| Canada has been attracting professional | | | | can be purchased in advance, prior to your |
| people from all over the world for decades. | | | | arrival in Canada, so you are taken care of |
| People migrate or immigrate to Canada for a | | | | as soon as you land. Won't these services |
| variety of reasons, a better quality of life | | | | cost a lot i.e. be expensive? Sure, these |
| and better higher education being amongst the | | | | companies will charge a certain amount |
| major reasons. The Canadian government has | | | | depending on the services you require. But in |
| fine tuned the immigration application | | | | my opinion it's a small price to pay for the |
| processing system to quite an extent. | | | | benefit you get. Let's use an example of one |
| Initially it was cumbersome with somewhat | | | | of the services. You engage this company to |
| difficult to attain points. But as Australia | | | | buy a car for you so you are mobile on |
| and the United Kingdom opened up competitive | | | | arrival. Assume that you have the driving |
| immigration schemes thereby attracting from | | | | license and are allowed to drive in Canada |
| the same pool of talented professional | | | | from day one. You agree a budget and type of |
| people, the Canadian Government apparently | | | | car i.e. sedan, MPV, SUV and the make and |
| took notice and streamlined the process. | | | | model number. You make the initial payment to |
| However it could be improved further, as | | | | them to look for the car, their service fees, |
| applications still take a long time to | | | | say C$500. They go to their registered car |
| process. This apparently is not simply a | | | | dealers and come back with 3 or 4 options, |
| manpower issue as has been claimed but simply | | | | you approve one out of them, wire the money |
| the government trying to control the numbers | | | | and presto, the car is available the day you |
| of immigrants that arrive each year. My point | | | | arrive. How does that benefit you? Well, as |
| being that the application process should be | | | | you are dealing with a reputable company, |
| completed within 6 to 12 months and not the | | | | they have a reputation to worry about and |
| 36 to 48 months it is currently taking in | | | | will do the best to ensure that you get the |
| some parts of the world. But I digress from | | | | best deal. As they have been in the country |
| what this article is about. Once you have | | | | for a number of years, they cannot be sold an |
| jumped all the hoops (and there are a lot of | | | | overpriced car and more importantly you are |
| them) that the application process requires, | | | | saved the running around in taxis to view |
| you are now ready to wind up your affairs | | | | cars, a process that takes time and money. |
| (that's business not private affairs !) and | | | | Your benefit? Your car is available from day |
| proceed to Canada. You are now looking | | | | one and you can focus on job hunting. |
| forward to getting your hands on the | | | | Spending a few hundred dollars to engage the |
| Permanent Residence (PR) Card that gives you | | | | services of such a company can save thousands |
| right to live and work in Canada. By now you | | | | in car costs. More importantly, don't forget |
| are thinking that the worst is over and | | | | the opportunity costs, something that is |
| nothing can stop you from your dream of | | | | commonly overlooked and almost never |
| settling in Canada. Nothing could be further | | | | understood. While you are looking for a car |
| from the truth! I bet you did not expect that | | | | to buy, you should have been looking for a |
| but read on ... Most new immigrants or | | | | job. Each day spent on car hunting is a day |
| migrant (I use the terms synonymously) | | | | lost looking for a job. A lost job day could |
| landing in Canada are doing so as total | | | | set you back a couple of hundred dollars, 4 |
| strangers, without knowing anybody in the | | | | or 5 lost job days can set you back a |
| country. The small percentage of lucky ones | | | | thousand or more dollars. Similarly if you |
| have a relative or friend or know a friend's | | | | are inclined to start your own business in |
| friend who is already in Canada and expect or | | | | Canada, it can be one of many types. You can |
| hope that they will help in the settlement | | | | have a convenience store, a grocery store, |
| process. In most cases, such relatives and | | | | car wash/service station, gas station or food |
| friends do. But at the most, what can they | | | | franchise. Now each day you spend looking for |
| help the new immigrant with? Pick up from | | | | the right business to buy, you are losing |
| airport and depositing at own home, hotel or | | | | income. Wouldn't it be great to have somebody |
