₦airaland Forum

oohunt:
Thank you for your response @maternal.

We chose Calgary because my husband is in the oil and gas sector. I know a lot of jobs have been lost worldwide due to the oil price. But I believe it will pick up in years to come.

Thanks, you have really put my mind at rest. I was dreading the COLD!

I am also looking forward to continuing my business there. I have a toddler and I know it would be difficult to get a full time job and afford a minder for her. I also do not want to be idle. I won't worry much about those technicalities now.

The first video is very very inspiring. This is a society that is truly concerned about its citizens.

I am considering setting up a day care business there. what do you think? I am in the process of incorporating a business name
Any heads up?

toyogirl:
Alright, thanks!

Dry Ponmo,,,,, Nice. Make i go add am to my list.
I am moving with 5 bags. I plan to use GMG due to low weight. Discarding all my boxes.

czaratwork:
is mississauga close to toronto? do they have IT jobs there (mississauga) as well?

It is a 15CDN train ticket return.
They have IT jobs there and big corporations are there too. U can be lucky to live and work in Missisauga.
Great place

WellEndowed:
I was thinking same when I first read his posts days ago. Someone I know was duped years ago by an agent with this same two year Australian work visa crap. I warned him against it and told him Nigerians are not eligible for work visa. I even sent him a link of the countries eligible. He refused to listen and told me the agent "had told him" that the list I sent was an old one and there is an updated one. Oya show me the updated one naaa. Agent couldn't. Said the Australian Government hadn't published yet. So how did agent get the list? .He lost over 2 million naira.

Nigerians are so gullible. Simple research could have saved him millions of naira. Even when they see the proof, they still choose to ignore it.

Person wey go get roasted will always get roasted. Wen it comes to immigration, Nigerians believe all sorts. Dem fit tell u say no be Judas betray Jesus sef say na Jelili.

Ballerz:
Dry Ponmo,,,,, Nice. Make i go add am to my list.
I am moving with 5 bags. I plan to use GMG due to low weight. Discarding all my boxes.

No wonder u dey find link, u wan go bombard there with local foods, lol

MummyJaygirls:
No wonder u dey find link, u wan go bombard there with local foods, lol

I went last year to Land and to survey.
The link I am finding is for collaboration, networking and et al...
Send me a PM.

oohunt:
I am opening another thread about life in Canada for immigrants or Permanent Residents.

I am one of the lucky ones to have been invited (ITA) to apply for PR. I have never been to Canada before. And I will like to prepare myself and my family for this major CHANGE.

Let this thread be an avenue for people that immigrated to Canada (with their families) to share their experiences and help newbies not to make mistakes.

Kindly share your experiences and comments on:

