₦airaland Forum

salford1:
Inno what? I have never heard of that school or college. Better you stay with Bow Valley or SAIT Polytechnic.

my thoughts as well. Never head of innotech. Sait or bvc for sure.

sweetrie:
Thank you very much

you are welcome.

rainazoe:
@vcole Hey Mama. I intend to have my baby in early 2019 but can't prove 3 months residency because I returned to Naija after landing and would likely return to Naija shortly after having my baby too so would likely pay cash.
I know you answered a similar question but I can't locate the response but how do I go about it. Do you also advise that I use midwives? Thanks

Hey rainazoe. I have no idea how paying out of pocket works. If you already applied for a health card, you would be unable to pay cash because your services would be automatically billed to your provincial health insurance.

Hi everyone.

@pmag2018, i flew air canada from London to Calgary, service was really good. Westjet is usually cheapest from gatwick to major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary et al. It's a 8.5hr flight. I don't think you would have any issues. It is a buget airline, so no in flight entertainment and you may need to pay for your meal in flight if you want. In addition, you would pay for your luggage. From the UK, it'll be $/£25 for your first bag and $/£35 for the second. I've flown westjet for domestic flights as well as to Mexico. They are okay, not luxurious but would get you from point A to B without a dent in your pocket.

@sweetrie, I would advice that you obtain your drivers license before moving to Canada. Since your spouse would be commuting, it would be better for you to have a license that would allow you drive if need be. With a class 7 license here, you can't drive without a class 5 holder in the front seat. When your naija license hits the 1yr mark from date of issue, you can then take the test and apply for a class 5 basic (gdl) license.

@ everyone asking about expired licenses, your expired license would be accepted for gdl exemption as long as it is the frsc biometric one and has the required driving experience for exemption. For the person who asked about the temporary license (as long as the first issue date on it is same as the first issue date on the expired license then that's fine), personally I wouldn't bother giving them the temporary license.

koonlay5:
Got to realize in some places, Car is not a luxury, especially if you have kids.

you are right. I think that generally in north america, owning a car is a basic necessity.

Newmum0615:
I am extremely terrified about landing during the winter season. How do y'all cope? I have a little boy

you dress warm. Get a car, underground parking, good winter tires. Go out when necessary and wait out the 6 months. Lol! Don't be terrified. You will survive. Your lil boy would even love it.

Newmum0615:
Can everyone take a seat please? It’s going to be quite a read.

It’s my turn.

PPR has come to the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost..

newmum!!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg!!!!!!!! Congrats. Sooooo happy for you. Chop ehug n kizz. It's only natural to develop cold feet. You are literally packing up your life and heading towards the "unknown" but "safe" never made for an interesting story.

veleta:
@Vcole,nice contribution but you don't need to work in Uk for a year or 2 years to get into post graduate training in Family Medicine. Once you get your GMC licence,you can take the Specialty Recruitment exams and if you pass,you start your training.Some guys work for 6 months to get Uk experience then sit for the exams so,it's not compulsory.
Though,some people say Aussie is better than Canada in terms of pay as well as work/life balance.

i didn't say you "have" to work for 1 or 2yrs. I said most people work for 1 or 2yrs. Just saying in an attempt at keeping it realistic for anyone who may come across our discussions. Different factors play into that timeline. In most cases it is not exactly for the sake of specialty exams, it is for networking purposes in order to gain good references and acceptance into their intended spot. IMGs who get into a residency spot within 6 months of obtaining a GMC license are often the minority and not majority from what I have gathered. Then again, I may be wrong. I do agree with you about Oz and that "chill" lifestyle

As regards IMGs and practicing in Canada.

Yes, if you are a licensed consultant in Canada, UK or Australia, you can practice in all 3 countries.

