It is mandatory for all the children residing in Canada to receive the basic education. The Canadian government offers it for free of cost to all children. This education is paid for via the taxes and is looked after by the particular provincial governments in collaboration with the local school boards.

This public education starts from the age of 4 or 5 years depending on the territory or province. The child should continue this education till 15 or 16 years of age. This has to be done in compliance with the provincial or the territorial laws where the child resides.

It would be better if you get to know about the education system in advance so that it is easier for you and your child to cope with the changes. To know more, you can visit the particular provincial website for the Ministry of Education which would enlighten you on the same.

Select a particular school for your child. Your selection should be based on the distance from where you reside. The best is to select one which is at a walking distance from your house. If not, then school buses are available for transportation at a very minimal cost. Also, there are many different types of school systems in Canada. So, you have to get to know on that aspect as well.

For this, you have to contact the local school board which administers the procedures for all the public schools in the community. It is mandatory that you submit the relevant documentation as requested by the officials.

Also, new students especially if they are immigrants would be tested before they are enrolled into a particular school. This is to ensure that the child is allotted the right class or grade to continue his education further.

Apart from enrolling, you have to see to it that the child is making constant progress. Extra effort has to be put in since the child would be under culture shock and may find it difficult to cope with it.

To know more on the educational aspects in Canada, contact an Immigration and Visa Specialist who deals with the same. He can provide you with more accurate information on the same.

As an immigrant to Canada, you would have to get accustomed to traveling long distances. Most families own more than one car. If it is difficult for you to buy a car as soon as you land, it is suggested that you look for all the possible options. Another option is to get a car on lease which is a form of car rental.

Manage your finances accordingly before you plunge in to transportation costs. Incase you buy a car; your costs would include all the maintenance charges, cost for the gas, the timely loan payments, insurance and other administrative costs. It would be the same if you hire a vehicle. However, incase of a lease, you would sign an agreement with the contractor.

In Canada, it is mandatory to sign for car insurance and get your car registered with the local provincial government. This insurance would be handy to all the drivers in case of any accidents. To know more, you can contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Other options include public transport or walking or using a bike since they are the cheaper modes of transportation. The public modes include buses, the subways and the metro or the suburban trains or commuter trains.

The costs for the transportation vary according to the city you live in. It would be more if you live in a big city such as Toronto, Montreal and so on when compared to the rural or the smaller towns.

It is best to contact an Immigration and Visa Specialist dealing with Canadian Immigration since he would be the best person to guide you. He can give you the exact position of the place where you plan to immigrate. This would help you better plan your expenses. So, contact one today!

Now that you have arrived in Canada, certain mandatory requirements are a must to be fulfilled. The initial culture shock of the new place would make it a difficult for you to settle down. But, worry not! The service of an immigration and visa specialist is an important guiding factor at this stage.

You would need to find a job for yourself so that you can support self and dependents. Along with this, comes chalking out a suitable accommodation. The following details would help you with the same –

Apply for a Canadian identification which includes a driver’s license, a health insurance card which are mandatory to be carried at all times.
Open a local bank account, apply for private health insurance incase you do not qualify for the immediate public health insurance coverage of the local province.
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) has to be applied for.
Last but the not least, start searching for a job.

In your initial days of landing, you can prioritize the below mentioned activities as the major ones –

Look for accommodation and housing options.
Get accustomed to the local area. It would be ideal if you go through a map and find out about the various modes of transportation available.
Exchange money to get and use the Canadian currency.
Get your hand on a local telephone and make a record of all the telephone numbers that are important.
Get to know more about Canada and enroll your children to an appropriate school.

The first few months should see you doing the following –

Work on your language and communication skills.
Register with a doctor in the community.
Immunize your children.
Know more about the various services offered in your local community which is now your home.
Get in touch with the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) assessment centre in your community. It is suggested that you enroll yourself for language classes.
Apply for tax and the various tax benefits and other credits.

As time passes and you get acclimatized to your surroundings, you can slowly learn more about your rights and responsibilities as put forth by the Canadian laws.

Above all, it is best to consult an Immigration and Visa firm where the consultants would see to it that you go through a smooth ride post landing in Canada.

Now that you have landed in the new country, there would be many changes you would experience, some expected and others unexpected. This article gives you an insight on such instances.

