SECOND CUT (FOR 1st CUT, SEE PG 1252)
DOCUMENTS YOU CAN’T FORGET TO BRING TO CANADA (AN OVER VIEW)
1. Birth certificates and passports of each family member
2. Adoption papers if applicable
3. Marriage certificate (and/or divorce, separation papers)
4. School records for all your children
(These will help place your children into the right grade at school.)
5. Children’s immunization records
(These will be required when you enrol your children in a Canadian public school.)
6. Copies of all post-secondary diplomas, degrees and even academic transcripts for all adults
(You may need to show proof of your educational credentials and even get them evaluated by a professional evaluation service, academic institution or professional association. Such evaluations can help you more easily find work or upgrade your training and may be necessary to work in regulated occupations or attend post-secondary schools in Canada. Many professional associations, universities, colleges and assessment agencies require your academic documents to come directly from the institution you attended in order to evaluate them and will not accept original or copied academic documents that you may come with. Find out how the professional association, academic institution or credential assessment agency requires documents to be received before coming to Canada as this will save you time and money.)
7. Reference letters with contact details from former employers
(You will need these when applying for work in Canada.)
8. Samples of your professional work or achievements
(These may be helpful when applying for work in Canada.)
9. International Driver’s Licence
(You should be able to drive immediately with an international driver’s licence for the short term, until you get a Canadian driver’s licence.)
10. Copies of international automobile insurance
(If you have a good driving record in your country of origin, this may help you get a better auto insurance rate in Canada.)
11. Medical records, including X-rays, dental files, optical prescriptions, other prescriptions
12. Documents related to travel health insurance to cover you in case of medical emergency in your first few weeks in Canada
(Some provinces, including Ontario, have a waiting period for health care coverage after landing. You are responsible for private health insurance in the interim, otherwise you could be faced with a big medical bill if you need any medical treatment or emergency surgery.)
13. Certificates of valuation and authenticity (including photos) for jewellery and other valuables and belongings you’re bringing with you
(You’ll need a list of effects when you land at the airport.)
14. Copies of financial records that show credit history/rating
(Traditionally, it has been difficult for newcomers to access loans and credit in Canada, because of a lack of credit history. A record of your international credit rating may help.)
15. Record of any current foreign income, properties or investments
(Worldwide income is taxable in Canada.)
3 MORE THINGS YOU NEED JUST FOR LANDING
And don’t forget you need the following at the airport when you first land in Canada:
Your passport and/or travel documents
Your permanent resident visa and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada
The immigration officer at the airport will make sure you are entering Canada before or on the expiry date shown on your permanent resident visa; it cannot be extended. If there are no problems, the officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The officer will also confirm your Canadian mailing address, where your permanent resident card will be mailed to you.
GET YOUR CREDENTIALS ASSESSED
If you obtained your education, work experience or professional credentials outside Canada, you will need to get your credentials assessed:
1. To immigrate as a Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
To apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of your completed foreign educational credentials.
An ECA is used to verify that your foreign degree, diploma, certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada for the purpose of immigrating to Canada.
Find out more about the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
2. To work in some jobs in Canada, including certain trades
There are two types of occupations in Canada: regulated (including trades) and non-regulated.
No matter which type of job you are looking for, make sure you have the language skills needed. Even if you have the language skills needed to immigrate to Canada, those skills may not be strong enough to work in your preferred profession.
FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR CREDENTIALS ASSESSED TO WORK IN CANADA
REGULATED OCCUPATIONS, INCLUDING TRADES
A regulated occupation (for example, architect, engineer or plumber) is controlled by provincial and territorial (and sometimes federal) law and governed by a regulatory body or apprenticeship authority. They are also called professions, skilled trades or apprenticeable trades. These jobs are regulated in order to protect public health and safety, and to ensure that people working in those jobs are qualified. About 20 percent of Canadian jobs are in regulated occupations.
Credential recognition is usually done by a regulatory body. Check with the regulatory body or other organization for your occupation to determine whether you need an assessment and, if so, which credential assessment agency you should use. Contact information for your regulatory body can be found by using Working in Canada. You can also check their website to find information about licensing, eligibility, the recognition process, and fees.