At the moment, due to issues doctors had with the former UK health minister and extending call hours and less pay, a lot of UK docs moved to Australia to practice there seeing as they get better pay, work conditions and better hours. This has left a major gap in the availability of docs in the UK. Hence, obtaining a GMC license to work in the UK is the new hustle for foreign trained docs. You pass your exams and you get offered a job super fast. It's usually as an emergency physician but most people do that for a year or 2 and network properly and then get a family medicine residency spot. That takes 3 years and then they become consultants. Once this happens, said individual can move to Canada and work as a family physician.

So whoever advised joo2018's sister advised right. If she is interested in clinical medicine I would certainly advice her to do that, especially now because those UK jobs may not be available forever.

As regards Canadian migration, if I were her I would obtain Pr via EE now because immigration laws change all the time and you never know if she would qualify in the future. I would advice her to land after PR, go back to school for a post grad degree for 2yrs within which she would have met the requirement to renew PR after 5yrs. Then, move to the UK, finish residency, renew PR then move back to Canada if she so desires after she completes residency.

Ethelia:
Hmn, I understand and I've been seriously thinking about it. The 183 days requirement, must it be within the first year? or is it like pr card renewal that can be fulfilled within 5 years?

Thanks.

183 days within a 12 month period. So 6 months consecutively within 1 year.

Ethelia:
Thank you very much, you have been most helpful!
The short landing will likely be for around 3 - 4 months. So long as the penalty will just be to refund costs (not that I'll loose the PR status), then I don't mind repaying the medical bills if it comes to it... I have family in Alberta if not I would have just gone to Toronto and paid upfront to avoid the future worries.
Thanks once again

you're welcome. You should consider staying 6 months though. Refund costs with interest accrued years later easily runs into 6 figures.....plus rules change everyday. Last year a dui for a pr meant nothing, this year it could mean inability to renew pr. It's ultimately your decision though.

Ethelia:
1. How comfortable was the trip? did you have a straight flight or is it better to take a connecting one so I can rest and stretch my feet between flights?

2. Thinking of landing in Alberta, how easy or stressful was it getting a doctors appointment and Obgyn in such a short period?

3. Are there any particular documents the Obgyn requested for to make the process easier? (I already intend to take all lab and scan results with me)

4. Costs; I've already done some baby shopping seeing as its just a short landing, is it more economical to take the baby stuff I have with me or is it cheaper to just buy there? I'm not very particular about our local food so I don't need to use more than 40% of my baggage allowance for foodstuff.

Thanks a lot

Hi. @short landing, how short would it be? I do not mean to scare you, just for informational purposes. Please bear in mind that alberta health care covers you as long as you would be resident in the province for 183 days within a 1 year period. So if you intend to leave before you have met this requirement, take into consideration that technically you would be required to repay the cost of all health services used before, during and after your child's birth. Some people have gotten away with short landing and health care but you just never know, sometimes the government chooses to audit and you just may get a bill in the mail like 10yrs later with accrued interest. Lol!

To answer your questions
1. I was in London for a bit before I came here so I didn't have a long haul. I flew air canada here, trip was 8.5hrs and was pretty easy. If you are a bit concerned, maybe try to get compression socks and limit your stop overs to just 1.

2. Pretty easy. Once you get your health card, you register at the nearest or preferred family practice to you and they would provide prenatal care up until they can get you a referral to an obgyn or a midwife dependent on your choice and availability. If I'm not mistaken, prenatal care is usually managed by family physicians up until 28 or 32 weeks (not sure) when they get referred to an obgyn.However, for uncomplicated normal pregnancies you may get managed by your family physician up until delivery though.

3. Medical records, earliest and most recent ultrasounds (all scans if you do have them), blood work especially hiv, hep screen, rubella, etc. But not to worry, they would repeat all of them anyway if you don't.

4. Well, it depends on what kinda stuff you wanna bring. I packed lots of baby gear, car seats, stroller, bassinet, booster seat, swing, high chair, etc etc etc. Then again, i was relocating. Since you are not gonna stay back, I think that you should consider bringing just the most important things that you hold dear. Then baby clothes if you do have them. You'll be here for fall/winter, so you'll most likely get warmer clothing here on demand and baby gear can always be purchased for cheaper on kijiji if you don't mind getting used items.

