If I were to go back in time, below are some of the things I realized I should have done differently while in the final stages of moving to Canada. To give you some context, my husband and I were Overseas Filipino Workers in Singapore when we obtained our Canadian Permanent Residency Visa. We decided to go back to the Philippines for one month then fly to Canada from there.
I should not have attended ALL the Canadian Seminars
While it’s good to learn and attend seminars to prepare for your big move to an entirely new country, after sometime, the information you get will sound similar from one seminar to the other. Leading up to our flight to Canada, we probably attended 4 seminars all in all.
One is required by the Philippine Government (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar or PDOS during our time but I think this has changed). Visit Bureau of Immigration site of the Philippines for the updated requirements for departing Filipinos. The other three seminars were sponsored by Canada, one is related to Canada overall, the other related to finding work. If you add your travel time, it’s about half day of your time gone per seminar.
If I were to do it all over again, I would have just attended the mandatory seminar by the Philippine government (you cannot leave the country without attending this). We could have spent the rest of our time with our families instead. The information we got from the Canadian sponsored seminars were very informative but personally, the information could be researched from the web or through friends and family who are already in Canada. However, if you have plenty of time, these seminars are very informative, they are free and I remember you get free lunch as well as you listen in awe to your new life in Canada.
I should not have completed all minor and major dental needs in my home country
Before you react, yes, dental fees are not covered here in Ontario but if you obtain a full-time job, the insurance in your company typically covers it for 50%. Even better, if you and your spouse both have full-time jobs, all your dental fees are now 100% covered. I was so scared before coming to Canada that I ensured to have all my minor and major dental needs are attended to in the Philippines. I paid a hefty price, not to mention numerous visits to the dentists which of course consumed both time and resources.
If I were to do it all over again, I would have just done a dental visit for minor and cleaning check-ups. Then, once I’ve obtained a job with dental benefits, immediately find a dental clinic that accepts new patients.
I should not have made a big fuss over the Packing List!
This is a big one, and I know a few other immigrants who were on the same boat as I was. The night before me and my husband left for Canada, I was majorly stressing about our packing list! It took time away from spending my last night with our families and all I could think about was how to make the list as accurate as possible with our last minute packing.
My packing list was not even checked at all! If I were to do it all over again, I would have made it a few days before, accounting for all the things I will bring over. The list would be accurate but not precise. I will not be counting the exact pairs of jeans, books, bags I will bring with me. I will not even go as far as identifying the brands of clothes (God no!) which was the recommendation of one of the seminars I attended. I remember painstakingly taking a picture of my important items one by one, close-up, front, center and back. Yes, it was that extreme. If you’re like me, stop and don’t do it like I did it. Just create a simple list and savour your last night with the family you will leave behind – that is more important.
I should have researched on the best bank that fits my needs
There are several major banks at least in Ontario you can start your research on: Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, Bank of Montreal (BMO), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). These banks typically have promotions for new immigrants which you can avail of.
When we opened a bank, I just went with the one of the four without really assessing their promotions. There are a few differences on how banks operate here versus in the Philippines and Singapore. The most common type of bank account in Canada is the chequing account which is the equivalent of our savings account. This account is where you put your money for everyday needs, like the account you use to spend on groceries, etc. They also have a savings account and this account is used as an account where you put your money to save – when you think about it, the name and its purpose here does make sense right?
Another major difference is most of them charge monthly bank fees! This is a huge contrast to when we were in Singapore where we have not spent any dollar fees on any bank, and have enjoyed zero annual fee in our credit cards. Just imagine, you’re new to this country and in your first few months most of your hard earned money are going out as you need to spend for a lot of new things (winter clothes, furnitures, apartment rental fees etc). I personally feel, bank fees should not be one of them.
If I have done my research beforehand, I would have known that there is one bank that does not charge any banking fees so long as you maintain a certain amount. Or, if you’re into “freebies” there is one bank that charges you a monthly fee but in return sends you a new ipad so long as you stay with the bank for a certain number of years.
This was five years ago, and I have moved to a bank that does not charge banking fees anymore but I sincerely feel this is a good lesson to everyone – no to banking fees :). I’m sure there are a lot of new promotions now for new immigrants and if you do your research right, you’ll find your right banking partner.
Memoirs of a Maple Leaf 