It is always better to get acquainted with the changes you would need to adapt to. To help you with this, consult an Immigration and Visa Specialist who is adept with all the information in this regard. A Visa Expert would provide you with all the relevant information which would help you better adjust with your new environment. And the more you learn, the better it is.

Since, it is going to be extremely challenging dealing with the extreme weather or the culture shock, it is highly important that you are mentally prepared for the same. Some such challenges include the following:

• Canada could be considered as a mix of cultures where you can find people from different ethnicities from across the world. Thus, you would meet people totally different from you in all aspects. You would have to get used to the local customs and traditions followed by the citizens.
• You might end up feeling uncomfortable, alienated, insecure and uncertain of the decision you took. This would lead to an increase in your stress levels. You might feel helpless and how to react to situations initially.
• You might have to get used to the Canadian accent or even learn English or French according to the province in which you reside.
• Getting your children enrolled into a school, get yourself a job and a house to live in a decent community.

During such circumstances, it is important that you do not give up hope. It is all a matter of time for you to adjust to the new country. All you need to do is keep trying and learn at every step.

A Visa Veteran would help you contact an Immigrant – Serving Organization which would help you with the necessary resources to cope with the circumstances.

The Canadian government offers various services to all the newly landed immigrants on its soil. These are executed via the Immigrant Serving Agencies or organization in the various communities throughout the country.

For some of the provinces, the respective provincial governments are responsible are implementing such programs. These include British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba. You can contact the concerned provincial authorities to know more on the same.

The various Immigrant Serving Organizations cater to the following services –

• Getting in touch with the local Canadian officials who could help with the various services.
• Housing and accommodation facilities.
• Applying for the Social Insurance Number (SIN) and a Health Insurance Card.
• Register with a Doctor to rush to incase of emergency.
• Helping to enroll your children in a good school.
• Availing language skills classes.
• Referring to the services offered by the government and the community.
• Making you familiar with the day to day activities such shopping, banking and so on.

To know more, contact an Immigration and Visa veteran who is updated in this regard. He would help you find an Immigrant – Serving Organization in your community which will make it easier for you and your family to better acquaint with the new country.

In its efforts to show gratitude to all the immigrants in Canada, an immigration partnership has been announced. This would be aimed at improving the level of services for the immigrants and help them be a better part of the society. This partnership is in collaboration between the MP of Kitchener Centre – Stephen Woodworth and the Regional Chair for the Region of Waterloo – Ken Seiling.

The Government of Canada would be providing funds of around $175,779 to the Region of Waterloo. A council would be set up which would be looking into the various aspects of developing strategies for initiatives to be taken to guide the new immigrants. The council members would include the members from the local municipality, people from the school board, social service agencies and so on. According to the reports, more than 26,081 have immigrated to Waterloo.

This partnership is an effort to improve the quality and access of services offered to the new members of Waterloo. This in turn would be beneficial to all the citizens of Ontario as well.

As a result, the Canada – Ontario Immigration Agreement which is a partnership between the Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration would cater to a funding of $3 million to the local municipalities and the service providing agencies in Ontario.

This clearly proves that the Canadian government is very particular with the quality of settlements being offered to its immigrants. There has been a constant rise in the amount of funding being offered for the immigrant settlement programs. Those provinces which are outside Quebec would receive an additional amount of $1.4 billion.

It has to be noted that Quebec offers it own settlement services which are different from the rest of the federal Canada. These are offered via the Canada – Quebec Accord.

With such wide range of programs being offered to the immigrants, it would be a wise decision to immigrate to Canada at this point of time. This is because immigrants are considered an asset and welcomed with open arms. Thus, if you intend to immigrate, contact an immigration and visa veteran to know more about the same.

Recent changes have been executed by the Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney to the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker program.

The Canadian government believes that the immigrants on temporary work permit are an asset to the country contributing to its economy. Hence, the government feels that in return they should ensure that these work permit programs do allow any form of exploitation or discrimination. The amendments include the following:

• The job standards would be raised to emphasize the importance and what it takes to get such a job in Canada. Also, this would see to it that the employer offering a job has stuck to the norms with reference to the Federal and the Provincial Labor Laws. For instance, the Canadian law does not permit the employers to levy any fee on the workers.
• Duration of the work visa would be restricted. Thus, under the new scheme, an immigrant residing in Canada for 4 years is not permitted to work in the same country for 6 years.
• All the employers hiring the immigrants would also be mentioned on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. Also, there would be a prohibition of 2 years for all the employers who have offered different incomes, work environment etc. apart from that offered in the conditions.

