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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