Thanks to the admin for creating this new segment on "Just landed immigrants".

This would be very helpful to the "fresh out of oven" immigrants like me.

I'd like others to share do's and dont's list for the benefit of new arriving countrymen( and women ).

While the many of us knowthe general do's and dont's like dont bring families etc , there are some finer and critical ones aswell which can hurt of not taken note of .

The one where i almost got hurt was bringing all the funds in drafts thinking that a draft would clear up the next day or worse in a week. even US$ drafts from US based banks takes 3 weeks!! to clear. So please watch out.

In canada it can take 30 days to clear out of country drafts , so all new comers , please get atleast 1+ month of expenses cash or travellers cheques ( or "checks" as the americans would spell )

For a single person atleast $1500 -$2000 ready cash ...maybe slightly more for families.

Please share your Do's and dont's as well.

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What can be imagined, can be achieved.

Yes it is good to have this special section of dos and don'ts - however, I personally would not agree with the two examples you have given.

As you might have recently read in posts by Jake and some other persons - not bringing your family might prove to be a disaster. They are the only moral support which you have when you come to this land full of surprises for an Asian. Not only moral support, they even become a reason for you to fight it out in Canada since you cannot think of relocating once your family is here. By leaving family back home, you become weaker to face the realities here and might quit faster than you otherwise would have. It is always easier to succeed in new land when you do not have anything to go back to where you came from.

About US$ drafts - while I agree with you that clearing of international drafts takes 30 days or so, there is a simple way out and I did the same so I can vouch for it. Bring draft of a bank like Citibank or HSBC who would draw a draft on their own branch in New york. Go to their downtown branch (not the smaller branches), open an account with them and deposit your draft there with a request to get a fax confirmation of the validity of the draft. I got mine - I had gone to the bank at about 2 pm and I got the confirmation from HSBC York Street in Toronto at 5pm that the draft had been validated and I could use the funds next day.

Alternatively, get a draft in Canadian funds and go and open an account with the bank on which the draft is drawn - they will give you immidiate credit since it is drawn on their own bank!

Another alternative - sitting in India open an account with banks like SBI, ICICI, HSBC, Citi in their Canadian branch and transfer minimum amount and bring the draft from the same bank and deposit that here in Canada. they will give you the credit immediately. All you have to do it to talk with authority and if the junior teller is not ready to accomodate you, try and talk to the personal banking officer - for most of the local banks, a C$10,000 deposit is a reasonably big amount to be taken care of by the personal banking officer.

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Chandresh

Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!

That was a useful input about draft. Thanks Chandresh.

Chandresh, Thanks for the input on the bank drafts.

I'd like to share my experience with HSBC 5 weeks ago. It looks like things have changed with HSBC recently and they have become a lot more restrictive for new comers esp those without canadian credit history. They do not allow a new comer without canadain credit history to open a checking account and it took them 3 weeks to clear my US back drawn draft. Now, I did not try the Toronto branch ( which you recommended) which could have been faster but even their credit card policy to new comers is tougher than other banks. They block twice the credit line on a secured credit card.
I hope SBI and Citi are better. I found things much more relaxed at Royal bank of canada for a new comer.

On bringing the family matter, I have a different perspective. I would prefer to come alone and rough it out thru the difficult period alone. I get moral support from the fact that atleast I am not putting them thru these tough times, I would not get any moral support to see them suffer along with me in the initial tough days. and when they come atleast I will be comfortable with the surroundings to help them thru . Being alone in this initial period also helps in increasing ones flexibility to go to other cities and provinces and trying things out. and also working and staying out for long hours. One can study for certifications in day, work in the evenings, nights and not worry about someone waiting back home also the establishment cost is minimal and there is less stress on finances. The number of opprtunities one can try out alone increase manyfold if one is alone in the beginning.

As for the determination of not going back. It all depends on the person's resolve. If one is determined not to go back them he will not go back no matter what. Otherwise many people with wavery minds keep pondering over the question and waste a lot of their crucial time in contemplating their return, even if they have their families with them.

I hope you will take my views in the right spirit. We just happen to think differenly.

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What can be imagined, can be achieved.

Do not come to GTA. It has been flooded with desi and other immigrants and it is very difficult to find work. Desis everywhere and no work!

GTA is Greater Toronto Area which includes Brampton and Mississauga.

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Canada...another name for struggle in life!

I did not know about this unless a canadian colleague of mine: Daniel, advised me one day. I am sharing this with you.

An interesting one:---
when you are riding subway in Toronto, if you do not have the transfer or pass or money, don't panic. Keep some change of '10 cents' and atleast 1 TTC token in your pocket. During rush hours in the mornings and evenings, when there is a flood of commuters, deposit the '10 cents coin' in the box and go away with full confidence. If the TTC person sitting there in the cabin calls you back and catches you, tell him: No, Its not like that. I put a token. He would say: No sir, you did not put a token, you put 10 cents. Your reply should be: Oh, is it? I am sorry about that! Let me check my token......then you would take out the token and put there in the box and feel sorry again....he would happily let you go.......

DO NOT MAKE IT A PRACTISE.....THIS IS JUST FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

Thx and Rgds,

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Sanjeev Manocha, MBA
Real Estate Sales Representative
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)

Re/Max West Realty Inc, Brokerage
96, Rexdale Blvd., Toronto

Mobile: 416-843-7600
Office: 416-745-2300
http://www.manocharealty.com" rel="nofollow">LINK

Ohhhh, now we know why our RED ROCKET is coming down with losses
Thanks and regards.
Biomed

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch