New rules to apply for Canadian Citizenship

What I was afraid to happen really happened, the rules explained at the previous post Applying for Canadian Citizenship changed.  Ohhhh noooooo!!!!!

 Now please, please use the CIC online tool to find out if you have lived in Canada long enough to apply to become a citizen.

• You must have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 1,460 days during the six years immediately before the date of your application. You must also be physically present for at least 183 days during each of four calendar years that are fully or partially within the six years immediately before the date of application.
• These requirements do not apply to children under 18.
• Buaaaa!!!!!!  and the 1/2 day time counted before you receive your PR is no longer valid (you can only count time spent after you became a permanent resident of Canada).

So what  does the new rule mean? For example, my fiancée arrived in 2006, received his PR in 2012, traveled a little bit outside of Canada, and under the older rules he would had applied for his Canadian Citizenship in Nov 2015, by the new rules it will happen in Jan 2017.

 

Housing in Atlantic Canada. Renting your home

Source:www.capsure.com

Renting your first home in Canada: Let´s start with the words we will use:

Landlord is the person who owns the house you want to live in. Sometimes, if she/he is the owner of some houses or buildings, he hires a "property manager" to collect the rent, manage the building, keep your building in good condition  and answer all your petitions.

Tenant: That is you. The person who will rent the house. 

Whenever anything needs to be serviced or repaired you should contact the landlord

Depending on the province you are living in, your responsabilities  are different. You can check yours in this website: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/yogureho/fore/index.cfm.

Finding a place to rent:

Location and cost are often important things to evaluate when you are looking for a place to live. Neighbourhoods close to schools, public transit, hospital and other services might be more expensive, but they can also save you time and money everyday when you go to work or school.

You should visit the place you are interested in, at different times of the day and during the week and in a weekend. Sometimes, you can get suprised of how a neihgbourhood changes!

Look at a different houses or apartments before you decide. That way, you can compare the rent you will pay and make sure the place is right for you. 

Source:www.realtor.com

Questions you can ask your landlord when viewing a rental unit or a house: 

• Which utilities (as electricity, heat, water, cable) and appliances (as fridge, stove, washing machine/dryer) are included in the rent? If they are not, How much do they cost each month?
• Does the apartment come with furniture?
• Can I make any change to the home, such as painting?
• Can I have pets?
• If you are a smoker, can I smoke in the house?
• Is parking available? Is it included in the rent ?  Does it cost extra?
• Is there any place for storage? Is it included? How secure is it?
• What are the other tenants like? Families, students, old people?
• What happens if I am not able to pay you the first day of the month?
• Which are the rules for garbage, recycling, ...in the building?

Questions your landlord can make to you:

• He can ask you to provide contact information for references (a past landlord or your employer) who can confirm that you will be a good tenant.
• He can also ask you where you work and what your income is

Source:www.rentalhousingbusiness.ca

If you get an agreement with your landlord, both of you should sign a lease.  A lease is a legal document, a written rental agreement that outlines all the terms you have agreed to. Make sure you read and understand every word, 

The landlord will ask you for a rental deposit when you sign the lease. The deposit is usually equal to the cost of one month´s rent. He can use it in case you don´t pay the rent or to cover any damage you cause to the apartment. When you move out, he will give the deposit back or it can be used to pay your last month of rent. 

Paying the rent:

You will have to pay the rent to your landlord the first day of every month, You can choose between these ways: 

• Cash
• Post-dated cheques. Cheques with a future date already written on them. For example, with the first day of each month for the next twelve months.  He can cashed them before the date written on them and you can cancel cheques that have not been cashed by calling your bank. 
• Certified cheques. Cheques that have been guaranteed by your bank. 
• Transfer

If you want to get more information you can check with Rental authorities in New Brunswick: New Brunswick Office of the Rentalsman: www. snb.ca/irent

Telephone: 1-506-453-2557

We will talk about buying a house here in next posts.
Enjoy!

Housing in Atlantic Canada. Types of Houses.

Source: Nane

Looking for a home can be a very exciting experience that can be both rewarding and challenging.

One of your first needs after arriving here is a temporary place to stay until you find your home. 

