As a new international student in Canada, there are super-important activities you must engage in order to be well settled in to the Canadian system.


Some students have been somewhat lucky to have friends or family in Canada who can help them through the settling in process. The No IELTS To Canada guide will help in easy search for accommodation


Other students have had to navigate through the settling in process themselves. This article summarizes vital things you must do during your first 30 days in Canada. Ensuring that these things are done will make your stay in Canada less stressful and fun ��




SEE ALSO: Borders Are Closed.. Can I Still Travel? The Answer Is...

1. Search for accommodation and Know Your Address: Most international students upon arrival in Canada may stay in hotels or with family and friends until they can move into their student residence or they find an apartment.


I don’t advise international students to secure accommodation until they arrive in Canada because you might find something you don’t like when you see the apartment eventually or else you have someone on standby to check and confirm for you.


When you arrive, you could apply for on campus accommodation if single or off campus apartment if you are with your family. Once you have found your accommodation the next step is knowing your address.


Lots of organizations and businesses would require your mailing address from time to time. I intentionally put this for many people living in most African countries without proper house numbering. �






2. Update Your Address On Your School System: Now that you have arrived in Canada and you have your new address, make sure that your school has this new updated address not the one they used to mail correspondence to you in your home country. This is to ensure that you do not miss out on mails and information sent to you.



3. Get Your Student Card: Visit your student card office to get your university/college student card done. This would serve as some form of ID for you in school and other places where they may be accepted. Your student ID can even also get you discounts with some businesses.



4. Get A New Phone or Activate Your Old Phone For Canadian Network: After getting your student card, your next task should be getting a phone number because you will need this number for upcoming applications such as bank, health card, social insurance number etc. For cellular phones, there are two options, post paid or pre-paid.






5. Attend Your Orientation: It is very important to attend orientation. There is so much to learn and orientation helps get you to speed with some of the things especially class locations and other university facilities and amenities.


Orientation is also very good because you get to meet other new students, makes friends and have new people to go on your new journey with. Orientations also provides you with tips on living and studying in Canada.



6. Open A Bank Account: It is important to visit the bank as soon as possible after your arrival to open an account. For most international students, it is always advisable to open a US bank account aside your Canadian bank account since US dollars are readily available in most countries than Canadian dollars. With the US accounts, people can easily transfer US dollars to you and you convert it to Canadian. Remember to watch for conversion rates.



7. Apply For Health Card/ Coverage: - Getting health card differs among provinces in Canada. In some province, students are covered by provincial health care plans and in other provinces students have to source for health coverage with insurance companies or through their universities.


It is important to ensure that you have health coverage as soon as you arrive in Canada to avoid unnecessarily bills should you become ill or require the services of a health professional (medical doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.). Find out what yours is and apply as soon as possible.



8. Apply For social Insurance Number (SIN): - international students can work for up to 20 hours while in school and up to 40 hours on holiday. In order for you to get paid in Canada, you will be required to provide your employer with your social insurance number. Documents required to apply for this includes your study permit, international passport. Your SIN also serves as a form of ID in the future.



9. Secure A Credit Card - building a Canadian credit history is very important as it will help businesses and banks determine how you handle/pay for your expenses. Getting a secured credit card is one of the easiest and safest ways of building your credit history. It lets you spend money on credit – it's like having a loan for the amount you spend using the card. It gives you access to credit you can spend to make purchases. The only limit depends on how confident your card provider is that you'll pay it back.



Let me stop here because by the time you are done with this to-do's listed above, even your accent will be sounding Canadian � hehe


https://www.canadaburger.com.ng/2020/05/to-do-list-once-you-land-in-canada-as.html?m=1

nice make i park here

I can't wait to reach Canada after this whole pandemic.

Informative