Moving to Canada | Canadian Immigration Integration Project

Today, we received 36 visa notices from the Canadian Visa Office - Manila. That means 36 families will soon be moving to Canada. These applicants have just filed their application last year. It is now really easier and faster to apply!

Now, their next concern is how to prepare in moving to Canada.

If you have relatives and or friends in Canada who are willing to help you on your initial settlement in Canada, that will be great.

But what if you don't know anybody in Canada?

There are a number of Welcome Centers for Newcomers in Canada that could be of great help to you, but just the same, it is best that you start learning about the following:

- How to find an apartment in Canada,

- Where to look for job vacancies,

- Opening a bank account in Canada,

- Important things to do upon landing in Canada, etc.

Furthermore, there's Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) funded by the Government of Canada to help those immigrating to Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Program in China, India and the Philippines. CIIP offers the following services for free:

- Information on the Canadian labour market occupations, and the steps required for integration;
- Advice and guidance to assist in planning successful entry to the Canadian labour market;
- Practical assistance in identifying and contacting Canadian organizations for further assistance.

For more information about CIIP, click here. Even without relatives or friends in Canada, moving to Canada should not really be a problem.

Welcome Centers for Newcomers in Canada

A prospective client asked me an interesting question yesterday. She is a Registered Nurse without known relatives or friends in Canada. 'Who will guide me once I landed in Canada?', she asked.

Image from http://www.autonorth.ca

I told her that there are Welcome Centers for Newcomers in Canada managed by various organizations in Canada whose main objective is to provide support for newly-landed immigrants. These organizations are in fact receiving financial support from the Canadian Government. Support is everywhere.

Here are some of the organizations which would be of great help:

Thurder Bay Multicultural Association - a non-profit organization whose objective is to encourage and facilitate co-operation among ethnic organizations in promoting the concept of multiculturalism.

Central Alberta Refugee Effort Committee (C.A.R.E.) and Catholic Social Services (CSS) - organizations providing support for newcomers in Red Deer

And just recently, it was announced by Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown that the Government of Canada is investing in four New York Region Welcome Centers to help immigrants settle and integrate into Canada. The Welcome Centers will be managed by the following local community organizations:

Markham North: Job Skills Employment and Business Programs and Supports

Markham South: Centre for Information and Community Services

Newmarket: Social Enterprise for Canada

Richmond Hill: Catholic Community Services of York Region

I will update this post later to include other Welcome Centers in Canada.

It is indeed easier if you have relatives and friends in Canada, but it will never be a problem if you don't.