| suitable accommodation. For a person or | | | | identify and shortlist a number of businesses |
| family arriving in a new country even that | | | | that you are interested in? The settlement |
| can be a big help. The problem arises after a | | | | support company can do this. Plus they can |
| couple of days when you get over your jet lag | | | | also try identifying the potential of these |
| and have to start learning how to live and | | | | businesses in terms of clientele and |
| earn in the new country? You need a job | | | | potential turnover. All you have to do is to |
| (unless you brought in a lot of money), you | | | | go over the options they have short listed |
| need to complete certain government | | | | and make your decision as soon as you land in |
| registration formalities, the kids need to go | | | | Canada. Note that you should have the option |
| to school, you need a car (as this is a must | | | | to not go ahead as well. This short cut to |
| in North America), you need medical insurance | | | | starting out in a business can be worth tens |
| coverage as the Canadian Provincial Health | | | | of thousands in terms of lost income i.e. |
| Authority will not cover you for the first 3 | | | | opportunity cost. Again, the company will |
| months after landing and a host of other | | | | charge a few thousand dollars for this |
| tasks including opening a bank account, | | | | service. But always keep the income you are |
| transferring your funds in and hoping that | | | | losing, if you don't start out soon, in mind. |
| the cash you brought with you lasts the | | | | That will put their charges into perspective. |
| distance. Before we proceed, a word of | | | | The sooner you buy a business, the sooner you |
| warning about friends and relatives who you | | | | start earning and getting on your feet in |
| hope will help you once you land in Canada. | | | | Canada. The fees seems like a small price to |
| Unless you know them personally and have done | | | | pay for this. So how do you identify a |
| so for many years, even then, my advice would | | | | genuine company or what do you look for in |
| be not to take their help or advice at face | | | | any company claiming to be a migrant |
| value. There have been instances for example | | | | settlement services company? Here are a few |
| when people have put up their newly landed | | | | things to look out for: Do they provide |
| friends only to charge them more rent than | | | | arrival assistance? Not very important but it |
| the going market rate. When you are new to a | | | | would be nice to know somebody is meeting you |
| place you don't have the necessary | | | | at the airpot. Do they provide interpreter |
| information to make decisions and can be | | | | services for you, if needed? Should be |
| asked to sign up for more than you bargained | | | | optional if you feel you need one. Do they |
| for. On the other hand, no matter what | | | | help with short term or long term |
| treatment you get, you will be morally | | | | accommodation needs? Important as last you |
| obliged to your friend or family for life, | | | | need to do once you arrive in Canada is start |
| since they took time out to pick you from the | | | | running around looking for accommodation. Do |
| airport and put you up for a couple of weeks | | | | they help with the subsequent government |
| and over charged you as well ! Alternately if | | | | registration process? Relative as it saves |
| you want to strike out on your own, you can | | | | you finding out about government offices and |
| land in Canada and ask the taxi driver to | | | | visiting them. Check that they provide |
| take you to a hotel, hoping that he won't | | | | transport for this. Do they help with buying |
| over charge you. At the hotel, unless you | | | | a car and/or getting the driving license? |
| have booked earlier, you are liable to the | | | | Depends on your personal requirements. Check |
| maximum charges that apply to walk in | | | | beforehand if your current driving license |
| customers. So it's not the place you want to | | | | enables you to drive in Canada. If yes, |
| live in for a few months until you find a | | | | buying a car in advance might be a good idea. |
| job, have the references and credit file to | | | | Otherwise hold on until you arrive and pass |
| enable you to move to an apartment. Unless | | | | the driving test. Do they help with medical |
| you have won the lottery, even the cheapest | | | | insurance arrangement? Can be arranged by you |
| hotel at minimum charges will be setting you | | | | beforehand or can ask them to do this. Very |
| back a hefty amount each day. Now that you | | | | important step for reasons stated previously. |
| have checked into the hotel, where do you go | | | | Do they help with finding a job? Note they |
| from there? The government's new immigrant | | | | can't offer to employ you but rather guide |
