Hello from Winnipeg! 🍁

Landed in Vancouver December 4, 2006

My husband and I were graphic and web designers for ten years back in the Philippines. My father's sisters, a retired nurse and an accountant, came for a rare visit around year 2003 and suggested we put in an application as Nominees. Hubby and I were tired of the life we had living paycheck to paycheck, not being able to buy our own house or car. Jumping from one company to another, the chaos of living in the city, and the biggest disappointment of all, the corrupt and unchanging system of the government. There was no progress, you might as well dig a hole and bury yourself. So, when the opportunity was presented, we did not think twice in applying.

It took a few months to fill out our application, gather records and documents. Application fees were paid by our aunts through a loan that we paid off in full when we got a job. My father gave us some of his stocks that we have to liquify and use as show money and allowance. 


We received a confirmation of our application from Canada after only a year, then we were asked to do a medical. The whole process and waiting took almost three years, we thought our application was declined. Until in October of 2006 we finally received our visa. Hubby and I were so excited. Our whole family were excited. We decided to leave as soon as we were able to. One of my grandmothers, lola Cela, loaned us a thousand dollars, and hubby's parents chipped in for our airfare and allowance. 

We landed in Vancouver, one of the entry ports of Canada then took a domestic flight to Winnipeg, the only city in Manitoba (back then) on the 8th of December 2006. It was early Winter in Winnipeg, four degrees Celsius, and we came out of the airport wearing Fall jackets as tiny snow called flurries landed on our hair and melted. My aunt and uncle picked us up at the airport.

The second day, they accompanied us to the bank to open an account. In Canada, you can open a chequing and savings account without depositing funds. Our first bank, Scotia bank provided us debit (atm) cards. Next, we went to a Canada Service Centre, filled out forms for permanent resident cards and health cards. We received our health cards the same day, but our PR cards were mailed a few months later. 

We currently bank with Simplii Financials for more than 10 years now! I'll do a separate post of the change in the future or click the link below to find out more.

Hey, I think you’d like how simple everyday banking can be with Simplii Financial™. Use my link and you can earn when you open and use an eligible account with Simplii™. Conditions apply.
 

My husband, Allan

You can apply for both cards as soon as you land in Canada (as long as the service centres are open - Monday to Friday). You get health coverage right away - free clinic and hospital checkups, among others covered under PR (permanent residents). 

And that's the start of our new adventure in a new country.

If you are interested to immigrate, you can check the link below and shoot me a comment if you want to find out more about the process of applying.


28.05.2018

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