Immigrating to Canada

Immigration can seem daunting, with its mountains of paperwork and uncertainty of timelines, but if you arm yourself with as much information as possible, it gets a lot easier and simpler. And, well, that’s what we’re here for! Both Ferne and Nina have done multiple international moves to and from Canada, both with their own families and for clients, so let them share their wisdom with you.

General Tips
Make sure you have all of your paperwork on you, plus copies. If you have an inkling that you might need something, bring it with you. This means not only your passport, but could also include:

• A copy of your completed visa application
• Your marriage certificate, if you have one; Canada recognizes same-sex marriages legally performed abroad
  
• Your own and your children’s birth certificates
  
• Any correspondence you received regarding your visa
• A letter from your lawyer, if you have one
  
• Your new address and phone number, and the address and phone number of a friend or relative in Toronto who can vouch for you
  
• A copy of the deed to your property or your mortgage documents
  
• A copy of your job offer letter
  
• Your pet’s veterinary records and immigration papers
  

Get some Canadian money from your bank before you enter Canada, so you don’t have to worry about cash machine compatibility.

We’re sure this is a no-brainer, but we’re going to say it anyway: make absolutely certain that you have no illegal substances on your person or in your vehicle when you enter Canada.

Don’t bring plants across the border, both for your own sake – it’s illegal – and the sake of the Canadian ecosystem. Remember kudzu.

Always cooperate with a smile. It makes both your life and the border guard’s life so much easier.

If you’re coming by air…
Bring a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage, in the unlikely event that your bags decide to take a vacation without you!

Go to the washroom after you get off the plane and before standing in line at customs, especially if you have young kids.

Arrange in advance for an airport limousine, especially if you’ll be arriving during a busy time of day. Toronto airport limos will agree on a flat fare with you when you book, so you know exactly how much you’ll be paying (tip is normally 15% or so).

If you have pets, make sure you liaise with the airline beforehand to arrange passage for them. It’s also a good idea to call your destination airport – most likely Pearson – and find out about their animal handling policies.

If you’re coming by land…
If possible, try to cross at one of the less busy border crossings. Peace Bridge is lovely and all, but the line-ups can be fierce.   

Don’t lock your suitcases, and make sure to pack them well. In case you’re asked to open them at the border, it’s a lot easier to repack nicely folded clothes and put-together books and toys than a jumbled mess.

Fill up your tank soon before you get to the border, in case you end up idling for a while.

If you have kids, bring a portable DVD player or other form of engrossing entertainment, in case there’s a delay at the border.

If you have pets, keep them in a crate or a cage while you are being inspected. Make sure to present their papers to the border guard.

 
So, you’ve decided to move. Congratulations! This is an exciting and exhilarating time, but it doesn’t comewithout frustration. Hopefully this detailed checklist, along with the other information on the site, will help ease your way to a happy transition.

Look into school enrolment for your children, if you have them. Which public school will they be going to? How will they get there: school bus, walking or driving? What sorts of programs are offered? It’s often a good idea to set up a meeting, either on the phone or in person, with your child’s new principal and/or teacher(s), to smooth the transition between the old school and the new.

This is the time to look into getting a new family doctor, so that you can have uninterrupted care. You should also contact your current doctor and, if you have a pet, your veterinarian. You’ll want to get your medical records sent over to your new doc, especially if you have any ongoing health issues.

Start thinking about the floor plan of your new home. Decide which room will serve what purpose. In addition, you’ll want to think about which things to unpack first, and which rooms take priority in setting up: you won’t be able to unpack everything in a day. If you can, visit your new home and take measurements. This will help you to decide which of your belongings to bring with you and which to leave behind or sell. If you have a car, you need to decide whether to drive it alongside the moving truck or ship it separately – or both, if you have more than one.

Get a few estimates from shipping companies, or plot your route on a mapping tool like Google Maps. Start putting together a budget for your move. This is the time to prioritize: most people have a limited budget, so where do you want your money to go? Do you need someone to pack your belongings for you, or can you pack them yourself and spend the money on a faster shipping method? Can you use recycled boxes from family and friends’ moves? Will you bring your furniture with you, or will you sell it and buy new furniture when you get to your destination? If you’re moving from overseas, will your electronics work in Canada?

6 Or More Weeks In Advance
Start packing. Yes, already. Confirm your moving date and moving company. If you’re flexible with your dates, you might be able to cut a deal: because mid-month and mid-week are less popular times to move, some companies will offer discounted rates for these times.

Buy your plane or train tickets if you’re moving long distance. If you have a pet, confirm their travel
arrangements with the airline or train company.

