Canada has witnessed more than 82,000 new immigrants who fled away during the war in Ukraine. This way, they got permission to begin afresh in Canada. The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program is the one through which you can conveniently manage your Canadian immigration from Ukraine.
You will need to undergo specific tasks during the earlier phase of arriving in Canada. As a result, you will get the chance to permanently settle in the country and experience success:
Choosing a Canadian province or city for living permanently
Immigrating to Canada will require you to strategize and break down all your tasks before you begin your life in the country. Canada is made up of a total of Canadian provinces and territories. Each of these provinces and territories has a significant difference based on the existing culture, work opportunities, lifestyle, and cost of living.
It would be better if the interested immigrants simply researched provinces and territories in Canada, specifically the destinations that have the potential to become your home.
Factors such as infinite career opportunities, the cost of living, the language spoken in communities, multiculturism, weather, the Canadian labor market, and budget must determine your decision to choose a Canadian province or territory.
Most of Canada’s oil and gas industries are located in Alberta, while the agriculture and agri-food industries are usually well-known in Saskatchewan.
Knowing such details about the province or territory will help you understand in the true sense which is best- suited for you. Researching the details will also help you determine whether you’d like to settle in urban or rural areas.
Urban cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary also provide a faster life and flourishing economy. On the other hand, if you can’t deal with a higher cost of living, then rural areas, too, might prove to be a good option for you. The competitive market will be lower, and the lifestyle will be more serene and relaxed in the rural areas.
Canada’s cost of living- a brief
Canada’s average cost of living is excessively high compared to Ukraine. However, the cost of living will largely rely on the location or city in which the person prefers to reside. To maintain the budget in Canada for a few months after your arrival, newcomers will have to plan their budget according to the cost of living prevalent in the country.
One thing to consider is the fact that the vast expense will be related to the rental place where you choose to live. The other smaller expenses will include clothing, phone bills, transportation, and groceries. Finding a Canadian job might take longer, and you will have to rely significantly upon your savings. Therefore, planning the budget and ignoring over expenditure as much as possible will prove better. For example, you could choose to live with any of your well-known acquaintances in Canada to avoid expenditure in the initial months of your arrival. However, this is only a short-term saving method.
Also, rental costs could be extremely high against your budget; therefore, when choosing to settle permanently, consider living in the suburbs rather than city centers.
Newcomers can move from Ukraine using the CUAET program
Moving to Canada from Ukraine implies the need for some sort of financial and settlement help. Canada’s government along with numerous non-profit organizations provides a diverse range of services to support people settling in the country.
The government provides support to Ukrainians through CUAET
Federal government direct payment for one time
The Canadian government provides an opportunity for immigrants moving from Ukraine to Canada through the CUAET to make payments for non-taxable cash payments.
Adults will be liable for $3,000, and even children aged 17 or below have the eligibility to attain $1,500. This kind of financial help will be available to those marking their physical presence in the country. They must also have a bank account in Canada and fill out the complete application form.
Provincial governments assisting Ukrainians through emergency financial help
Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba, presently provide emergency income temporarily to show their support to Ukrainians who lack basic things such as the cost of living, food, and housing. In Ontario, you might have the eligibility to obtain $733 monthly for a limited period.
Acquiring financial credits
One year after your arrival in Canada, you will be liable to file the income tax return and therefore become eligible for acquiring a few financial credits too.
Having children under the age of 18 years indicates that you’ll easily access the Canada Child benefit payments. In case your family income doesn’t meet the specific requirements, you can access the goods and services, GST, and HST credit payments.
Ukrainians receive non-profit help through CUAET
Several non-profit organizations are helping Ukrainians under the CUAET such as the Red Cross, YMCA chapters, COSTI, and ESL resources.
- Red Cross– Ukrainians also receive support from Red Cross as it welcomes people at the Toronto Pearson International Airport and assists them through reception services.
- COSTI– Newcomers from Ukraine moving to Canada receive a number of services through COSTI. The services include employment support, housing, and settlement services.
- YMCA chapters– Canadian cities comprising YMCA chapters are witnessing the organization of resources. The YMCA chapters are offering services such as Housing, and language interpretation.
- ESL resources– The Provincial government provides funds for each province or territory with respect to the (ESL) English as a second language resource.
Host Family
Canada has always had a history of helping and assisting individuals trying to escape conflict. Surprisingly, several families in Canada have given refuge to Ukrainian families after their arrival in Canada through the CUAET program.
Several organizations provide information about such host families. These are mainly COSTI, Ukraine Take Shelter, and ICanHelp.host. Facebook groups or Canadian networking might also provide details about host families.
Suburban or rural areas give you access to host families, while urban cities like Vancouver or Toronto hardly comprise host families.
Streamlining expectations from Canadian host families
Canadian host families provide temporary shelter in their homes to Ukrainians for free. Moreover, they are unable to receive any payment, compensation, or assistance from the government. Ukrainians will not have to pay these host families anything, but it is essential to set the right expectations from the hosts, ensuring a convenient stay experience for both parties.
