- Oct 8, 2014
- 15
- 123
- Category........
- Visa Office......
- Bucharest VO
- NOC Code......
- 5125
- Job Offer........
- Pre-Assessed..
- App. Filed.......
- July 14, 2014 / PER received: November 10, 2014
- Doc's Request.
- PCC & RFRP requested: December 9, 2014
- Med's Request
- March 4, 2015
- Med's Done....
- Submitted on March 18, 2015 / 3rd line updated on March 24
- Passport Req..
- Copy of passport bio-pages request: April 21, 2015 / PPR: June 16, 2015 / passports submitted June 18, 2015
- VISA ISSUED...
- June 16, 2015 / received June 24, 2015
- LANDED..........
- August 4, 2015
Hey Everyone,
Congrats for all those who had updates within the last month…and wish them a speedy process ahead
I’ve been away from the forum for a while as I was experiencing the biggest turning point in my life
The landing experience
I’m finally settled, and I was keen on sharing that experience with you guys once I am able to
My husband and I landed on August 4th.
The landing process itself was unexpectedly easy and smooth…we were expecting a bit more complication to it than we experienced..
Since I will go into details, I will put titles so I won’t bore someone who is not interested in a certain stage but interested in the other…noting that many might not go through what we’ve been through since we knew no one in Toronto…it was only us…landing and figuring out everything on our own ;D
Airport experience:
As you all may have heard, there is a card you fill out on the plane…I think that’s the card that indicates to the first officer you encounter when he looks at it, what exactly is your situation… and you need an address to fill in..
The first officer is the one right after you get off the plane, so he’s for everyone not only newcomers, you show him the card and passports and COPR and inform him you are a newcomer so he would guide you to the next stage…because unlike other passengers, you’d have to go to the immigration department, which is supposed to be with all the complications..
We waited in the queue in Immigration.. and I’m not sure it’s the same for everyone, as I realized some other families were asked some questions or spent a little longer than we did on the counter….but when we reached the counter ourselves, the officer took our papers (COPR, passports, and the card we filled out on the plane) and just did some work on his computer and stamped our passports and told us where to go ! So not even one question : so anyways, he told us to go get our bags and then go to the customs department..
We had to pass by customs as a third stage because we had more than 10 000 in cash…I’m guessing if you do not have that much cash or you do not have any foods or things that you declare on that card you filled out, then you would not pass by customs…in customs too, I saw some families being questioned and their bags being put through the inspection machine…but since we did not declare anything in our bags, and we did not have a huge amount of money over 10 000, the customs just told us to exit…he just asked how much we have and said “that’s fine, you can exit from here” … at that time, the easy and smooth process made us think we still have many stages to go through but the exit was actually to the airport door ! We were surprised how fast that was
However, the terms we used to hear on the forum were not at all mentioned like “PR card” … “providing an address” ….applying for “SIN” at the airport…and we were not aware that the customs is the final stage, so we did not ask while we were there…..so once we found ourselves outside, we tried to ask if we can go back and make sure our PR cards were applied for and which address they will use…it was so difficult to go back to immigration or customs…and other sections of the airport had no idea what we are talking about…and when I finally found someone who knew about this to ask, she said there is no way you can go back and ask about that…your only solution now is just to go home, and visit the nearest immigration office near you later on to make sure what is the status of your landing and PR..
I called them later on, gave my file number, and it showed that my landing was actually complete…and that newcomers don’t actually apply for the PR card in the airport, it just arrives to them after a while from landing, automatically, that’s why it was not mentioned….but you would have to go online and change the address to the Canadian one you would like them to send the cards to….
OR simply ask the officers at the airport about that yourselves before exiting.. and avoid the loss we put ourselves in
After airport: hotel, bank, and phone numbers
We took a taxi from the airport to a hotel that we had reserved before we landed…taxis are available on the airport door, in sizes…we had to take a minivan which costs more than a normal car…cuz we had large luggage..
