damiolly:
what if I become a citizen, and how many years will it take to become a citizen?

The most important factor is that you are a PR who has spent 3 years in Canada going by the reduction in wait period this year from the former period 4 out of 6 years. Another important factor is that you have been filing your taxes here during this period. Please see full citizenship requirements here, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html

Once you are a citizen, you may apply to join the Armed Forces.

daremum:
Bros,

@Blackbuddy Don make me over read, seems now sef that my wife and @Blackbuddy sabi each other,everytime she kept telling me to Reach

out to blackbuddy, that he is stuffy!

Indeed you are sir!!!

We registered for planning for Canada!!!
Coming up January 9th In Ibadan.

Bros my mail is also below;

daremum@gmail.com

Would like to rub minds with you!!!(as we dey talk from hia)

Your contributions are appreciated from my family!!!

Thank you!

Happy for you, will send you an email soon

daremum:
@Blackbuddy....Thanks for all you have done and what you are doing.

Big congrats, see you soon

TEECANN:
Good day e-family

@Blackbuddy

How's work and family? I trust you are doing great.

Kindly oblige me a bit of your time to respond to my PM sent to you via:

kayjyde2016[at]gmail[dot]com

It will be a nice opportunity to connect with you and pick your knowledge on diverse matters as I happen to do what you ve done previously (AML/Compliance).

Everytime I read your post, I'm fired to give more, share more...you re indeed a natural mentor...I want to start my own mentoring now with you b4 crossing over.

God bless you and family.

Hi, I got the notification from NL that you sent me a PM but there's no NL mail in my inbox! This has been the same for PMs from several other people and I've been wondering how to address it. I guess I will just connect with you using your email address above. Would love to 'rub minds' with you, it would be my pleasure.

damiolly:
Please, how can a foreigner join Canadian Air Force. I already checked their website but the informations there is for their citizens.

As at now, only citizens can join and serve in any arm of the Canadian Armed Forces. A citizen of another country can not serve, even PR holders.

New PR holders and recently landed folks may wish to take advantage of these free webinars and online workshops for December. Just a little way to ensure you gain knowledge and hit the ground running.

browndoll:
Kindly indulge me,please.
What if we land middle of school year?do they do intakes then?my son is in grade 2 now and will be 7 next year February .

Some schools with capacity for many students could accommodate taking in your child in the middle of the school year especially in newer neighbourhoods with large schools. A smaller school might not have room but don't worry. You can get referral to the next school in your neighbourhood's catchment area.

revlane:
Guys, please I booked ticket to Edmonton for Saturday via Ethiopian Airline but I want to change the date on the ticket. Any idea how much it cost and when to initiate the change please. Its my first time abeg

Try to check online and see what the added cost might run up to. Time of day when you check and also the proposed new date all have an effect on how much more you might have to pay for airline bookings/rescheduling, https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/AA/EN/

Virt:
Hello Landed seniors,

My question is with regards to schooling for kids in Canada. I understand that their elementary school calendar starts from 1st Sept to 30th June every year (based on Ontario education website), and Grade 1 is for 6year olds, but my son will only clock 6years a month plus after the resumption of the school session, that is Oct 22nd. Would they consider him for Grade 1 by that school session? or he will lose a year just because of a difference of one month.

I'll appreciate your valid contribitions.

Thanks.

I stand corrected, if a child will not be exactly 6 years or over by the first day of the school year, he will actually be allowed to start in grade 1 provided he's 6 by December 31 that year.. Apparently the September cut off is not so strict in Ontario. I appreciate the experiences shared below.

TEECANN:


Permit me to capitalize this: GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR HOME @blackbuddy

You re an epitome of selflessness. In spite of the fact that you have gone through this process almost 2 years ago and you really do not have any reason to be here to help but you are still here helping, encouraging and pointing folks in the right paths is humbling for me. (Some will cross over to Canny and be forming busy- Nigerians! not talk for today, I dont want to get started. )

I have been following your posts for a while and its not a secret that you are a very revered person here and across NL.

Just imagine the quoted piece above...and to think many will hustle out PPR/CoPR and just start to use the remaining time to pack alone without availing themselves of this pre-arrival goldmine is scary...and virtually nobody talks again after PPR/CoPR (most of them go into Luggage packing mode )

Thank God for people like you and my other friends here who keep researching to bring information to our fingertips.

It will surely all end in praise!!

NB:
@Blackbuddy bro, being the principal applicant, did you attend the sessions with madam OR alone? Also, did you take the online sessions alone or together with madam?...I want to be clear about it. Thanks.

Thanks for your kind words, my contributions here are just my little way of giving back as I too was helped along the way and I`ve long since learnt that our strenght lies in our community/collective succes so wether we like it or not, we need to look out for each other especially in Canada. Like I earlier mentioned, due to some mix up, my wife and I did not get an invitation for the classroom training on time. The next available class would be for when we would have left Nigeria so they scheduled an online session for both of us. My wife took a day off from work while I logged on from my office so we were both together on the online conference call with a counselor in Canada. I recommend both the PA and spouse to attend the training together, it is equally beneficial and helps you both have the same perspective on things. That way, when decisions are being made on the family`s future here, you both understand what is at stake and what options will be best to choose.

