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| Subject: Tips for new immigrants |
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Please share the do´s and don´t(s) for new immigrants in terms of how to apply for necessary items, e.g. SIN, Drivers Licence, Bank Account, Medical Card, PR Card etc.
How to get them done fastest if you plan to come back after you apply for them to return at a later date.
Thanks.
[02-04-2005,18:52]
[**.249.225.180]
***** |
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(in reply to: Tips for new immigrants)
SIN, Drivers Licence, Bank Account, Medical Card,
I think I can answer your question even I am not PR yet. I have all those stuff already.
SIN, go to your local HRDC office.
Check out address in hrdc.gc.ca
Bring your PR visa with you. Initial SIN is free. This number is very important in the future when you apply all kinds of social benefit. Just like Social Security Number in the U.S. You have to tell your employer your SIN number before actually work, then your employer can file tax with this number.
Driver license, depends on province, regulation can be different. Basically, you have to pass computer knowledge test first and then road test for sure. Your home country´s driver license might be transfer without road test, however, you have to check out with your provincial government for sure. Remember, your home country??s driver license might only valid to drive in Canada for three month.
Actually I don??t think it might if you have U.S driver license.
bank account, need book appointment first, some banks might allow you to walk in.
Medical card may have 3-month residency requirement before applying. You might want to purchase private insurance for coverage before issue public one.
[03-04-2005,15:19]
[**.66.78.235]
Departure Bay |
(in reply to: Tips for new immigrants)
My husband landed on March 20, 2005 and the very next day he went to see for a SIN and Driver´s License.
The SIN he was not allowed to get until he is in the country permanently. We only stayed for 2 weeks and will be moving to Canada in August. She told us that they can not do the SIN unless you are currently living in Canada, which we are not. However, she could have issued him a temporary SIN number which would expire and then you would get the normal number that doesn´t expire once you live there. We decided to wait until we are there permanently. However, the process to get the SIN is very easy and straight forward.
As for the drivers licence, it depends what country you come from and which province you will live. Since my husband is from Switzerland, he is allowed to trade his Swiss drivers licence for a full Ontario Driver´s License. The only thing he needs to do is an eye test. He could have received his Ontario Licence that day but would have needed to hand in his Swiss Driver´s licence. We decided it wasn´t the best thing at that time since he still needs his Swiss licence to drive for the next 4 months before we move.
For a Medical Card in Ontario, their web site states the following for eligibility:
Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). To be eligible for Ontario health coverage you must :
* be a Canadian citizen or have immigration status as set out in Ontario´s Health Insurance Act, and
* make your permanent and principal home in Ontario, and
* be physically present in Ontario 153 days in any 12-month period.
OHIP coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario. The ministry strongly encourages new and returning residents to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the OHIP waiting period.
But I must stress this next point from experience. If you apply for OHIP, make sure you have a piece photo ID that has your address in Ontario on it. They will only issue the OHIP card once they see another piece of photo ID with your current address.
I hope this information helps you!
[03-04-2005,16:21]
[**.238.132.147]
starchief |
(in reply to: Tips for new immigrants)
wow, Ontario asks for 1 year, that´s too long, B.C only asks for 3 month. nobody want to stick with private insurance for long right? Too expensive.
Does Ontario cover prescription drugs?
for those who want to land in B.C, there is a separate form called" fair pharmacy" something like that, it??s free extra coverage for any British Columbia residents. Once you register that, you don??t have to pay most of prescription drugs issues by your family doctors. Before issue fair pharmacy coverage, you need SIN, and your income should be less than 30,000. Most of new landed immigrants wouldn??t do tax return last year, so you are fine.
By the way, for work permit or student visa people, if you have done your last year Tax return and do making less than 30,000/annual, you are eligible for fair pharmacy too. Lots of my friends didn??t know. Drugs are expensive in B.C, not sure about other province, you probably spent 70 bucks just purchase flu drugs, it??s better have coverage.
Those are my tips, hopefully can help you.
[03-04-2005,16:35]
[**.66.78.235]
Departure Bay |
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