I hope this helps.

Ethelia:
Thanks dear, God has been faithful.
Regarding the stress, I'm really trying not to think about it Want to use this time to find out as much info as possible so I'll be well prepared. I'm yet to read up on the experience of anyone who landed and had a baby soon after

hello. I had a baby 7 weeks after landing. What would you like to know?

DereI:
Heeeey, nice to see you here again

heeeyyyy heeyyy. @fusion23 @newmum hailings to you too.

Hello everyone. It has been forever. Happy to see the thread is moving along. Congrats to all newly landed PRs and those with imminent landing. Welcome to Newmum! I don dey wait you for here since.

On the issue of invitations and sponsorships, I may be wrong but the ability to sponsor a spouse or relative as a PR is contingent on not receiving social assistance aka welfare at the time (or within 1yr) of the application.

alt3r3g0:
Just to add...I was given a 24hr visa @ POE when switching airports with BA so u don't need to officially apply for a uk visa.
Cc: @blessings2017

were you a landed immigrant already at the time? Canada has a TWOV (transit without visa) agreement for their PRs with the UK. It means you can transit through the country without an existing visa(usually as long as your flight leaves by midnight of that day or within 24hrs I'm not sure of exact duration). However, this TWOV is entirely at the discretion of the UK border official.

salford1:
Usually about $45 to $50 per class. But tgey usually have discounts if you take a set minimum number of classes.

you are right. The rules haven't changed. <1year driving experience = class 7 for 1yr, then 3 yrs GDL until a full G class license, 1yr but less than 2yrs = class 7, waiver from gdl to take basic road test and then when driving experience has clocked 2yrs, clearance to take class 5 advanced road test. 2yrs experience and above, clearance to take advanced road test. As at last year, most driving instructors charged $110 for 2hrs. This does not include places like AMA driving school though, they are more expensive. @htc2017, click on my moniker and try to read my posts from August, 2017, I believe I dropped some tips there. In summary, read the book, practice driving, watch youtube videos, if you're in Calgary get your road test done at a NE registry, get an instructor for about an hour to take you through the test routes prior to the test.

Let me just drop this here. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/become-candidate/eligibility/skilled-trades.html#noc
Barbers can apply for PR under skilled trades.

TheCongo2:
Take your money and put it as a down payment on a new house. RBC bank has a program that assists new immigrant in purchasing their new home in Canada. Visit a RBC branch for more details. You have to be living in Canada for less than 2 years to qualify for that program.There will be no credit check.
There is no better investment than purchasing a home.
Do that and thanks me later.

RBC seems to have some attractive newcomer packages. I should explore this before my 2 year mark.
Modified: quick read....requirement is to have 2yrs full time employment in Canada and then 20% down payment and u qualify for a conventional mortgage. Otherwise, if you have a minimum of 3mths full time employment n have immigrated as a pr within the last 5yrs, you pay 35% down and qualify. Exceptions may apply if the individual meets all other criteria but does not have the 35%.

I think cibc has a newcomer package too.

Hello shadetwins and other expectant-soon-to-land PRs.

I really don't know if I have the best answers. I haven't bought a lotta kids clothes since I got here cos I got lots of clothes as gifts. Also, you don't need to buy in bulk cos the season would change and your baby may wind up not wearing most of em. However, stores I would recommend, in no particular order are Walmart, Joe fresh (superstore), Gymboree, Winners, Marshalls, Baby Gap, The Children's Place.

There are also thrift stores like onceuponachild, online forums where people sell and resell like varagesale app or facebook communities.

