Hi Guys,
It is not too complicated stuff. I landed at Toronto, last month (June 2013). I will describe the steps I went through. You might have a different experience, this is a guide line only- specially for those who do a landing and coming back to the home country, then move to Canada after a while.
Please have your passport and permit to land papers with you while exiting from the aircraft. There will be a separate counter for new emigrant passport control. They asked how much cash I had with me and and if any food stuff I brought to Canada. I had 1000 CAD. I will tell you why I carried only 1000 CAD.
After passport control, they will ask us to go to another hall , there police officers verify your permit to land papers. Don't sign anywhere in the paper until the officer tell you so. You have to give address in Canada, where they can mail your PR cards. Landing permit paper will have a duplicate also. The police officer will sign and stamp the duplicate and give back to you.Please keep the duplicate with you safe, because that is the only legal document you have to stay in Canada,till you receive your PR card. NOBODY ASKED ABOUT PROOF OF FUND. They said they don't ask about it anymore.
Then you collect your baggage. carry some coins with you if you can, because the luggage trolley cost 2 $ each. After collecting the baggage, go to customs. there you have to give the list of things you carrying now, and list of things you will bring later ( 2 copies each). If you intended to bring gold ornaments later, please do carry some photographs of those with you. Make sure the customs officer stamp and give you one copy of your list back to you. Keep them safe. If you have any doubts, please ask them, they are very polite, gentle and courteous.
After exiting, you may check in a hotel or stay with your friends if you have. The next thing you have to do is obtaining Social Insurance number. It is available in an office called ''Service Canada'' there are many offices in Canada, I went to one in Toronto, Dixie Road. Take one token, and wait till they call you. They will ask to see your passport, Duplicate of landing permit and your Mothers maiden name. You have to give your residential address as well , where they can mail your social insurance card. They will give you a paper with your social insurance number printed on it, that will be sufficient till you receive the actual card.
If you want to drive in Canada,please make sure you carry a international driving license. To get a G1 licence, you need to pass a written test, then you can drive, but with restrictions. You also carry a letter from your current driving license issuing authority, to prove your driving experience. In Dubai, RTA gives drivers experience certificate. Make sure you get it stamped and signed by RTA official. ( I got online certificate from RTA, which is not valid. Make sure you get original stamped certificate). If you prove your experience, after G1 license, they will give you one chance for driving test on road, for a full driving permit, which is called G licence in Canada.
If you don't want to carry more cash with you while travelling, open an account with one of the bank in Canada, much earlier to your travelling date. RBC is good option, because they have branches and ATMs all over Canada. For those who applying from UAE: print the application form from RBC web site, get it attested by from RBC Dubai, and send through mail. They will send you the account number within one week , after they receive your application. Once you receive account number, you can send as much money to the bank as you needed to support your life in Canada. Make sure you call the bank and take an appointment to visit the branch, because you cannot withdraw money from your account until they verify your identity ( passport, landing proof, Social insurance number etc.)
If you are planning to come back to your home country before you get the PR card, please make sure some one collect your PR card from the mail box. Don't ask them to courier it to your home country, they might loose it. Ask someone to bring it with them when they coming back from Canada.
Additional things I did:
1. took one fishing licence. It is available in some shopping malls ( Canadian tires have them) I caught some fish as well. there was a beautiful lake and river near the house I stayed.
2. I applied for a tax free savings account. Because the normal savings accounts are taxable.
3. Took credit cards ( take one credit card and give to some one, who can use it with full responsibility. more transactions with the credit card will increase the credit history with the bank, it will help you to get a loan in future, if you planning to buy a house, car etc. Again, if the card user don't pay the dues on time, you will have a black mark, that affect any transaction you do with the bank in future)
Thats it..enjoy the life in Canada..its a great country
It is not too complicated stuff. I landed at Toronto, last month (June 2013). I will describe the steps I went through. You might have a different experience, this is a guide line only- specially for those who do a landing and coming back to the home country, then move to Canada after a while.
Please have your passport and permit to land papers with you while exiting from the aircraft. There will be a separate counter for new emigrant passport control. They asked how much cash I had with me and and if any food stuff I brought to Canada. I had 1000 CAD. I will tell you why I carried only 1000 CAD.
After passport control, they will ask us to go to another hall , there police officers verify your permit to land papers. Don't sign anywhere in the paper until the officer tell you so. You have to give address in Canada, where they can mail your PR cards. Landing permit paper will have a duplicate also. The police officer will sign and stamp the duplicate and give back to you.Please keep the duplicate with you safe, because that is the only legal document you have to stay in Canada,till you receive your PR card. NOBODY ASKED ABOUT PROOF OF FUND. They said they don't ask about it anymore.
Then you collect your baggage. carry some coins with you if you can, because the luggage trolley cost 2 $ each. After collecting the baggage, go to customs. there you have to give the list of things you carrying now, and list of things you will bring later ( 2 copies each). If you intended to bring gold ornaments later, please do carry some photographs of those with you. Make sure the customs officer stamp and give you one copy of your list back to you. Keep them safe. If you have any doubts, please ask them, they are very polite, gentle and courteous.
After exiting, you may check in a hotel or stay with your friends if you have. The next thing you have to do is obtaining Social Insurance number. It is available in an office called ''Service Canada'' there are many offices in Canada, I went to one in Toronto, Dixie Road. Take one token, and wait till they call you. They will ask to see your passport, Duplicate of landing permit and your Mothers maiden name. You have to give your residential address as well , where they can mail your social insurance card. They will give you a paper with your social insurance number printed on it, that will be sufficient till you receive the actual card.
If you want to drive in Canada,please make sure you carry a international driving license. To get a G1 licence, you need to pass a written test, then you can drive, but with restrictions. You also carry a letter from your current driving license issuing authority, to prove your driving experience. In Dubai, RTA gives drivers experience certificate. Make sure you get it stamped and signed by RTA official. ( I got online certificate from RTA, which is not valid. Make sure you get original stamped certificate). If you prove your experience, after G1 license, they will give you one chance for driving test on road, for a full driving permit, which is called G licence in Canada.
If you don't want to carry more cash with you while travelling, open an account with one of the bank in Canada, much earlier to your travelling date. RBC is good option, because they have branches and ATMs all over Canada. For those who applying from UAE: print the application form from RBC web site, get it attested by from RBC Dubai, and send through mail. They will send you the account number within one week , after they receive your application. Once you receive account number, you can send as much money to the bank as you needed to support your life in Canada. Make sure you call the bank and take an appointment to visit the branch, because you cannot withdraw money from your account until they verify your identity ( passport, landing proof, Social insurance number etc.)
If you are planning to come back to your home country before you get the PR card, please make sure some one collect your PR card from the mail box. Don't ask them to courier it to your home country, they might loose it. Ask someone to bring it with them when they coming back from Canada.
Additional things I did:
1. took one fishing licence. It is available in some shopping malls ( Canadian tires have them) I caught some fish as well. there was a beautiful lake and river near the house I stayed.
2. I applied for a tax free savings account. Because the normal savings accounts are taxable.
3. Took credit cards ( take one credit card and give to some one, who can use it with full responsibility. more transactions with the credit card will increase the credit history with the bank, it will help you to get a loan in future, if you planning to buy a house, car etc. Again, if the card user don't pay the dues on time, you will have a black mark, that affect any transaction you do with the bank in future)
Thats it..enjoy the life in Canada..its a great country
