Starting Life in CANADA - Tips & Stories

[ysangaby]

sis chockulit- di k pala na ipost dito, sorry pala, we got our visas end of november pa from london office. Were so happy. Ano na status ng sa inyo sis Lai? Baka mag for good na siguro kami sa July then balik si Hubby rito to finish his contract..

[ysangaby]

sis chockulit- di k pala na ipost dito, sorry pala, we got our visas end of november pa from london office. Were so happy. Ano na status ng sa inyo sis Lai? Baka mag for good na siguro kami sa July then balik si Hubby rito to finish his contract..

Sis Lai, naipost ko pala di ka naman nag backread..

[galbi]

hi, there! we've received our PPR via e-mail and submitted our passports to the embassy via courier on dec 28. good luck to all of us!

[orange]

hi sis galbi! good to hear that! i guess it's packing time na while waiting for your visa and i do hope ma-process sya agad. All the best and goodluck!!

[hayne22]

hi sissies! gusto ko lang magtanong sana ngayon asa magkano na kaya ang processing fee punta canada?kung mag agency?lahat lahat na kasama airfare?help naman po kasi sobrang gusto ko ng pumuntang hehe atat..help po please!

[orange]

hi sis hayne22 - try ko share what I know/understand from this process, hehe..

kung mag agency ka - be prepared to shell out around 60k-pataas. kagandahan sa kanila, talagang they'll guide you all the way on the right docs that you need to send sa embassy. kumbaga, sasalain nila talaga and ndi allow i-pass yung mga docs mo hangga't ndi pumapasa sa kanila.. ang downside, you can do this naman on your own provided detailed mo dapat sundin yung nakalist sa CIC website. medyo panggastos mo na din sa iba yung 60k (or mas mataas na ngayon??) 

DIY - pag do it yourself ka, medyo mas menos. Pag under ka ng NOC (nat'l occupational classification), within a year pede ka umalis. you only need to submit your application sa nova scotia, pay for 70k ata na processing, then pag qualified ka, forward nila dito sa manila yung application mo. other fees that you need to take care of would be ielts fee (almost 9k), show money (depends kung ilan kayong aalis), medical (depends kung ilan kayo papamedical), landing fee and of course airfare na kapag may visa ka na. 

Re airfare - right now based on my net research, nagrirange sya around 20-40k, depending kung san ka magland sa canada. mura airfare papuntang vancouver, then pataas na sya pag tipong toronto, manitoba, etc. try to scout for the best possible first time immigrant fare na usually binibigay ng mga travel agencies. malaki laking discount din yun if ever.

hth! goodluck and do pursue it if you really want it! 

[cheerylion]

Due to my parents' persistence, hubby and I finally decided to migrate to Canada. Sister ko nandun na, they will have their oath taking for citizenship on May. We went to EVP - an agency, paid PHP47,900 (with free IELTS workshop) then they just asked us to furnish all the documents needed. Sabi nila within 6-12mos processing pero marami na ngayon within 6mos lang nakakaalis na. Target namin by August sana makaalis kami. Pupunta kasi Mom ko and niece dito sa Manila for a vacation, sabay-sabay na sana kami makaalis paguwi nila ng Toronto in August. Madali lang nabigay mga papers since we were about to leave for the States last year, di natuloy dahil nga nag-recession. Good thing hindi pa kami nagre-resign. Kaya ang kinuha lang namin NBI Visa for Canada ang pinalagay namin)and machine-readable passports (brown cover). Pareho kami sa IT ni hubby and wala kaming anak. Iyong processing fee is CAD$1,100 dalawa na kami, pinagawa namin iyong demand draft sa Metrobank "Receiver General of Canada" iyong ipapalagay mo. Sa Metrobank branch kung san ka lang may account pwede magpagawa nito ang service fee nila for the draft is about PHP315. Sa BPI may gumagawa rin ask na lang kung saang branch dahil di lahat ng branch gumagawa ng demand draft. Bale kulang na lang namin IELTS result. Mag start mag-workshop si hubby this weekend. Si hubby principal applicant kasi IT Manager kailangan. Proof of funds namin in TD of PHP650k (needed is CAD$13,786 to be exact), mas ok daw kasi pag TD para wala ng hahanapin pang history.  We hope and pray magtuloy-tuloy at ok na lahat.