Clothes are cheaper in Toronto (or so I hear) and are cheaper in the states.

rainazoe:
I just landed like few days ago but made a bank deposit. Can I get a statement to use?

yes. The bank can get you one or any mail that they send to your postal address. If you have not decided to stay in Ontario, then you may wanna delay applying for a health card seeing as it would only kick in by d 3rd month.

@rainazoe, welcome.

Fusion23:
Calgary is also a nice place

you came to smell our air small. Lol!

As regards the question asked about moving funds from account or cash. I recently had to help out with apartment search for new PRs landing soon and I found that quite a number of landlords are asking to see the declaration of cash made at immigration on arrival as proof that you can afford to pay the rent. Also, I found that a lot of landlords, on finding out that I was looking for an apartment for migrants from Nigeria, quickly asked to be sure they were not refugees. This is in stark contrast to my experience last year.
It appears landlords are becoming more stringent on my end, no thanks to the recent publicity about Nigerians on the news.

So anyway, you may need to factor these changes when deciding how much funds you want to travel with or transfer via your bank account.

Thanks @rainazoe @vascey @muchiao Very useful info.
How long did it take you in total? Is an estimated 4-6mths realistic? Also if you have cpa ontario or bc membership, is it possible to transfer it to anothet province?

Hi everyone. It's been a while. Tried to catch up on the thread. 280 pages plus! Congrats to all recent landed immigrants, ppr recipients, ppr hopefuls, etc.
@virt @rainazoe @happytbaby @honey86 plus anyone with experience regarding the acca to cpa conversion, mbok can you help me with a link to info about how long it takes and whether only cpa ontario and cpa bc accept apps for the conversion? Does cpa alberta accept it? Just trying to garner info for a friend who is in the process. As I am quite clueless about the kinks around the cpa thingy, whatever info you have would be quite helpful. Thanks in advance.
@bbaby84, i had my own scare last week when my almost 4yo decided to take himself and his younger sibling visiting down d hall to a neighbour's house unbeknownst to me. It was a nightmare....one that has led to extra locks installation.

Fyorgyn:
Hello people!

I don use style become Canada EE evangelist...lol.

A friend of mine has a degree in Pharmacy and an MPH. She does have about 6 years experience working as a pharmacist BUT in the last 3 years she has been working with international organisations using her public health degree.

She doesn't want the stress and extra cost of PEBC and wants to only evaluate her (ivy league) MPH with WES. She also does not intend to practice Pharmacy in Canada (at least for now)

Can she claim points for her Pharmacy experience? Getting reference letter for the work experience is not a problem. Can she "claim" to be a pharmacist without evaluating her pharmacy degree?

Thank you.

hey. If she intends to claim points for work experience as a pharmacist, then she needs to evaluate her bpharm or Pham d with pebc. If she wants to claim work experience in her non-pharmacy role over the past 3 yrs, she only needs her mph evaluated and reference letter(s) from her employer(s) over this period. If she did not work as a pharmacist during those 6 yrs but as a sales rep, she can evaluate her bpharm or pharmD with wes or iqas and get points for a bachelor's degree and use ref letters as sales rep.

TheCanadianDrm:
@newmum0615, @happytbaby, @GlitteringStar, @dupyshoo, @blackbuddy, @40manlappy, @vcole, @cochtrane @boldinc, @bbay84, "Canadianfly Could you be so kind as to look into my case? Please offer your advise

@Everyone. Pardon me for tagging a few, kindly offer your own advice. I just wanted it to appear in their mentions too.

Thank you everyone.

hi. I really have no experience with your issue. Did you go through the criteria on the CIC website as regards documentation for minors? If you meet the criteria and have provided the necessary documents then you should get approved. However, if you can only bring a biological or adopted child, you may have to pursue adoption in another legal jurisdiction outside of Lagos.

Thanks @patterns18. Congrats @kay2011!

kazchick:
@canadianfly & @vcolle, pls can i pm you

I'll prefer if you ask your questions here for the benefit of others.

Ugoiyke79e! Welcome!!!!!!!!!