To work in a regulated occupation and use a regulated title, you must have a licence or a certificate or be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation in the province or territory where you want to work.
Each regulated occupation has its own requirements for obtaining a licence or certificate, and requirements can be different between provinces and territories. Requirements for entry usually include:
• Examinations
• An evaluation of your language and communication skills
• A specified period of supervised work experience
If you want to work in a trade (carpenter, electrician, bakers), visit Red Seal for more details about the training, skills and experience you will need to meet. As a tradesperson, you may be eligible to immigrate through the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
In Canada, some provinces and territories regulate certain professions and trades while others do not. If you have a licence to work in one province or territory, it may not be accepted in others.
NON-REGULATED OCCUPATIONS
Employers will want to learn about your competencies, education and work experience in order to decide if you can do the job.
They may also be interested to know the Canadian equivalency of the education that you acquired abroad.
A credential assessment agency can assess your educational credentials for a fee. You may include this information in your résumé or curriculum vitæ (CV).
3. To study
Contact the post-secondary schools you are interested in to find out what kind of education assessment they require and accept.
Many schools will assess your educational if you intend to apply to study there.
Credential assessment will help you:
• see whether your credentials are equivalent to the standards set for Canadian workers
• determine whether you need more training, education or Canadian work experience
• understand the types of jobs for which you might be qualified
• help employers understand your qualifications
You can start the credential assessment and recognition process before you arrive in Canada. This takes time and costs money.
Note: Having your educational credentials recognized to immigrate to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker, to qualify to work in a particular occupation (including getting a license), and to find a job are each separate processes.
Find out about who is involved in the assessment process.
Be aware that the words credentials, competencies and qualifications may often appear to have the same meaning, but in Canada have specific definitions.
UNDERSTANDING THE CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Many organizations and levels of government are involved in the credential assessment process in Canada. Each of them has different roles and responsibilities. If you are going through this process, you need to understand who does what.
Credential assessment organizations
Designated organizations for Educational Credential Assessments
If you are applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of your completed foreign educational credentials done by one of the organizations designated by CIC. This is a different process than qualifying to work in a particular occupation in Canada.
Post-secondary institutions
There are more than 200 accredited post-secondary institutions that can assess educational credentials for placement at their schools.
Contact the post-secondary school you want to attend in Canada to find out what kind of assessment they require and accept. Then, contact the assessment agency recommended by the school you want to attend, if required.
If you want to find out how your academic credentials compare to an educational program in Canada you may have your education assessed through one of these assessment agencies in Canada. They will compare your academic credentials with similar ones in Canada’s post-secondary educational system. Assessments done by assessment agencies help employers, post-secondary institutions, and professional bodies understand your academic background. They do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification/licensing purposes in Canada or further study in a Canadian post secondary institution. These agencies charge a fee for their services.
Assessment agencies
Assessment agencies compare academic credentials with similar ones in Canada’s post-secondary educational system. They charge a fee for their services.
This type of assessment helps employers, post-secondary schools and professional bodies understand your academic background. However, it does not guarantee the recognition of your qualifications for employment, for certification/licensing purposes in Canada, or for studying in a Canadian post-secondary school.
To work in a regulated occupation or trade, contact the appropriate regulatory body or professional organization to see if you need to have this kind of assessment done and which assessment agency you should use.
If you do not need to have your credentials assessed as part of the licensing process, consider having an assessment done anyway to help employers understand your qualifications.
Regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities
There are more than 440 regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities that govern approximately 55 professions in Canada.
Each province and territory is responsible for licensing regulated professions and trades through regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities. However, there may be different requirements for licensing depending on where you live. Also, some professions are not regulated in every province. Regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities:
• Establish and maintain standards of competency and practice for a profession or trade
• Set entry and training requirements
• Develop procedures, requirements and processes for certification, registration and licensing
• Evaluate and assess academic training, work experience, and skills and competencies
• Register qualified applicants
• Discipline members
They also evaluate academic training, work experience, skills and competencies. Usually, this evaluation includes:
• An assessment of your training and skills against the profession’s standards by comparing your original academic transcripts and other related documents, such as university course descriptions, with the training provided by Canadian colleges and universities
• Written examinations, an interview, or both
• An evaluation of your language and communication skills
• A specified period of supervised work experience
You will be evaluated as an individual. Do not compare your experience directly with that of someone else. You must understand the requirements as they apply to your own situation in the province or territory where you intend to work.