You can go to a friend´s or family´s house but another option is to stay in a hostel or a hotel. If that is the case, you should book it several weeks before flying to Canada. Booking in advance, will save you money and you will have a better chance of finding rooms available. 

An alternative to this is to contact an immigrant-serving organization in the city or town where you want to settle down.  You can find contact information at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/map/services.asp

If you are a refugee, you will receive assistance finding temporary acccommodation as part of the Resettlement Assistance Program.

Types of Housing in Canada:

Condominiums (condos): "Condominium" is a legal term used in the United States and in most provinces of Canada.  In Quebec, the term "divided co-property" (French: copropriété divisée) is used, although the colloquial name remains "condominium". 

Usually, condos exist in buildings with many units. The owner pays monthly fees to a condo corporation that handles maintenance and repairs as required. Condominiums can be a good choice for first time homebuyers because they are usually one of the less expensive options

Rental Apartments: ("flats" in British English). An Apartment is a unit in a building or a house. Most apartments have one/two/three bedrooms. 

But, if you see an advertisement and it says something about "Bachelor"units, it refeers to a single room that can be used as a living area and bedroom. 

The difference between an "apartment" complex and a condominium is purely legal and there is no way that you can say which is which by simply looking at the building.  When we talk about apartments, they are in a building owned by the same person. However if we talk about "condos" we are talking about units owned by different people sharing common areas.

Rental Rooms: Large homes are sometimes divided into several private bedrooms that are rented to individuals who share a kitchen and bathroom. That is the kind of house students usually have. They are cheaper than the rest of the options. 

Houses: There are detached houses with surrounding property as well as semi-detached and townhouses where each house shares a wall with another. 

Which one do you like most? ¿Which one suits your neccesities? ¿Central located and close to public transportation or do you prefeer one in the country? It is your choice!

In next posts, we will talk about renting and about buying your first home in Canada. 

Enjoy!

Come to our city, Saint John!

Source: Nane

We can´t wait to share "our" city with you. Are you ready?

Saint John (don´t get confused with Saint John´s in Newfoundland) is said to be Canada´s oldest city, let,s talk a bit about its

History

Saint John became a leading industrial centre in the nineteenth century, especially due to its shipbuilding trade.  The city quickly grew, with a big  influx of immigrants  during the Irish famine of the 1840’s, adding ‘Canada’s most Irish City’ to its list of names.

In 1877, there was a Big Fire that almost devastated the whole city. At that time, most of the houses were made with wooden structures, so the fire spread out quicky and it destroyed over 80 hectares. 

Architects from Chicago and Boston, came here to build new houses accordingly with the ones they had in their cities (made of brick and stone). That's how uptown Saint John came to have the largest and richest collection of turn-of-the-century architecture in all of Canada: A unique heritage of Victorian housing.

Source: Nane

Geography

Saint John is the biggest city of the province of New Brunswick. It is situated in the south-central portion of the province, by the sea, and surrounded by rivers: 

• Saint John river has 400 km (250 mi.) of water, stretching from Edmundston in the north to the Reversing Rapids in the south. 
• Kennebecasis River   runs for approximately 95 kilometres

The harbour is home to a terminal for cruise ships as well as being a fairly busy home for various container ships.

In Saint John the height difference from low to high tide is approximately 8 metres (28 ft) due to the funnelling effect of the Bay of Fundy as it narrows. The Reversing Falls in Saint John, an area of strong rapids, provides one example of the power of these tides; at every high tide, ocean water is pushed through a narrow gorge in the middle of the city and forces the Saint John River to reverse its flow for several hours. It is a unique phenomenon.

Buildings:
We would bring your attention to:

Source: www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

The  City Market. Canada´s oldest continuing farmer´s market. Its roof reflects the shipbuilding past, resembling a ship´s inverted hull. It is the epicenter of the city, where you can find fresh groceries, places to have lunch, artists selling their products, crafts,...

Saint John Free Public Library: Big, Complete, offers lots of programs, free computer access and the facilities are amazing.

Source: Nane

Germain St. This street is the best example of the Victorian buildings we were talking about earlier. And it has several churches.

Source: Nane

The Imperial Theatre. It’s worth the visit just to see its carefully constructed plaster moldings and beautiful ceiling. Give them a call, and you can even arrange for a behind the scenes tour.

Source: http://discoversaintjohn.com

Boardwalk: Located in the heart of Uptown Saint John, those pubs host free festivals and events each and everyday all summer long.

Source: Nane

The principal buildings are connected by an easily accesible pedway system. So, if it is really cold, raining or snowing, you won´t have to go outside!

Source: Nane

Museums:
New Brunswick Museum: You can see a full size whale and a mastodon.
Other museums: Saint John Jewish Historical Museum, St John Firefighters´Museum, St John Police Museum...

Parks:
King´s Square: Nice Park in the middle of town. Lots of places to sit, shady, and great place to people watch.

Rockwood Park. It has more than 55 trails, 13 manmade lakes and you can hike, fish, boat, climb, golf, mountain bike, horsebak ride...or just enjoy the nature.

Rockwood Park.

Source: Nane

Irving Nature Park. It is s a 600-acre peninsula of volcanic rock and forest,  between the open sea and a wide extension of tidal salt marsh.  Home to many types of migratory and marine birds, the park offers  walking trails and amazing views of this precious ecosystem. The park is a Bay of Fundy “Recommended Experience” and is provincially designated a “Top 10” attraction

                                         

Saint John is one hour drive from the US border at Calais, Maine, 8 hours drive from Boston, Massachusetts. 7 hours drive from Quebec City, Quebec and 9,5 hours drive from Montreal, Quebec.

Want to come to visit us?

Applying for Canadian Citizenship

Source:http://canadaimmigrationlawyers.ca/news

Applying for Canadian Citizenship

When I did my Canadian Citizenship application (5 years ago or so), I was very excited even though I was not very keen to gather all the documentation required, some of my documentation was in Brazil and I could not remember well the exact dates. Now is my fiancé time, voilá!  :0)

1. Read very careful  documentation checklist and procedures on how to apply. Note that application fee increased quite significantly.
2. Only submit your documentation if it is complete and if you have lived in Canada long enough to be eligible for citizenship, better do not risk to have the process delayed for missing documentation.
1. To be safe I submitted my application with registered parcel that required signature upon arrival at the immigration office ( it was my way to ensure that the my documentation was received, best money spent!)
3. You must be a permanent resident (PR) for at least two years before you can apply.
4. You must live in Canada for at least three of the four years before you apply (there is a rumor that this time will increase).
1. You can use  residence calculator to check if you comply:
1. In my case, I requested my travel history to aeroplan of the last 4 years, it was free, not sure if they are still providing it.  I also had e-tickets at my email, and of course the stamps in my passport.  
2. You may count ½ day time before you become PR and 1 full day after receive your PR
5. You need to proof that your skills to speak English or French.
1. I submitted my transcript of the  Canadian University and all Certificates received since I arrive in Canada.
2. Please check item 1 for required documentation
6. You must do the Canadian Citizenship Test

Money and finances. Opening a Bank Account

Source:getsmarteraboutmoney.ca

If you are thinking about coming to Canada, you have to take into account that you will need some money to support you during your first months. There will be a lot of initial expenses while you settle and look for a job. You have to pay your accommodation, food, and buy household items. So.. let´s talk about money!

Currency: 

Canada´s official currency is the Canadian Dollar ($). There are 100 cents in a dollar. And all paper money is printed by the Bank of Canada in the same size, but each bill has a different colour as you can see in the picture below

Source:newcanadianmoney.ca

Before coming, you can change some money from your country to Canadian dollars. So, you will be able to pay for the things you will need from the moment you arrive. You can also exchange money after you arrive (i.e. in the airport, but it is usually more expensive) or you can get cash from automated banking machines using your foreign debit or credit card.  You should check with our bank which is the best option for you.

If you send money through the mail, do not send cash. Use a cheque or a money order.  

Banking:

Banks and credit unions, and "caisses populaires" are safe places to keep your money. To be safer, open an account in a finantial institution member of the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation. That means that the goverment insures the money in your account (up to a maximum of $100.000 per depositor or, in the case of joint deposits, per set of joint owners).

Source: Nane

Opening a Bank Account: 

Unlike in other countries, in Canada, you have the RIGHT to a personal account even if:

• you don´t have a job
• you do not have money to put in that account in the moment you open it.
• you have poor or no credit rating (we will talk about this in next posts)
• you have been bankrupt

You just have to go to the bank and show them 2 Identification items from the following list:

• A Canadian Driver´s licence
• a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card
• a provincial or territorial health insurance card
• a permanent resident car or a Citizenship and Inmigration Canada form.

if you don´t have two pieces of this list, you can show one and, 

• an employee ID card with a photograph from a known employer
•  a debit or credit bank card with your name and signature on it
•  a valid foreign passport

All documents must be originals. 

Important Tip: You don´t have to have a permanent address to open a bank account, but before opening a bank account you should go to the Provintial Services in order to get your Canadian identification.

Types of bank accounts:

1. Chequing accounts: They usually include a debit card and they allow you to write cheques. They usually are cheaper than other kind of accounts. You will need this kind of account if your employer uses payroll deposit. And that is the account you will use for your day to day banking needs.

2. Savings and investment accounts are helpfull if you want to save money.They give you more interest than the chequing accounts but, you are allowed to make only certain type of transactions or just a number or them per month. If you make more, it may be expensive.

If you want to know more about investments, or to be better informed before making important decisions about money, go to "ItPaysToKnow.gc.ca"

In next posts, we will talk about debit and credit cards and the importance of having a credit history 

Hope this is useful!

Important Things to do before and after you come to Canada

Source:www.gic.gc.ca

If you are thinking about coming to Canada, it is best to be as prepared as possible.

Every newcomer's situation is different, so the lists we put here will  provide only an indication of what you may need to do at different stages.

Some of these documents may not be required immediately, but it is better to bring all your official documents with you in case you need them in the future. It is usually more difficult to obtain them after you have left your country.

BEFORE you arrive in Canada:

1. Collect and bring to Canada all official documents belonging to you and the family members who are immigrating with you.

Source: www.qc.cuny.edu

You should prepare:

• birth certificate
• passport
• marriage or divorce certificate, death certificate for a deceased spouse
• adoption records for adopted children
• educational diplomas and Certificates. Transcripts that list the courses you took to obtain a degree or certificate. 
• official vaccination records
• medical records (test results, x-rays, allergies, prescriptions... ) and dental records
• driver's licence and/or International Driving Permit 

If the original documents are not in English or Frech, (Canada's official languages) you will need to obtain Certified translations. Here in Atlantic Canada, even if it is a bilingual province, it is most useful to translate the documents into English.

When presenting your documents to Canadian Officials, always provide the original, the certified translation and the name and contact information of the translation agency.

2. Make an effort to improve your English or French. Communicaton skills may be the most important tool you can possess to setle successfully in Canada and find a good job .

3. Plan where you will stay during your first days in Canada. 

4. Prepare yourself to find employment in Canada. Obtain letters of reference from your past  employers, learn how to search and apply for jobs in Canada.

Find out if your occupation is regulated or unregulated. You may need to get your credentials recognized to find work: (http://credentials.gc.ca/recognition/why/licensing-requirements-regulated.asp)

5. Learn about the education system in Canada. Take note of the deadlines for applying and registering at schools, colleges and Universities.

6. Learn more about the province and the city where you will settle. Choose the city where you will live and understand how  much it cost to live there (http://www.cig.ca/english/newcomers/before-cost.asp)

7 .Find out if you need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada. (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp)

8. Make sure you know what you can and cannot bring to Canada. (http//www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-goods-what,asp)

AFTER arriving:

Source: http://galleryhip.com

In your first few weeks you will need to:

• Learn the sources of information to help you meet your needs:You can find contact information for inmigrant-serving organizations across Canada at:  www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/map/services.asp                   

          (We  recommend you :Saint John Multicultural and Newcomers Resource Centre Inc.)

• Exchange your money for Canadian currency and  open a Canadian Bank Account.
• Find temporary accommodation
• Have some identification (ID) with you
• Apply for a government health insurance card 
• Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). You can not work in Canada without a SIN . And it is needed to receive goverment benefits.
• Register your children in school
• Get a telephone card or a contract with a phone company
• Get a map of the area and find out about transportation in your area
• Memorize the national emergency telephone number: 911. If you experience a medical or other type of emergency, do not hesitate to call for help. 

In your first few months:

• search for a home to rent or buy.
• get a family doctor or health centre where you can go for your medical needs. 
• have your children inmunized
• look for a job
• try to make friends
• know where the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) assessment centre is in your community and register for language classes
• apply for Canada Child Tax Benefits (call 1-800-387-1193)
• know if you can apply for the GST/HST Credit ( call 1-800-959-1953 for more information)

In your first year:

• get a valid driver's licence if you plan to drive in Canada
• if your first language is not English or French, practice and improve your language skills
• register for adult continuing education classes
• participate in community activities
• understand your rights and responsibilities under Canadian law
• know that you can apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada several years

The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website can be found at www.cic.gc.ca and it provides general information about immigration and citizenship programs and services, information about your application, information kits easy to download and help with fee calculations.

You can also call them: 1-888-242-2100 

Formas de vir para Canadá: Visto de Estudante (Universidade e College)

erasmusplus

Dentre muitas maneiras de vir para o Canadá, uma das mais utilizadas é através do visto de estudante.
confira nas linhas a seguir algumas informações sobre essa modalidade tão cobiçada.

Um pouco da minha história:

Quando decidirmos vir para cá eu e meu marido analisamos várias possibilidades e dentre elas, surgiu a possibilidade da vinda como estudante de College (que na época era a mais fácil, barata, rápida e menos burocrática). Como meu marido veio como estudante e por sermos casados, eu automaticamente ganhei o Work Permit (Visto de trabalho).

Porque escolher esse método: 

Através da nossa experiência, posso dizer que é uma ótima maneira de se ter uma primeira impressão do país. Se você ainda tem dúvidas se quer imigrar de vez, é uma excelente oportunidade para se acostumar com a cultura, clima,  estilo de vida e o mercado de trabalho, em vista que uma vez como estudante, de college ou universidade você passará no mínimo um 1 ano e até 5 anos (dependendo do curso ou especialização que deseje fazer) por aqui e terá oportunidade e passar por muitas experiências que ajudarão a tirar suas próprias conclusões sobre o País.

Uma vez aqui, suas chances de entrar com pedido de imigração por programas provinciais  ou após sua graduação você pode solicitar um visto de trabalho (Post Grad. work Permit), com isso suas chances são maiores.

Na pior das hipóteses você voltará  ao Brasil com um upgrade no seu currículo e com fluência em inglês.

Porque não escolher esse método: 

Caso você não tenha um bom nível de inglês, esse não é o meio mas indicado para você. Uma vez que todas as instituições de ensino solicitam comprovação de proficiência na língua inglesa (ou francesa dependendo da província) e isso é comprovado através dos testes de proficiência como TOEFL, IELTS.

Histórico escolar, carta de indicação de professores, diplomas e certificados todos esses documentos serão solicitados pelas instituições e todos devem ser traduzidos por tradutor juramentado e enviados por correio.. tudo isso não sai barato!

Caso você não tenha uma reserva financeira, Bolsa de estudos ou alguém que te patrocine essa também não é a melhor das alternativas. Além de ter que comprovar renda suficiente para se sustentar durante o período de estudos, esse visto possui algumas restrições quanto ao permissão de trabalho (sua permissão ira depender da sua carga horária de estudos), pois uma vez que você veio como estudante, sua prioridade é estudar!

Para mais informações sobre esse assunto acesse os links abaixo:

Como solicitar visto de estudante http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp

Lista de instituições legalizadas pelo governo http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-institutions-list.asp

Tipos visto de estudante para trabalhar enquanto estuda: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-changes.asp

Espero que tenha esclarecido um pouco, essa opção de vinda para o Canadá.

Dúvidas, sugestões, deixe seu comentário aqui abaixo ;)

Why are we doing this?

Last week, having a cup of coffee at Tim Hortons...  wait a moment,... You haven´t heard about Tim Hortons? That means that you haven´t arrived to Canada yet!. Come with us!

As we were saying, we were talking about our experiences living in Canada, how different some of them were from the ones we had in our countries and how many people were asking us how to immigrate here. So, we decided to start this "canadaeasyguide".

We hope this guide will help you.

We will talk about the themes we are more concerned about or the ones we love, but you can tell us which one you  are interested in and we will try to write about it!