I am going to Ottawa in 2 weeks, from London, and will be staying there until November, on a normal visit. I have a few questions.

1. As I understand it, if I use my debit card from here (England) over there (I have a Barclays account), there will be a small charge. Is there a charge if I was to open a HSBC account here and use it over there, since it is known globally?
2. Will there be any problem if I was to apply for a working visa while I'm in Canada? And would I be able to have my working visa sent to my Canadian accommodation instead of my home in London?
3. Can I take my computer with me? Does anyone have any experience of this? I booked my ticket with Air Transat and the airline is Thomas Cook. I'm only wishing to take the tower with me, and it is small and lightweight.
4. For foreign visitors like myself, would I be able to open a basic Canadian bank account and which one(s) would you recommend? I am planning to be there for over a year in total (including working there once I get my working visa).
5. Which websites would you recommend to find cheap accommodation, apart from kijiji and craigslist?

Thank you!

www.viewit.ca

Pretty sure Barclays and Scotiabank have an agreement where customers of each can use the ATMs free of charge. You obviously have to take the exchange rate that Barclays offers though.

My OH had no end of problems trying to use his Barclay card here when we arrived 6 years ago.

What is the basis of your trip? Tourist? If so, you're making the assumption that you're going to be allowed to stay until November. Read this:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/arriving.asp

You can't apply for a work permit from within Canada if you're just visiting. You must do this through your home country.

Check with your bank and credit card companies about fees. Different credit cards charge different foreign transaction fees (usually 2-3% of the purchase price). These rates are not static and change over time so it's always advisable to call prior to each trip (you should tell them of your travel plans anyway so that your ability to use the credit card is not interrupted). Use the credit card that charges the lowest foreign transaction fee. I have US Capital One Visa and Mastercard credit cards because they don't charge a foreign transaction fee at all. Of course, credit card companies can still screw you on the exchange rate for the purchase itself.

You should have no issues bringing a laptop. However, a desktop tower without a monitor and keyboard could raise obvious questions (are you going to buy a monitor in Canada? How will you get it home?)

You might well run into an immigration officer who asks questions that you're going to have to answer truthfully (e.g. do you have areturn ticket?). It's OK to visit Canada to look for work but you can't stay there and apply for a work permit - you have to return home to do that. If the immigration officer suspects your intentions, you could be given a shorter visitor visa or could be refused entry altogether.

Americans can travel into Canada and open bank accounts so I don't foresee any issue with you doing the same.

I arrived as a tourist and applied for a work permit by driving to the US border, lodging an application, being interviewed and then having a 3yr TWP issued. It doesn't have to be from your own country.

How long ago was that?

I'm assuming there was more to it than that (ie you had a job offer etc..).

Cheers

Chris

I was here for about 4 months as a tourist before visiting the border. I had no job offer, and wanted to start my own business, so presented a business plan and details of the land and property I'd purchased. It was 2005.

Okay now I am genuinely worried.

I just want to visit as a tourist until November, which is less than 3 months, and I thought that would be no problem since the maximum stay period for a visit is 6 months. I have no intentions of working there for that period, or anything, I just want to visit and enjoy a bit of freedom by myself.

So I'm confused why they wouldn't let me stay for less than 3 months? That's what's got me worried.

And I do have a return ticket, yeah, booked for the 3rd of November.

:/

I'm just quoting the official web site:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/arriving.asp


Most visitors to Canada are not allowed to work or study in Canada without a permit.

If you require a study permit or a work permit, you must apply for it before coming to Canada. If you are visiting Canada and you want to apply to work or study, you must leave Canada and apply from your home country.

If you are just coming as a tourist, no problem. You should be allowed to stay for up to 6 months. The problems could arise if you are asked certain questions - which you must answer truthfully. If you state what you stated here (that you intend to seek work and try to stay in Canada to obtain a work permit and that you're going toopen a bank account) then all hell could break loose at the port of entry. Get your facts and story straight BEFORE you're asked any awkward questions. Bringing a desktop tower without a monitor and keyboard is something that could arouse suspicion. What tourist brings a desktop tower with them? Laptop yes - but a desktop tower? You might want to rethink that or come up with a good explanation. Perhaps you don't have a laptop and you can borrow a friend's monitor and keyboard?

Don't take computer, take laptop. you can have it carry on, otherwise tower will almost certainly break (HDD).
You can't apply with visitors visa from within canada to get any other working or permanent visa, it has to be from abroad, but it doesn't matter which country, it doesn't have to be your own. Many do it from US. However the waiting time is rather long, usually it may be approved long after your visitor visa expires and then you have problem where they should send the papers...so generally it is more convenient to do it from you place of residence.
Banks will not open account in canada if you don't have permanent residency or social insurance number, so with visitors visa, you may save yourself the trouble.. look for the branch of your own bank in canada, they may be more accommodating if they exist.
As a visitor you can stay in canada for the 6 months, it just has to be as a visitor - for pleasure. You cannot work nor study, nor look for job, nor seek residency.

In an ideal situation:

OP arrives in Ottawa and applies for a job.
OP is given job and future employer applies for an LMO
LMO is approved and the employer notified
Employer gives a copy of LMO to OP
OP drives down to Prescott / Ogdensburg and flagpoles, getting a work permit on entry (assuming job doesn't require a medical).

This would be the quickest option for starting work anyway.

Also, when I was in Canada for an interview, with no status other than visitor, I opened an account with RBC. Best thing I did. As a result of opening it and not using it for the best part of 6 months whilst back in the UK, I've been told by the bank it's helped give me a very good credit rating (despite being on a TWP), and have been given a credit card and car loan with absolutely no problems.

I would advise anyone going on a recce trip to open a bank account.

Thomas Cook don't serve Ottawa in November - are you flying back from elsewhere?

This is not true. I know many Americans who opened bank accounts while visiting Canada. In fact 2 friends of mine opened accounts at TD Canada Trust just in the past few weeks.