you paper and pens for your lecture, and a jacket if you easily get cold. Children below 12 are not recommended to attend, they'll get bored but coloring books are given out for them.