Sabi ng Ate ko, dapat before February this year maipasa na sa Canadian embassy iyong application kasi magiiba na naman daw ng ruling and list of occupations ang Canada. Kasi marami na rin daw immigrants dun. Kaya buti maipapasa na bukas.   

Kung ano raw iyong nakasulat sa 38 occupation list nila iyon daw ang in-demand talaga dun. Pero kung hindi ka naman mapili marami naman daw dun habang hindi ka pa nakakapasok sa related field mo. Ate ko started working at a call center bago sya napasok sa Bell Canada then iyong brother-in-law ko sa auto shop bago napasok din sa Bell.

[orange]

@ luckypal - depende sis what type of application pass mo sa embassy. if it's under the fsw noc program nila, less than a year pede ka ng makaalis. ganun sila kabilis magpaalis ngayon sa fsw applicants which current job falls under the noc list.

@ cheerylion - goodluck sis! since pareho kayo IT ni husband, for sure mabilis ang processing ng papers nyo. my prayers are with you. 

[hayne22]

sis orange!

thanks so much sa reply mo..highly appreciated talaga...im planning to take caregiver since my cousin is already there..kaso lang natatagalan pa ako feeling ko kase 3years pa ang hihintayin ko para finally maka-land sa Canada talaga..im 21yo and may time frame akong gustong sundan para on track ako sa lahat..naguguluhan kasa ako pag nagbabasa ako ng website nila yung manila.gc.ca ba yun?tyaka yung isang may cic. chuva..hindi ko talaga alam kung saan ako mag sstart..nag umpisa akong mag basa from page 1 kaso lang 2006 pa yung mga post nila..hindi pa ako nag sstart mag caregiver kase 1.) hindi ko alam kung anong school na pag eenrolan ko and 2.) natatagalan ako sa hehe

may officemate naman ako, yun nga through agency, kung feb mag start yung process by the end of dec 2010 makaka fly na kaso lang housekeeping and carwash ang available at kailangan ko ng 280k para sa lahat from day 1 hanggang makarating ako kasama na dun yung airfare tyaka lodging..

so ano po tingin nyo?...reply and opinions po please..pati na rin feedback..lahat lahat hehe

[orange]

sis hayne22 - kapag caregiver it will take time talaga and you need to avail pa yung Live-In Caregiver program nila and from what I understand, medyo tedious and matagalan talaga proseso.. 

kung gusto mo talaga ng immediate processing, check the FSW-NOC program and find out kung pasok yung current occupation mo sa list. Here's a link for that for your easy reference: http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/OccupationIndex.aspx

another thing, kung may kamag-anak ka sa canada, you can also try to avail the provincial nominee program. lastly, you can also opt to do your friend's suggestion kung assured naman na you can go there thru that process. and yes sis, sa lahat ng proseso mentioned above, you will really shell out money... pero i know it's worth it naman. 

[cheerylion]

@ luckypal - depende sis what type of application pass mo sa embassy. if it's under the fsw noc program nila, less than a year pede ka ng makaalis. ganun sila kabilis magpaalis ngayon sa fsw applicants which current job falls under the noc list.

@ cheerylion - goodluck sis! since pareho kayo IT ni husband, for sure mabilis ang processing ng papers nyo. my prayers are with you. 

Thank you very much sis orange!  We truly hope we can get there immediately. 

If you wanted to know the current job openings in Canada, you may check this out: www.monster.ca

For FSW applicants here are the documents needed:

*Original Transcript of Records (Principal Applicant, Spouse if applicable)

*Original Diploma (Principal Applicant, Spouse if applicable)

*Professional License (if applicable, Principal Applicant & Spouse)
-Rating, Certified True Copy of ID License, Original Certificate

*Original Employment Certificate with duties and responsibilities (Previous to Present Employer)
- Principal Applicant & Spouse (if applicable)

*Resume with detailed job description

*Application Form (you may download the form thru http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information/applications/skilled.asp then click Application for Permanent Residence in Canada IMM 0008)

*Original NSO Birth Certificate (for Principal Applicant and Spouse/Children if applicable)

*Original NSO Marriage Contract (for married applicant)

*Original NSO Certificate of No Marriage (for single applicant or for common-law partner)

*Original Machine-Readable Passport(s) (Principal Applicant, Spouse, Children)

*Original NBI Certificate (VISA FOR CANADA)
-Principal Applicant, Spouse

*Proof of Relationship in Canada (if applicable)
-Landing Record/Citizenship Card/Canadian Passport (Scanned Copy), Birth Certificate and Marriage Contract of relative in Canada

*Proof of Language Proficiency (IELTS)

*Settlement Funds
-Bank Certificate
-Photocopy of Passbook details (if not Time Deposit)
-Photocopy of Certificate of Time Deposit

$13,768 for Principal Applicant and Spouse without children.