It is wisdom when you say that people should pack their minds with information as they pack their luggages with their belongings. The pre-arrival programs will prepare you for some of the cultural shocks and put you at ease so that you are not uncomfortable with change but more receptive to the difference and how things are done and how they should be done. As simple as learning the difference between a cv and a resume can make a big difference in how you market your self for job search. Knowing that Nigerian job interview style of displaying that you`re technically sound on the job is not enough but that you also need to identify, groom and project your awareness of `soft skills` which is a major focus in Canadian job interview.

A lot of our people get to a job interview here and they hear, `you don`t have Canadian experience`, they get deflated and defeated and just stumble through the rest of the interview and that ends that. If they had gone through a pre/post landing training program, they would have learnt that that question is the biggest help they could have ever had in that interview! It simply means ``convince me that inspite of your foreign experience you can work here, you can fit in``. That question is where you now say something like `yes I dont have Canadian work experience but I understand the niceties of the Canadian work place and I`m aware of the importance of mutual respect, tolerance, collabaration and diversity. I`m bringing my wealth of experience and unique perspective on what this role entails to enhance and enrich the way in which things are done. I`m very adaptable and teachable and I take every opportunity to increase my skill level so that I am constantly improving as an individual in order to bring efficiency and innovation to my work. I know your organisation values diversity and innovation and as your colleague, you will find that I am a great fit and excellent addition to the team`. You see this small sentence/interview response here? That is what they want to hear, as simple as it sounds. This is what is meant by Canadian experience, to know how to work among Canadians, to talk softly, calmly and enunciate properly. To have an awareness of the Canadian workplace culture and not to discuss race, sex, religion, age or status. To be professional but cordial, always thinking about the job first and not your self, projecting the spirit of a team player while bringing your uniqueness as an individual. Notice I didn`t focus on Canadian work experience but Canadian experience. They already know you dont have Canadian work experience before they invited you to an interview. What they don`t know, what your resume does not show is if you have `Canadian experience`, if you will fit in to the organisational culture they already have, if they can spend 8 hours everyday with you, sometimes in high pressure situations and not regret hiring you.

The above is just a little of what people stand to learn from the training programs. Please, don`t be persuaded by relatives and friends here who tell you not to bother with the trainings but just launch yourself into the job market. A smart person is one who takes advantage of the trainings and still chases the jobs together, at least, you will gain info, knowledge and confidence and hit your target more efficiently. If we will but humble ourselves and apply some of these principles, success will be the result and the journey will definitely continue in praise. Hope this helps.

Newmum0615:
Hi Blackbuddy, I would like to know if the internship/ Bridging programs offered by Acces is free or if it comes at a cost and are the programs available in Ottawa for people who want to be in the Financial Services sector? Thanks.

The cost of Acces programmes are heavily subsidized by the Federal and Provincial governments to assist newcomers. I learnt they actually cost about $2,500 but you pay only $500.00. We were told this is to ensure you have a stake in the process and make you committed since you spent some money for it and that makes sense. During the program, everyone fills a form to get a refund from the government through OBAP- Ontario Bridging Assistance Program. Some people get partial refund of the $500, some get full refund. They have a way of calculating it based on need, family size, amount of funds available in their budget. I got full refund of the $500 after the programme so it ended up being free for me. Checking Acces website, they have no location in Ottawa. See here, http://www.accesemployment.ca/index.php/contact-us/acces-locations

TEECANN:
Hello e-fam.

Calling on all PPRs and CoPRs in the house!

I have not heard any of our recent PPRs and CoPRs come here and talk/advise about their experiences with pre-arrival services with organisations such as "ACCESS Employment" and "Planning for Canada"

These are organizations fully funded by the Government of Canada to offer free pre-arrival services and NOC-specific trainings (to aid ease of Canadian job environment transitioning) to PPR/CoPRs holders prior to their landing in Canada.

I just finished speaking with a friend that landed in Canny in September 2017 but before he left Nigeria, he and his wife availed themselves of the 8-weeks online trainings in their specific NOC and after the training, he tried his luck in applying to some jobs in the town he would be settling in, his attempts paid off as he got a job offer to resume upon landing.

He told me he attributed the job he got to the pre-arrival services online trainings he got (which reflected on his Canadian format-CV submitted for the job), the referral from one of the facilitators at a pre-arrival session he attended (which he said he actively participated in & got the attention and admiration of the facilitator that showed him the opening and recommended him)

You can only enroll for this Pre-arrival services if you have NOT landed in Canada but already have your PPR or CoPR and have more than 8 weeks to spare in Nigeria before departure and guess what? IT IS FREE!! Pls do your research on this, if interested!

My prepuz, don't let us be dulling good opportunities that will maximally impact our smooth settling in Canny, using such good valuable pre-departure time to be packing garri and ogbono alone is not smart o

You may choose to invest your pre-departure time wisely!!

It will all end in praise IJN!

Back in 2015 when I got COPR, I enrolled for the Planning for Canada pre-landing orientation session and through some mix up, they forgot to schedule I and my wife for an in-person session so they made arrangements for a 1 day, custom, online session for us. I logged from my office while my wife logged on from home and we had the session with a counselor in Canada where a lot was explained to us. Because I was already familiar with a lot of the concepts due to my personal research on settling in Canada since 2011, we were able to fly through a lot of the session content and get down to the nitty gritty. It was very helpful and validated a lot of what I already knew. Acces Employment was one of the post landing organisations recommended for further resume preparation, job search, networking and interview training and I had already heard of them from a friend who had landed earlier and passed through them. I landed and signed up for their Leadership Connections program, for persons with management experience and the wealth of knowledge passed across can not be quantified. The purpose of the training was not to give you a job but to prepare for the opportunities to get that job that fits your years of experience. Honestly, the information and network opportunities received, I could not have gotten it based on only trying to find a job online. The experience was so rich that I would get back home daily, share the tips and info with my wife who began to apply them in her job search and got a solid job before I finished the program in her field! I finished the program, took my time began to apply for jobs that were commensurate with my years of experience and skills and the rest is history. A lot depends on what you bring to the table, the ability to have an open mind, drop all the 'Nigerian behavior and mindset' we bring with us and diligently apply the principles they teach at these programmes. Six months after I came here, I landed a job that people who are here years before me still marvel at how I did it. I can't fail to give thanks for God's divine favour as I encourage you to take advantage of these training programmes. I have shared a list of some of them previously in the Living in Canada thread, just search backwards and read up. I can testify they really do make a difference.

Santino1:
Hi seniors,

Please I need your advice.

I have a Swiss issued driving licence and we have a reciprocal agreement with Canada which means I can exchange my Swiss licence for the Canadian licence but there's a catch: My licence has to be at least two years old to get a full G licence otherwise I'll have to take a G2 test.

My problem is I plan to land mid next year and my licence would only be 18-19 months old and I read that you have a maximum of 60 days after landing to exchange. Please what would you advice in this scenario?

Thanks for your anticipated response.

If you can't postpone your landing till later, then when you land and the 60 days are up, take your licence to the Drive Test centre and see if you get a waiver on the remaining 3 months to reach 2 years. You could also get a letter from Switzerland attesting to your good driving conduct thus far similar to the letter of good conduct we get from FRSC in Nigeria. You never know till you try and if they don't waive the remaining time, just do the G2 and get to driving. In less than 6 months, you can take the full G.

Rocorleone:
So for this road test, will you guys advice I get a trainer to show me rules or I should use my discretion and practice more on road test via knowledge test. Just note I've been driving for over 6 yrs now. I'm good at driving
vcole blackbuddy

Hi, I've been driving for over 22 years and I still saw the wisdom in getting a driving instructor to show me the ropes when I got here and was ready for my practical road test. You'll need to unlearn a lot of what we do in Nigeria that we mistakenly call driving and familiarise yourself with the peculiarities of proper driving in Canada. As a good driver, you might only need 2 or 3 road lessons and you're good to go

sleekchic:
Good evening everyone,

A friend of mine just checked her IELTS scores, she had 7.5,7,7,7 and this is her second attempt. She doesn't want to retake the test as she feels like she put in her absolute best for this exam.

She wants to know if she can get PNP with her 388 score? If yes which province should she go for? Kindly advise. Thank you

She might be able to swing through via PNP, provided she is ready to do the work and find out which provinces she qualifies for their programmes. This link contains a sub link to all the provinces websites. Let her go through each one, narrow down those ones for which she meets their application requirements, put the requirements in place and monitor them for when they will open to accept applications, http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/provincial/apply-who.asp

I was passing through Nathan Philips Square in Toronto this morning and noticed preparations for the annual Cavalcade of Lights festival. The Cavalcade of Lights is an annual holiday tradition featuring the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas Tree, live musical performances, a spectacular fireworks show and skating parties on the iconic outdoor rink. All free! If you're in the Toronto area, you might want to be there. https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/cavalcade-of-lights/

Ice skating season has begun in Toronto. This is the water fountain at Nathan Philips Square, now turned ice skating rink.

bestdiddy:
Please, whats the meaning of ADR people keep quoting here. smiles

ADR - Additional Document Request

jyteman:

evening house pls i Have an interview in canada on monday don't know how to respond as am currently in 9ja any help on how to respond to this mail
hi ****


I would like to invite you for an interview for our maintenance technician position that we have available.

 

Date: Monday, November 27, 2017 at 12:00pm

Location: 200 Bentley, Markham, On L3R 3L2

 

When you arrive please ask for #### or ####.

 

Vince will bring you upstairs to complete your hands-on mechanical assessment. Once that is complete, we may be able to have you complete an in person interview with one of our hiring managers/HR immediately following.

 

If you can reply back to this e-mail confirming your availability for the interview above that would be great

hello.
If you require any accommodations during the interview process please let me know.

