Going to Canada, Part 2

By Tess Guieb
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: April 22, 2009

From the first part of this article, the question that everyone might be asking is, what happens after the interview at the embassy?

The next step is the medical examination that is done in one of the Canadian embassy’s accredited clinics. Everyone in the family has to go through this, but only those 18 years old and above need the HIV screening.

The Canadian government pays particular attention to the chest x-ray results and the medical files are not submitted to the embassy unless you have a clean bill of health. In my case, I had to be referred to several specialists for a thorough examination because I declared my kidney and thyroid problems. It was only after the specialists had certified that I have no serious health condition did the clinic send all the results to the embassy.

Three months after we have confirmed transmittal of the medical documents, we received a request letter from the embassy to bring all our passports for visa issuance which took around three days. On the day I got them, I felt like wearing them like a badge for everyone to see.

Settlement funds

Now there is one very important thing to remember which I failed to mention before. Whatever settlement funds required by the Canadian Immigration Office should not be withdrawn from the bank for any reason until the visas have been issued because a final random check is done on the documents submitted. It would be very disappointing to get denied after having gone through all this. I have heard of some cases when the check revealed there are insufficient or no funds at all and the application was denied outright.

The Philippine government requires individuals who qualify as permanent residents to attend a pre-departure orientation seminar and the government of Canada also funds other free seminars as well. The ones offered by the Commission on Filipino Overseas are divided into two: the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS), and the Peer Counseling Program.

The PDOS is a one-day seminar compulsory for all immigrants 13 years old and older and covers travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, as well as rights and obligations. The Peer Counseling Program is also a one-day seminar compulsory for children of immigrants ages 13 to 19 to help facilitate their adjustment to a new environment. The fees for these seminars are available in the CFO website.

There is also a free voluntary seminar for adults in the Skilled Worker Category conducted by the Canadian Immigration Integration Project. This day-and-a-half seminar is intended to guide new immigrants through the integration process from the country of origin to their arrival in Canada. It focuses more on the labor market and economy trends which will help in the job searching process. Attending all these seminars is quite helpful as it will give an overview of what to expect upon arrival in Canada.

Packing

After all this is over comes the most stressful part—packing. What should we bring and what should we leave behind? Since I have a big family, I realized the one month I allotted was not enough. First, I collated original and certified copies of important personal documents such as birth certificates, baptismal certificates, marriage certificates, school records, diplomas or certifications, reference letters, immunization records, dental and other health records, driver’s license including an International Driver’s License (this will allow you to drive in Canada for 90 days), vehicle insurance records (proof of no claim for at least 3 years), and other legal documents. I kept photocopies of all these papers just in case they get lost or misplaced.

Canada allows first-time immigrants to bring personal and household items for a period of three years tax-free. These may include furniture, vehicles, appliances, books, tools, clothes, musical instruments, etc. It literally means bringing the contents of your entire house if you can. However, there are also items that are not allowed to be brought in which you can find in the immigration website. I had some of our stuff shipped at least a month before we left so that by the time we got there, the goods have arrived at almost the same time.

There are lots of freight companies that handle these types of shipment and can accommodate from boxes to crates of items. I decided to bring in as much as I can so that we do not have to spend a lot of money buying things we already had. It may seem absurd but it is the most practical thing to do knowing that there are no jobs waiting for us when we get there.

Kitchen items like pots and pans, utensils, potholders, plates, glasses, cutlery, placemats, microwaveable containers are just some examples. I even brought packed noodles, bouillon cubes, tamarind soup base mix, and others which may be needed for the first few days. The first time we shopped I cannot help but convert the prices of items to Philippine peso and ended up regretting why I did not ship this and that along with our stuff.

I also brought vitamins and medicines which the kids normally use when they get sick such as paracetamol, antihistamines, inhalers, cough and cold remedies, and the like because in British Columbia, three months residency is required to qualify for the health care benefit. That means, if a family member gets sick, you need to shell out C$40 to C$50 for consultation fee alone.

There is no need to worry though about bringing in furniture unless they are antiques because it is very easy to buy those stuff from here. There are plenty of garage sales especially during spring and summertime that it is very easy to find quality items at a cheap price.

So having accomplished everything, it was time to bid adieu to all our families and friends. Tears flowed each time we attended a despedida (farewell party) because we were very close to our families and have made really good friends over the years. I told my colleagues on my last day in the office that the thought of waking up to a totally different environment from what I have been used to in the last forty years frightens me most.

What does Canada hold for us?