1 month in Saskatoon!
Mar 22nd 2011, 2:24 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 253
1 month in Saskatoon!
We arrived in Saskatoon a month ago and so far we are loving it!
We landed in Calgary on Nomination and got our TWP's at the Airport - we got in line for Immigration - the lady that dealt with us was very nice and welcoming! She asked to see our Nomination letter, job offer and passports, but didnt ask to see our "Goods to Follow" list. The whole process only took 10 minutes - we walked away with a 2 year TWP for Keith and a 2 year open TWP for me! The only other thing we had to do was stop at the next booth to pay $150 per TWP.
Unfortunately Canadian Affair lost our daughters' suitcase between Gatwick and Calgary, so when we flew on to Saskatoon from Calgary we had to leave without it! :curse: We landed in a snow storm with two daughters 12 & 9 years old with only the clothes they stood up in. A trip the following morning to Walmart was needed
It finally turned up a week later!
We got our SIN numbers within the first couple of days which was very straight forward - Cell phones were alittle more difficult, we brought our Blackberries from England but they are NOT compatible with SASKTEL! I believe they are with Rogers etc but a SASKTEL Sim Card was not recognised by our english BB's! As we dont have a Canadian credit rating we had to buy two new BB's and pay $500 deposit to SASKTEL which they keep for 6 months until you can prove that you will pay monthly without defaulting, then you get the money back!
We set up a bank account with Scotiabank also within the first week - they were great and transferring our money from the UK to Scotiabank was a very smooth process!
Because we want to build a credit rating quickly we got one of the cars on finance which also came through Scotiabank - which was surprisingly easy, they even did the loan over 4 years - considering our TWP's our only for 2 years - and they did take copies of those for the loan!
Registering the cars was slightly more difficult as they wanted two proof's of address which they preferred as household bills - they also wanted to see our Saskatchewan Drivers licence - which you also cannot exchange until you have two household bills to prove address! In the end they excepted our SIN paperwork, Job Offer and took copies of passports / TWP's.
We enroled the girls in school - both schools were extremely welcoming and both girls have already made friends (even had sleepover invites) and are loving their new schools! Our youngest is dyslexic, the school has been fantastic - she gets one on one help every day! In England she only got that kind of attention once a week!!
We sent off for our medical cards and got those back within two weeks which was great!
We managed to find a nice little house to rent which we move into in two weeks - hopefully our shipping container will arrive before the end of next week!
We went to our first Hockey game on Saturday night and had a fab time!
Everyone we have met from petrol pump attendants to banking clerks have been so friendly and welcoming!
The only thing that I am starting to get alittle bored of being asked is: What do you think about Prince William marrying Kate? Are you going back to England for the Wedding? - Like we got an invite... LOL LOL
Absolutely no regrets!!
We landed in Calgary on Nomination and got our TWP's at the Airport - we got in line for Immigration - the lady that dealt with us was very nice and welcoming! She asked to see our Nomination letter, job offer and passports, but didnt ask to see our "Goods to Follow" list. The whole process only took 10 minutes - we walked away with a 2 year TWP for Keith and a 2 year open TWP for me! The only other thing we had to do was stop at the next booth to pay $150 per TWP.
Unfortunately Canadian Affair lost our daughters' suitcase between Gatwick and Calgary, so when we flew on to Saskatoon from Calgary we had to leave without it! :curse: We landed in a snow storm with two daughters 12 & 9 years old with only the clothes they stood up in. A trip the following morning to Walmart was needed
It finally turned up a week later!We got our SIN numbers within the first couple of days which was very straight forward - Cell phones were alittle more difficult, we brought our Blackberries from England but they are NOT compatible with SASKTEL! I believe they are with Rogers etc but a SASKTEL Sim Card was not recognised by our english BB's! As we dont have a Canadian credit rating we had to buy two new BB's and pay $500 deposit to SASKTEL which they keep for 6 months until you can prove that you will pay monthly without defaulting, then you get the money back!
We set up a bank account with Scotiabank also within the first week - they were great and transferring our money from the UK to Scotiabank was a very smooth process!
Because we want to build a credit rating quickly we got one of the cars on finance which also came through Scotiabank - which was surprisingly easy, they even did the loan over 4 years - considering our TWP's our only for 2 years - and they did take copies of those for the loan!
Registering the cars was slightly more difficult as they wanted two proof's of address which they preferred as household bills - they also wanted to see our Saskatchewan Drivers licence - which you also cannot exchange until you have two household bills to prove address! In the end they excepted our SIN paperwork, Job Offer and took copies of passports / TWP's.
We enroled the girls in school - both schools were extremely welcoming and both girls have already made friends (even had sleepover invites) and are loving their new schools! Our youngest is dyslexic, the school has been fantastic - she gets one on one help every day! In England she only got that kind of attention once a week!!
We sent off for our medical cards and got those back within two weeks which was great!
We managed to find a nice little house to rent which we move into in two weeks - hopefully our shipping container will arrive before the end of next week!
We went to our first Hockey game on Saturday night and had a fab time!
Everyone we have met from petrol pump attendants to banking clerks have been so friendly and welcoming!
The only thing that I am starting to get alittle bored of being asked is: What do you think about Prince William marrying Kate? Are you going back to England for the Wedding? - Like we got an invite... LOL LOL
Absolutely no regrets!!
Mar 22nd 2011, 11:36 am
#2
Here for now
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Russell, ON
Posts: 156
Re: 1 month in Saskatoon!
What a great post! Glad everything is going well - enjoy your new life!!
Mar 22nd 2011, 9:11 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2009
Location: Essex now Sylvan Lake, AB
Posts: 515
Re: 1 month in Saskatoon!
A1 post, hope it all works out
Mar 23rd 2011, 4:15 am
#4
Temporary Canuck
Joined: May 2010
Location: Burnaby, B.C.
Posts: 336
Re: 1 month in Saskatoon!
Wow! Apart from the suitcase saga sounds like everything is going perfectly!
Congrats!
Congrats!
Mar 24th 2011, 2:31 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Martensville Saskatchewan
Posts: 31
Re: 1 month in Saskatoon!
Glad everything is going well we moved 18 months ago and are living in Martensville if you need anything or want any advise give us a shout we are only too willing to help, I know what you mean about the schools our son is 10 and dyslexic he goes to Valley Manor here in Martensville help every day from day one and no jumping up and down to get it they were absolutly fantastic. Good luck with everything. the snow will go soon I'm told
Apr 29th 2011, 4:08 am
#6
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 253
Re: 1 month in Saskatoon!
The snow has gone now...
