Chapter 26        

Arriving in Canada             

 

 

When you arrive in Canada, you must present your Permanent Resident visa to a customs or immigration officer in the Port of Entry. The officer will check your visa and travel document and ask you questions similar to those on the immigration application form to verify that you are of good character and in good health. The officer may also request proof that you have sufficient funds to settle in Canada. Then, the officer will authorize your admission to Canada as a permanent resident. You need to apply for your Permanent Resident Card as the point of entry. Read more about the Permanent Resident Card  in the next chapter.

Checklist of things to do after arriving in Canada

Things to do
Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for everyone in your family who are planning to work.
Apply for the Provincial Health Card
Apply for a Driver's License
Open a bank account so that you can deposit the funds that you brought with you. You will need a SIN number when opening a bank account.
Apply for a credit card from a bank
Apply for a job as soon as you can. Our ebook My Canadian Job Finder can help you a lot in searching for a job.
Get the addresses  of  the grocery stores in your area so that you can shop for food when the need comes.
Buy bus or train tickets if you don't have a car yet. The public transport system of each province is different.

Do I have to land in  a certain province within Canada to settle?     

No. Canada does not have a policy of insisting you move to a certain province or city  within Canada to seek opportunities for which you are qualified. 

Can I leave Canada after landing there? 

After  landing, you can leave Canada on the same day. After having landed, you must maintain your Canadian Permanent Resident  status.

What are my rights and obligations as a permanent resident of Canada?

  You and your dependants have the right to live, study and work indefinitely in Canada, and are entitled to most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens. When you have met citizenship requirements, you may apply for Canadian citizenship and a Canadian passport. There are a few limitations of a permanent residents. Like you cannot vote in certain elections. You may not be eligible for certain jobs requiring high-level security clearances.

As a permanent resident, you also have the same legal obligations as Canadians, such as paying taxes and respecting all the laws of the land.

If you or your dependants commit serious crimes, you or your dependants risk of being deported from Canada.

You remain a permanent resident until such a time you become a Canadian citizen or you abandon Canada as your place of residence. You may be considered to have abandoned Canada if you have frequent and/or lengthy absences from Canada.  

Can I lose my Canadian Permanent Status?

Yes. Some of the ways are:

1.    If you leave Canada for more than 2 years in a 5 year period

2.    If you are convicted of a serious crime