 Relocation
Relocation
Information to CANADA
What
should you know before making your move;
Health
Care Information
Canadian Documentation
Searching for employment
What to bring with you
Health
Care Information
It
is important to note that newcomers to Canada are not immediately
eligible for health coverage. A permanent resident of Canada must
be landed for three months before medical coverage becomes available.
Medical expenses can be quite costly, thus it is a good idea to
purchase temporary coverage from a private insurance company,
such as Blue Cross, before arriving.
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Canadian Documentation
It
is a good idea to apply for your Social Insurance Number &
Health Card immediately upon your arrival in Canada. Citizenship
and Immigration Canada provides permanent residents with information
package that lists the appropriate offices to apply for these
documents. It is also a good idea to book your driver’s
test with the Ministry of Transportation as soon as possible,
as the wait for a test can be two months or longer.
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Searching
for employment in Canada
How long does it take to find gainful employment?
This has been a primary concern for most new Canadian residents.
Finding employment is a fulltime job within itself. It is necessary
to research companies as well as follow up with the appropriate
individuals in their Human Resources department. It is also useful
to read the Classified and Career sections of the local newspapers.
If possible, visit local employment centers for their latest employment
postings.
Finding a job can take anywhere from as little
as two weeks, to as long as six months. If your training and experience
is in a specialized field, it may take you longer.
It is important to be flexible, patient and most
importantly persistent. Please keep in mind that it may take up
to three months before a company responds to your application/resume.
However this does not mean that you should not follow up with
a telephone call to introduce yourself.
When
designing your resume, be concise and brief. Keep your background
information to one page and be sure to include a cover letter.
It may be a good idea to purchase an answering machine and a computer
with a fax modem. This will allow you to send and receive facsimile
transitions and set up a personal e-mail address. Also, with a
modem, you can search for employment and post your resume on the
Internet. Presently there seems to be a considerate amount of
employment opportunities in the fields of Sales and Marketing,
Management, Accounting, Engineering and Customer Service related
occupations. If you do not have any computer training, it is a
good idea that you enroll on a computer course. Most jobs in today’s
economy require some type of computer skill.
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What
to bring with you
It
is a good idea to travel light when coming to your new home. However,
there are a few items that you should bring with you. It is beneficial
that you bring with you as much personal history and background
information as possible.
This
includes:
Credit
& Banking History
Medical & Dental Records
References from previous landlords, former employers, and charitable
organizations.
Automobile Licensing & Insurance History
Among
other things, this type of information will be necessary when
applying for rental accommodation and applying to start your credit
history in your new home and when scheduling your driver’s
license examination.
If
you are shipping over personal home items with a moving company
there are two important things to keep in mind. First shop around
in order to find the best price; make sure to get as many quotes
as possible before choosing a moving company. Second, make sure
that the company you are interested in hiring has an affiliate
office in the general area of your intended destination in Canada.
This is very important in the eventuality that an item you are
shipping is lost or damaged.
It
may also be advantageous for you to obtain an international Drivers
license, as it is more readily recognizable, thus, making it easier
to rent an automobile. Please keep in mind that obtaining automobile
insurance can be difficult, nonetheless, there are insurance companies
that are willing to offer temporary insurance to those with an
international drivers license. You can find a listing of insurance
companies, along with other businesses in the Yellow Pages or
in the business section of the telephone book.
Please
note that bringing food or plant life of any kind is a strictly
prohibited by Canadian customs laws.
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