Various Questions
 

Hi Guys,

I have a few questions for you, if you can help me:

1. What is the current favoured removals company to move our household possessions from UK to Ontario? How much for an average container? With insurance?

2. How do I contact Canadian Immigration as I need to clarify a few points with them? The ca gov websites I find are difficult to navigate around and when I have emailed from them in the past, I have never had a reply!

3. I also need to write to the Canadian Tax office. What is the best address or email? (again the website seems very buaucratic and complicated).

4. I need to get my daughter into a particular school in the town I will be living in. Is it pretty simple to get her enrolled from abroad as there will not be any time at all after arriving that she has to go to school.

5. How can I obtain both a car and bike license, without having to retrain? I have been riding/ driving for 30 years.

Cheers in advance,
Jim

Re: Various Questions
 

A quick search will reveal literally hundreds of threads about shipping, with recommended companies and quotes.

You can't. CIC don't have a public phone number, if you need immigration advice you'd have to contact an immigration lawyer or consultant. If it's simple points you need to clarify, then you can always try asking on the forum (a few pros do post on here).

Make sure it's your designated school - your address will need to be in 'catchment'. If it is, then yes, it should be fairly simple but contact the school board to clarify how it works as it will vary by town and province.

Again, loads of previous threads on the subject or you can just check the Wiki - presumably this page will be useful....... http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Driver's_Licence-Canada

Re: Various Questions
 

Thanks for that.

I have searched on the forum but am swamped by so-called 'experts' or those who speculate or even guess, only to be contradicted later on.

Just to elaborate:

1. I just wanted to know - at this moment in time - which is the preferred removals company.

2. I am a Canadian by parentage, British by nature (!), with a German wife who I sponsored and landed in 2009. I am an Army Officer and will retire in Dec next year after 30 years service. My question will be confirming that the time spent with me, a Canadian citizen, counts towards her PR landed time. I presume it does. We are currently in the Middle East.

3. I just need to get an answer 'from the horse's mouth' and not through a 3rd party ref tax questions. I want decisions made and me to have proof of those decisions before I come over.

4. Yes, the school is 1 of 2 designated schools. I wanted to know if everything can be done over the Internet/ email.

5. Do I need to retrain on motorcycle as I only have 1 UK licence (car/ bike), even though I am a motorcycle instructor?

Thanks again,
Jim

Re: Various Questions
 

Probably best to stick to one question per thread, makes it easier for those following in your footsteps to find the info they need. Like what it says in the newbie read me;)

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In answer to #2 Yes the time she has spent with you counts towards her 730days residency requirement.

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If you're going to Alberta, you cannot transfer your bike licence, you have to do a test.

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International Tax Services Office
Post Office Box 9769, Station T
Ottawa ON K1G 3Y4
CANADA

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Many, Many thanks - she was worried. I was hoping the opposite so I wouldn't have to take her with me!!! (only kidding)

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I'm going to Ontario but wish I were going to Alberta - the first place I wanted to buy was in Canmore!

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Excellent! Thanks mate.

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Then you need to take the bike test, no reciprocal agreement for bikes here.

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In regards to #1 removal company doesnt the Canadian military have a contract mover for your personal goods or pick your own then put in a claim to recover costs?

Look at the bigger removal companies such as Allied, United, Mayflower etc
they specialise in these types of moves plus if you are not paying for it yourself choose one that has a good history and reviews.

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Exchanging a Reciprocal Licence

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Sorry mate, I haven't explained myself properly. I am in the British Army, retiring after a thousand years! Centurion was a rank, not a tank when I joined!

I have never lived in Canada but my Dad was Canadian. I bought a house in Ontario and now plan to move there next year.

Ta!

Re: Various Questions
 

No.1 Crown Relocations 20' sole use container 4900 gb pounds UK to Ontario door to door pack and unpack. They have their own office/depot in Toronto so not dealing with subcontractor Canada side. Marine insurance Letton Percival of Liverpool around 300 gb pounds much cheaper than quote from Crown.
No.4 Schools - all done via phone, email and internet. No probs just had to prove address once we got here (Ontario).

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Marine insurance Letton Percival of Liverpool around 300 gb pounds much cheaper than quote from Crown.

