It's been a while since I've posted as I've been super busy since arriving in Canada, but pleased to say I successfully landed on the 7th May.
Landing at Toronto Airport was a pleasure. I flew Air Transat which was a decent enough service and a bargain at the one way price of £240. The airport was quiet with no queue so after the initial formalities with my passport and landing card I was forwarded to immigration where there were again no lines. Within a couple of minutes I was at the desk speaking with an officer.
They were ridiculously nice and friendly. It may have helped that I was heading to Saskatchewan and the officer was born and raised there so she was able to share a few jokes about the place with me, but I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant welcome. They asked a few basic questions (how much money I had etc), checked over my paperwork, checked my eye colour, made me sign the document and then officially welcomed me to Canada (what a feeling!). She asked what time my flight to Saskatoon was as there was an office literally a few metres down the hall that I could apply for my SIN number there and then for if I wanted to, so I took the opportunity to get that on the spot. Again, the gentleman that greeted me there was so friendly and welcomed me to Canada. Within 5 minutes I had a printout with my SIN number on and I was good to go!
Before I left immigration I was welcomed to Canada for a third time and given my welcome pack in a red bag with some brochures in. I then collected my luggage and headed off to declare my goods accompanying and goods to follow. This was actually the longest part of the entire process. There was only the one officer working in the line I was instructed to go to and he was having to deal with someone who thought it was a good idea to bring 8 packets of chicken into Canada. After half an hour of this they did finally open another desk though and things progressed quickly from there. There were not actually interested in my goods accompanying paperwork and they didn't check what was in my suitcase. They just had a brief glance over my goods to follow documents, did the required stamps and signatures, and again within a few minutes I was on my way to my domestic flight.
It's a massive relief to finally be here and as I say the landing process was a pleasure, so glad I landed in Toronto, I can't speak highly enough of the friendly welcome I was given. I was anxious having never been there before but it's a great airport.
Congrats to everyone who has had progress with their application since I was last here and for those still waiting - it will come. And trust me, it will be worth the wait! I'm so happy to be here.