*6pcs. Canadian Visa size picture

*Processing Fee (CAD$550/each for Principal Applicant and Spouse; CAD$150/each for Children 21 years old & below)
-Bank/Demand Draft Payable to Receiver General for Canada
If you are Metrobank account holder you may ask your branch to make the demand draft for you, service charge varies but roughly PHP315. You may also go to BPI regardless if you have an account with them or not and they charge $5 for the demand draft. Allied Bank has the highest service fee for the demand draft, $20.

*Permanent Residence Fee (upon approval of application) is CAD$490/each, no fees for children 21 years old and below. -Manager's Check Payable to Canadian Embassy, Manila


 

[galbi]

hi, sis orange. thanks. good luck to you, too. how is it going with your application?

[orange]

thanks sis galbi!
right now we're waiting for ppr. medical results (family of 5) have been forwarded to embassy last dec 22, same day na na-confirm ko din na na-negotiate yung MC for landing fee. waiting mode kami ngayon, until when, im not sure, hehe.. pero thank God we've come this far na with the application. 

[galbi]

hi, sis orange! I've just checked our application status in the cic website and it says "Decision made. Medical results have been received. A decision has been made on your application. The office will contact you concerning this decision."

Does it mean our application has been approved? We sent our passports to the embassy on dec 29. here's our timeline:

march 2008--application submitted to mpnp office in winnipeg
march 2009--approved as provincial nominee
may 2009--submitted visa application package to canadian embassy in manila
september 2009--received requests for medicals and additional docs
december 22, 2009--received PPR via email
december 29, 2009--sent passports to embassy via LBC
january 12, 2010--e-cas changed status to 'decision made'

i hope it means we'll be receiving our passport stamped with visas. 

[orange]

Thanks, orange! I'm applying under the FSW  NOC. Wish me luck! I hope to be in Canada by July this year

all the best with your application sis luckypal!! sana nga we could be in canada within the year.

[galbi]

hi, mga sis! our visas have arrived. we received them today, 13 days after we submitted our passports to the embassy via courier. thanks for your help. good luck to all of us.

see you in canada.

[orange]

hi, mga sis! our visas have arrived. we received them today, 13 days after we submitted our passports to the embassy via courier. thanks for your help. good luck to all of us.

see you in canada.

hi sis galbi! pa-reply pa lang ako sa previous post mo na 101% sure na, eto na pala yung visa nyo, hihi... praise the Lord! congrats sis!! all the best to your new life in Canada. hope kahit andun ka na you could still update us with how you're managing to start your new life there. sana nga we could meet in Canada soon. savor your last remaining months here in Pinas!

[cheerylion]

hi, mga sis! our visas have arrived. we received them today, 13 days after we submitted our passports to the embassy via courier. thanks for your help. good luck to all of us.

see you in canada.

Wow, congrats sis!  Sana kami rin.

[galbi]

thanks, sis orange and cheerylion. i'm sure your visas will come soon.

btw, the docs package that the embassy sent us includes a form for immunization record for children under 16 years of age. The form asks for details on previous vaccination for diptheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, mumps, measles, rubella, haemophilus influenza B, and B.C.G.

Most of the original docs we sent to the embassy were also returned, including diplomas, TORs, and employment certificates. However, our marriage certificate and birth certificates for the four of us were not returned.

Thanks po! Good luck po sa ating lahat. sana dumating na ang ating pinakahihintay--those lovely stickers, as an Indian blogger says. 

[chinita8]

^congrats sis! all the best to you and your family on your new life in winnipeg!

i just wanna ask though, why did you submit your first application to winnipeg office and not manila office? are you based there or may sponsor or family kayo sa winnipeg who did it for you?

thanks for your reply!