Landing Experience - Calgary Alberta

[kontara]

Some facts about landing and living in Calgary Alberta specially for Pakistanis.

I arrived in Calgary from Karachi in June 2012.

No flight of PIA comes to Calgary,so I was forced to come by Etihad Air ways via London, and the No. of Bags allowed were just one bag of 26 Kg per person, while PIA allows 2 bags per person from Karachi to Toronto,Therefore I was forced to pay 400 CAD to Etihad airways.for my two extra bags.

Medicines which I was bringing as a precautionery measures from Pakistan, were asked by civil aviation officer at Karachi airport to not to take along with me, so I was forced to return them to my relatives at airport.They were of the view that there should be a prescriptions for those medications and medicines are free in Canada while in fact prices of Medicines are highest in Canada about 10 times more than Pakistan and for dispensing of just 10 tablet 10 CAD$ are charged by Pharmacy if you do not have your insurance cover.

Do not bring Pakistani rupees along with you, because the rate of dollar which was 93 rupees in Pakistan, was 107 rupees for 1 Dollar both in Dubai and Calgary.

As a proof of fund all my my Bank drafts and cash were checked and counted by security personnel.

If any of your family member is having 6 alphabets in his or her middle name, the immigration officer at landing may incorrectly miss one alphabet in middle name which will cause problem at the time of preparation of PR or SIN card

It is very important to make arrangement of home before arriving here, Rent of even basement of two rooms is from 800 to 1000 CAD, which may eat up your whole life saving in few months.Therefore sufficient funds are required for survival.

It will be very easy for UK citizens to exchange their driving License immediately but Verification of Pakistani Driving Licence from Vancouvr Consulate normally require about 5 months, and great thing and performance is this that for verification purpose Consulate send that Driving License back to Pakistan, its mean consulate does not have ability to verify its own government document.

It will be very easy for UK citizens to get job here, but my many friends are jobless here from last many months from the day of their arrival.

All these things are necessary to know before arriving and landing here.

 

[emceemouli]

Sorry for spamming guys...thought it would be useful for you

I have created the following website to help New and Existing Canada Immigrants to find all the information they need in a single location. I am still working on to update this site. Please do let me know what information I can add to this site to make it more useful.


https://sites.google.com/site/newcanadianimmigrants/

Please feel free to check it

Thanks
Chandra

 

[payalsevak2610]

Hello everyone,
With all yours best wishes we have landed Calgary on 18 Sep 2012 eve.

Will like to thanks this foroum for helping me time to time and making our dreams come true.

Sorry as I was disappear from this foroum since few weeks as was busy in day to days work understanding Canadian system and time with my daughter and Pregnent wife.

So now story begin :

We have taken Transit Air flight from Manchaster to Calgary.
No dougbt this airline is best Value of money, we have paid extra £45 for Option One which allow us extra snacks, extra 10 KG luggage ( so now 33 kg in 2 peices instead of 1 piece 23 KG ) and Priority Check in.


Air transit uk number is - 02076169187.
There website is www.canadianaffairs.com
Cargo number and enail address are :
mark @ clipper.co.uk
01784431123
They had pick my stuff from home for Additional £ 98.50
Just call them for quote .
Regarding our other household stuff , this airline got option to take extra bags for £ 60 each 23 Kg piece.
Though we choose to Cargo our 20 boxes of 20-25 kg each which cost us total 980£ extra.

When we landed at Calgary International Airport, at 5:30. pm, at airport , officer has ask us to go to Special check in for Immigration window, there Lady ask us to show our passport and COPR and she stamp our passport , and fill details on COPR and then ask us to sign them in front of her, at last she CONGRALTS us on being Ca PR.
Then she divert us towards baggage collection and ask her to go to custom from there.
( no one ask about any other paper and nothing about funds till this time)

We collect our baggage and went to custom where they have taken list of goods we bring with us and stamp all receipt and list (they give us one form to fill which we already got with us).

Then custom officer ask list about goods to follow , and once he got list and receipt he went behind photo copy room, and we sit at chairs waiting for him, he came back after 30 min with all copy and then return us all originals with barcode sticker and stamp on list and goods to follow forms.

Please do try to List/mention any expensive things which you want to bring in Canada in future as while landing they will stamp whatever you tell them .

As we got just $ 1000 cash with us all all remaining funds in Thomas cook canada $ MasterCard / and in UK bank account so custom officer ask me not to fill that money deceleration form as its less then 10,000$ with us.

