Useful Information
Personal Experiences
One of the things the majority of new and intending immigrants find most useful is to find out about the personal experience that others immigrants have had (both good and bad).
It is through this that we can all learn so that we can hopefully repeat those things that work well and avoid the unfortunate mistakes that can be made.
This is your opportunity to help others by posting your experiences please use our Contact Us link.
Research Trips
It
is highly recommended that before you take the decision to immigrate
you should first of all come and see whether Canada is for you. Let's
be realistic - it's not for everybody and it can be a costly and
traumatic experience if you only find out after you have landed
permanently!
Canilink Relocation can assist you with your research by arranging accommodation and flights.
It cannot be stressed enough that research is the most important aspect of immigrating, certainly come and see for yourself as this will help you with your decision one way or another. However there are many other forms of research that you can do; we recommend that you read up as much as possible about your intended destination by way of the internet, (see our Useful Links), magazines, books, videos, television, library, talk to others who have also immigrated, use our message board to converse with others (you're not alone!).
To aid you with your research feel free to contact us by telephone (don't forget the time difference)! Email, fax, write to us direct at any of the contact details listed on our home page or simply complete the Contact Us and we'll do the rest.
Getting started
Most
of us are capable of completing and submitting our own application for
immigration. To help you assess your own chances of immigrating,
identify what is required and to complete an application go to the
Canadian Immigration and Citizenship web site at www.cic.gc.ca.
Canilink Relocation can assist you with your visa application if for some reason you are unable to complete it yourself. The visa application is designed to be a simple process, however there are a number of reasons why you might want to consider using the services of a professional.
Although some of us are capable, competent and happy to complete our own applications, many of us lead such busy lives that we do not have the time to give the required attention in order to file an appropriately professional application. There are others of us who understand the general principles but have questions about our own personal circumstances. Some of us may look at the requirements and not immediately see where our skills, experience and qualifications fit. Some may find that they are borderline cases or simply are not aware of all the changes that have taken place, and continue to take place, in respect of immigration law.
If you are interested in the services of immigration consultants please Contact Us at Canilink Relocation and we will refer you to one of our contacts.
Travelling
Canilink Relocation has a travel agent contact that can arrange your travel details whether you're travelling to Canada on a research trip, coming as a permanent resident or flying back to your home country for a holiday. If you're interested in this service please use the Contact Us link.
Moving & What to bring
Whether
you decide to bring all your furniture or just a few personal
possessions is very much a personal decision. Some people will want to
bring all or most of their furniture in the belief that having familiar
surroundings will help them to settle. Others will decide to sell
everything with the intention of bringing as much capital as possible
in order to start anew in Canada. Canilink Relocation has a number of
reputable international removal and shipping companies that we can
refer you to if you are interested in transporting goods to Canada. So
please use the Contact Us
link.
Be aware that certain parts of Canada have a different climate to other parts of the world and therefore some wooden furniture will not adjust well. We moved from a damp climate in the UK to a very dry atmosphere in Alberta and some of our wooden furniture had to be re-glued due to it literally falling apart.
Generally electrical items are not worth bringing with you unless they were purchased in the United States or Canada. There are a few exceptions where the appliance can be switched to 120 volts or where a transformer is used; however this is usually only worth it with expensive hi-tech equipment that would be difficult to replace. The television/video system works on NTSC (as it does in the States) and again unless you have good reason to bring them with you televisions and videos are often better left behind. Small electrical appliances like irons, kettles, toasters, hair dryers etc are relatively cheap here and are not worth bringing with you.
Airport meet & greet
Having been through the immigration process ourselves, we at Canilink Relocation recognize that arriving in Calgary after a long flight, the last thing you want to be doing is looking for transportation from the airport and arranging somewhere to stay. Therefore, once we know your arrival time, we will arrange to meet and greet you (and your luggage) at the airport and take you to some temporary and very comfortable accommodation. There you can relax and unwind from the flight, the shock and realization of a dream come true! We like to personally meet and greet all new arrivals whatever the hour! For more details on this service please complete the Contact Us form.
Accommodation
Having
arrived at your destination and gone through the immigration/landing
process you will be very tired. In many cases you will have crossed
numerous time zones and be completely disorientated. The last thing
that you will want to do at this stage is start looking for
accommodation. Here's where we can help by arranging it before you
arrive. We have a variety of quality short-term/inexpensive
accommodations that we can arrange on your behalf. Accommodation needs
vary so Canilink Relocation has a range of choices available from one
bed, B&Bs to self catering apartments/suites with one or two
bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen facilities, lounge with TV and telephone
and laundry facilities. These can be booked either on a day by day,
week by week, or month by month basis and are suitable for temporary
research trips or longer stays having landed as new immigrants. Booking
well in advance is essential (particularly in the summer) as
appropriate accommodation is in short supply. For more information
please complete the Contact Us
form.