Take a look at community groups you might join, and contact them. Most will be delighted to welcome new members and may offer to send you a copy of their newsletter, or a member might even invite you to dinner when you arrive! If you belong to a religious tradition, research places of worship for your faith in Toronto. It’s a multicultural city, and we’re confident that you’ll find someplace that’s right for you and your beliefs. In that vein, cancel or transfer your existing memberships. Gyms, health clubs, tennis clubs and other similar facilities often require a one-month notice period before cancellation, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re on top of everything so you aren’t charged for a service you aren’t using!

Make copies of all of your records. This step is often overlooked, but as things can easily get lost in a move, we highly recommend it! If you have a scanner, you can go one better and back everything up electronically, either by storing it on an external hard drive or memory stick or by creating a special storage email address and sending everything there. Sort out your health insurance. If you’re moving from outside of Canada, there is a waiting period before you’ll be covered by OHIP, which is the provincial public health care provider. You may be legally required to buy health insurance in the interim: information about insurance providers in Canada can be found on the webpage of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. Speaking of insurance, you’ll also want to sort out your home insurance. Check to see whether your current policy transfers to your new home: if not, apply for a new policy. Luckily, Toronto is an extremely safe city, all things considered: crime is low, it’s not in a flood plain or on a faultline, and the weather doesn’t get much worse than the occasional blizzard. Still, insurance is always a good idea, so check with a local provider to see what policies are recommended.

3 Or More Weeks In Advance
This is one of the most fun parts of the checklist: hold a yard sale! Go through your home and make two piles: one to keep, and one to sell. Be ruthless! Once you’ve got your “sell” pile sorted, pick a date, poster the neighbourhood and enjoy watching people take away the things you don’t need. After all, your trash just might be someone else’s treasure. While you’re sorting out your belongings, put aside valuables and fragile things. You’ll want to take these things with you when you move, either on your person or in your checked luggage, or you can send them by special post.

Start eating from the freezer. This can make for some oddly matched meals, but it’s better than throwing the food away, right? And what better time to re-live your heady student days of Casserole a la Random Stuff?

Get a newspaper subscription. We like the Globe and Mail. Adopt out your houseplants, especially if you’re moving from another country: you can’t take them with you. If you’re moving within Toronto, you can probably keep them, but make sure there’s space for them in your new home, and plan where they’ll go.

Two Or More Weeks In Advance
Tie up loose ends. Return all your library books, and give back everything you’ve borrowed from friends. Pick up your dry-cleaning. Arrange for the cancellation of your telephone line, power, gas, and mobile phone if necessary. Make sure you tie things up emotionally as well, especially if you’re attached to the place you’ll be leaving: spend some time walking around your current neighbourhood.  

If you’re a regular at the cafédown the street, stop in and say goodbye to the staff. Take photos of your favourite places to go, and make a little album to keep with you at your new house.

Sort out your banking. If you have a safe deposit box, take your belongings out and/or arrange for them to be transferred to your new bank. Make some calls and shop around for the best bank account for your purposes in Toronto.

Plan your meals for your last few weeks in your home. Buy disposable (but biodegradable!) plates, bowls and utensils so that you can pack your dishes. Ideally, it’s a good idea to plan cold meals and/or meals at friends’ houses for the last week, so that you can pack all of your kitchen implements.  

Print out important documents. In duplicate. Make sure that you have not one but two separate copies, kept in different places, of all of your important documents, both move-related and non. This may seem paranoid, but we always counsel our clients that it’s better to be safe than sorry!

1 Or More Week In Advance
Send out change-of-address cards and/or emails. Similarly, set up a mail-forwarding service with your local post office. If you have kids, ask a friend to help out with childcare on moving day.

Fill your prescriptions if necessary, especially if you don’t have a new family doctor lined up. If you will need prescription refills soon after you move, find the nearest pharmacy to your new address and ask your doctor to pre-arrange a refill or two.

Confirm all moving details with your moving company. A day or two before you move, pack your last essentials.

Moving Day
If you’ve hired a moving company to pack your things, supervise them, especially if you will be moving fragile or hard-to-pack objects. Enlist a friend to help on the day. Give them a note of your itinerary, just in case you need help on your way to your new home in Toronto, or in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Leave a note for the new tenants or owners. This should include your new address, in case they need to forward your mail, and your utility meter readings on move-out day.

Do a last survey. There’s always something hiding in a corner, or a closet, or in a cabinet. (Often, it’s the cat.) Make absolutely sure you’ve brought everything with you.

Say goodbye. Spend a few minutes reflecting on your life in your old home, and give yourself emotional closure.

Get excited. New home, here you come