We straight went to hotel (we book for 3 night ) , (hotel Van come to pick us free of charge).
It's $120 a night hotel with free breakfast, free Internet, free local phone. Rooms where 4 bed and big .

Next day we Stayed in hotel room most of time just speaking to hotel staff (who is Indian and Pak ) about city .

In evening I went to nearby area in Asian store and enquire about houses etc.

Here in Alberta public transport is expensive - monthly passes are from 1st to 30 of every month for $96 so as we left just 10 days in month so we bought 10 ticket books which is for $27.50 (2.75 is 1 ticket which is valid for 90 min travel )

Next day I went to Malborough Mall which is just 2 stop away and spend couple of hours understanding sim cards, Canadian mobile services are ripp off, they charge for incoming and advertise there plan with feature like 'free incoming text ', all main network like Roger,Bell,Fido , Kodo and virgin looks crazy expensive.
Best 2 where - wind and Mobilicity but they don't support GSM handset so last one left for me is Chatter which cost $20 for sim card and $ 35 for unlimited Canada wide calls and text mgs (without data).

Later week I bought one 7-11 sim card for $10 which give unlimited data for my iPhone/iPad for $ 10 a month (with restriction that whatsapp, Skype, iMessage and viber won't work on that data) .

After getting mobile sim I went searching for home, then found why every one say about basement.
Houses available on rent are in two part - main floor of house or basement .
2 bed houses are approx $ 1100 to 1400 per month plus 60% of bills and basement are approx 800-900 a month either inclusive or 40% of bills.

Best place to looks at Asian stores where people advertise there house , also you can look at kijiji.ca and rent faster .ca. But good houses gone in rent within 24 hours of there advertisement.
I do got one broker (Pakistani punjabi guy) but I found him excessive rude and expensive , at last after looking at 8 different house and basement and after speaking over 25 landlord on phone who told that there property already gone , I found 2 places in my Budgt but by time I call my wife to see those places those also gone ( never thought that it's so much demand of rental house ) .

Now it's morning to check out and when during breakfast at 8 I tell hotel guy that I want to extend my stay he told me that all rooms are booked and he can't give any room even for $200, all he can do is to allow me late check out at 3 instead of 12 noon.

I got bit worried and went to nearby hotel to book room ( really feeling very exhausted ) and then I went to Asian Punabi supermarket for one more try , luckily I found one 2 BHK basement advertisement and I called landlord , lady told me to come over and see property and I catch next bus straight to there area.
When I went there , Landlord is showing property to other family and they told then that they will tell them in 2 hours, and then they went up and I stayed with land lord, who welcome me and ask about us, when I told him that I in country for just 3 day and got one child in family then he ask that when can I move and I told him in next hour, he told me that as you new so we can give you this 2BHK basement for $ 800 as you just remember me of my time when I came to this country 12 year back with my wife.
And listening that I give him $300 as token and told him how much more he need and he said that's enough.

House is nice clean basement, landlord living upstairs. But here unfurnished means not even bed.

I called my wife in hotel and ask her to stay ready , and then in next 1 hour we in our new house.

Feeling so relax , then I buy one Queen bed with mattress on kijiji delivered for 200 $ .

Next day bought microwave , sofa and dining table from kijiji too.

Then in evening I goes to cargo office and get my paper works and go to custom office where they stamp without any issue, courtesy land lord I get one truck for $ 40 to bring all 20 cartoons including my TV and utensils etc from cargo office to home.

In evening we went Safeway for shopping and realise Canada is much more expensive then UK
Bread - $2.30 instead of 1£
15 Egg - $ 4.99 instead of 2£
4 L milk $ 4.99 instead of £2.20

On top when we buy rice and dal etc that found to be over 2.5 rates then compare to UK.

Later landlord told about cheaper stores - superstore, Walmart and no frills (still things are 50% expensive compare to UK).

I went to RBC and open bank account , they offer 6 month free banking, free bank locker and $1000 credit card to me and my wife each.

Then I went to Malborough Mall at Services to Newcomer and apply for SIN number, lady has given that in 10 min and told me that I will receiving card soon.

Next is Registry office where it's took us 30 min wait then 5 min in counter to apply for health card and exchange our UK driving licence for full Canadian licence (here its cost us $86 approx as licence fee) lady given us our new licence number immidiately and told us that we will receive licence in post in next 7 days.