These changes have been executed after a thorough research and in consultation with the main aspects that were found to be having voids in the process.

During these times of recession, the Canadian economy has stood firm which has been due to the immigrants still considering it a great place to work and invest. These steps could be considered as welcoming which would ensure the immigrants on an equal plate with the local citizens. Also, it would better look into those needs where the Canadian economy is deficient in human resources.

As per the government, the temporary work permits are to ensure that all the deficits are filled by the immigrants. In addition, these skills are imparted to the local professionals who in turn could train many more and overcome this deficiency in the market. Thus, only those immigrants needed on a short term basis are hired.

So, if you think that you have those skills which could help you land with a job in Canada. we suggest this is right time to apply. To know more, consult an immigration and visa specialist since he would be updated with all the latest in this regard.

As an immigrant if you want to avail the Canada Child tax Benefits (CCTB), you must submit some of the mandatory documents which are the documentary evidence of your residence status in Canada.

Based on your immigration and residency status, you may/may not have to submit a Status in Canada/Statement of Income form. It has to be filled by you and spouse under the following circumstances:

• You were granted a Canadian citizenship with the last one year, prior to applying for CCTB.
• You and your spouse are not yet the citizens of Canada.
• You have come back to Canada as a resident and have returned within the previous 2 years.

In addition to the above, you along with spouse must also submit the following –

• Your tax returns filed in Canada which clearly mentions the income that has been earned by you and spouse after landing in Canada.
• Status in Canada/Statement of Income form which showcases your world income for the time period before your entered Canada. Also, for the previous 2 years.

However, to know more it is bets suggested that you contact an Immigration and Visa Specialist who has all the know – how of all the procedural requirements for an immigrant. So, contact one today!

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The Canada Child Tax Benefits is one of the most important schemes offered by the Canadian government. It is applicable to both – the local citizens as well as the immigrants. Certain documentary proof has to be submitted along with the application form. Proof of birth is one of the important mandatory documents to be submitted.

As an immigrant who has not received any compensation from the CRA as Child Tax Benefit, you would have to provide the relevant documents in either of the following instances:

• The child was not born in Canada.
• The child is a year or older in age.

Copies of the following should be provided with –

• A birth certificate
• Church records (if applicable)
• Documents from the hospital where the child was born, including the records from the physician or other staff of the hospital.

If the child was born outside the country, the following also have to be attached.

• A passport proving the child to be a citizen of a particular country.
• The Record of Landing as awarded by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• A Notice of Decision as brought out by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

It is best recommended that you contact an Immigration and Visa Specialist to know more about the tax benefits that you can avail as an immigrant. He would be updated with all the latest in this regard. So contact one today!

The Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) is tax – free payment from the Canadian Government on a monthly basis. An individual would be eligible for it if his children are the below 18 years of age. This money is to provide for the financial aid for raising children under the age of 18. The payments for this are monitored by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The amount received per family depends on many aspects such as –

• The monthly family income
• Number of children in the family along with the specific age of each child.
• Place of residence in Canada

If you are an immigrant to Canada, you have to provide evidence of your immigrant status, birth proof for children born outside Canada.

The eligibility criteria include you being a responsible parent looking into all the aspects of child development. This involves the medical care, daily activities and requirements etc. If the child has a female caretaker or the parent, she is considered as being responsible for the child. In her absence, other guardians of the child are considered.

In addition, you have to be a resident of the federal Canada and should be paying your taxes on time.

Also, you, your spouse or the common – law partner should be either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident (Landed Immigrants), refugees or Protected person, a temporary residents (foreign students, foreign worker or a temporary resident permit holder) residing in Canada for atleast 18 months.

As a temporary resident, your permit which includes the visitor record, the temporary resident permit or an extension should be post your initial 18 months of residence in Canada. Incase, your permit shows “does not confer status” or “does not confer temporary resident status”, you would be deemed as not being eligible for the same.

In order to apply for the CCTB, you have to fill the Canada Child Benefits Application form. Incase you are an immigrant; you might have to complete other formalities based on your immigration status. It is suggested that you can contact an immigration specialist who can guide you regarding the process. This would ensure a hassle free filing.

Above all, you have to file an income tax return before applying for CCTB. Incase you were not a resident of Canada in the previous year; you must submit an additional form known as the Status in Canada/Statement of Income to declare your total income.