Employers
Most jobs in Canada are not regulated and do not require licensing with a regulatory body. For these jobs, the employer can:
• Set the requirements for a job
• Determine whether the qualifications you earned outside Canada are equivalent to the Canadian credentials you need for the job
• Determine whether you have the appropriate credentials, training and experience for the job
Some employers require that job applicants be registered or certified by the relevant professional association. Credential assessment and recognition helps Canadian employers understand your qualifications.
Requirements for employment can vary greatly between employers. Be prepared to prove that you have the education or experience to do the job. You may be expected to demonstrate a certain level of skill and competence, to have a specific amount of education, and even to have personal characteristics suitable for the job.
Provinces and territories
Each of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories is responsible for licensing most regulated professions and trades in its jurisdiction through designated regulatory bodies.
Each provincial and territorial government has an immigration website that will give you more information on services they provide.
Government of Canada
WHAT YOU CAN BRING WITH YOU — PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
As a landed immigrant, you are entitled to bring with you, free of duty and taxes, any personal and household items that you owned before your arrival in Canada.
These may include any of the following. But think about whether it is cheaper to ship or to buy new items once in Canada.
1. Furniture
2. Housewares
3. Silverware
4. Linens
5. Books
6. Clothing
7. Jewellery
8. Musical instruments
9. Family heirlooms
10. Antiques
11. Stamp and coin collections
12. Paintings
13. Cars, boats, aircraft
14. Power tools
15. Pets
Don’t forget receipts!
Wherever possible, you should retain the receipts for these goods to prove that they are your personal items and for your personal use.
Furnishings vs. electronics
While furnishings are a good choice to ship, electronics may not be worth the effort, as they may not work in Canada. The electrical current used by small appliances like lamps, radios, televisions is 110 volts, 60 cycles in Canada. If your appliances don’t conform to this voltage, leave them behind. Converters burn out too quickly to use them for any length of time. Also, DVDs may not work in Canadian DVD players; check their compatibility before packing them.
Cars and pets
If you wish to bring a vehicle into Canada, you must check to see that it meets the safety and pollution standards of Canada. See Transport Canada’s website at www.tc.gc.ca.
If you wish to bring pets into Canada, check the guidelines set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (see www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/petanie.shtml). There are specific guidelines for bringing in pets and, if not met, they can be refused entry. While pet cats and dogs do not need to be quarantined, you do have to provide proof of their age and rabies status.
Immediate essentials
Make sure you have some clothing that will be appropriate for the weather when you land in Canada. Pack of a box of other essentials that you’ll need for your first few days in Canada.
TRANSFERRING FINANCES
One of the first things you should consider when packing up to come to Canada is how to transfer your cash and your other investments. Here are 6 options to consider.
1. Talk to your banker in your country of origin for advice.
2. Transfer some cash into Canadian funds for immediate needs after landing.
3. Put some money into travellers’ cheques for security and immediate access to your funds.
4. Bring your international credit cards for immediate out-of-pocket expenses and for identification purposes, too.
5. You can get an international wire transfer using the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) system. It operates a worldwide network that can transfer funds between different financial institutions. Allow a week to 10 days for international banking transfers.
6. Once you’re in Canada, open a bank account at a bank or credit union in your city. To do this, you’ll have to show your landed immigrant papers and identification.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT JEWELLERY AND VALUABLES
You have the right to bring to Canada any of the following valuables.
1. Valuable jewellery (i.e., rings, necklaces, earrings, etc.)
2. Watches
3. Heirlooms
4. Artwork
All such valuables should be assessed by professional valuers before you arrive. And don’t forget to insure them in case of loss or damage during shipping.
MEDICAL AND IMMUNIZATIONS RECORDS TO BRING
Don’t forget important medical documents and forms for the whole family when you leave your country of origin. It’s important for continuity of care, as well as to register your children in school.