The taxi asked for about 70 CAD and we read on line that we had to give 15 CAD tip or something so we did
The first thing we started to do was look for a place to stay…cuz the hotel was expensive and we wanted to get out as soon as possible…our hotel cost was about 150 CAD per night…it wasn’t 5 stars or anything…I guess landing in the summer, this is the least rate of any decent hotel you’d find…
Phone lines and bank accounts were so easy…made it all on the same day of landing and reached them all by walking cuz they had branches everywhere near us
Near the hotel, we found a branch of TD bank, which we heard has a special ‘newcomers’ account offer…we opened a newcomers account easily…on the same day of landing to secure the cash we had…
Something good about TD bank with its ‘newcomers’ offer is that the offer comes with a credit card for 1000 CAD…it’s not the 1000 that’s great about this…it’s being able to start building your credit history from day 1 of your arrival…credit history will be necessary for every single thing for you in the future…and once you spend the 1000 and pay them back, this is the first step of building a good history…the bank employee advised us to get credit cards, and instead of spending from our money, use the credit and then paying it all back on time from our own money later on, which is good….PLUS, EVERYTHING in Canada asks for a credit card….you definitely should have one…it’s sometimes like an identification
To apply for the credit cards, we had to have SIN numbers.. we used google maps to find the nearest place to apply for a SIN…they also have this everywhere…inside malls and all.. it was more than easy to find…it’s called “Service Canada”
We also went to the nearest service Canada by walking…and we got a SIN number within 15 minutes max. ! We got it and applied for the credit card right away, like the next day or something…the credit cards needed 2 weeks to be issued…
Near the hotel too, there was a branch for one of the two major phone companies operating in Canada (Bell & Rogers) we preferred Rogers and that’s what we found a branch for…we got phone lines on the same day we landed…was so easy…if anyone has specific questions about that (the plans they have, the cost, and everything) I’m more than happy to answer.. but the thing to know is that you have to have another identification not only the passport to get a phone line…and COPR is not considered for that…we used our bank cards since we got them on the same day..
FOR BANK, PHONE, AND SIN, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE A CANADIAN ADDRESS
Looking for a residence
We started contacting real estate agents and some apartment leasing offices .. and when we went to check out the apartments they had available, we faced some obstacles:
1. Most apartments were not available around that time, they were all available after September 1st, even around October ! and we couldn’t stay in the hotel for that long
2. All of the landlords ask for an employment record or someone working to be a guarantor for us…and we had none of that
3. When you find what you want in terms of availability and location and conditions and all…you apply first, among others, and you will have to wait for the landlord to make a decision who he would like to give the apartment to .... it might not be you
So anyways, with regards to the employment thing, we started explaining to them the situation on the phone before we go…because for apartments, it wasn’t always possible to go walking…we used the TTC, which is the light train used on the street, not the big subway underground….and it’s 3 CAD per person for one ride..
Once we explained the situation, some landlords started asking if we have bank accounts showing that we have enough money to cover the rent…as an alternative for an employment record…luckily we did…they required a bank statement … so my advice is for everyone to head to the bank once they arrive
We applied for several apartments that suit us…and waited till one of them got approved…
In order to reserve that apartment and not let anyone compete with me on it, I actually made the first payment (which is usually first and last month)…
And YES, I made the payment before even knowing they approved my application or not :-[
But they actually don’t accept cash…they take a certified cheque…they give you a copy signed and declared that they received it…and they will not cash it unless your application is approved…but this way, they would stop showing the apartment to others..
Like other apartments, this one is also available on Sep.1, but they said we can move in by August 15 and we would have to pay a pre-payment or something for the extra 15 days…but on daily basis, it’s less than the hotel price…cuz they calculate it from the apartment monthly cost…so we went with that option paid extra and moved in on August 15..
