The Gadgets have landed!
Mar 9th 2011, 4:39 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Black Creek, Vancouver Island since December 2012
Posts: 1,385
The Gadgets have landed!
We have landed and our PR clock has started ticking now!
Last Thursday, 3rd March 2011, we landed at Toronto and apart from our 18 yr old absolutely climbing the walls to get outside for a cigarette, we had a painless and quick experience.
On the plane we filled in the landing card as usual but when we presented our passports we said that we were activating our PR status and landing.
At the immigration desks we were directed to wait in some chairs next to some cubicles. One immigrant on his own was giving or getting a hard time because we heard the voice of an immigration officer say loudly, 'What is your full name, I've asked you five times now and you have given me different family names, what is your name! I hoped we were not going to be seeing that IO because he was sure to be worked up already!
After about 20 minutes of waiting we were seen by a young bulletproof-vested man with bulging muscles. Fortunately he was friendly and to him our landing was a formality.
He asked us how much funds we were going to be coming with, explained that we would need to ring the provincial health authority of the province that we were going to settle in and said that we would be sent an appointment regarding Andy's inactive TB.
We gave my brothers address for our PR cards to be sent to, signed where he told us to, and were on our way in 20 minutes.
I asked him about the photo size on the COPR's because of the recent changes to photo sizes and he said that they would be fine for the PR cards. I sure hope so....
Next stop was really only applicable for those settling on Ontario. We were seen by a volunteer in the 'new settlers' section, who gave us a pack with all sorts of local info inside and welcomed us to Canada.
We rushed through this bit because it wasn't really relevant to us, but there are leaflets in there about applying for a SIN and child benefit, a booklet on things you should know in relation to getting a job, the law, becoming a citizen, health services and all sorts of other info. There's also another chunky book with more info in called 'Newcomers to Canada Day Planner'.
We then went through to the next stage, the Border Service Agency and our 'goods to follow' and 'goods accompanying' lists and the agent appeared to get a bit confused about the two lists. He read through them though, took them off and photocopied them and gave us a stamped B15 - Casual Good Accounting document form to bring with our list when we collect our container.......eventually.
That was it for us, all very quick & easy and there wasn't any point at which I felt emotional, like when I actually received the passports with the visas in them from the CHC in London in January.
We hired a car from Hertz as recommended in my previous thread, and didn't need to stay in a hotel because we have spent a lovely 5 days with Clematis and family. What a welcome we had....
We've had sunshine, snow, a decent snowball fight, sledding, the CN tower, Niagara Falls, and shopping experiences and I have now felt a -20 with the wind chill for the first time.
Last Thursday, 3rd March 2011, we landed at Toronto and apart from our 18 yr old absolutely climbing the walls to get outside for a cigarette, we had a painless and quick experience.
On the plane we filled in the landing card as usual but when we presented our passports we said that we were activating our PR status and landing.
At the immigration desks we were directed to wait in some chairs next to some cubicles. One immigrant on his own was giving or getting a hard time because we heard the voice of an immigration officer say loudly, 'What is your full name, I've asked you five times now and you have given me different family names, what is your name! I hoped we were not going to be seeing that IO because he was sure to be worked up already!
After about 20 minutes of waiting we were seen by a young bulletproof-vested man with bulging muscles. Fortunately he was friendly and to him our landing was a formality.
He asked us how much funds we were going to be coming with, explained that we would need to ring the provincial health authority of the province that we were going to settle in and said that we would be sent an appointment regarding Andy's inactive TB.
We gave my brothers address for our PR cards to be sent to, signed where he told us to, and were on our way in 20 minutes.
I asked him about the photo size on the COPR's because of the recent changes to photo sizes and he said that they would be fine for the PR cards. I sure hope so....
Next stop was really only applicable for those settling on Ontario. We were seen by a volunteer in the 'new settlers' section, who gave us a pack with all sorts of local info inside and welcomed us to Canada.
We rushed through this bit because it wasn't really relevant to us, but there are leaflets in there about applying for a SIN and child benefit, a booklet on things you should know in relation to getting a job, the law, becoming a citizen, health services and all sorts of other info. There's also another chunky book with more info in called 'Newcomers to Canada Day Planner'.
We then went through to the next stage, the Border Service Agency and our 'goods to follow' and 'goods accompanying' lists and the agent appeared to get a bit confused about the two lists. He read through them though, took them off and photocopied them and gave us a stamped B15 - Casual Good Accounting document form to bring with our list when we collect our container.......eventually.
That was it for us, all very quick & easy and there wasn't any point at which I felt emotional, like when I actually received the passports with the visas in them from the CHC in London in January.
We hired a car from Hertz as recommended in my previous thread, and didn't need to stay in a hotel because we have spent a lovely 5 days with Clematis and family. What a welcome we had....
We've had sunshine, snow, a decent snowball fight, sledding, the CN tower, Niagara Falls, and shopping experiences and I have now felt a -20 with the wind chill for the first time.
Mar 9th 2011, 4:45 pm
#2
Adapting slowly...
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Grove, BC
Posts: 302
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations Robin (and family) on the landing trip! Any photos? I remember your excitement when you collected the visas on that cold January day. So pleased you've got through the next stage OK! 
Mar 9th 2011, 5:21 pm
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Near Colchester, Essex hoping to go to Port Moody, BC
Posts: 1,007
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Well done Robin, the end of a long road.
Mar 9th 2011, 9:07 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Downtown Vancouver
Posts: 155
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations !
Mar 9th 2011, 9:46 pm
#5
Here for now
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Russell, ON
Posts: 156
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations on your landing, glad everything went smoothly for you!
Mar 9th 2011, 9:51 pm
#6
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Joined: Nov 2006
Location: NS
Posts: 1,212
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Great news Robin, congratulations to you all
Mar 9th 2011, 10:22 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Petawawa, ON
Posts: 257
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations Robin!
Mar 10th 2011, 11:59 am
#8
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Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,549
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations. Glad you made it in the end.
Mar 10th 2011, 12:25 pm
#9
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Well done Robin - glad it all went well. Good luck for the big move!
x
x
Mar 10th 2011, 12:43 pm
#10
Permanent Resident
Joined: May 2008
Location: Okotoks - Alberta
Posts: 275
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations Gadgets!
Mar 10th 2011, 2:50 pm
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Wellington, Nova Scotia
Posts: 752
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations Gadget family
Mar 10th 2011, 3:12 pm
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Toronto.
Posts: 379
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congrats not only on landing but having the coolest last name I've ever seen!
Mar 10th 2011, 5:19 pm
#13
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Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island
Posts: 1,096
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Congratulations!
Mar 10th 2011, 7:00 pm
#14
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Black Creek, Vancouver Island since December 2012
Posts: 1,385
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
Thanks everyone, lots of pics taken but all are on Facebook so if you want to see them (funky florist), then PM me your FB name.....(It'd be good to stay in touch).
Mar 11th 2011, 1:34 am
#15
Purpe80 in another life..
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 665
Re: The Gadgets have landed!
The Gadgets certainly did land, and fun was had by all!