Next day we registered ourself in neighbouring practice (Dr) . Which is again very easy and welcoming. After our short interview Dr ask us to get done few blood test so that he can create our file and call us next week for full physical examination.

next day we went to nearby school for our daughter admission and they ask us to go to Reception centre , where I went next morning and after looking at my child passport and landing paper they registered her to our neighbour school giving us addmission form, and in evening once I given that admission form in school they told us about fee (tuition $50 for year and $187 for a year lunch supervision fee if we don't want to take our daughter to home for lunch ). next morning was first days for my daughter school.

Today is our 19 th day here in Canada, all what we doing is shopping and arranging house , spending time in understanding things.

Since last few days I am spending time looking for Car or SUV . On Kijiji , auto trader and with local dealers.

I haven't start looking for Job yet, but notice that Job at Macdonald, Petrol pumps and super market are easily available (advertise ) for $10-14 so if anyone want to start working from first week then there is something always there, I hope some good technical jobs are too available in city .

Child benefits - when i went for school registry office , after admission procedure finish one other lady come to me and she introduce herself as community support advisor , she given me child benefits form and told me to fill it and send it to enclosed address. She told me this is Prov child benefits which will base on your previous year family income abroad (they will accept figure u give ) and lesser you income last year more you get money as child benefit. Then she told me that she will meet us again in 2 week for other things like Child benefits from central govt etc .

Here bank charge money for transection or some fix monthly fee .
Following bank offers free banking to newcomer :
RBC - 6 month free bank , 1 year free locker and 1000$ CC
BMO - 12 month free bank , 1 year free locker , secure CC.
ABT - 12 month free bank acc.
Scotia bank - 12 month free bank , 1 year free locker , 1000$ CC.

Regarding applying for PR card , i did by fax after a week of landing and once got my perm address.
You can fax that 1 page form from any STAPLES store for $1.54 .

Yup, I do recommend people to bring ac adaptor/converter plugs to use your foreign plugs pin in Canada plugs.

Do bring / Cargo all your good light weight utensils, if any good LED Tv, warm cloths, spices , medicines , cloths ESP jackets , shoes, childern toys etc With you . It's worth paying £2.50 per KG in cargo as firstly things expensive here, secondly it will cost you even more in buying them and bringing them home in taxi as you wont know much about places nor you can bring heavy stuff in Bus . Also do bring some food stuff like 2-3 KG of pulsess , rice , noodles etc for first couple of day cooking.

Don't bother bringing your mobile unless it's expensive phone like S3 or iPhone. Or even that sell it in your country as here Non GSM phones plans only give value of money.

Calling card- it's cheap to Call India , you will get $2.50 calling card which are good to speak 150-200 min .

it's approx 2:15 am here now (over 3 hours sitting and typing on my iPad ) .

I tried to mention lots of things which I experience , please do email me if you had any question .

I can say one thing , Canada feels like home, very welcoming and friendly people.

Ufff, one more thing which I just remember , I was doing saving of 150-200£ every month since couple of year on Thomas Cook Canadian $ currencey card while in UK , so while Landing I got balance of approx $6000 on it.
It is free to use and widely accept on shops, free of cost as money you held in it is already converted to $ , best thing is that if you walk in any Scotia bank branch then you can withdraw $1000 in one go so it just cost fee of $3.50 for one cash withdraw and you can withdraw upto 3000 in a day . I found it useful as no other cash machine allow to withdraw more then 500 $ in single transaction.

Secondary I am using my uk bank visa debit card here without any problem but if you have Mastero card then be warn as you won't find places to use it in Canada .

At last I can say I never had good writing skills so if you found it boaring, useless or time waste then I am sorry , please ignore spelling mistake and Grammer too . but if it's of any use then do give me +1 as your thanks.

Good nite.

Hey Aquib,

u hv spare ur time n given us such a useful info. thxz a million. +1 for u.
its really great info for newcomers.

wish u a wonderful life in calgary.

 

[ItsBeenLongNow]

Sorry for spamming guys...thought it would be useful for you

I have created the following website to help New and Existing Canada Immigrants to find all the information they need in a single location. I am still working on to update this site. Please do let me know what information I can add to this site to make it more useful.


https://sites.google.com/site/newcanadianimmigrants/

Please feel free to check it

Thanks
Chandra

Very nice, thanks buddy

 

[payalsevak2610]

hi ItsBeenLongNow,

will surely check it out.
thanks.

 

[rawlin4bbhh]

Anyone from Nursing or Auto-mobile Profession...???

Seeking an advice.

