Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10294414)

So apart from finding nice restaurants and good wine bars, here's what I have:
- scan documents received at the airport
- get SIM card for phone
- open bank account
- apply for SIN number
- register for national health insurance
- find long-term accommodation
- get contents insurance

What else?

Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10294414)

So apart from finding nice restaurants and good wine bars, here's what I have:
- scan documents received at the airport
- get SIM card for phone
- open bank account
- apply for SIN number
- register for national health insurance
- find long-term accommodation
- get contents insurance

What else?

Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10294414)

So apart from finding nice restaurants and good wine bars, here's what I have:
- scan documents received at the airport
- get SIM card for phone
- open bank account
- apply for SIN number
- register for national health insurance
- find long-term accommodation
- get contents insurance

What else?

Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10294414)

So apart from finding nice restaurants and good wine bars, here's what I have:
- scan documents received at the airport
- get SIM card for phone
- open bank account
- apply for SIN number
- register for national health insurance
- find long-term accommodation
- get contents insurance

What else?

Originally Posted by magnumpi (Post 10294480)

If you do get a rental car, that's presuming the OP can drive, then a GPS would be a good buy. Canadian tire or any large lekie store will have them in for bout 100 bucks.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 10295001)

Why? In all the Canadian cities and towns I've visited or lived in, a GPS is utterly unnecessary. It's all tedious right angles.

For longer distance driving, well, there isn't a lot of choice. It's my way or the highway.

Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10294414)

So apart from finding nice restaurants and good wine bars, here's what I have:
- scan documents received at the airport
- get SIM card for phone
- open bank account
- apply for SIN number
- register for national health insurance
- find long-term accommodation
- get contents insurance

What else?

Originally Posted by bats (Post 10295008)

GPS gives daft instructions. We always end up arguing when we used it. Better to used maps even crappy Canadian ones.

Originally Posted by Aviator (Post 10294647)

Get your SIN first, you cannot open a bank account as a resident without one.
You will also be asked for it when registering for the provincial medical plan (there is not a national one).
You will only be able to arrange renters insurance once you have found permanent accommodation. You won't be able to get it if you are in a motel.
You may not want to bother with getting a sim card for the phone unless you have PAYG. Most plans come with free phones. Look at Koodo Mobile and their 'Tab'.

Why would you scan the documents? I never bothered and it was never a problem. So long as you have your PR card and SIN, everything else can be found. Copies are of no value than for personal record.

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10295015)

I've got a good satnav app for my iPad that does decent routes and the lady doesn't have an American or Canadian accent. :thumbup:

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 10295001)

Why? In all the Canadian cities and towns I've visited or lived in, a GPS is utterly unnecessary. It's all tedious right angles.

For longer distance driving, well, there isn't a lot of choice. It's my way or the highway.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10294429)

Wait until you get outside of the Customs controlled area before swearing at us :lol:
You then find the nearest Tim Hortons and ask for a double double and a ham and swiss sandwich with honey mustard dressing and a donut of your choice. Now you are in Canada :rofl:

Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10295878)

Is there a Dunkin' Donuts in Vancouver? Wouldn't mind a Boston creme.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10294473)

Where and when are you landing? Vancouver, early OctoberWill you be requiring that winter parka to protect you from the minus 30C temp outside. Doubt it. But even so, I'm used to -20C temps.Will you need a taxi or sled dog team if not hiring a vehicle or catching a hotel shuttle bus. I think a taxi will do.
Pick up an extortinate priced bottle of wine or Rum from a Govt run liquor store. No offys over here unless in Quebec. Should I stock up in duty free?
Seek out the nearest Brit store selling UK products if you are pining for a chocolate bar or glass of Robinsons squash. I'm not British, so this doesn't pertain to me.
If you brought over a block of cheese then savour evey last crumb of it until you buy some from a very reasonable priced grocery or speciality store. Gosh, this might be the difficult bit - I love cheese. Introduce yourself to the delightful Canadian produced blockbuster TV shows shown on most Canadian cable or satellite TV channels.
Find a VPN so you can watch UK shows on a laptop you might miss. Don't care about British TV at all. My partner is a different story though.
Tune into to a local radio station and listen to the latest piece of crap being sung by Katy Perry and Niki Minaj and a host of others.
Be prepared to be looked at strangely when asking for directions or information especially if you have some sort of accent. Whenever we were on holiday (destinations favoured by Canadians), they would always say 'I love you're accent. It's so cute / awesome / pretty'. I have a mixture of Australian and British accents. Most people actually think I'm South African...

Originally Posted by lf1 (Post 10295882)

Just in case you do buy a car, a copy of of your driving record and a letter from your insurance company confirming your claims experience may help in obtaining better insurance terms.

Good luck with your move.:)

Originally Posted by Aviator (Post 10295895)

You would need more than a copy of your driving record. A letter of all claims history or of no claims (Not NCD) using the template letter ICBC provide. Without the correct format ICBC will not honour any discount.

Never heard of ICBC requiring a copy of driving record, just no claims history.

Originally Posted by lf1 (Post 10295905)

Oh dear, forgot that BC does have public and private sector involvement in auto insurance. Claims experience would include any or all claims, but as you say ICBC could insist on their template being completed, so OP should obtain same if car insurance will be required in the future.:)

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10294473)

Where and when are you landing?
Will you be requiring that winter parka to protect you from the minus 30C temp outside.
Will you need a taxi or sled dog team if not hiring a vehicle or catching a hotel shuttle bus.
Pick up an extortinate priced bottle of wine or Rum from a Govt run liquor store. No offys over here unless in Quebec.
Seek out the nearest Brit store selling UK products if you are pining for a chocolate bar or glass of Robinsons squash.
If you brought over a block of cheese then savour evey last crumb of it until you buy some from a very reasonable priced grocery or speciality store.
Introduce yourself to the delightful Canadian produced blockbuster TV shows shown on most Canadian cable or satellite TV channels.
Find a VPN so you can watch UK shows on a laptop you might miss.
Tune into to a local radio station and listen to the latest piece of crap being sung by Katy Perry and Niki Minaj and a host of others.
Be prepared to be looked at strangely when asking for directions or information especially if you have some sort of accent.

Originally Posted by foreigngirl (Post 10295876)

I have driven on the right side of the road most of my life (in big cities), so not really worried about driving in Vancouver.