You must set apart the following expectations from the government:
- Perceive your stay duration length– The foremost thing that Ukrainians taking refuge under host families must do is to ask them about the stay duration period. This is because all host families might not be able to provide for you for too long. Some might do it for a few days while some might let you stay for a number of weeks. Therefore, it is better to clarify with the host families.
- Take the initiative to become self-reliant– Newcomers who move to Canada from Ukraine have several tasks to complete after their arrival in the country. The initial days will require far too many tasks such as bank account opening, searching for shelter in the longer run, acquiring support from the government, and seeking a Canadian job in the city. In the case of confusion about where to begin it, therefore, you can always ask for help from your host family.
- Follow all kinds of laws or rules– Your host family might expect you to follow house laws as well as local laws. The rules could include:
- Prohibiting them from smoking indoors.
- Removal of footwear outside the home.
- Waste recycling- specific waste types
Local rules include wearing seatbelts and adhering to traffic signals.
- Fulfilling your responsibilities– A majority of host families in Canada will only provide you with basic shelter facilities. However, they will have to find and purchase groceries, and cook meals for themselves and their families. Conversely, there might be certain host families who would offer cooked meals for your entire family. In such a scenario, it would be suitable to ask them about sharing the grocery cost and other costs while you stay with them.
The initial phase in Canada
The initial phase in Canada after your arrival is extremely crucial because there are several things one needs to do and obtain. The following are the key accomplishments to look forward to in the first few weeks:
Acquire your Social Insurance Number
You need your Social Insurance Number to continue with your work in Canada as well as to ensure acquiring governmental benefits and tax filing.
Applying for a SIN is possible either through mail or in person by visiting the Service Canada Center. A Social Insurance Number is private and must be shared only with governmental agencies, financial institutions, or with your employer after they recruit you.
Canadian bank account
A Canadian bank account is responsible for looking after the routine finances, fetching money from Ukraine, and enhancing savings. You will also require to open a Canadian bank account if you seek financial assistance from the government under CUAET.
You could connect with RBC Newcomer Advisor to get more details about bank accounts and Canadian financial products. Present your IMM 1442 temporary resident status document and your passport for account opening. The temporary residency documents will include visitor records, study, and work permits. Canada’s economy supports the credit system. Therefore, having a remarkable credit history is vital. Hence, newcomers in Canada must focus on building a solid credit history that they can display. Applying for a credit card and utilizing it further for making purchases will be a sure-shot way to get ahead with the process.
Once you start to develop your credit history, make sure that you pay the bills on time because failing to do so will only lead you to pay higher interest rates. As a result of this, your credit score will suffer significantly.
Apply for financial help
As a Ukrainian immigrating to Canada under the CUAET, you can ask for financial help from the government after you arrive in the country and a successful Canadian bank opening. You could be on a study, work, or temporary residence permit, provided the permit is valid.
For the application procedure, fill out an online application form for financial assistance. You could fill for yourself as well as your dependents.
Filling in the form also requires you to submit the following essential documents:
- Bank account number
- Unique Client Identifier number
- Bank’s transit number and institution number
- Temporary Resident number
Once you make the direct deposit, you’ll receive the funds in your bank account within five business days.
Access Provincial Healthcare through registration
Canada comprises a healthcare system that is publicly funded. Through this healthcare system, the provincial government looks after the resident’s expenses in terms of their health issues. Temporary residents such as international students, work permit holders, or visitors might not always receive health coverage for free.
Provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Newfoundland, and Labrador, immediately provide healthcare coverage to Ukrainian immigrants. These provinces don’t consider the residency status of the immigrants while providing healthcare coverage. However, all the Canadian provinces don’t offer the same and have a waiting period before the health coverage begins.
Interested individuals must submit the following to cover the provincial health coverage:
- Identity proof– You could present your passport or driver’s license.
- Provincial residency proof– Ability to prove you reside in the province through a driver’s license, residential address proof, rental agreement, utility, or telephone bills related to the province itself.
- Host family– Bring along your host family to justify that you’re residing in their home with them.
- Legal stay in Canada– Display your work or study permit as proof of your legal stay in Canada.
Obtain a driver’s license
A driver’s license serves multiple purposes because it acts as proof of your provincial identity and health coverage and, of course, permits you to drive a vehicle in Canada. The provinces function through their separate application and licensing procedures. Usually, several provinces in Canada include one knowledge test and two road tests as they follow a graduated licensing procedure. The candidates might also require to wait while transitioning these steps.
Ukrainians can also utilize their driving license in Ukraine in Canada for sixty to ninety days relying on the provincial regulations.
Enroll your children in a Canadian school
Canadian immigration from Ukraine also requires immigrants to get enrolled in school on a priority basis. Canada’s public schools offer free education to students. To get your child registered at a nearby school, all you need to do is to consult the local school board. Several school boards in Canada exist with a welcome center for new immigrants. The child’s knowledge level as well as his language proficiency undergo an assessment process. Through this assessment, the school authorities become aware if the child would need assistance in education.
For the child’s registration at a public school, certain proofs are submitted. They’re as follows:
- Presenting document proof concerning the child’s age, identification document, passport, and birth certificate.
- Address proof includes documents related to rental agreements, bank statements, or utility bills. In case you take the assistance of a host family, you will have to provide evidence regarding the one who is hosting you. Presenting a signed letter from the host will prove that you’re presently staying with them.
- Showing the child’s records related to his immunization.
- In case you are not the parent of the child for whom you’re registering at the school, demonstrate your guardianship.
Provinces, including Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Alberta, along with the territories, provide a range of public Catholic schools. Private schools are also an alternative, provided you can pay the higher fees.
Wearing suitable clothes for winters
Canadian winters are extremely chilly, and the temperatures go down to –20 degrees Celsius in a few places. Therefore, Ukrainians moving to Canada must carry proper winter clothing. This particularly applies to those Ukrainians who would migrate from a warmer area in Ukraine. It is also advisable for individuals to wear layered clothing between November and March. It is better to ensure you carry woolen sweaters, gloves, boots, coats, hats, socks, etc, to remain warm in the chilly weather of Canada.
Free winter wear clothing will be available at Salvation Army, Local Clothing Banks, Value Village, and Thrift Shops at inexpensive rates. Several communities in Canada are also holding donation clothing drives for Ukrainian immigrants. Apart from this, you could also figure out a few local organizations to search for the kind of gear you would like to obtain.
Make CUAET Visa free of restrictions
Not getting your medical examination done will attach specific restrictions to your CUAET Visa. The prohibitions include working in the healthcare sector, domestic care, and domestic and childcare occupation.
The only way to eliminate these limitations from your work permit will be to undergo a medical examination such as a blood test and chest X-ray.
These tests must be completed within the first ninety days in Canada. Only a panel physician must conduct these tests for you. You will also be liable to pay the fee for medical tests.
After receiving your medical test results, you’ll have to apply for a fresh open work permit to ensure that there are no longer any prohibitions. Fortunately, Ukrainians won’t have to pay any fee to eliminate these limitations.
Searching for a Canadian job
Becoming financially independent is what people dream of in general, and when it comes to immigrating to another country, this becomes even more crucial. Financial independence comes from what you earn, and that is what you seek through a job. Canadian immigration from Ukraine also requires Ukrainians to search for a job in Canada. To search for suitable jobs in the country, you could visit job listing websites and employer websites, register at employment companies and even attend job meetings or fairs.
You can also smoothen your job-finding process by doing the following things:
Credential assessment
Any employer in Canada is likely to hire you only after verifying your educational credentials. Ukrainians will have to get their credentials verified in case they’ve acquired their education from Ukraine. They can visit the World Education Services and ICES to prove the validity and equivalence of their education with the Canadian standard of education.
Several ECA organizations tend to verify the credentials of newcomers who are not residing in Canada. However, WES provides its ECA services to newcomers who are now in Canada after being dislocated from Ukraine.
To avail yourself of the services of WES through the WES Gateway Program, you must get a reference from a Designated partner organization in Canada.
Write an appealing resume conferring to the Canadian style
Your resume in Ukraine will not work in Canada if you seek a Canadian job. To make your resume visible in the Canadian job market, make sure you utilize the Canadian format for it.
Your Canadian CV must have a length of one to two pages. You are supposed to enlist all your career goals, professional skills, total work experience, and contact details. While writing for the work experience section in your CV, ensure to emphasize your accomplishments rather than your job responsibilities.
Making your resume customized will be the key to getting it selected. A majority of employers access the Applicant Tracking System to select the right resumes for the job profile. Applicants must see to it that they include keywords from the job description to make the CV visible.
Incorporating a cover letter, even if nobody asks for it, is also a smart move. The cover letter must focus on key points, such as your enthusiasm for the industry field. It will be beneficial to add your achievements through examples to attract the employer’s attention.
Get acquainted with the networking culture
Canada has a vast job market with several hidden job vacancies due to the lack of public advertisement. These non-advertised jobs account for at least 65 to 80 percent of the total number of vacancies. The reason is that these jobs recruit employees through networking between employers and recruiters.
Hence, Canadian networking plays a key role in validating your job search with the right job offers. Connect with other professionals on LinkedIn, meet your industry people over coffee, or attend seminars, informational interviews, and other networking events. Lastly, request for referrals too.
Survival job options
As a newcomer in Canada, you could end up looking for survival jobs in Canada to get through your initial phase in the country. Survival jobs might often be only temporary, but they do let you acquire transferable skills. Even working as a Caretaker can teach you excellent skills to cater to your customers and improved communication skills. After acquiring these skills, you could walk up the ladder and apply for high-end jobs.
Canadian Permanent Residence- settling in the country
Before you move to Canada and embrace it, make sure you have researched all the neighborhood options for housing, along with rental options such as independent and basement apartments, condos, etc. Consider all the factors while choosing your rental option, including transportation, distance, affordability, etc.
Newcomers do go through initial setbacks because employers in Canada usually fail to present good credit history and job letter.
Conclusion
Ukrainians must focus on their mental health too by visiting Therapists occasionally. Once they are mentally sorted with their grief and emotions, they can step ahead and manage their initial months in Canada. The point here is to utilize the first few months practically by finding the right job, enhancing language skills, and getting habitual of the weather conditions.
