As a new immigrant in Canada, there are some mistakes you are bound to commit that you may come to regret later. But with information such as this (about to be shared in this article), you may be able to by-cut this and prepare ahead, even before beginning the immigration process.
1. Not Giving Concern for the Canadian Weather
As little as this may sound, it is a mistake that needs to be avoided. This is because of the extreme weather in the country. The weather is either extremely cold or scorching. Suppose a newcomer does not acclimate his body before immigrating down to Canada. In that case, he may be at risk of weather-related sickness due to the country’s temperature, such as hypothermia, frostbite, cold in the case of extreme cold, heat rash, and heat exhaustion in the presence of hot weather.
If one has not yet registered for Healthcare services in the country, this may lead to a huge problem.
2. Slow Registration of Healthcare Services
In the case of an urgent medical emergency, if the newcomer, within the first 30 days, does not go on to register for healthcare services, it may become a problem.
It is advisable that within the first 30 days of landing in Canada, one of the first things to put as a priority is to register for the Healthcare system in the country. This will grant you access to book consultancy with a medical consultant, give you all rights to the various healthcare plans, and afford you the privilege of being attended to when sick or when you require the advice of a medical professional.
However, if you do not have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), it may be quite difficult to register for the country’s Healthcare system.
3. Delays in Setting up Crucial Social Services
Your Social Insurance Number can be compared to your National Identity Number. This unique number enables you to register for different social services in the country. This includes registration of cell phones to be eligible to call your family back home, having an identity when registering to have a bank account, and having a log with the public health services.
As a newcomer in Canada, especially one without relatives in Canada, one way the country can identify you from any others is by this number and it can be used to reach your family members in case you find yourself in any situation where you cannot reach out to them personally.
4. Not Opening a Bank Account
When you consider the expenses you would be exposed to as a newcomer in Canada, you realize that it is important that you open a bank account as soon as possible. This exposes you to the different financial packages that the bank has to offer, which may include a savings plan, especially for your children, an investment plan, access to loans, and other programs that are specific for newcomers.
Most times, newcomers feel they need different documents before they go ahead to open a bank account. With as little as having two ID cards, you are eligible to open a bank account, where you will be given both a credit card and a debit card.
Depending on the program through which you immigrated into the country, some programs allow for a kind of bank account. For example, a temporary resident would need to open a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA).
Having a bank account shows that you are in tangent with the work culture of the provinces of Canada.
5. Not Knowledgeable About the Canadian Workplace
There is another mistake to avoid as a newcomer to Canada. Having prior knowledge of the Canadian workspace norms would guide your actions and direct your paths to get some things done before moving out to Canada and after arriving in the country.
For example, the payment structure of the Canadian workplace requires that you have a bank account. There is every possibility that you may face distress if you do not have one.
Another example is the employer’s choice to employ a candidate with Canadian experience. While this may be seen as a form of discrimination, this is just what the employer wants; someone who understands how things work in Canada and knows the practical models to immediately carry out should a situation require one.
Understanding this would give you a form of leverage, as you would consider volunteering for organizations that would not require this condition and getting yourself familiar with the Canadian environment.
6. Not Knowing the Culture of Your New Locale
Do you know you may find it difficult to cope with the way of life of the people in Canada, especially in your residing province, if you do not give time to understanding their culture and adapting to it?
There will be a difference between the culture of your home country and this new place you find as home. Understanding it ahead of time would save you a lot of surprises and unexpected spending.
The spending power of each province or territory differs from one to another. Although cities like Vancouver and Toronto are high on job opportunities, it is equally high on the necessary day-to-day expenses too. So your desire for a better job opportunity should not make you ignore the cost of living that comes with residing in these Cities.
This is why your financial plan needs to have another plan.
7. Lack of a Contingency Plan
Not having a backup plan in case things do not go as planned is one of the mistakes to avoid as a Newcomer to Canada.
On average, it takes about 6 months for newcomers to be able to secure a job in Canada. However, it could take longer than this. If there is no plan to cater for the financial expenses, medical services, feeding, rent, transportation plan, and other necessary provisions, life in Canada may become very depressing and one may consider going back to his home country.
So before leaving for Canada, make a day-to-day plan for the next six months of staying in the country. And even for this plan make a backup plan that can sustain your living, should things not work as you plan them to.
This would require you to make plans on a lot of things and this may include your housing options.
8. Inadequate Research on Housing Options
Rushing to either buy or rent a land property could either be good or bad. It is good if you were not scammed of your hard-earned money, and it will be bad if you purchased one at an exorbitant price.
Researching the different housing options would grant you access to fellow newcomers or even Canadian permanent residents who, momentarily, need a roommate. Also, you could take advantage of staying at the immigration hostel pending the time you find a housing option that is within your means.
Moreover, there are several settlement plans organized by the government, especially for newcomers, that can be utilized. Some of it includes housing options as well.
9. Not knowing About the Free Settlement Services Early Enough
Do you know that over C$700,000,000 investment programs have been developed and announced by the Government of Canada to cater to the well-being of newcomers into the country? This is to ensure that they get the best for their living, working, or studying endeavors.
You may also be interested in:
Even as temporary residents, these settlement services can also be taken advantage of.
Some of it may include affordable housing options, exposure to medical services, guides to securing job offers, myriads of resources that can aid your educational proficiency, and so on.
10. Disregarding the Benefits of Educational Advancement
As a newcomer in Canada, this is one of the things to look out for. Your educational advancement could serve as an avenue that can be utilized to get exposed to better living and working opportunities in the country.
This is because most of the professional benefits provided by the country would require a form of education or the other. Even transitioning from a temporary resident to a permanent resident also requires that you have an educational history or qualifications that are recognized by the government of Canada.
So, disregarding the many educational resources provided by several free settlement services or programs is a mistake to avoid as a newcomer in Canada.
Conclusion
Before immigrating to Canada, carry out research, ask questions, and speak with immigration consultants to understand the nature of the Canadian workspace, requirements for setting up crucial social services, the available housing options that are within your means, how to register for Healthcare services on time, even also how to dress for the different weather conditions of the country.
This knowledge would enable you to know the mistakes to avoid as a newcomer to Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the major challenges newcomers face in Canada is the language barrier. This is why language proficiency is an important requirement when applying for any Canadian immigration program.
There is no fixed amount required. However, one is expected to have at least C$10,000 before coming down to Canada.
A newcomer in Canada has not stayed up to 5 years in the country.
The first set of things to get done upon arriving in Canada includes setting up a Social Insurance Number (SIN), opening a bank account, registering for healthcare services, and building Canadian experience for job opportunities.
The employment rate for newcomers is considered to be low in Canada due to the insufficient knowledge of the work/job environment they process. As a result, there is over a 20% employability gap between immigrants of over 5 years compared to newcomers.