Still dey pool dey expect ita oo
 

Thank you,

 

Well, the first thing you have proved is that you have a working resume which got you this recruitment opportunity. The downside to your situation is that you don't have a PR visa yet. This situation is similar to what my relative passed through who got his PR visa and then began to apply for jobs while in Nigeria. He put my wife's Canadian phone number on his resume and when my wife received the call for phone interview, she responded and told them he was out but would call back. She sent him the number and he called back from Nigeria, passed his phone interview and got a date for his face to face interview. He then bought his ticket and landed in Canada on the day of his interview. Came to my house, changed his clothes, got a taxi straight to the interview and passed it! He got a job the day he landed and started work the following week.
In your case, there's no phone interview, straight to in-person, hands-on skills assessment and if you perform well, you get face to face. Since you have no way of knowing when you will get PR, they will not keep the role for you indefinitely but proceed to the next person available for the job. At least, you have assurance now that you have a good resume. So you may consider sending a polite response that you are unable to currently pursue the opportunity but are thankful for the consideration given to you. This is a great way to keep the door open and for them to remember you as a thoughtful, considerate person. It's possible they will keep your resume in their database for future opportunities. More opportunities will come your way, all the best ahead.

soja84:


Hi....Please can you assist with the process of getting the FRSC letter?Please let me know if your contact can help.How much did you get the international driver's licence? Thanks.

Please see this beautiful compilation from Glitteringstar, https://www.nairaland.com/3617393/living-canada-life-canadian-immigrant/113#61210256

kkesh:
Hello House, in May, i did a transcript academic evaluation on WES for a Masters degree in a US university. I want to use the same transcript for WES Canada evaluation for immigration. I need assistance on how i can transfer my US file to my Canadian file. Please this is urgent.

Ask WES to explain how this can be done, https://www.wes.org/ca/contact-us/

Fellow Canadians especially the Ontario family, brace your self for an interesting winter Please take advantage of the ongoing sales of winter clothing and get good deals, thermal underwear is a must. See this update on the weather from the Toronto Star;

Most of Canada, including Ontario, will see a stormy winter, according to meteorologists at the Weather Network.

One of Canada’s high profile weather forecasters is warning Canadians across the country to brace for a whole lot of snow this winter.

Chris Scott, The Weather Network’s chief meteorologist, says the message from his forecast team is “buckle up, because it looks like a stormy winter.”

Scott says this year’s La Nina weather system bears a striking resemblance to that of 2007-2008, when Toronto had its snowiest winter on record.

“History tells us that when we have cooler waters off the coast of South America, that’s La Nina, and those winters tend to be classic Canadian winters.”

British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada are all in store for above normal levels of precipitation, according to the forecast.

In western Canada, that precipitation will likely be snow as the region shivers in below normal temperatures.

In Atlantic Canada, where temperatures are expected to be close to above normal, forecasters expect plenty of snow and ice but periods of milder weather and rain will keep snowbanks from getting too high.

Scott says storms with lots of snow are forecast for December in the eastern half of Canada, while in the western half of the county, the winter conditions are expected to start in January.

La Nina winters often mean changeable weather, and Scott says that while Canadians can expect to be pounded by numerous snowstorms, there will also be sustained periods of milder weather.

“You might get two out of three months where you think, ‘wow, that was a wild winter,’ and then one month where the winter goes away,” he explains. “But this will be a winter that’s more on than off.”

Scott says Southern Ontario and Quebec might see mild conditions during all of January.

The weather pattern also calls for a winter that lingers, meaning the country could experience snowstorms as late as March.

Scott notes that in the prairies a strong snow pack could benefit soil conditions and help produce a bountiful spring harvest.

Ski resorts are also anticipating a banner season, especially in western Canada, where the coastal mountains are already getting snow.

The only region of Canada not following the nationwide trend is Nunavut, which has seen warming temperatures in recent years due to global warming. Scott says Nunavut can expect warmer than usual temperatures again this winter, along with average levels of snow.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/11/20/prepare-for-more-snow-than-usual-this-winter-forecasters-say.html

senors:
Hello All,
I am at the verge of starting my certificate evaluation through WES and require your advice.
I have MBA and BSc from 2 different institutions. For the MBA, getting the transcript sent to WES and confirmed by the institution is no issue.
But for the BSc, I'm afraid getting transcript from the school is like waiting forever.
Now, the issue is should I just evaluate the MBA although the BSc course appear to have more job opportunities in Canada.
What if I need to evaluate BSc at a later date, will it fly on payment for the MBA evaluation or I would have to Make another payment.
Thanks for the anticipated response(s).

If you don't wait to have them evaluated together and opt to have only the MBA evaluated now, you will pay again to have the Bsc evaluated later.

jonababa:


Pls how long did this search take? We dont a place for long stay in Canada when we land.