* When you landed at the airport? June 2015
* What are the immigration rules to follow? Very seamless process which begins right in the plane as you approach Canada. The flight attendants will give you landing cards to fill with your details and once you and your family proceed for screening with immigration and customs officers at the airport. This is where you declare all cash on you and on rare occasions, may be asked to show your proof of funds. Like I said, very rare but be prepared to show your cash and your bank statement for the balance. Your entry visa is voided, your COPR is stamped and you submit an address to which they post your PR cards later. You should get those in 30 to 60 days
* How do you carry all that cash with you? For example: a family of 5 will need $25,923. I came with a family of five and landed with cash. I had shared the funds into 2 halves. I gave half to my wife to keep on her person and put the other half in my pockets. I declared just mine and nobody searched us. Don't be cared by all that talk on line forums that people will small the money on rob and rob you. If God can cause you to get PR, he can cause you to land here without issues. I believe your faith and disposition matters. For all lot of you who have not travelled out before, there is no need to be jittery. Just be relaxed and answer all questions. Immigrants land everyday and the airport officials are trained to be welcoming and accommodating so behave like the PR that you are
* Which province did you settle in and why.I settled in the GTA - Greater Toronto Area. Toronto is the financial capital of Canada and both I and my wife come from a banking and finance background. All the banks and major FIs have their head offices in Toronto, the major corporations and big employers all have a presence across the GTA. The GTA is bigger/more populous than the whole of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan combined and the bulk of infrastructure and opportunities are here so naturally, this is where we ought to be. A lot of people feel that because there are many people here, they may not be able to compete. But having been born, lived and worked in Lagos, I know crowd can not stop a determined and focused person from succeeding. Infact, if you can come and prove your self, the world is yours. I've also lived and worked in Abuja, Kaduna, PH, all over the East back home so I know that being where the action is can help those who are seeking to be lions in the jungle. The Toronto International airport is actually in Mississauga which is where we initially settled.
* Where you live and why you like it or don't like it? I initially lived in Mississauga, the second largest city in the GTA after Toronto. I knew I would work in Toronto considering my professional background but I didn't want to raise my kids in the city proper. Toronto can be nice but as with all proper cities, it can be a rough place. For me with 3 young boys, ages 10 to 6, I know what city life can be at this tender age as I grew up with 4 brothers of my own back home. So I opted for Mississauga which has more of a suburban feel and family life is easier to experience. I landed and moved my family to a hotel for a while and took my time to find an apartment. You can check online on kijiji.ca and viewit.ca. There are also free newspapers and rental magazines available at every major bus stop and shopping mall so I used to check for where vacancies are. I called around, booked appointments to inspect and got a 2 bedroom apartment close to a shopping mall and clinic. This is key for young families especially before you buy a car so you don't have to go far to get most things for daily life Tips on choosing the right neighborhood, The truth is that you may not find what is exactly your spec in a short time. You might have to spend a good while to find accommodation that is to your liking but if time and budget is a constraint, you will just to have to take what you find if it is okay cos you don't want to be burning money on hotel bills or staying with relatives/friends where you can be an inconvenience. If you're like me who likes to respect himself, I stay with people a little and leave before they get tired of me so that mutual respect can be maintained. Get a list of available places, go and inspect, use your eyes to see the place then settle for the best among your choices and move on. You won't live there forever, it's only for a while. I lived in my apartment for a year and moved to my own house in Brampton, the 2nd largest city in the GTA mortgage plans, Once you land a good job, you can begin to think about mortgage. Those who have a good source of income from back home like a business, or high paying job can also consider getting a mortgage. better to pay for a house you own than paying rent on someone else's house. That's just my thinking please. With 5% to 20% of the cost of a property as down payment, you are ready to start checking things out. Always bill your bills on time especially your credit cards, this is how to develop a good credit score ahead of when you need a mortgage. Don't collect credit card with big limits from your bank even when they offer it. Take a card with reasonable limit, make your purchases and expenses with it and pay back on time. As you do this regularly and consistently, the system recognizes you for this and your score increases, this make banks want to advance you more credit in the form of mortgage. He who is faithful in little, will receive more proximity to work etc. Where you live and where you work is not a big deal because most cities have a good transport system so it matters not where you live in relation to where you work. When you land, you will see your mates living at a place like Ikeja and working in Ajah because their home is in a family friendly neighborhood with lots of green space but working a distance away. My joy today is seeing my kids playing in my back yard while I am weeding my wife's tomato and pepper garden. I can go and work in the city, drive to the station, take the train to work and get back home daily. That's what most of us do, live in the suburbs and work in the city. No big deal at all. When we landed, my wife got her current job close to our apartment so she was fortunate that she can drive out in the morning, drop the kids in the neighborhood school and get to work all in 7 minutes. So it can work both ways, near or far. Focus on getting a good job and finding a good, affordable neighborhood to live. They do not have to be in close proximity, it is getting a good income that matters more