The apartment is not furnished, but it has a fridge, oven, and dishwasher inside it…and a laundry room, gym, and pool inside the building as a whole.. so for basics, we only needed a sofa bed
After settling + starting the job hunting
Once we got an address, we changed our friend’s address at the bank, phone company, Service Canada, and changed the PR card address online…
In order to get basics to the empty apartment, we rented a car…(they require credit card for renting a car) got basic stuff…and did some shopping, bought a laptop in order to start job hunting….and went to the same phone company we registered with (Rogers) and added an internet line for the house
Of course our daily responsibilities were eased by us exploring the beautiful city…it’s amazing 8) 8)
This whole journey was from August 4th till about August 20th…that’s when we actually sat down and started job hunting
Sent a couple of resumes….the deadlines for the openings are mostly end of August so can’t till if anything is working yet….will keep you guys updated
BEST OF LUCK for ALL
Congrats for all those who had updates within the last month…and wish them a speedy process ahead
I’ve been away from the forum for a while as I was experiencing the biggest turning point in my life
The landing experience
I’m finally settled, and I was keen on sharing that experience with you guys once I am able to
My husband and I landed on August 4th.
The landing process itself was unexpectedly easy and smooth…we were expecting a bit more complication to it than we experienced..
Since I will go into details, I will put titles so I won’t bore someone who is not interested in a certain stage but interested in the other…noting that many might not go through what we’ve been through since we knew no one in Toronto…it was only us…landing and figuring out everything on our own ;D
Airport experience:
As you all may have heard, there is a card you fill out on the plane…I think that’s the card that indicates to the first officer you encounter when he looks at it, what exactly is your situation… and you need an address to fill in..
The first officer is the one right after you get off the plane, so he’s for everyone not only newcomers, you show him the card and passports and COPR and inform him you are a newcomer so he would guide you to the next stage…because unlike other passengers, you’d have to go to the immigration department, which is supposed to be with all the complications..
We waited in the queue in Immigration.. and I’m not sure it’s the same for everyone, as I realized some other families were asked some questions or spent a little longer than we did on the counter….but when we reached the counter ourselves, the officer took our papers (COPR, passports, and the card we filled out on the plane) and just did some work on his computer and stamped our passports and told us where to go ! So not even one question :
so anyways, he told us to go get our bags and then go to the customs department..We had to pass by customs as a third stage because we had more than 10 000 in cash…I’m guessing if you do not have that much cash or you do not have any foods or things that you declare on that card you filled out, then you would not pass by customs…in customs too, I saw some families being questioned and their bags being put through the inspection machine…but since we did not declare anything in our bags, and we did not have a huge amount of money over 10 000, the customs just told us to exit…he just asked how much we have and said “that’s fine, you can exit from here” … at that time, the easy and smooth process made us think we still have many stages to go through but the exit was actually to the airport door ! We were surprised how fast that was
However, the terms we used to hear on the forum were not at all mentioned like “PR card” … “providing an address” ….applying for “SIN” at the airport…and we were not aware that the customs is the final stage, so we did not ask while we were there…..so once we found ourselves outside, we tried to ask if we can go back and make sure our PR cards were applied for and which address they will use…it was so difficult to go back to immigration or customs…and other sections of the airport had no idea what we are talking about…and when I finally found someone who knew about this to ask, she said there is no way you can go back and ask about that…your only solution now is just to go home, and visit the nearest immigration office near you later on to make sure what is the status of your landing and PR..
I called them later on, gave my file number, and it showed that my landing was actually complete…and that newcomers don’t actually apply for the PR card in the airport, it just arrives to them after a while from landing, automatically, that’s why it was not mentioned….but you would have to go online and change the address to the Canadian one you would like them to send the cards to….
OR simply ask the officers at the airport about that yourselves before exiting.. and avoid the loss we put ourselves in
After airport: hotel, bank, and phone numbers
We took a taxi from the airport to a hotel that we had reserved before we landed…taxis are available on the airport door, in sizes…we had to take a minivan which costs more than a normal car…cuz we had large luggage..