1. Medical records, including X-rays
2. Dental files
3. Optical prescriptions
4. Other medical prescriptions
5. Copy of children’s immunizations record
6. Copy of adult immunizations
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE
Canada’s universal health care system is one of the best in the world. But did you know not everything is free? Here are 7 things you need to know,
1. Doctor’s services, care, surgery and hospitalization are covered, including in-patient and out-patient services.
2. Things like eye care, dental care are typically not covered, although it may depend on your province. Some services like chiropractic and physiotherapy may be partially covered.
3. Prescriptions are not covered.
4. Many employers offer extended medical benefits to offset costs for things like dental care, eye care and prescriptions. There are also some government-funded assistance programs for low-income persons.
5. Depending on which province you settle in, you may have to pay a mandatory monthly premium (e.g., B.C. and Alberta); in other provinces, taxes are simply deducted from your paycheque (e.g., Ontario).
6. For brand-new residents, some provinces also have a three-month waiting period before you are covered under the health care plan. So apply right after you land to minimize your waiting!
7. Similarly to when you travel, you should have medical health insurance to cover you during that waiting period. You never know what kind of emergency care you may need. Without insurance, you’ll be faced with a hefty medical bill if you access health care services. Ensure the insurance will cover you as an immigrant, not just a visitor to Canada (i.e., travel insurance).
PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTS YOU CAN’T FORGET
Some of the most important documents you need to bring to Canada are related to your professional background. Finding a job is most likely your primary goal after coming to Canada, and you will be faced with many challenges.
After immigrants land in Canada, they are often surprised by how many barriers they face in getting hired, even though they are approved to come to Canada based on their education and professional experience. Immigrants who can’t seem to find a job in their field are often given the excuse that they have “no Canadian experience.” And many immigrants then turn to survival jobs like taxi driving or flipping burgers just to support their families.
You might think that this won’t happen to you; but the only way to ensure you won’t have the door to good opportunities closed in your face is by entering Canada ready to deal with these realities of the Canadian labour market. Part of that is bringing the right professional documents with you from your country of origin. Many immigrants forget to bring these along, making their professional integration into Canada much harder than it needs to be.
1. Copies of all post-secondary diplomas, degrees, licences and even academic transcripts
(You may need to show proof of your educational credentials and even get them evaluated by a professional evaluation service, academic institution or professional association. Such evaluations can help you more easily find work or upgrade your training and may be necessary to work in regulated occupations or attend post-secondary schools in Canada. Many professional associations, universities, colleges and assessment agencies require your academic documents to come directly from the institution you attended in order to evaluate them and will not accept original or copied academic documents that you may come with. Find out how the professional association, academic institution or credential assessment agency requires documents to be received before coming to Canada as this will save you time and money.)
2. Reference letters with contact details from former employers
(You will need these when applying for work in Canada.)
3. Samples of your professional work or achievements
(These may be helpful when applying for work in Canada.)
4. Bring your resumé or curriculum vitae, too, but note that you will have to likely use it only as a foundation and create a completely new resumé that fits Canadian standards.
TIPS FOR SHIPPING PERSONAL EFFECTS
Choosing what personal items to bring, packing them up and then shipping them safely can seem overwhelming. Where do you begin? Here are 10 things to consider.
1. Bring items that are important to you emotionally and nostalgically (i.e., family photos, heirlooms, etc.).
2. Bring items that will be cheaper to ship than to buy new (i.e., furnishings).
3. Leave items that are better replaced with new versions in Canada (i.e., appliances, electronics and items more expensive to ship than to buy anew).
4. If your household packing is done by professional movers, they will itemize and label your belongings, making it much easier to unpack at the other end. Ensure that the movers provide you with a detailed packing list as well. If you pack yourself, follow the same method.
5. Check if your freight forwarding company offers shipping only, or if it includes an unpacking service.
6. Ensure you have insurance against loss or damage of your possessions while in transit.
7. Ensure you have the shipping company’s contact details and they have yours.
8. Get recommendations from friends and relatives to find a reliable mover.
9. A word of advice about packing the little things: as it could be some time before you will be in a position to buy day-to-day items such as cutlery and dinnerware, you might consider bringing a box of such necessities from home with you on the plane.
10. When your personal effects arrive, you will be required to appear at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office to collect them. This is a simple procedure; if your papers are in order, there should be no delay.