 

[DSD]

If you're planning on landing in Calgary, you can skip the French class. Only a quarter of a million people in all of Alberta speak French as their primary language. My husband is Canadian and can't even read basic French words (like colors, numbers).

Dear amikety,
Yea thats sounds good idea.. but currently as we all are awarw applications under FSW are closed, and we dont have idea if our profession wud be under preferred profession for new catgory when it gets open in early 2013... so at that time we may have to apply thru Quebec route and for that learning french is very important ((

Pl suggest..

-DSD

 

[Aquib]

Hi,
As I told you all earlier that I was waiting for my interview result, so now with all your prayers and wishes, Today HR finally call to negotiate salary , and I accepted first offer he made to me (bit desperate to say YES, later I been told by friend that I could easily negotiate 6-7000$ more , but Honestly I would be happy in 10000 less then what's he offer me - after all satisfaction count ) .

It's a management job in Retail . Need to go or 6 weeks training from 1st (so its good start within 6 week of landing - I am happy )

Further , please do let me know if anyone landing Calgary and need any help with airport pickup, if I am not working that day then I can pick you up from Airport , welcoming you to Canada .

My personal experience that its easy to settle in Alberta, Skan, and Manitoba for newcomer as compare to Toronto or Vancouver (got friend in Toronto and he just got part time job at one retail shop after 2 month struggle ) also I saw few people who in Toronto since 3-4 years now moved to Alberta .

Life is bit hard if you directly coming from South east Asia , but if you South East Asian living in UK, EU Arab, Australia , US etc then you find easy settlement.

It's approx 5 weeks we in Calgary, leaving good job and friends in UK and we questioned our self few time in first 4 days that "have we taken right Decision ? " but believe me after we moved to rental house , that day and today we didn't regretted even single time and found Ca very welcoming.

One thing I not happy - my daughter school , where in less then 2 week she lost her bag, tiffin , jacket etc few time , I have raise this with school office that even if she forget things in her break then also they should present in lost n found section, but looks like school suffering from some pickers ( else school is good ) .

Regarding my Car insurance , some insurance company honour UK no claim without any issue , I paying approx 100$ /month for 4 L engine SUV for full cover. So I am happy with insurance price as a newcomer .

 

[DSD]

Hi,
As I told you all earlier that I was waiting for my interview result, so now with all your prayers and wishes, Today HR finally call to negotiate salary , and I accepted first offer he made to me (bit desperate to say YES, later I been told by friend that I could easily negotiate 6-7000$ more , but Honestly I would be happy in 10000 less then what's he offer me - after all satisfaction count ) .

It's a management job in Retail . Need to go or 6 weeks training from 1st (so its good start within 6 week of landing - I am happy )

Further , please do let me know if anyone landing Calgary and need any help with airport pickup, if I am not working that day then I can pick you up from Airport , welcoming you to Canada .

My personal experience that its easy to settle in Alberta, Skan, and Manitoba for newcomer as compare to Toronto or Vancouver (got friend in Toronto and he just got part time job at one retail shop after 2 month struggle ) also I saw few people who in Toronto since 3-4 years now moved to Alberta .

Life is bit hard if you directly coming from South east Asia , but if you South East Asian living in UK, EU Arab, Australia , US etc then you find easy settlement.

It's approx 5 weeks we in Calgary, leaving good job and friends in UK and we questioned our self few time in first 4 days that "have we taken right Decision ? " but believe me after we moved to rental house , that day and today we didn't regretted even single time and found Ca very welcoming.

One thing I not happy - my daughter school , where in less then 2 week she lost her bag, tiffin , jacket etc few time , I have raise this with school office that even if she forget things in her break then also they should present in lost n found section, but looks like school suffering from some pickers ( else school is good ) .

Regarding my Car insurance , some insurance company honour UK no claim without any issue , I paying approx 100$ /month for 4 L engine SUV for full cover. So I am happy with insurance price as a newcomer .

.
Congratulations Aquibbhai,
You are flying high in canada sky now
Best Wishes with you..

 

[9jcanada]

Hi,
As I told you all earlier that I was waiting for my interview result, so now with all your prayers and wishes, Today HR finally call to negotiate salary , and I accepted first offer he made to me (bit desperate to say YES, later I been told by friend that I could easily negotiate 6-7000$ more , but Honestly I would be happy in 10000 less then what's he offer me - after all satisfaction count ) .