Organise once landed
There are many things to organize once you've landed permanently such as arranging your Social Insurance Numbers, Health Care, Schools, Car Hire/Purchase, Banking, Employment and so on and so on! Canilink Relocation will assist you with these and ensure that your transition is as smooth as possible. For more information please complete the Relocation Information Request Form and we will send you one of our free information packs about the services we offer.
Education
Kindergarten
starts at age 5 and runs for half a day, four days a week until the
child is 6. At age 6 the child goes to full time Elementary School
(grades 1-6). The child then moves on to Junior High School (grades
7-9). The child then moves on to Senior High School (grades 10-12).
There seems to be no age limit as to what grade a child is in. If you
feel your child would benefit from starting in the grade below, or
above the average age for that grade, you have the right to discuss
with the teachers to change them before they start school. Our children
have gone through the Elementary/Junior and Senior High School systems
and would be glad to give an honest opinion on your research trip of
all three!
Yellow school buses are generally provided for children in Elementary and Junior High Schools only but you have to live a certain distance away from the schools (usually around 2.4k). Senior High School pupils take public transport, a reduced student pass can be purchased and a 50% refund can be obtained if they live more than 2.4k from the school.
Once graduated from Senior High School some pupils go on to a post-secondary education.
Banking & Credit
Although
most people will bring sufficient cash to last for the first few days
it is not wise to bring too much in case it gets lost or stolen in
transit. The safest way is to set up a holding account before you
arrive in your name and transfer your funds to that account
electronically. Canilink Relocation has a relationship with one of
Canada's major banks and can arrange the setting up of the holding
account in your name so that you can organize for the transfer to take
place smoothly and quickly. We also have a relationship with a foreign
exchange company to help you get the best rate of exchange in your
transfer. Please discuss this well in advance of your arrival so that
we can organize everything on your behalf. On arrival we will then take
you to the bank and introduce you to the bank manager and their staff.
At this time you can discuss with them what other banking services you
may require. For more details on this service please use the Contact Us link.
When you first arrive in Canada you have no credit history. As far as most Canadian companies are concerned you don't exist if you don't have a credit record. It is therefore wise to bring anything that shows your previous credit history. Credit reference letters are ideal but you could also bring bank, credit card, utility and mortgage statements. Even though your credit record may have been exemplary, it will probably not count for much in Canada. One should therefore be prepared by firstly keeping some previously obtained credit cards for emergency purposes and establishing a credit record in Canada as quickly as possible.
There are various ways of building a credit record once you've arrived, all or some can be used.
To obtain a credit card you can lodge a payment as security with the bank to cover the credit limit. This may be held by the bank for at least a year but they will pay you interest on the money they hold. Alternatively, you can apply for a credit card from an international bank such as the HSBC in your country of origin and request that this be transferred to a Canadian card.
As soon as you can, once you've landed, apply for a store card. These are sometimes easier to get than credit cards initially. What credit you do manage to organize make sure that you use it. There's no point in having a store card if you don't purchase goods with it as it will not start your credit rating. Obviously avoid accumulating debt by paying the required payments as soon as the bill arrives.
Car rental/purchase
Most
new immigrants want independence as soon as possible and part of that
independence comes from not having to rely on others or the public
transport system for getting about. To help you achieve your desired
independence, whilst deciding on your permanent vehicle, we recommend
renting a vehicle for a week or two. Canilink Relocation will assist
you with the renting of the vehicle and take you to its pick up
point.
Although at this point you will have your own transportation, we will still assist you with recommendations and advice on where to go and what to do regarding any other things you may need to organize, eg: buying furniture, where to get the best deals etc.
You can drive in Canada for up to 3 months using a driving license from your previous country, or alternatively you may want to obtain an international driving license that allows you to drive in Canada for up to a year. It is wise however to pass your Canadian driving test as soon as possible and obtain a Canadian license as this will reduce your car insurance premiums.
Car insurance can be very expensive compared to what you are currently paying as you will probably be classed as a new driver in Canada. It is worthwhile to bring letters from your current insurance companies stating how long you have been driving without any claims. Not all Canadian insurers will accept these letters so it is worth shopping around to find the best deal.
For more details on renting, buying or leasing a vehicle please complete the Relocation Information Request Form and we will send you one of our free information packs.
Home Purchase
You
should decide whether you want a brand new home building or to buy an
existing home for sale. New home sales can be negotiated with the
builder by a licensed realtor, in fact they welcome our business, as
licensed realtors we introduce clients to the builder and tell the
builder what the client wants. To purchase a new home you must qualify
with either employment or make a large down payment, sometimes both.
