MY LANDING EXPERIENCE
My Naija pple, though this is coming a little bit behind schedule but it would have been bad if I didn't say it.
We landed at Pearson Airport Toronto on Monday and this is the step by step info:
LAGOS: We left our house for the airport a little bit late not anticipating the long vehicles hold up at the airport. Checking- in our baggage took about 1 hour as the queue was long and the immigration process took another one hour despite the fact that concession was given to us due to our children. We boarded when it was just 20 minutes for the plane to taxi with so many KLM passengers still on queue though I'm sure that all were attended to. I hereby suggest that we should always get to the airport on time.
ON BOARD (Lagos to Amsterdam): This was a smooth, exactly 6 hrs, journey and we landed at Schiphol airport around 6a.m (5 a.m Naija time) The meal on board was good and KLM has very good entertainment system.
IN TRANSIT: We spent 8 hrs 15 minutes before our connecting flight and this gave us good chance to explore the airport as it was one of the most beautiful airports in the world with just one terminal but over 40 gates. Our journey continued by 2p.m for our 7 hrs flight to Canada. We arrived in Toronto at exactly 4.p.m Canadian time. The hospitality on board was same as Lagos to Amsterdam. A declaration card was given on board for us to fill and to be kept for immigration officers at the airport.
IMMIGRATION: At the arrival hall, all travelers queued up and after checking our declaration card and and pp we told him that we are landing, the immigration officer marked it and directed us to new immigrants' desks and within 20 minutes we were true. The officer filled our landing papers (COPR), told us to sign some portions, asked for the landing fund we were having on us and I told him without even checking it talk less of counting it, recorded the amount in a form and . He then crossed the visa, told us to expect our PR card in a month, welcome us to Canada and told us to go and get books from another room very close where we were given so many immigration books, health card forms, child benefits forms and others.
BAGGAGE: We left the officer and went for our baggage. The guy that approached me requested for 14 dollars to help us to get our bags from the conveyor belt and I quickly used my Naija instinct by doing it for myself changing dollars to coins and with 2 dollars I got a trolley and moved my bags. Note: No one will be waiting to collect trolley money from you, it is automated, and you just drop 2 dollars coin into a machine, press a button by the coin hole and push the trolley out.
At baggage checking area we were told to queue up and bags and boxes including hand bags and purses were checked into detail. If you are carrying goods not allowed they will be taken immediately and in your presence dropped inside the dust bin. In case of newly landed immigrants, nothing was checked the officer only collected our declaration card and helped us to the exit. I guess this is the norm for new immigrants.
We now went out into the waiting hands of my friend and off we were to Brampton.
INSIDE CANADA: Rested the following day and went for our SIN cards/ number the third day which was given immediately and from there to service Ontario for our health cards which could not be done cos I was not having any official document linking me with my new address. The officer said that I can bring it at any time as my three months waiting time before the activation of the health card starts from my day of landing and not when I submit the form. I went to the bank, CIBC where I opened a cheque account, a free savings account, a US dollar account (All at a go) and my debit card (ATM card) was made available immediately with a promise that my credit card will come in two weeks and my statement of account (This I can use to complete the health card registration) will come by month end. I only opened the account with 1,000 dollars for me and same type of accounts were opened for my wife at same amount. Presently we could not exchange our money to Canadian dollars as the exchange rate is bad. So watch out b4 changing money.
WEATHER: Presently the weather is mild and to describe it in a lay man way, just as if you are inside AC in your Lagos office. But I was told that it will continue to get colder. So be prepared. Landing in the heart of winter could be deadly as you have to move from one location to other unless you have somebody that can help out driving you around. This, my friend did for us perfectly.
CHILDREN: Our children will start school soon as we want to get our accommodation b4 putting them in school so that we can get a place close to our house rather than enrolling them today and changing school the following week. Anyway, school just resumed on Tuesday.
Getting a driving license will continue on Monday and the process of getting a job is ongoing.
Thanks to you all my pple, Tito, Barsindoo, SOJ, Ighehinadara, Tinu, Mot, Vikolo, Badmus, dreamteam,Kako, Right, and all other Naijas on the forum, you are all special pple in the sight of almighty God. Your advise and encouragement really helped. And to all other guys like, Qorax, Leon, PMM, Rocky and others you guys are great.
I want to tell you that while my forum name is Oloye that of my wife is Boljet so do not expect anything from her (Boljet) as we both put this up and questions can be entertained now or later or through PM.
OLOYE AND BOLJET