This varies according to season, budget, location. There's no set formula for how your accommodation search will go. A lot depends on when you are looking. Typically, spring is when Canadians move the most, hence the term 'spring cleaning' when they clear old things out of their homes, house selling is at a peak or when the most inventory hits the market and when people change apartments. This is generally speaking. Budget plays the next role, the more you're able to spend, the wider choices available to you. Location is another factor, if you want to be close to your landed friend who probably has his own house, rental opportunities around there may be more expensive where you have detached, semis and town home options. You should consider apartment buildings and basement suites if you're low on funds. If you focus on lower middle class neighbourhoods, you'll find more affordable options. But don't let cost alone decide your choices. Prevalent low rent most probably means low income neighbourhood which leads to high crime incidences and poor security issues. It's the same all over the world, where you have a high concentration of people paying low rent, crime is high. Family people, please consider the sort of neighborhood where you will house your kids.

You should enhance your accommodation search by spreading your search options. Word of mouth, free rental magazines available at major bus stops and shopping malls, online search on rental sites increase the pool of what is available to you. Be prepared to go out and look. A lot of us newly landed folks depend on family and friends to take us out and help us look. This is understandable but limits you obviously. You should take the bull by the horns, learn to use Google Maps yourself, study your local public transport system to know your city better, take the bus, train, tram. Rely less on taxis and Uber if you know your pocket is not deep. Get lost 3 or 4 times finding a place. It's good education for you and will increase your confidence when you're able to find your way around without depending on others to chaperone you. In my case, it took me 1 week and 3 days to get my apartment after landing. You can search the thread to read of my experience and other tips I previously shared. Trust this points you in the right direction.

freeradical:
Means I have to go to Ottawa right? Do they have any arrangements where they come down to the provinces for biometrics. I really want to avoid having to travel

For now, no provision for this outside Ottawa. See this extract from the embassy website,

E-Passport Application Procedures and Requirements
Please note that the Consular Section responsible for (Visa and Passport processing) is not opened to the general public on Mondays.The Passport Section opens from 9 am to 1.00 pm Tuesday-Friday except during Public Holidays, both in Canada and Nigeria.
If you have an appointment on Monday for Passport processing at the High Commission, please kindly show up from Tuesday-Friday. The Passport Section can be reached on Telephone Number: (613) 236-0521 ext.0, ext 228 and ext 262. Email: passportinquiries@nigeriahcottawa.ca

Procedures for E-Passport

In the Passport menu, choose the E-Passport Application Form Option. If you have a Yahoo or Google account, you may use it to log into the system, otherwise select the Open ID option and create an account for the application process.
Please complete the form and print. Thereafter, click on the Submit Button.
Once the application has been successfully submitted, you will be provided with a Reference Number and Application ID. Please print it out, as you will need it later in the application process
Click on the close button to continue the application process. At the bottom of the page, click on the Proceed to checkout button to begin the payment process
On the Cart page, double check to make sure that name in the cart corresponds to the appropriate applicant. Click on the Proceed to Online Payment Button.
Choose the credit card payment option or the money order payment option and click next. If the money order payment option is selected, please follow the on screen instructions for mailing the money order. Once the money order is received, you will receive a confirmation email. If the credit card option is used, allow 30 minutes for the payment to register, and proceed to the next step.
For credit card payments, the applicant may only use his or her credit for payment of fees. No third party credit cards will be accepted.
Once the payment confirmation email is received, go to https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/pages/welcome
In the application menu, click on the Query Your Application Payment Status option. Select E-Passport in the application menu and enter the Reference Number and Application ID. Click on the Search Record button. The next page will be the Online Application Confirmation page.
On the Online Application Confirmation page, scroll to the bottom of the page and print the Payment Receipt and also print Application Confirmation. Attach these documents to the expired passport, or to the rest of the application documents (first issuance).
The applicant should appear at the Nigerian High Commission Ottawa on the appointment date, with his or her expired Nigerian passport and required documents. If the application is for a first issuance, and the applicant is under the age of sixteen, the following requirements must also be met.
Requirements for First Issue of E-passport

Passport Application form to be completed online and printed out
Payment Slip print out upon completion of form online
Acknowledgement Slip print out
Photocopy of birth certificate from National Population Commission in Nigeria
Photocopy of Local Government identification Letter
Two current passport-size photographs with white background
The Machine Readable Passport (MRP) ie the old Nigerian Passport is not acceptable as replacement or alternative for the Birth Certificate and Local Government Identification Letter.
Requirements for Renewal of E-Passport

Passport Application form to be completed online and print out
Payment Slip print out
Acknowledgment Slip print out
Applicant should come with the Expired Nigerian E-Passport
Photocopy of Bio data page of E-Passport
Two current passport-size photographs with white background
Requirements for change of name via marriage

Passport Application form to be completed online and printed out
Payment Slip print out upon completion of Application form online
Acknowledgment Slip print out
Photocopy of Marriage certificate
Consent Letter from Spouse (must be typed)
Valid bio data page of passport of Spouse
Newspaper publication in the national dailies for marriages done in Nigeria.
Court affidavit of change of name via marriage.
Requirement for Persons under the Age of 18 OR Minors

Applicants under the age of 18 (eighteen) MUST provide the following requirements:

