Moving to Canada

[david1697]

Polara69, are you a permanent resident and pay extra to get more benefits with private insurance?
Or you are not eligible for provincial health insurance?

 

[polara69]

Sorry David, this is the compulsory contribution that everyone here in BC is paying, MSP
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/

Not private.. we are PR's..

But with that contribution I get everything for free, doctors, hospitals, my eye surgeries were for free, my cataract surgery will be for free. So definitely a good thing.

 

[david1697]

Got it. Thanks Polara.

 

[GOPAL003]

Hi BlueShirt

First of all a very happy new year.

I am an engineer , that for the pointer to p.eng will find out more about it and will ask you more once i do some research on it.
I am 30 years old ... and i consider myself young

I was also thinking of doing some french course ( full time initially ) will it help ?

Regards
Gopal

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

My 2 cents.

When I moved in I had a bank check (cheque) from US. It is not treated as cash or immediate clearance. They said I will have to wait 30 days. So any foreign DD would be on hold for a period. Surprisingly a personal check holds a same holding period.

For immediate cash needs I suggest to bring some amount in travelers check or cash. Don't forget to declare it if you exceed the limits.

 

[david1697]

My 2 cents.

When I moved in I had a bank check (cheque) from US. It is not treated as cash or immediate clearance. They said I will have to wait 30 days. So any foreign DD would be on hold for a period. Surprisingly a personal check holds a same holding period.

For immediate cash needs I suggest to bring some amount in travelers check or cash. Don't forget to declare it if you exceed the limits.

Why didn't you use a service, such as USFOREX.COM ? They deposit funds within days (fully cleared, available to you at destination), and exchange rates alone pay off your wire transfer fees and then some more.

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

Why didn't you use a service, such as USFOREX.COM ? They deposit funds within days (fully cleared, available to you at destination), and exchange rates alone pay off your wire transfer fees and then some more.

Your suggestions would work fine if some one has bank accounts in home country and also in Canada. I did not have that luxury.

I am speaking for some one who is moving permanently to a place he had never been to and moving away from a place where he would not go back any time soon.

I wound up everything in US and moved to Canada. Once I arrived with all my funds made as bank check, I did not have that options. I had to wait for 30 days. Since the amount being 6 figures, bank manager released 5000$ after some hesitation. So I always suggest to have one month expenses as traveler's check or cash.

 

[david1697]

Your suggestions would work fine if some one has bank accounts in home country and also in Canada. I did not have that luxury.

I am speaking for some one who is moving permanently to a place he had never been to and moving away from a place where he would not go back any time soon.

I wound up everything in US and moved to Canada. Once I arrived with all my funds made as bank check, I did not have that options. I had to wait for 30 days. Since the amount being 6 figures, bank manager released 5000$ after some hesitation. So I always suggest to have one month expenses as traveler's check or cash.

I don't know if you know this or not, but, as someone who wrapped up everything in US and moved to Canada, you could open a bank account with RBC Royal or TD Bank, both have presence in US and Canada (RBC has virtual presence, with PNC as medium), and you could either make instant transfer of funds via those two Banks or use USFOREX, by applying for your Bank acct first , and finalizing once in Canada (go to branch, show ID, etc.) and then transfer funds.

 

[GOPAL003]

Any thoughts on french language course ?

Which is a good place to start learning french (as a beginner)
What is a good full time option for adults

Regards
Gopal

 

[polara69]

Learning French only makes sense if you want to live in Quebec or apply for a high end government position. Maybe somewhere in New Brunswich, too..

And even if you speak French, the Quebecois will laugh at you..

I speak French, never used it in Canada, so up to you if you want to go for it. Just google, there are plenty of French courses available.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Any thoughts on french language course ?

Which is a good place to start learning french (as a beginner)
What is a good full time option for adults

Regards
Gopal

newly landed immigrants get access to free french classes in canada (at least in ontario). look up LINC, and the area you are in. there is an assessment, then they refer you to classes. for Ottawa, knowing french is a benefit for most jobs.

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

I don't know if you know this or not, but, as someone who wrapped up everything in US and moved to Canada, you could open a bank account with RBC Royal or TD Bank, both have presence in US and Canada (RBC has virtual presence, with PNC as medium), and you could either make instant transfer of funds via those two Banks or use USFOREX, by applying for your Bank acct first , and finalizing once in Canada (go to branch, show ID, etc.) and then transfer funds.

I was ignorant not to check forex options.

Okay. The advise is don't take my 2 cents. No travelers checks or cash for one month.
Just open a Canadian bank account from US and transfer money.