The taxi asked for about 70 CAD and we read on line that we had to give 15 CAD tip or something so we did
The first thing we started to do was look for a place to stay…cuz the hotel was expensive and we wanted to get out as soon as possible…our hotel cost was about 150 CAD per night…it wasn’t 5 stars or anything…I guess landing in the summer, this is the least rate of any decent hotel you’d find…
Phone lines and bank accounts were so easy…made it all on the same day of landing and reached them all by walking cuz they had branches everywhere near us
Near the hotel, we found a branch of TD bank, which we heard has a special ‘newcomers’ account offer…we opened a newcomers account easily…on the same day of landing to secure the cash we had…
Something good about TD bank with its ‘newcomers’ offer is that the offer comes with a credit card for 1000 CAD…it’s not the 1000 that’s great about this…it’s being able to start building your credit history from day 1 of your arrival…credit history will be necessary for every single thing for you in the future…and once you spend the 1000 and pay them back, this is the first step of building a good history…the bank employee advised us to get credit cards, and instead of spending from our money, use the credit and then paying it all back on time from our own money later on, which is good….PLUS, EVERYTHING in Canada asks for a credit card….you definitely should have one…it’s sometimes like an identification
To apply for the credit cards, we had to have SIN numbers.. we used google maps to find the nearest place to apply for a SIN…they also have this everywhere…inside malls and all.. it was more than easy to find…it’s called “Service Canada”
We also went to the nearest service Canada by walking…and we got a SIN number within 15 minutes max. ! We got it and applied for the credit card right away, like the next day or something…the credit cards needed 2 weeks to be issued…
Near the hotel too, there was a branch for one of the two major phone companies operating in Canada (Bell & Rogers) we preferred Rogers and that’s what we found a branch for…we got phone lines on the same day we landed…was so easy…if anyone has specific questions about that (the plans they have, the cost, and everything) I’m more than happy to answer.. but the thing to know is that you have to have another identification not only the passport to get a phone line…and COPR is not considered for that…we used our bank cards since we got them on the same day..
FOR BANK, PHONE, AND SIN, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE A CANADIAN ADDRESS
Looking for a residence
We started contacting real estate agents and some apartment leasing offices .. and when we went to check out the apartments they had available, we faced some obstacles:
1. Most apartments were not available around that time, they were all available after September 1st, even around October ! and we couldn’t stay in the hotel for that long
2. All of the landlords ask for an employment record or someone working to be a guarantor for us…and we had none of that
3. When you find what you want in terms of availability and location and conditions and all…you apply first, among others, and you will have to wait for the landlord to make a decision who he would like to give the apartment to .... it might not be you
So anyways, with regards to the employment thing, we started explaining to them the situation on the phone before we go…because for apartments, it wasn’t always possible to go walking…we used the TTC, which is the light train used on the street, not the big subway underground….and it’s 3 CAD per person for one ride..
Once we explained the situation, some landlords started asking if we have bank accounts showing that we have enough money to cover the rent…as an alternative for an employment record…luckily we did…they required a bank statement … so my advice is for everyone to head to the bank once they arrive
We applied for several apartments that suit us…and waited till one of them got approved…
In order to reserve that apartment and not let anyone compete with me on it, I actually made the first payment (which is usually first and last month)…
And YES, I made the payment before even knowing they approved my application or not :-[
But they actually don’t accept cash…they take a certified cheque…they give you a copy signed and declared that they received it…and they will not cash it unless your application is approved…but this way, they would stop showing the apartment to others..
Like other apartments, this one is also available on Sep.1, but they said we can move in by August 15 and we would have to pay a pre-payment or something for the extra 15 days…but on daily basis, it’s less than the hotel price…cuz they calculate it from the apartment monthly cost…so we went with that option paid extra and moved in on August 15..
The apartment is not furnished, but it has a fridge, oven, and dishwasher inside it…and a laundry room, gym, and pool inside the building as a whole.. so for basics, we only needed a sofa bed
After settling + starting the job hunting
Once we got an address, we changed our friend’s address at the bank, phone company, Service Canada, and changed the PR card address online…
In order to get basics to the empty apartment, we rented a car…(they require credit card for renting a car) got basic stuff…and did some shopping, bought a laptop in order to start job hunting….and went to the same phone company we registered with (Rogers) and added an internet line for the house
Of course our daily responsibilities were eased by us exploring the beautiful city…it’s amazing 8) 8)
This whole journey was from August 4th till about August 20th…that’s when we actually sat down and started job hunting
Sent a couple of resumes….the deadlines for the openings are mostly end of August so can’t till if anything is working yet….will keep you guys updated
BEST OF LUCK for ALL