| pack contains basic information but it can be | | | | you through the job seeking process in |
| misleading and it certainly helps if you have | | | | Canada. As they know the employment agencies |
| the advice of someone who has already landed | | | | and network with other placement agencies, |
| in Canada. To be honest, I have been | | | | they can reduce the time it takes to find |
| through the complete immigration process and | | | | employment. Do they help with setting up a |
| landing in Canada is the hardest part. People | | | | business? This is important if you are |
| have given up and returned to their home | | | | inclined to start a business as it can save |
| countries within 6 months of arriving in | | | | you time and money. Do they try and force all |
| Canada as they could not cope with the | | | | their services on you or are you allowed to |
| pressures of everything that they faced. | | | | choose the ones you need and are charged on a |
| Finding employment or starting a business | | | | pro rata basis ? Important as you don't want |
| will be the hardest tasks for the newly | | | | to buy services you are not going to utilize. |
| landed immigrant. And this is the one that is | | | | Why pay for something you don't need? So |
| on ones mind from the onset. Many newly | | | | check if you are sold the full pack or you |
| landed immigrants have left their previous | | | | can choose the services you require. If the |
| occupations and started working in shops or | | | | answer is yes to all of the above questions, |
| stores as assistants to make ends meet. Some | | | | then it is safe to say that the company is a |
| professional people such as doctors had to | | | | proper migrant settlement and support |
| resort to working as security guards for the | | | | company. Anyone not offering all those |
| simple reason that their medical degrees were | | | | services should be avoided. Are there many |
| not recognised in Canada. They must now | | | | companies that provide these services? |
| undergo a tortuous process to retake exams | | | | Unfortunately, the answer to that question is |
| but until they do, they cannot practice | | | | not many. In fact, there is only one that I |
| medicine there. Hence they work anywhere they | | | | know of. It's called Avanti Migrant Services |
| can in the meantime. While you are passing | | | | and has recently started serving the migrant |
| time looking for a job or trying to set up | | | | community. This company was set up with the |
| your business, your bank balance or savings | | | | new immigrant in mind to ease the arrival |
| are being whittled away, faster than you | | | | pains and subsequent transition into a new |
| expected. That is why within 6 months some | | | | life in Canada. They pretty much cover all |
| people just throw in the towel and leave. | | | | the requisites that have been identified that |
| This is not meant to discourage you as the | | | | you should look for. It's been started by |
| prospective migrant. Canada can be, to quote | | | | former immigrants and it looks like they know |
| a cliché, the land of milk and honey for | | | | what they are talking about. In the end, it's |
| people who are prepared to work hard and make | | | | your choice on whether you want to utilize |
| an honest living. It provides the | | | | these services company or not. In hindsight, |
| opportunities to those who aspire to achieve | | | | had I known such a company existed when I |
| better and are willing to put in the effort. | | | | landed, I would have signed up with them in a |
| So much for the entire doomsday scenario! | | | | flash. And the reason for that is simple. The |
| There is a way to ease your arrival in | | | | knowledge about life in Canada I gained |
| Canada. My recommendation would be to use an | | | | through experience, over the course of 1 to 2 |
| immigrant settlement and support services | | | | years. Had I known someone could impart this |
| company to make the settling in process as | | | | knowledge to me within a couple of weeks of |
| painless as possible. Basically what these | | | | landing, I would have been up and running in |
| companies do is to provide a range of | | | | a month's time rather than the six months it |
| services for new migrants. This can include | | | | took me including making some bad business |
| pick up from airport, accommodation, help | | | | decisions. Therefore I strongly recommend |
| with registration process, getting the hang | | | | that you look seriously into utilizing the |
| of Canadian cities, help with banking, | | | | services of a settlement support company. It |
| setting up of credit facilities, buying a | | | | could save you thousands of dollars and days |
| car, help with finding a job and even finding | | | | weeks/months of frustration. |
| a suitable business to buy. These services | | | | |