Chibudollar: man thanks for this because I usually read up on reviews from people already there and it always seems like the negative reviews outweighs the good, that's why I asked
There are positive reviews too. Everyone has different paths you know. Just do your research, make adequate plans and prepare for the best and the worst.
I'd like to share my landing gist even though it is coming way too late. I came under the weather after my arrival but I'm perfectly fine now!
So I left Nigeria on the 5th of February. I had booked my flight on EgyptAir mobile app. It was very seamless. Perhaps too seamless because I began to wonder if that was all. I had to call a friend to ask if there was any other thing I was expected to do, lol. A day before my departure date, I got a mail from the airline instructing me to check in and change my sitting arrangement if required. Of course, I changed to window seats. Fast-forward to my departure date, I got to the airport 4 hours earlier. I was told my friend that came to see me off couldn't enter the airport building; only travelers were allowed to pass. Well, when we got to the entrance, I gave him my hand luggage to hold and he simply walked as if he was the one traveling. When it was my turn to enter, an officer stopped me and told me that only travelers were allowed in - to him, my friend was the actual traveler, lol. I told him I was traveling too and he asked to see my papers but stopped me halfway when he noticed I was boldly bringing them out. My luggage went through the scanning machine and my egusi container caught the attention of the officer on duty. She asked me to bring it out, I did and everyone laughed about it. This was the only time my luggage was opened.
Already inside the airport, I proceeded to weigh my luggage and just like I anticipated, I had excess kg. Funny thing is that the stuff I was taking to my sister who stays in the US primarily accounted for the excess kg. After a long drama with the young man in charge, we decided to settle out of court and I moved on to check in the luggage. It was both funny and annoying when the lady at the check-in counter said to me, "bro, I chose windows seats for you on both flights". What!? Seats that I chose myself? Anyway, she didn't get more than a cold "thank you".
The flight from Lagos to Cairo was smooth and uneventful. When we got to Cairo, I realized most of the people on-board with me were actually not going to Canada. I was on my own, I didn't know where next to go. The janitor I tried asking for direction simply said "no English!". While walking around thinking of how I'd write the story of a young man who got lost in Egypt, I saw an elderly lady from Middle East who was also looking for the waiting place for those taking the connecting flight to Canada. Actually, she was the one that called my attention and suggested we stay together since we had the same quest. Like a strict mother, she said "follow me! We must stay together, it's better that way!". I found that funny; I should be guiding her and not the other way round. Anyway, I'm glad I followed her cause she had a lot of stories to tell; a good way to pass time.
It was another smooth flight from Egypt to Canada. On arrival, I queued with Non-Canadians. When it got to my turn, the officer asked how much I had with me, did the stamping and said congratulations. I was going to thank her when I noticed she stamped wrong arrival dates on both papers - 5th instead of 6th. I called her attention to it, she apologized and corrected them with a pen (I still don't know the implication of this error). I went ahead to do my SIN and afterwards, went to pick up my luggage and this was where I got the shocker of my life! I couldn't find one of my bags! I quickly reported this to an airport official who took me around the premises looking for the missing bag. We eventually found it on the floor isolated from the rest of the bags. I took a closer look and saw that it was torn at both ends; apparently, it was dropped on the floor. My beans container was also smashed. I gathered everything like that and moved on. There was no way I'd let these events spoil my Canadian excitement! I went ahead to change a few dollar notes, changed into my useless winter attire, ordered Uber and went straight to my Airbnb apartment. I don't need to mention that I littered the entire airport waiting hall with beans as I was walking.
I opened a bank account and got my SIM card the same day - I did both in a mall a walking distance away from my Airbnb location. I could not get a phone cause the shops there don't take down payment; I had to got to Yorkdale the next day to buy one. I might still leave the province so I left drivers' license and health insurance card for now. As they say, it's really not difficult to settle in a developed city.
Thank you guys for everything!
Welcome to Canny. May the land favour you. Your story reminded me of my landing experience. I could not find one of my bags and it was returned 8 days later. Ethiopian airline.lol.
Well. Assuming you are coming in with a PR, depends on what skills you bring with you. Do you have a skill that is in demand like some IT skills? Do you need to sit for regulatory exams?
No doubt, Canada's good job market can be tough to break into due to competition and few job opportunities (remember that the country brings in 300,000 immigrants per year). It can also be a very expensive country to live in, but one thing is certain, you will not starve. In the short term, there are plenty of survival jobs to keep you going.
