Vancouver International Airport

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Canada Srilanka.com Congratulates you on your boldness in taking a big step by moving to a new country. It takes a lot of courage to leave your comfort zone and begin a new chapter of your life in order to secure a better future for you and your family. Taking a few minutes to learn what to expect as you embark on this great journey would naturally help you succeed!

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As exciting as it seems you are advised to prepare for the many challenges that you would face as a newcomer. Having an understanding on the documents that you need to bring while entering Canada and what one should expect in the first few days and months ahead could save you a lot of time and help you settle with ease. We will try our best to give you the necessary information to help you be more prepared and we advise you to do your own research as information contain here-in would only give you a basic idea.

Your First Few Hours in Canada

Documents that are deemed essentially are generally linked to how one seeks to enter Canada. In all cases you will have to establish who you are and where you come from. For this purpose it is important that you have some form of a photo ID such as your National Identity Card, Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Passport etc. Unless you are seeking refugee status it is very important that you carry all necessary documents to prove your method of entry to Canada such as Permanent Resident, Visitor etc ( please refer immigrate to Canada section on Categories)

Document presentation before an Immigration officer- Relax!

The process is fairly straight forward. At the airport an immigration officer will check your visa and travel documents and ask you questions somewhat similar to those on the Immigrant Application Form, to verify that you are of good character and in good health. Ensure that you carry the following documents with you when you travel to Canada in addition to the funds that you may be asked to produce to prove your ability to support yourself for at least 6 months.

(Your living expenses such as rent, food, transportation would amount to approximately CND $ 2,000. Please note this figure could vary depending on your needs) If there are no difficulties, the officer will authorize your entry to Canada as a permanent resident by signing your Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

Documents

1. A Canadian immigrant visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence for each family member travelling with you - To be produced to the Immigration officer at the Airport



2. A valid passport or other travel document for each family member travelling with you- To be produced to the Immigration officer at the Airport

In addition be prepared with 2 copies of a detailed list of all the personal or household items you are bringing with you and 2 copies of a list of items with their worth that are arriving later. You may have to give a copy to a custom officer and retain the other for your records.

Avoid carrying your documents in a suitcase as you will need to present them to an immigration officer before you proceed to collect your luggage from the luggage belt area. You are also supposed to produce these documents at the request of a custom officer usually stationed at the exit doors before you move in to the waiting area to meet your family or friends. If you do not have any one at the airport to receive you get to the information counter and locate the immigrant services reception in the airport as it is their job to help you out. They are paid by the government for their services. So don’t feel shy or afraid. Ask any question that you feel is important and be bold.

Note

What if I don’t Have family or Friends in Canada

It is advisable that you connect with someone that you know in way of a family member or a friend before you take flight to Canada. It is important that you have your boarding arranged at least for a couple of weeks with the assistance of your close contact. If you don’t have family or friends in Canada and you have no clue as to where you could find housing, DON’T PANIC. There’re a number of institutions paid by the government of Canada to help you settle in this new country or you can hire a Real Estate Agent to help you find a suitable house (Go into my first Home & Car page for more details on how to get in touch with a Real Estate Agent)

The importance of hiring a Real Estate agent

A Real Estate Agent is Some what similar to a house broker in Sri Lanka but way more qualified and knowledgeable. We rarely deal with House brokers in Sri Lanka but almost every Canadian users a Real Estate Agent to help with their housing needs. The duties of a real estate agent is to look into your needs such as how bigger family have you’ve got and whether you’ve got small kids etc and find a suitable place for you to rent for the short or long term till you are comfortable enough to either find another apartment that will meet your needs or ultimately buy your own dwelling in the city you wish to reside. The best part is that you do not need to pay the Real Estate Agent and his valuable service comes absolutely free as he gets paid by the Landlord.

How Much will it cost to rent a place.

New immigrants who do not have family or friends in Canada would normally rent starter one or two bedroom apartment that would cost roughly around $1000 or would move into a basement apartment that would generally be more economical. You may find a basement apartment for about $600. You may get the Real estate agent to negotiate on the pricing with certain Landlords.

Other important documents

It is advisable that you carry the following documents with you in order to save a lot of money and time as most people forget these important documents and end up asking family members to courier them to Canada to meet a particular need in a hurry!

Birth certificates or Baptismal certificates/ Marriage certificate / Adoption papers/ School records, diplomas or degrees for each family member travelling with you including trade or professional certificates and licenses / letters of reference from former employers/ list of your educational and professional qualifications and job experience ( CV /Résumé) / immunization, vaccination, dental and other health records for each family member / Driver’s License, including an International Driver’s Permit etc.

Note: photocopies of all essential and important documents (if possible certified by a lawyer), in case the originals get lost. It is important to have these documents translated into English and certified by a Lawyer