Perhaps this may be of help:
Your first item of business should be to get a social insurance number. You take your passport and landing documents to a "Service Canada" office. You can download an application form but it's not necessary unless you prefer to apply by mail.
You should also open a bank account. Immigrants get free banking (make sure you ask). You can put some money on hold to secure a credit card with no credit history. Get a PIN number and bank card for use at bank machines and make sure they order you a chequebook.
You will apply for OHIP (Ontario hospital Insurance Program) at a "Service Ontario" office. You can download an application form. You must provide a "proof of address" which is either a copy of a lease or a bank statement. It will take a month for you to get your first bank statement but they will backdate your application to your landing date. The card takes 3 months to be valid so you should take out private medical insurance for three months. An accident or unexpected medical emergency could wipe you out financially with bills in the thousands of dollars.
While at the Service Ontario office you can also ask for an Ontario I.D. card which is enormously helpful if you don't have a driver's license. They will take your photo and mail you the card. You will often have to provide identification so this is a really useful item at no cost.
Your Permanent Residency card will automatically be mailed to you at the address you provide upon arrival.
If you are going to be moving around from place to place for a while it might be a good idea to have someone allow you to use their address as your permanent address until you get settled. (Just an idea).
There are several places in Toronto that are geared for immigrant accommodation and are relatively inexpensive. They also provide information and assistance. Google "immigrant apartments toronto" or something similar. Share what you find with each other.
I would suggest that you visit the YMCA which has many programs to assist you and is no longer a religious organization.
If you get an interview with an employment agency they will assess your abilities as if you were applying for a job and send you for interviews they think you are suitable for. They get paid by the employer, there is no cost to you, but they obviously want to make successful matches so it saves everyone time. You still have to be interviewed by the potential employer and get the job on your merits.
Resumes should be flexible enough to be tailored to each job you apply for (learn about the company and ask questions at your interview). Employers don't care if you were the Captain of your cricket team and personal stuff is not relevant. Keep it to two pages maximum and triple check for spelling and grammatical errors. A good Human Resource officer can scan and reject a resume in a matter of seconds. It has to stand out.
Avoid the temptation to become a group upon arrival. From personal experience I can tell you that this causes more problems than it solves. It's comforting to cluster together as you fearfully embark on this journey, but you will talk about India, bemoan things you don't like and fail to assimilate. Try to meet and befriend Canadians. The English people I met upon arrival were universally miserable and homesick and I finally decided to avoid them. I think this tends to happen to any group so beware. It is good for you to keep in touch and meet from time to time, just don't become an exclusive club. I hope that makes sense.
A very good savings tool in Canada is the Tax Free Savings Account which means that income is tax free. If you are here more than 181 days in 2013 you can put up to $5,500 in such an account. Interest rates are pathetically low, but I have my funds in a mutual fund and they have done very well. Talk with the bank about this.
I wish you all great success.
MB
LOL