* How easy was it to settle in, with your kids? The kids will settle down faster than you, don't worry your head about them. Those ones will be Canadians while you are still battling with your native accent here. I am yet to see one person complain that their kids don't like this place even with the cold weather, for them it is a continuous adventure. You should focus yourself on getting settled professionally, once you have a good source of income, you can afford to enjoy this place, provide well for your family without waiting for benefit payments from government. The way to go is to work your way towards that point where you don't need subsidy payments from government because your own income level is high How did you go about finding the right schools for them? There is a public and Catholic school in every neighborhood in every major city and I'm talking standard schools. Just get your apartment/accomodation first then you go to the school in your neighborhood to register them. You can only register in the school in your neighborhood, your catchment area, unless you put your kids in private school where you pay fees in another neighborhood. The public schools are free, funded from our taxes and you can find am after school study centre in your neighborhood to get your kids extra lessons. That's what the Indians, Chinese etc do and their kids are shining here, getting into universities not colleges. Universities are higher ranked than colleges, a lot of people don't know that this dichotomy also exists here. It is not so openly obvious but at higher levels of decision making, university grads are preferred to those who went to mere colleges so target a university future for your kids and save for it accordingly What is their school system like for toddlers (age 5 and below)? Once your kid is 4 or 5 years, depending on the province, you register them for nursery school, kindergarten as described above
* Can a mother combine work and taking care of the kids with the husband being in Nigeria? It depends on you and what exactly you want to do. It's not easy but people are doing it. Since my family and your family is different, we all cope differently. If you start it and can't cope, you stop. If you find you can cope, you continue and think of moving up, getting something better as the kids grow. No point dwelling on this, find where you fit in and face your front. For me, my kids are big boys, they could stay home alone right from Nigeria, they were the ones even taking care of my maid, showing her what to do so I have no problem with them. My wife has been working from when we landed so life goes on
* What culture shock have you experienced? Canadian politeness, wow. Even when they don't like you, they wont show it. Nice and polite to a fault, always well behaved as opposed to back home where we are direct and say what we mean. Here, you have to take things slower and read the hidden meaning in what is being said or discussed with you. Small talk is big here, small talk about the weather, sports, things to break the ice when meeting people but no personal questions. You don't ask questions like how was your night? That one is not your business at all, just stick with 'how are you and move on'. I was introduced to a new immigrant organization that helps experienced foreign professionals to integrate where we learned of the social and professional niceties and how to network our way into good jobs as opposed to only online applications. Check this link to learn more, http://accesemployment.ca/index.php/job-seekers
* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather Weather is weather, even the Canadians don't like the cold weather so no point overflogging it. The key is to land here, buy the appropriate winter clothing for the season and dress in layers. With this, you'll be fine
* Are there Nigerian food/restaurants etc? Are they very expensive? There are African and Asian shops in every major city that carry our local foods. Once you land, you will get to know them through your fellow naija and you'll be fine. Wether they are expensive is relative as what I find expensive, you may find cheap. Once you start earning dollars and have settled into a routine, those costs won't matter anymore. Nigerians have been landing and living here, we too will land and live in peace
* Can one start a business (exportation, consultancy) in Canada? Ofcourse, all the African shops, Asian shops are owned by immigrants like you who came, found an opportunity and took it. You can find a line of business, do your research and take the plunge. Business is risky everywhere wether in Nigeria, USA, India or China, It is those who do their homework and keep at it that succeed. No other magic formula. Find the one your head can carry and face your front
* How much does your family survive on in a month? It varies from city to city and from family to family. There is no template that fits all, just come with as much as you can, ask questions not from only Nigerians but from other nationalities. Review all the answers you receive and take the best course of action that fits your circumstance, don't measure yourself with your neighbor. Not everybody who is smiling has a full belly. Your major expense will be rent, followed by feeding then transport, wether by public transit or running your car. wether you are earning $1k or $10k, you will still face those expenses. It is only ehen you are spending from your settlement funds, the funds you brought from naija that you will feel it, When you start earning dollars, you'll adjust as not think twice about it.
* And any other ... Who wil mingle with and mix with when you land will determine how far you will go and how well you will do here. Try to look for those who are doing well through honest means and emulate them. Because of the initial challenges in settling down, a lot of people are doling low level jobs and because it pays the bills, they stay at that level. If you're schooling and your schedule does not allow you work at a higher level, that's understandable. But I encourage people to pursue opportunities similar or close to where they were back home, if not higher. All you need to do is network with people working at that level and gain an understanding of what is required to find those fantastic opportunity. It is possible to land and find a job at managerial level and above. Some of us never worked in factory or supermarket, to God be the glory who ordered our steps into nice jobs. I believe others can do it too, just focus, be patient and believe