15 essential to-do items after your arrival in Canada!
To-do list
1. Get a map of your city and explore your home!
2. Find transit locations: Now how to take the bus, train or subway in your new city.
3. Join a library: Libraries offer lots of programs and services, too.
4. Get your Permanent Resident Card
5. Apply for Canada Child Tax Benefit
6. Look for more permanent accommodation You can’t stay in a hotel forever. It’s time to start looking for a rental.
7. Get your Canadian driver’s licence
Job-related
8. Get your SIN card: You need this to get a job!
9. Find an immigrant-serving settlement agency: They offer free services, including settlement counselling, language and job search training.
10. Consider taking additional language training
11. Canadianize your résumé and get some employment help
12. Take control of your job search! Seek out networking opportunities
Health-related
13. Apply for your medical health card: If there is a waiting period, as you may need private insurance for the interim.
14. Find your nearest walk-in clinic, hospital and search for a family doctor
Money-related
15. Find a bank branch and open an account: This will start the process of building up your credit history in Canada.
FIRST YEAR IN CANADA, FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL
Preparing your child for the Canadian classroom
In Canada, September is synonymous with back to school. Though it’s technically still summer, this month is all about back-to-school shopping, getting ready and adjusting to a new school year. Parents become heavily invested in this yearly tradition, updating wardrobes, preparing school meals and snacks, shifting work schedules and setting up before- and afterschool care.
Whether it’s the first time your child goes off to school or whether that child is simply starting a new year, it can be a few stressful and emotional weeks. And, of course, if your child is starting school in a new country, parents should expect a bumpy transition until your child—and family —has a chance to adjust.
For me, it was difficult in the beginning. Though my parents were involved and excited about me starting school, they didn’t really know much about the Canadian education system or speak the language, much less know North American trends for 10-year-old girls.
The newcomer back-to-school experience, as I like to call it, is a unique one in that both kids and parents go through it and survive it together. What helped my parents adjust was meeting my teachers ahead of time and connecting with other newcomer parents to create a support system and familiarize themselves with school practices and rules. They also had friends with kids in school and used them as resources as well.
Personally, I was less worried about the structure and rules of school and more concerned with overcoming that feeling of being a fish out of water. Wearing bright home-made sweaters and eating what children deemed as ‘strange’ food did not get me far at first. It took me three months to make friends, adjust from going to school half-days in Argentina to full-days in Canada, and learn English with the help of teachers and staff.
But slowly, the more I reached out to people who wanted to know me and help me, the more I began to form a school community. This played such a big part in my adjusting period. With each friendship I made, I felt a little more confident; with each test I passed, I felt a little more secure.
School success was another big part of adjusting to a new school environment. Once I saw my grades and language skills improving, things started to turn around and school became exciting again. Over time, I even struck up the nerve to join a few after-school activities that helped me feel more a part of the school community.
Looking back now, what I learned from my own experience is that the secret to surviving the newcomer back-to-school experience is time. A new school year always comes with a few roadblocks and surprises, but getting through that first year is always the toughest. Still, encourage your children to endure it because with time, that bumpy transition will smooth out and some of those anxieties will surely subside.
EMPLOYMENT MENTORING PROGRAM (EMP)
The main purpose of EMP service is to assist internationally-trained newcomer clients (i.e. mentees) with their short-term and long-term goals of finding commensurate employment in Canada by helping them better understand the labour market and take appropriate steps along their career path.
Skilled professional newcomers are matched with occupational specific mentors who are established residents familiar with the social, cultural, labour market and political systems inherent in BC/Canada in order to accelerate the settlement and integration process into Canadian society and BC communities.
IN THE NEXT CUT
• Thinking about getting pre-approved for a mortgage? Ten important facts to consider
• Immigrants can succeed in small business
• Accounting, Bookkeeping, Taxes And Regulations
• Don’t Forget about Taxes and Regulations
• Immigrants looking to ‘buy a job’ through franchise face serious challenges
• Choosing a neighborhood
• Studying in Canada: Choosing a school, college or university
• Get the right documents – Study in Canada
• Job finding techniques
(Do pray for those, who are still in process......)
