My Landing Experience - NOv 30th -2009

[ezo]

Hi there! Thanks for providing your landing experience. So my family and I are leaving in few days, and we are confused about what papers/forms should be filled out. Did you fill out all your forms for permanent residency card before you left? If so and if you don't mind sharing, which forms must be filled out before I land?

 

[Deeaar]

My Landing Experience:


Here are a few items of relevance when I landed into Canada on Nov-30th – 2009

I took taken route via dubai. I had flown in the Emirates New A300 flight. Good entertainment/food/ and drink. Had a stopover of 7 hrs. Literally biting the nails for the plane to take off and complete the landing process. After the take and some time before landing we were filling in the sheet which is used to declare the any firearms or dangerous item and if we have more than 10,000/- CAD. I started filling in the DOB is dd.mm.yyyy since the lighting was not good filled in as dd.mm.yy so had to redo all the things again. One major point was that vegetarians had to inform before hand because most of the food is Non-Veg which might cause some problems. So when booking the ticket its advisable to specify the food preference. In between the pen stopped writing then had to borrow a pen from the air hostess. She was doubtful if I would give the pen back to her since previously lot of people had borrowed and then had forgotten or not returned the pen. So said I would give it back and then took the pen from her. Filled up all the relevant fields. Went though it 2/3 times to make sure I made no mistakes and then gave back the pen to the lady. Reminded her that not every one is same and smiled.

Now when we were about to land was looking around and did not see any tall rise building and not much of traffic. I landed at about 4.30 in the afternoon. There was not much of traffic when we landed only our flight was there. So got the luggage and then went and stood in the first immigration counter and was waiting for my turn. When I went up to them and said I am doing the initial landing they waved me though to the second line and then again in line for my turn and again when I said I am doing the initial landing they waved me through to the third line. Here was the actual line. There are about 6/7 windows and depending on the crowd the immigration office are present. On this day there was only one officer. She was quite young. She just asked me where I am staying and I gave a pre printed address she copied that and said the PR card would be mailed to the given address. She then asked how much funds I was carrying and I told her about 11500/- CAD. She wrote that in the landing papers and waved me though. NOTHING MUCH.

Then I was greeted by another person who gave me loads of paper and pamphlets which described what I need to do when I go about doing anything for the first time.

The two important things that need to be done are the SIN card. Go to the nearest city center and there we can find the local govt offie and apply for the SIN card. We need to carry the original passport and the Landing papers since these are mandatory for the SIN no to be issued. I had to wait for 45 minutes and then she printed out the SIN no in a white paper and said this is the SIN card no and it will be mailed to my mailing address in the next 10 days. As committed by her I got the SIN card in 10 days.

The next important work is the bank account opening. It's a very simple process. Normally we need to take a appointment to open a account. But once you say you are a New immigrant and have substantial cash/bond/draft to deposit the MAGIC doors opens and you can create the account. I guess money speaks in all the languages. (Hahaha)

They also apply for a credit card on arrival. Tell them you want a card with a maximum limit of 1000 CAD so that you are able to start with the credit history and then go on from there. Then they give you the bank card and its access number and also tell you the usage of the card. One important point is that they charge to keep the money in the account. I opened with Scotia bank and they are charging 4.99 CAD per month to maintain the money. This is applicable in case the balance goes down below 2000 CAD. This when negotiated with the bank it can be waived off. In my case it was waived off for one year.

Best wishes for all. Everything is achevable in right time and place. We just have to wait.

Very in depth information, thanx a ton.
You landed in Jan 2010, are you still there and what have you been doing??
Have you gone there with your family or alone.
Share some after landing experiences like finding jobs and house.

keep writing. Cheers!!