Probably has to do with half your stuff being nicked before it arrives :rofl:

Re: Various Questions
 

Not sure why you've put 'experts' in quotes - we do have many proper experts on the forum who are immigration lawyers/consultants, or work for CIC (or have until recently), so they do know what they are talking about and give up a lot of time for free for the benefit of this community. Not everybody is an expert of course, but you will get to know the pros whose answers you can count on (PMM/Jim Humphries/Paul Wildy et al). And of course, if you want to know something for sure, paying for an immigration lawyer/consultant is the way to go. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. ;):lol:

As Iaink said, the Newcomers to the Forum Wiki link will give you lots of useful tips on how to use the forum and 'netiquette', including not asking lots of questions in one thread, searching for answers before asking (i.e. the question about your wife's PR status can be answered either by checking the Wiki - this article.......http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...cy_Obligations - or the CIC website - here...........http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/informa...des/5445EA.asp)

HTH.

:)

Re: Various Questions
 

I totally agree and thats what I thought when I read the phrase - "so called experts."

If you don't want the so-called experts to answer, don't ask the question.

JonboyE - so called experts on taxes, he's an accountant.
F- Lancastrian - so called expert on stuff regarding landing etc, seeing he is a border guard or something or other.
Christmas - O - so called expert on immigration seeing as she works for an immigration office
PMM - probably the best so called expert we have - not sure what he does as he's very cagey (;)) - I think he works for the CIA and moonlights somewhat for a CIC department when he gets his C's and A's mixed up.

Of course - you could choose not to listen to any of these, as they are only so called - and i'm a so called expert in f**k all - so it's best to discount this post ayway ;)

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I claim to be a "so called expert" in atmospheric chemistry, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy and applications in the above, as well as scientific instrument development and taking the piss on BE.

Is that of help?

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I make a claim to be an expert on landing!

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I suppose it is if you're planning on making liquids change colour or whatever it is chemists do ;)

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Haha - you are so touchy!

I meant those who come on here and offer advice based on rumour, gossip, hearsay and 'what I heard on another forum' it was not meant to be a criticism of any of you worthy members of this magnificent forum.

Thanks to those who give honest and correct advice.

btw I am also an expert in ****-all, unless you want advice on Explosive Method of Entry buildings, Close Air Support and room combat but I'm not sure there's a need for that in downtown Barrie!

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oh I dunno it sounds as though you and Ultrarunner could get quite pally ;) (do a search but please don't morph into - there's only room for one!)

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I trawled through lots of posts for removal companies and the only one that I found that didn't have a bad word against them was GB liners. I got quotes from them, Anglo Pacific, Fox, Simpsons and someone else and they were all comparable so went with GB liners. You can haggle over your marine insurance too.

If you want to save a few hundred you can pack the unbreakables too.

HTH :)

Re: Various Questions
 

Thank you for your kind words.
We do try to help out where we can and being a newbie, this is reward enough though Im far from an expert compared to some.
Yes I work at a POE as a BSO (official title) or many of the other unofficial titles:rofl:
I am now on my second marriage the 1st one with CRA didnt pan out so they hitched us up with CIC and CFIA and we are still in the honeymoon stages:lol:
At times you will see that CBSA and CIC dont always agree on certain things
hence the odd testy post between members. I certainly dont take it personally but will fire back a few portside salvoes if needed;)
I guess when a former Minister of CIC (Eleanor Caplan) referred to Customs Officers as being likened to bank tellers then the gloves came off :lol:
Sadly a lot of CIC legacy officers have found jobs within CIC as they didnt agree to the merger with CBSA and the POE and Inland Enforcement functions being given to CBSA. (Meaning they actually had to work:D)
So unfortunately some of the stuff happening at the POEs is down to a lack of training and understanding of the CIC legislation and regulations:(

Anyway again thanks for those kind words and hoping I dont get too much hate mail from the CIC group :rofl:

The CBSA ninjas I dont mind that handle :lol:

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You forgot spellink.

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Canadian beer doesnt really change colour though, does it:sneaky:

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I think it does. Drink a few pints of Labatts then go to the bog now you have a pint of Molsons ;)

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pfffft well you are clearly way down the intelligence scale then because I bet Novo could do it :nod:

(Holy crap I could do it, beer + food colouring = different colour than it was originally) Thats roughly chemistry isn't it?

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In both cases, the beer's only rented.

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and f***lnk.

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hmmmph thats not even a real page :frown: