Things to do upon landing using Calgary as reference
Step 1-Get a mobile phone (Wind is the cheapest but poor coverage, FIDO,KOODO,VIRGIN etc. are on the high side with minimum of $65 without tax for unlimited calls & 500MB-1GB plan AND wind offer $40 for unlimited calls and 3GB).Requirement for getting phone is government issue ID, & credit check/Cash payment
Step 2-Go for Social Insurance Number Registration (SIN) at Harry Hayes Building, downtown Calgary depending on your location as there are other centres for the registration as well. Requirement for SIN registration is your Landing Document & your travelling government issued ID
Step 3-Go to the BANK and open a newcomer account. All the banks are equally good depending on what you want (RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, TD etc).Please ask for a void cheque upon opening the account. Requirement for account opening is your Landing Document & your travelling government issued ID
Step 4-Go to the registry to register for Alberta health card. Requirements for the health registration are government issued ID, landing Doc, and one of Tenancy agreement/Void Cheque/Utilities statement/Bank statement. If a particular registry refuses the void cheque try another one please.
Steps 1-4 can be achieved within a day after landing.
Step 5-Search for accommodation while still staying with your host or in the hotel as the case maybe. Try rentfaster and Kijiji
Step 6-Call the Calgary education board for your children placement in school. Note, this is purely by appointment only.
Step 7-Start visiting some immigration supporting centres like CCIS, ICS, and CIWA, Drop-In Centre, WIN, YWCA etc where you can get referrals for CLB test, furniture, bridging and upgrading program, food bank, benefit forms completion guidance etc
Step 8-Enrol into a driving school if you are coming from a country where your driver’s license can’t be exchanged to Canadian one and prepare to write your knowledge road test.
Once you have your accommodation, the next is to get a car to go around as the present weather condition is extremely cold.
Please go for accommodation that has utilities inclusive as a newly landed immigrant.
Step 9-Welcome to Canada…………