You can also change careers if you so desire. There are many lucrative courses/careers you can explore. Just research what course you feel you would excel in, and check if it is demand in your province of choice. Target employers that offer descent wage/benefits. You don't want to get stuck with a student loan debt after studying a course with bad prospect. My employer just hired a smart 22 years old Nigerian recent grad of a regular 2 years instrumentation tech diploma from a community college here in Canada. Excluding bonus, starting wage is 90k. In 3 years, his salary would be 101k with yearly 2% increase till 2022. With OT, he is looking at atleast 150k per year. Interestingly, he doesn't even have a PR yet, he is currently on a pgwp.
My advice - Be adaptable, be agile, be ready to explore the country especially if you are young. Don't always follow the herd, dare to be different. There are many successful immigrants story. Check out the negative ones to see what you can learn from them. Also focus on the good ones, and check out the moves they made to achieve success.
Good luck.
In other news: Follow/subscribe to Marina Esiri's YouTube channel. She offers excellent info (like weekly videos) about living in Canada for free. She is currently on a series about common mistakes immigrants make in Canada which I feel is beneficial.
I emphasized free because information that's freely shared on Nairaland or other social media are now being sold by some on twitter and facebook/Instagram.
You can also change careers if you so desire. There are many lucrative courses/careers you can explore. Just research what course you feel you would excel in, and check if it is demand in your province of choice. Target employers that offer descent wage/benefits. You don't want to get stuck with a student loan debt after studying a course with bad prospect. My employer just hired a smart 22 years old Nigerian recent grad of a regular 2 years instrumentation tech diploma from a community college here in Canada. Excluding bonus, starting wage is 90k. In 3 years, his salary would be 101k with yearly 2% increase till 2022. With OT, he is looking at atleast 150k per year. Interestingly, he doesn't even have a PR yet, he is currently on a pgwp.
Just sitting right here, feeling small.
Please is there vacancy in this your company? I've zero experience in Engineering/Tech, but I can do all things through Christ.
damzy88: Welcome to Canny. May the land favour you. Your story reminded me of my landing experience. I could not find one of my bags and it was returned 8 days later. Ethiopian airline.lol.
Ontario, through osap, give 28k for each session of your course. My wife is getting twice that amount for the two years of her course at Sheridan College. 40k is grant and 16k is loan.
Please can you enlighten me on how the grant is 40k and loan is 16k. When I used the OSAP calculator the grant was so little I did not bother. Please explain.
Influential101: If machine detects anything in your bag at Toronto airport, they're entitled to open it and if your bag is locked or there's no means to open it, they'll tear it because you wouldn't be there..
There are other cases too.. it has nothing to do with the airline..if you don't want your bag torn, leave it accessible incase there's need to search it..
Wow!! Does leaving it open not create more unwanted access to it, even from naija here?
Habbeys: THE SHOCK OF DIFFERENCE (Musings of a Nigerian). I am not one who is liberal in the usage of my tongue for the purposes of cursing, but I may have been tempted to so do lately. What has prompted this temptation you may want to ask, well, quite a few things. For one, the difference in the...
I tried so hard, but I honestly can't relate to this. Doesn't reflect my experience as a Nigerian
The senior ladies here, I'm curious...please what hairstyle did you make before relocating. I don't know what to do to my hair. I have a couple of wigs, but I get sick of wigs easily. Don't know if to braid for now. Please advice. We move by next month.
pearlobi: The senior ladies here, I'm curious...please what hairstyle did you make before relocating. I don't know what to do to my hair. I have a couple of wigs, but I get sick of wigs easily. Don't know if to braid for now. Please advice. We move by next month.
braids o. me i will do kinky and carry it for 4 months. I will use spirit to be cleaning it.
pearlobi: The senior ladies here, I'm curious...please what hairstyle did you make before relocating. I don't know what to do to my hair. I have a couple of wigs, but I get sick of wigs easily. Don't know if to braid for now. Please advice. We move by next month.
If can even apply, literally, from.the airport as soon s you land.
On a serious note I'll advise you settle down a little, like getting some basic things done, such as opening an account, having an apartment, phone number, health card and all that. But it doesn't really require much.
Also, say for instance, either of the partner, if you're two, is working, they'll need your partner's pay slip. And one very important thing is an evidence that you actually live in Ontario which your health card or lease agreement should be able to cover.
Let me know if there's any other information you need
Sorry to bother what was your peculiar situation to have got this much amount of money? What course is your wife studying? What income bracket was declared? I can send you a PM if these questions appear too private.