We are looking at settling in Calgary, Alberta, and will appreciate any advice at all.

Hello Justwise. Please consider the importance of a thread like this which is essential to prepare families. I opened a similar one in the past: https://www.nairaland.com/3273411/living-canada-life-canadian-immigrant. And you pointed me to the thread about "Students coping in Canada" which contains a lot of information focused on the life of a student. Similarly, the "Travel to Canada" threads contain guidance for applications. I think we need a thread that is not about application or education but about LIVING in Canada. Thanks.

An interesting topic. Hope my 2 cents above helps someone out.

Nice! @ blackbuddy. ..Thanks for this.....I have a friend who landed in June 2016. ...but he said he cdnt get an apartment where he could pay monthly because he was new and didn't have any credit score, so he had to pay 1 year lease @ $1,400 CAD a month for 2 bedroom in 'Sauga. We're seriously considering Mississauga as well, so I'm wondering, is there a way around the credit score thingy as regards getting a rented apartment & paying monthly? Of course with like the 1st and last month deposits as well..

Blackbuddy:
An interesting topic. Hope my 2 cents above helps someone out.

toyogirl:
Nice! @ blackbuddy. ..Thanks for this.....I have a friend who landed in June 2016. ...but he said he cdnt get an apartment where he could pay monthly because he was new and didn't have any credit score, so he had to pay 1 year lease @ $1,400 CAD a month for 2 bedroom in 'Sauga. We're seriously considering Mississauga as well, so I'm wondering, is there a way around the credit score thingy as regards getting a rented apartment & paying monthly? Of course with like the 1st and last month deposits as well..

Yes, it's true that some landlords and buildings managers will ask for credit history and to see your Canadian job payslips before they will rent a unit to you. I encountered that problem as well but I simply moved on to the next address on my list until I found a building where they waived those requirements after they met I and my wife. The building manager saw that I and my wife were experienced professionals, people who could settle down quickly. It is all about how you carry yourself. We told her we have enough money to pay our rent and with our experience can find something reasonable to do and earn a living, she just said bring 3 months rent. We ended up giving only 2 months, first and last and that was it for our 1 year lease. If one door closes, another must open but you must keep moving to find the open doors. It was from that apartment I moved into my own house. God is good, He can do all things and He is in Canada.

Blackbuddy:
An interesting topic. Hope my 2 cents above helps someone out.

Thank you!!!!!!!!! So informative!

Yeah right, I love your closing sentence.....lol...Thanks for the tips! One more thing, I tried reading up on PLASP website but cdnt find info on how/if school buses are functional in the peel region...how do you manage this? If we can't get a car immediately and the kids need to go to school, do we go the public transit route or??

Lastly, in your opinion, what part of 'Sauga city would you suggest a new immigrant settled in, at least initially?

Thanks!

Blackbuddy:
Yes, it's true that some landlords and buildings managers will ask for credit history and to see your Canadian job payslips before they will rent a unit to you. I encountered that problem as well but I simply moved on to the next address on my list until I found a building where they waived those requirements after they met I and my wife. The building manager saw that I and my wife were experienced professionals, people who could settle down quickly. It is all about how you carry yourself. We told her we have enough money to pay our rent and with our experience can find something reasonable to do and earn a living, she just said bring 3 months rent. We ended up giving only 2 months, first and last and that was it for our 1 year lease. If one door closes, another must open but you must keep moving to find the open doors. It was from that apartment I moved into my own house. God is good, He can do all things and He is in Canada.