When buying an existing home you have a few choices depending on your financial status, some immigrants choose to 'assume' a mortgage. Alberta is the only province in Canada whereby you can 'assume' someone else's mortgage without having to qualify. To give an example of how this works see below:
The way an assumable works is that you pay the difference between the purchase price and the mortgage: Purchase price is $200,000 Mortgage left on property is $175,000 Assumable payable to the seller is $25,000 - then you take over the existing mortgage that is in place at whatever mortgage rate was set for whatever time period, eg 7% fixed for the next five years. Once this term expires you can negotiate your own mortgage or re-new the current one. This method is good for people who don't qualify for a mortgage ie: self employed, immigrants, single parents that may not be earning enough to qualify, or previous bad credit history. etc.
There are other alternatives if your funds are plentiful:
- Putting at least 25% of the purchase price down as a payment, however you must have proof of Canadian employment.
- Putting at least 35% down with no employment, however certain lenders also require a year's mortgage payment lodged as a guarantee.
- Putting at least 50% down (no employment or lodging a year's mortgage payments required).
Mortgages with less than 25% of the purchase price being put down are available but are subject to approval by the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) or similar organizations and are subject to an insurance fee. Basically the CMHC (through the insurance premiums) covers the difference between the 75% of the purchase price that the lender is prepared to lend and the amount you put down. In order to qualify for this kind of mortgage you must be able to show consistent employment history and be currently employed in Canada. For this reason it tends to be difficult for new immigrants to qualify.
For more details on our REALTOR/RELOCATION SPECIALIST and other services linked to buying a home and/or business please complete the Contact Us form.
Financial Security
Once you've arrived and started to settle, there is much more to do to ensure your financial future is stable and secure. Most of us as new immigrants have planted both feet in Canada and have no intentions of returning to our original country of origin. As such we have closed down most, if not all of our business in our previous homeland. As a result we are effectively starting our financial affairs all over again. Here in Canada there are a number of things that you should be concerned about, these being:
- RRSP'S - Registered Retirement Savings Plans
- RESP'S - Registered Education Savings Plans
- PERSONAL HEALTH INSURANCE
- LIFE INSURANCE
- DISABILITY INSURANCE
- CRITICAL ILLNESS INSURANCE
For more information on these and other financial services please complete the Relocation Information Request Form and we will send you one of our free information packs.
Bringing Pets
Pets
are often considered part of the family and may very well help you and
the rest of the family to settle. Immigrating with pets is relatively
easy so long as you follow the correct procedures and obtain the
appropriate documentation. We immigrated with our dog Max and by doing
so he certainly helped us to settle quicker. We have experience of
bringing pets and can help you if you decide to bring yours. In
general, it is the larger pets like cats and dogs that come with their
owners and we would not normally suggest that you bring smaller pets
like hamsters, rabbits etc. For further details on bringing a pet
please complete the Contact Us
form.
Employment
Canilink
Relocation is not an employment agency, however we may be able to point
you in the right direction if you are looking for employment. We have
found that the most successful way of finding employment is to come on
a research trip and while here visit potential employers. At this stage
don't expect them to offer you a job (after all you are not yet a
Canadian resident). The best you might be able to achieve at this stage
is to get a letter from the employer stating that when you arrive as a
permanent resident they will be interested in employing you. Once you
return to you country of origin it is important that you keep in touch
with any employment contacts so that they don't forget about you and so
that you can keep them informed of your progress. Once you land as a
permanent resident those contacts that you have already established
should be your first point of call as they are more likely to provide
you with employment. If you are interested in finding out more about
how we can help, either through research trips or general advice please
complete the Contact Us
form.
As well as experience, the Canadian job market (and therefore Canadian Immigration) is looking for people with good qualifications. Although you may have a qualification and work experience that is recognized in your current country it may not be something that will be immediately recognized here in Canada. Many immigrants arrive in Canada only to find that their qualification is not recognized here, and because they don't have relevant Canadian experience have difficulty finding work. One way around this is to get your qualifications assessed here in Canada BEFORE you arrive and obtain certification as to what your qualification is worth in Canadian terms. If you are interested in finding out more about this please complete the Contact Us form.
One also needs to know that resumes (C.V's) from other countries may be very different in format, style and content to that which is accepted here in Canada. It is worth having your resume properly prepared by someone providing such a service in Canada. If you are interested in this service please complete the Contact Us form.
Networking
Canilink Relocation may be able to assist those immigrants interested in relocating to other parts of Canada. We have a network of other providers who may be able to assist with some or all of the services that we provide. If you would like to know more about another destination (other than Calgary, Alberta) please complete the Contact Us form.
As part of our effort to establish new contacts in other parts of Canada we would welcome hearing from other potential service providers - please contact us using the Contact Us form.