Completed online application
Acknowledgment Slip
Payment Slip
Copy of child’s birth certificate
Letter of Consent jointly signed by child's both parents must be typed
Photocopies of the parents’ passports data page. One of the passport data pages must be a Nigerian Passport.
Additional documents for single parents (proof of custody of the child/children)
Child's current two passport-size photographs preferably with white background, and
Applicant will be required to appear in person for biometric
Requirements for Replacement of Lost e-Passport

Passport Application form to be completed online and printed out
Payment Slip print out
Acknowledgement Slip print out
Police Report.
Submission of completed online e-passport application form
Two (2) passport-size photographs with white background
Applicant should provide Passport Number of lost e-Passport.
Applicant will be required to appear in person for biometric
All passport applicants are required to be physically present on the appointment date specified on the payment confirmation receipt. If the applicant cannot be present on the appointment day, the applicant may reschedule another appointment. Applicants will only be able to reschedule the appointment after the initial appointment day has passed.

Requirements for Pick-up

An applicant will be required to present pick-up slip and the expired Nigerian Passport before receiving the E-Passport.

Requirements for Proxy Pick-up:

Letter of Authorization duly signed by an applicant requesting proxy pick-up
Valid I. D. card of authorized individual picking up Applicant's passport
Applicant’s pick up slip, and Applicant’s expired Nigerian Passport.

Source : http://www.nigeriahcottawa.ca/citizen-services/e-passport-application

Hope this helps you plan accordingly.

Topboyz5:


Can't you just walk in and get passport? Must you need to know contact again?

You're right, you don't really need a contact to get a passport/renewal at Ottawa

Congratulations @cochtrane, all the best ahead

Wura27:

Hi guys,

I have Toronto as the city I'd be landing in my COPR but plans have changed and I'd now be landing in Calgary via Manitoba.

Please I need to know if I'm good and wont have any issues when I land

If you received federal ITA there will be no issues at all. You're free to proceed to your desired Calgary.

primeson1:
Please for someone that doesn't know how to drive, is it advisable to learn it here in nigeria or when landed in Canada.

Secondly, what's the difference btw these classes of licenses, does it mean the lower ones can't drive on some roads or what?

Thanks.

To answer your second question, yes, the initial licences come with driving restrictions. You can not drive at all times of the day (night driving limited) and you can't drive on highways.

EtKaris:
Hi Blackbuddy, I'm trying to decide the best city to stay in the GTA. top on my list is Missisauga/burlington/oakville. My major consideration is lower cost of living, access to good jobs and good environment to raise kids. Any help will be appreciated.

Hi, please see this article that will partly answer your question and also assist others get a sense of what informs cost of living in Canada. I will later address your other queries about the GTA cities you're interested in. Please note this extract is from an article by Global News Canada.

https://globalnews.ca/news/3828492/healthy-food-cost-canada/

Keeping the fridge stocked is a weekly chore for many of us, but how much will the average Canadian spend each week? That is, forgive the pun, a million-dollar question.

While Statistics Canada carefully tracks how food prices change from month to month and year to year, it does not reveal the actual price of the foods it monitors.

So Global News turned to Health Canada’s so-called Nutritious Food Basket, the blueprint that government agencies and non-profits use to assess the affordability of a healthy diet


Our calculations — which involved combing through provincial and county-level data — show that groceries for a family of four cost an average of $220 a week. The math is based on a sample family that usually includes a man and a woman between the ages of 31 and 50, one teenage boy and a girl between the ages of four and eight. (Some of the datasets we used reference slightly different age brackets, but you get the idea.)

Global News’ grocery estimate includes food costs in northern and rural communities, which generally face much higher prices than in cities.

On the other hand, Health Canada’s food basket is meant to represent a diet that, while meeting nutritional requirements, is based on thrifty food choices, noted Kate Comeau of Dietitians of Canada, a professional association that represents 6,000 members across the country.

Generally, an affordable food budget should take up no more than 15 per cent of a household’s net income. In our example, that would mean, roughly, $1,450 per week after tax. A Canadian family would need to take home around $100,000 annually in order to have that much left over after taxes every week.

And whether you can afford your groceries also depends on what else is eating up your disposable income — with rent or mortgage payments usually taking the biggest bite. Shelter costs would ideally shave off no more than 30 per cent of your total income, but a whopping 24 per cent of households in Canada currently spend more than that, according to the latest census data.

You don’t have to be living in Vancouver or Toronto to feel the squeeze, either.

For example, in Ontario’s Waterloo region, the sample grocery basket costs just under $200, as measured by the local health unit. After paying for that and rent, a family of four supported by one adult working full-time and earning minimum wage would have only $924 left to pay for transportation, phone bills, dish soap and everything else needed to run a household, according to 2016 data.

In the southern half of rural Saskatchewan, a week’s worth of groceries for a couple with children cost a whopping $247 in 2015.

In Nova Scotia, a single mother with two boys working full time for minimum wage would find herself over $500 in the hole every month if she shopped based on Health Canada’s food basket.

The reality, though, is that most people tend to cut back on groceries rather than miss paying their bills, said Comeau.

“Food is the most flexible part of a family’s budget.”

And Canadians living in rural areas or so-called urban food deserts would struggle to replicate Health Canada’s food basket not just because of prices but because of availability, said Michael von Massow, associate professor in the food, agriculture and resource economics department at the University of Guelph.


When the only food store within reach is a convenience store, for example, “it’s much harder to get a healthy food basket for that price,” said Massow.

To protect your wallet from food-price swings, switch things up and stock your freezer

Canadians on a tight budget also have to contend with significant food price swings on a regular basis, said Massow. While the pace of food inflation has been holding rather steady over the long run, some products will inevitably see price spikes every year.

Food prices can be as fickle as the weather, which affects crop yields. But in Canada, which imports a lot of its food, the exchange rate is another source of uncertainty.

Earlier this year, Canadians were wringing their hands over the price of lettuce and celery, which jumped in April as torrential rains spoiled crops in California.

Now eyes have turned to orange juice after Hurricane Irma ravaged Florida’s citrus plantations.

“Consumers feel those price increases more significantly because we are creatures of habit,” said Massow.

So if you are used to drinking OJ at breakfast and juice prices soar, you are likely to get dinged, at least at first.

The best way to shelter your wallet from such ups and downs is to be flexible with your grocery list and stack your freezer full of healthy, unprocessed frozen food.


Being open to eating a variety of foods means you can easily substitute items that have become pricier. And frozen vegetables are a great way to insulate your grocery budget from both “the exchange rate and the long truck ride from California,” said Massow.

Dropping $220 a week on groceries may seem like a lot. But as far as food prices go, 2017 has been a good year so far — at least on paper.

Food prices often rise faster than overall inflation in Canada, but this year they’ve been subdued. They even fell in August and September compared to the previous month.

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t notice, however. Most Canadians probably haven’t, either.

That’s because while food costs have been stagnating, the price of restaurant-bought food climbed by 2.7 per cent over last year, nearly twice the rise in retail food prices, noted Sylvain Charlebois, dean of the faculty of management at Dalhousie University.

Around 30 per cent of Canadians’ spending on food goes toward eating out these days, and that percentage keeps climbing.

As more and more time-starved Canadians gobble down meals that don’t require any cooking, the food service industry is booming, said Charlebois. And growing demand means menu prices can soar, even if the cost of food doesn’t.

In 2016, restaurant industry sales were up by almost 4 per cent, while sales at food retailers stagnated, according to Charlebois.

“Meals in the traditional sense are slowly disappearing in Canada,” he wrote recently.

Notably, measurements of what it costs to feed a family based on official dietary guidelines don’t capture that trend. Health Canada’s food basket only includes ingredients that require cooking.

Keeping food costs as low as they can be while eating a balanced diet, after all, generally requires a decent investment of time in the kitchen.


So if you occasionally slip up and order out for the whole family, you might be spending more than $220 a week — especially if you’re opting for, say, salads rather than pizza.

Please see this article/opinion copied from Quora. It contains a lot of key points and nuggets about how to settle down professionally in Canada. Please note again, it was copied from Quora https://www.quora.com/Why-do-so-many-skilled-immigrants-complain-that-they-do-not-get-jobs-in-Canada

2 days ago, I attended Gateway 2017 in Markham, Ontario. It was a free conference for newcomers to Canada who were struggling to find work, giving them an opportunity to express their concerns, ask questions and networking with CEOs and other Canadian professionals.

I got to see first hand the complaints of skilled immigrants who do not get jobs in Canada, and this is what I found.

#1 Misunderstanding what Canadian Experience means, and no one explaining what it really is

Almost everyone was talking about Canadian experience. They even had a panel discussion about it.

One woman from Nigeria came up to the mic and was angry at the Canadian system. You could hear it in her voice - “How can I get Canadian Experience if I don’t have a job? I have been looking for a job for 8 YEARS!”

After her rant about Canadian experience which went on for 10 minutes, I asked random people “Would you hire that person?” They all replied “No way in hell!”

A lot of people think that Canadian experience is about working in Canada. It is not! This is my personal definition of Canadian experience:

A hiring manager’s perception of your soft skills and knowledge of Canadian work culture.

Here is the strange part. A lot of people were saying they were getting calls for interviews, but it never converted to a job.

Think about it, if you got called for a job interview, the hiring manager already knows you have not worked in Canada from your resume. Why would he or she call you for the interview if it was a problem?

What most likely happened was that during the interview, you failed to demonstrate the soft skills that the job needs. Either your communication skills were bad, or you downplayed your accomplishments when asked to talk about your experience. Once recruiter told me that some people she interviews don’t even make eye contact when they speak.

At this stage in the interview, either Canadians are too polite, or they fear a discriminatory law suit, so they just tell “You don't have Canadian experience” or “You are over qualified”, when what they really mean is “Your English is poor” or “My team will have a hard time understanding your accent” or “Based on your stories it doesn't sound like you accomplished alot”.

I was on a panel discussion myself talking about my experience as a newcomer. A gentleman at the back of the room told me that whenever he goes into an interview, he is always told that he is “overqualified”.

I gave him advice on how to tackle an “overqualified” problem, but when he spoke to me I knew straight away what his problem was, but I was too embarrassed to tell him in front of the whole room.