Blackbuddy:
An interesting topic. Hope my 2 cents above helps someone out.

This one pass 2 cents sef. Na like 4 cents

Blackbuddy:
An interesting topic. Hope my 2 cents above helps someone out.

This one pass 2 cents sef. Na like 4 cents (Lol)

Thanks for sharing @Blackbuddy

Guys, good job here!

Please is there anyone of u guys who's in the construction industry? I won't mind learning a thing or two from your experience upon landing.
Construction Manager is my target job but I know my Naija experience may not immediately fit in so I intend to study construction management in a college while working to maintain my family with 3 kids. I'm toying with the idea of starting out as an apprentice in a construction related trade (plumbing, electrician, carpentry etc) as it'll afford me the opportunity to earn while learning/studying in addition to being exposed to the industry itself.
I'll appreciate your 2 cents. Thanks

ssemire:
Hello guys. Trust you all are doing well. Welcome to the best time of the year......summer time.

I said before that I stay in fort mcmurray though my desire is to move to Calgary.

Is there a way one gets proper job meaning full time and no weekends. Cos all I seem to see here are part time jobs with minimum wage and no benefits.

@salford why do I have a feeling I know you. Did you school at university of Salford UK?

hmm....bros did u say university of Salford Uk? Wot year did u graduate?mine was 2013?Cheers.

God bless you Blackbuddy!!!

Wow! That was so informative.

How does one qualify for a mortgage in Canada??

Senior colleagues please!!!

Please what's the crime rate in Winnipeg? Any part of that town to avoid?

Hey StS...

Any update on your application yet? Got PPR?

SlowlybtSurely:
God bless you Blackbuddy!!!

Wow! That was so informative.

WebSurfer:
Greetings

I happen to be a cinematographer, programmer and business oriented person with steady income in the past 3 years of which i think i can work with from anywhere around the world without interferance (just that i mostly have to be paid by my Nigerian account). I am researching and seeking to relocate to Canada as soon as possible.

Though the agent I am about to use says I should try securing a US visa first but i don't know if maybe it can be acquired directly more easily.

Please can you give a tip or guildiance ?

You neither need an agent nor a US visa. Go to the link below;

https://www.nairaland.com/2624318/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled

ssemire:
Hello and greetings from Alberta Canada.
For oil jobs, your destination should be Fort McMurray which is a town, compared to Calgary.
Living in FortMc is relatively more expensive due to the fact that the wage is usually higher than the average. This because the oil sands is located in FortMc.

It is a lot easier and cheaper to cook at home as u can be sure that the time you get home is pretty predictable.

I landed at Calgary intl airport and i didn't take too long at the immigration desk.

You might have a difficult time spending money here initially because you will be converting to naira. Just breathe.

Don't be afraid to do any form of legal job for starters. It might not be at par with your naija level, but trust me anything to get your canadian experience. Please volunteer if you have to as it also counts as part of your experience.

Make use of YMCA or any other immigrant settling/serving org.

Whew..........i think i've tried. You might not get an immediate answer from me if you have other questions. But if i am able, i will drop further comments.

Congrats bro,how you adapting to life over there.Work,Weather,Family,etc.Pls continue to keep us posted ok.By Gods Grace We All Going to Make it and land there soonest.. Pls did u study at uni of Salford,UK? Saw your recent post and was wondering? I did and set of 2012/13. Cheers.

40manlappy:
You neither need an agent nor a US visa. Go to the link below;

https://www.nairaland.com/2624318/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled

Thank you for sharing this. but like i specified earlier, I am totally self employed. Apart from Financial reports all these years, i never worked for any company aside being consulted on different Jobs or freelance. so i have no documents to show for that.

joyuzo:
hmm....bros did u say university of Salford Uk? Wot year did u graduate?mine was 2013?Cheers.