It's a management job in Retail . Need to go or 6 weeks training from 1st (so its good start within 6 week of landing - I am happy )

.....................................................

Regarding my Car insurance , some insurance company honour UK no claim without any issue , I paying approx 100$ /month for 4 L engine SUV for full cover. So I am happy with insurance price as a newcomer .

Wow! Such a great news. Am so happy for you.

Can you please provide the contact/ website of the insurance broker/company you got your auto insurance from.

Tnx

9j

 

[babymart]

Hi,
As I told you all earlier that I was waiting for my interview result, so now with all your prayers and wishes, Today HR finally call to negotiate salary , and I accepted first offer he made to me (bit desperate to say YES, later I been told by friend that I could easily negotiate 6-7000$ more , but Honestly I would be happy in 10000 less then what's he offer me - after all satisfaction count ) .

It's a management job in Retail . Need to go or 6 weeks training from 1st (so its good start within 6 week of landing - I am happy )

Further , please do let me know if anyone landing Calgary and need any help with airport pickup, if I am not working that day then I can pick you up from Airport , welcoming you to Canada .

My personal experience that its easy to settle in Alberta, Skan, and Manitoba for newcomer as compare to Toronto or Vancouver (got friend in Toronto and he just got part time job at one retail shop after 2 month struggle ) also I saw few people who in Toronto since 3-4 years now moved to Alberta .

Life is bit hard if you directly coming from South east Asia , but if you South East Asian living in UK, EU Arab, Australia , US etc then you find easy settlement.

It's approx 5 weeks we in Calgary, leaving good job and friends in UK and we questioned our self few time in first 4 days that "have we taken right Decision ? " but believe me after we moved to rental house , that day and today we didn't regretted even single time and found Ca very welcoming.

One thing I not happy - my daughter school , where in less then 2 week she lost her bag, tiffin , jacket etc few time , I have raise this with school office that even if she forget things in her break then also they should present in lost n found section, but looks like school suffering from some pickers ( else school is good ) .

Regarding my Car insurance , some insurance company honour UK no claim without any issue , I paying approx 100$ /month for 4 L engine SUV for full cover. So I am happy with insurance price as a newcomer .

@ Aqib,congrats on your new job and thank you plentifully for making out time to update us with all the needed and useful informations.you are highly appreciated and will be exceedingly favored by God in your new land-Canada!!

 

[Aquib]

Wow! Such a great news. Am so happy for you.

Can you please provide the contact/ website of the insurance broker/company you got your auto insurance from.

Tnx

9j

I have mgs you number of my ins representative.

 

[momohj25]

Hi,
As I told you all earlier that I was waiting for my interview result, so now with all your prayers and wishes, Today HR finally call to negotiate salary , and I accepted first offer he made to me (bit desperate to say YES, later I been told by friend that I could easily negotiate 6-7000$ more , but Honestly I would be happy in 10000 less then what's he offer me - after all satisfaction count ) .

It's a management job in Retail . Need to go or 6 weeks training from 1st (so its good start within 6 week of landing - I am happy )

Further , please do let me know if anyone landing Calgary and need any help with airport pickup, if I am not working that day then I can pick you up from Airport , welcoming you to Canada .

My personal experience that its easy to settle in Alberta, Skan, and Manitoba for newcomer as compare to Toronto or Vancouver (got friend in Toronto and he just got part time job at one retail shop after 2 month struggle ) also I saw few people who in Toronto since 3-4 years now moved to Alberta .

Life is bit hard if you directly coming from South east Asia , but if you South East Asian living in UK, EU Arab, Australia , US etc then you find easy settlement.

It's approx 5 weeks we in Calgary, leaving good job and friends in UK and we questioned our self few time in first 4 days that "have we taken right Decision ? " but believe me after we moved to rental house , that day and today we didn't regretted even single time and found Ca very welcoming.

One thing I not happy - my daughter school , where in less then 2 week she lost her bag, tiffin , jacket etc few time , I have raise this with school office that even if she forget things in her break then also they should present in lost n found section, but looks like school suffering from some pickers ( else school is good ) .

Regarding my Car insurance , some insurance company honour UK no claim without any issue , I paying approx 100$ /month for 4 L engine SUV for full cover. So I am happy with insurance price as a newcomer .

Congratulations, Aquib! Am very happy for you

 

[9jcanada]

I have mgs you number of my ins representative.

Replied. Thanks a lot.

9j

 

[ayischa]

;D thank you very much!!! all this is useful information…thanks again and good luck to u n ur family.