Your 1st week in Canada - Things you need to do immediately!

You have recently immigrated. There are a few things you need to get started. These are the basis of practically your life here. What do you need to do immediately to get going?

How will you be identified uniquely by the government?

SIN - Social Insurance Number - This is your unique identifier number i.e. similar to SSN in the US or Aadhar number in India. This is very confidential. Please keep the document very carefully and do not share it with anyone. If you arrive on a weekday before 6 PM, you can get it done in the airport itself. If not, you would need to visit "Services Canada". All you need is your passport and COPR. The airport officials also provide the address to the nearest office. So, you can get it done easily. This is the most important item for you to be able to open a bank account or purchase a car or property or file taxes and practically everything! Every family member will have a unique SIN. It is just one piece of paper.

What if you fall sick?

Health card - With your COPR and SIN, you can get your Health card created. The SIN officers told us the address of the local office. The health cards are printed immediately in Halifax. In some provinces, it arrives in a few weeks. This is very important should you need medical assistance. In case of emergency call 911. This doesn't cover dental and vision insurance. Most employers provide dental and vision insurance but it totally depends on the company's benefit plan on how much they cover. If you don't have a job initially, you might want to plan accordingly (i.e. either get all the necessary procedures done before you come or purchase insurance).

How will you commute?

Depending on where you plan on moving, do research the modes of transport. Public transportation in Halifax was much better than what we have in the US (We were in North Carolina). A lot of folks (including us) use public transport to commute. It is definitely better in cities like Toronto and Vancouver. However, it is advisable to plan on having a car, if you can afford it. It is very handy for groceries and emergencies.

How do I get a driver's license?

1. If you have a US driver's license then it can be exchanged for the Canadian license. In the driver's license office (In Nova Scotia it is called "Access Nova Scotia"), you just need your US license and COPR to be able to get the Canadian license. They will have you fill a form and then you should get the temporary license immediately. The permanent license will be mailed to your address within a month. The validity of the license is the end date of your permanent residence card i.e. 5 years.
2. If you don't have a US driver's license then you are in for the longer route. You will have to study for a written exam and give a road test. You might consider getting driving lessons to learn the rules. On passing both tests, you would be given a temporary license. The permanent license will be mailed to your address within a month. The validity of the license is the end date of your permanent residence card i.e. 5 years.

How to open a bank account?

1. Your COPR, passport and address is all you need to open a bank account. The top 5 banks are Scotiabank, TD, BMO, CIBC. Typically they have some or the other offers going on but by and large they offer similar services. 
2. Long term, we recommend opening an account with Tangerine because there are no minimum balance charges and the online experience is much better. However, the drawback is that there is no branch and so if you have any issues you will have to call up their customer service. If you already have Canadian dollars while coming in then go for Tangerine!
3. You can deposit the money (cash or forex card) in the account. You don't get a good rate in the airport. So, get it done in either bank i.e. bank of the place you are flying from or in Canadian bank.
4. Without a bank account, you won't be able to rent an apartment either because they need a bank check as deposit. 
5. We got our debit card on day one itself. It helped us to get Costco membership. Costco just takes debit card.
6. Address on bank account - Since you have landed newly in the country, you may not have an address. Use a friend's or trusted person's address for the same. You can easily change the address later. This is important because unless you have an address, you cannot open a bank account or get a driver's license.  

How do I manage expenses until I start earning?

1. International credit card - Given that it might take a few weeks or months (if you don't have a job immediately) for you to get a credit card and you may have a few expenses to set up your home or buy a car etc., it is advisable for you to come in with your international credit card so that you don't have problems while settling down. If you don't have an international credit card and you use say your local credit card, you may incur heavy transaction fees. You might want to check that your credit card provider. 
2. Canadian credit card - In order to get a credit card, you need to have a bank account and 1 pay stub before the company can issue you a credit card. Since you don't have credit history initially, you would get a credit card with lower benefits i.e. less credit limit. However, after some time, you will qualify for better programs. You need to watch out for offers. Will write a separate post on that.

Next steps -

• Planning to rent a new apartment. Here are some tips.
• Here are some tips to get a job!
• Learn about Canadian banking basics.

Hope this helps you get started with your life in Canada!
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