I was at MMU - 07, but lived in Salford.

chimah3:
How does one qualify for a mortgage in Canada??

Senior colleagues please!!!

I only know for Alberta...
1. income (not under probation at work).
2. credit.... btw 600 & 700 (you can build this within one year)
3. down payment ....5 to 35 or more..depending on bank/personal circumstanes.%
4. sometimes location (the property itself is the collateral..how easy it is for the bank to resell it incase of foreclosures or jingles).

toyogirl:
Yeah right, I love your closing sentence.....lol...Thanks for the tips! One more thing, I tried reading up on PLASP website but cdnt find info on how/if school buses are functional in the peel region...how do you manage this? If we can't get a car immediately and the kids need to go to school, do we go the public transit route or??

Lastly, in your opinion, what part of 'Sauga city would you suggest a new immigrant settled in, at least initially?

Thanks!

There are school buses in Peel Region which encompasses Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. But the use is limited by age of the child and distance of the child's home from school. Most kids walk to school since there is a close by school designated for each neighborhood. If the school in your neighbourhood has a huge population then they will have more buses in their fleet and accommodate more people but if it's a smaller school, then younger children/physically challenged have priority. There are private bus companies however you can sign up with to pick up and drop off your kids for a fee if the regular school bus can't accommodate them.

Mississauga is a relatively safe city due to its family oriented nature, the neighborhoods are very okay and it is your budget that determines where you can find a place. The higher the rent you're paying, the better the neighborhood and features of the accommodation just like in Nigeria. The lower the rent, then you will likely be looking at low income neighborhoods just like in Nigeria. There is always a trade off to consider. So when you land, I suggest you cast your net wide and not restrict yourself to a particular area but take nearness to a shopping mall for groceries. nearest to a bus stop, clinic etc at least until you get a car.

Markab:
Good day house,

I would like to confirm the no of baggage for Egypt Air, on their website it's quite difficult to decipher, it's stated max weight is 23kg per bag for economy but I could get this question answered "how many". I'm planning on going 3-4bags.is this achievable?

It's 2 bags of 23kg each per passenger for most international airlines including Egypt Air.

Alright. ..Thanks a zillion! You've been helpful!

Blackbuddy:
There are school buses in Peel Region which encompasses Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. But the use is limited by age of the child and distance of the child's home from school. Most kids walk to school since there is a close by school designated for each neighborhood. If the school in your neighbourhood has a huge population then they will have more buses in their fleet and accommodate more people but if it's a smaller school, then younger children/physically challenged have priority. There are private bus companies however you can sign up with to pick up and drop off your kids for a fee if the regular school bus can't accommodate them.

Mississauga is a relatively safe city due to its family oriented nature, the neighborhoods are very okay and it is your budget that determines where you can find a place. The higher the rent you're paying, the better the neighborhood and features of the accommodation just like in Nigeria. The lower the rent, then you will likely be looking at low income neighborhoods just like in Nigeria. There is always a trade off to consider. So when you land, I suggest you cast your net wide and not restrict yourself to a particular area but take nearness to a shopping mall for groceries. nearest to a bus stop, clinic etc at least until you get a car.

chimah3:
How does one qualify for a mortgage in Canada??

Senior colleagues please!!!

Once you have a steady source of income, you have crossed a major hurdle. Then you need your equity or down payment. You can bring as low as 5% with the balance coming from your bank as the mortgage. Some people bring as much as 90%, depending on your financial capacity. You need to have a healthy credit score above 600 to be considered which is good rreason to have little other credit exposure and pay back your credit bills promptly.

Yes 2 bags or 23kg each. Extra 23kg is 150 USD. With BA you can pre-purchase your excess luggage, it is about 30 dollars cheaper than paying at the airport

Blackbuddy:
It's 2 bags of 23kg each per passenger for most international airlines including Egypt Air.