Sorry to bother what was your peculiar situation to have got this much amount of money? What course is your wife studying? What income bracket was declared? I can send you a PM if these questions appear too private.
1. Single earner in the family 2. Earner out of job at the time of application I think 3. Couple with kids 4. Wife, the recipient, is not working 5. That's all I can remember
Please can you enlighten me on how the grant is 40k and loan is 16k. When I used the OSAP calculator the grant was so little I did not bother. Please explain.
I think the prerogative is with the approving officer. Secondly, it also depends on the family income, number of people in the family and all that. I really don't know.
It's truly beautiful but always looking deserted. My concern number 1. Can you share me your WhatsApp number so I can see more pictures of my soon-to-be home?
Royalty1: Don’t give up on your dreams. Canada is beautiful and awaits you.
If can even apply, literally, from.the airport as soon s you land.
On a serious note I'll advise you settle down a little, like getting some basic things done, such as opening an account, having an apartment, phone number, health card and all that. But it doesn't really require much.
Also, say for instance, either of the partner, if you're two, is working, they'll need your partner's pay slip. And one very important thing is an evidence that you actually live in Ontario which your health card or lease agreement should be able to cover.
Let me know if there's any other information you need
1)What of for a newly wedded couple without kids that just land without jobs ..maybe they both wants to go back to skul e.g PGD/MSC ... will they be given the Loan n grant...
2) do they pay the money into your bank account as cash or OSAP pays straight to the school emg Seneca,Humber college etc.
pearlobi: The senior ladies here, I'm curious...please what hairstyle did you make before relocating. I don't know what to do to my hair. I have a couple of wigs, but I get sick of wigs easily. Don't know if to braid for now. Please advice. We move by next month.
I cut my hair. Bought human hair and braided wigs. Till further notice.
bigwizzy001: It's truly beautiful but always looking deserted. My concern number 1. Can you share me your WhatsApp number so I can see more pictures of my soon-to-be home?
Toronto in my opinion is the only congested city. I don't know much about Vancouver and this is because there are lots of good cities in Canada. From Montreal to Edmonton, to Saks, Ottawa, Winnepeg and so on. It's not like Nigeria where we have Lagos, Abuja and PH. People can also live in smaller towns and earn good money and live well. The fact that the city isn't crowded doesn't mean people are not having the time if their lives. The peace i have in Canada, i didn't have it in Nigeria. Unwanted problems don't just arise and I can plan my life and financies to the T.
1)What of for a newly wedded couple without kids that just land without jobs ..maybe they both wants to go back to skul e.g PGD/MSC ... will they be given the Loan n grant...
2) do they pay the money into your bank account as cash or OSAP pays straight to the school emg Seneca,Humber college etc.
Tnx
You can apply for student aid. For Alberta, the school requests that their own part gets paid directly to them, whatever balance is remaining gets paid into your account directly.
You can also change careers if you so desire. There are many lucrative courses/careers you can explore. Just research what course you feel you would excel in, and check if it is demand in your province of choice. Target employers that offer descent wage/benefits. You don't want to get stuck with a student loan debt after studying a course with bad prospect. My employer just hired a smart 22 years old Nigerian recent grad of a regular 2 years instrumentation tech diploma from a community college here in Canada. Excluding bonus, starting wage is 90k. In 3 years, his salary would be 101k with yearly 2% increase till 2022. With OT, he is looking at atleast 150k per year. Interestingly, he doesn't even have a PR yet, he is currently on a pgwp.
Hi Salford is this for a PM role or a project coordinator/assistant PM role? Being that he is fresh out of school?
Hi Salford is this for a PM role or a project coordinator/assistant PM role? Being that he is fresh out of school?
It's not a PM or P.coordinator/assistant role. It would be rare to get a PM role straight out of school. For alot of organization, atleast 5 years of project experience may be required. However, one can get a PM assistant/cord straight out of school. It's a unionized plant position in the energy (non-oil) industry.
Please I'm currently running my ICAN and by his Grace I will be done this year.. But I heard that wes does not recognize ICAN exemption with CIMA.. please how true is this??
safex: @bolded exactly why I was also considering doing CPA straight. Though I learned CPA is damn expensive and could take up to two years hence ACCA still remains the best (fast & cheap) of the options IMO The grant is called recognition grant, I know nothing about it though. The cima route is risky as it's not acceptable in some provinces