Unfortunately, he did not privately speak to me after the talk, else I would have told him “Canadian recruiters are telling you’re overqualified because they are hesitant to tell you the real reason - it’s your English”. His English was so bad, I wonder how he ever managed to pass his IELTS.

I’m not saying this is the fault of the candidate. This behavior stems not from your experience but from the culture of the country you came from. Maybe English is not your first language, maybe in your culture you’re not allowed to talk highly of yourself and give all the glory to your bosses. Maybe it’s in your culture to remain silent and not make eye contact out of respect.

The bottom line is, you need to understand how Canadians think and what hiring managers and recruiters expectations are to get past the Canadian experience problem.

Unless you do the research, or ask the right people who aren't afraid to give you an honest answer, and most importantly upgrade your English language skills, skilled immigrants will continue to complain about not getting jobs.

#2 Not taking an active approach to your job search

This is how I personally had success in Canada, securing three job offers in two weeks.

If you just machine gun your generic resume to online jobs and rely on technology to do the rest you will be job searching for a long time.

Machines don't hire you. Humans do. So you have to demonstrate to the hiring manager that you are willing to work hard and think outside the box.

This is why I customize my resume and personalize my cover letter for every job application, and created my own personal website (connelvalentineresume.com) to stand out.

I used the same tactics when I applied for a mangers job within my company and I got the job again, so I'm confident it works.

As long as you're aware of the process, the expectations of the hiring manager and skills in resume and cover letter writing you can increase the chances of landing that job 10 fold.

#3 Not using publically available services

If it's free it's probably not worth it right? Not in Canada! If you want to see the Canadian tax dollars at work, make use of the public services that are available to you.

New immigrants do not use these services either because they are too proud or they do not feel it's worth it.

From this conference that I attended, where these companies that host these services were present, you will see the quality in what they provide.

They may not get you the perfect job, but will fit you into a well established company and then it's up to you to work your way up.

My cousin used Costi when she was trying to get back into finance and they placed her with a logistics company doing account receivables where she is now a full time employee after proving her worth and working hard.

I have personally hired and trust candidates from Npower Canada.

This conference that I attended, Gateway 2017, hosted by the York Region is an example of what Canada is prepared to do for it’s new immigrants - for FREE! It was held at Hilton hotel, hosted by a Canadian TV host, attended by the mayor of Markham and CEOs of companies in the York region.

Canada takes it’s free services very seriously.

#4 Not Canadianizing your resume

Someone at the conference mentioned that their resume was 6 pages long!

People think they can throw all their experiences up on a word document and mail blast it to every Canadian job board.

It's guaranteed failure.

People should seek professional help and to take it a step further, they should learn the methodology of Canadianizing your resume to suit the managers needs. A big part of this is knowing how to market your job experience in a way that pleases a Canadian hiring manager and recruiter.

One of my favorite tools for doing a quality check on the resume is jobscan. This tool allows you to compare your uploaded resume to the copy pasted job description side by side and score it for compliance.

#5 Not using bridging services

During one of the breaks at the conference I walked up to table where three strangers were sat. I introduced myself and they turned out to be a nurse, a physician and a dentist.

To my relief, they were all already enrolled in a bridging program at York Univeristy, one of the most popular hosts of bridging programs.

But in most cases, I find that a lot of people don't utilize these services. I hear them say “I have over twenty years of experience, why should I go back to learning something I have been doing ?”

Look, I understand it's not easy to feel like you're going back to paying your dues in your career. But you are getting a fresh start in a new country.

It takes courage to leave your family and friends behind to move to a new country in hopes of a better life.

Well guess what - it takes courage to choose to take a step back in your career too.

When I applied for a job, I applied for a position that was two levels below the job I had in Dubai. But because I took an active approach to it, that job application revealed a hidden job that was one level higher and unadvertised, that the recruiter thought I was better suited for.

And two years later, after working my ass off on that job even though it was a lower position from before, and using the smarts and the experience and the work ethics I developed from my 12 year career prior to landing in Canada, I got a promotion back to my managers position.

If you have the humility to learn and the courage to temporarily refresh your career and the vision to get back the career you left behind, you will eventually start to see the hopes become reality.

An expert I follow say that it may take anywhere from 6–12 years in average for a Canadian newcomer to get back the quality of life you left behind. I'm on year 3.

Don't let pride delay the process.

To sum up…

Canada welcomes diversity in the workplace. That is what the Gateway 2017 conference was all about.

But what they did not mention, and this is my personal insight, is that one place where diversity is not accepted is the norms of business conduct.

Your diversity will be accepted from your fresh ideas, creative innovation and dynamic insights.

But when you communicate, when you lead teams, when you make presentations, when you attend meetings, when you make a sales pitch, when you care for patients, when you ask for a raise, when you work with your boss and every other aspect of business conduct you can think of, it's done one way - the Canadian way.

Ekinado:
My husband started staying in Canada in May. We have received ITA, does he need PCC from Nigeria?

For the period he lived in Nigeria before moving to Canada, he will need a Nigerian PCC.