Immigration to Canada: What to Expect

There are many ways to immigrate to Canada. Some people do so through a job offer, others through studies and/or business. There have been many changes when it comes to immigration so if you spoke to a friend who immigrated even two years ago to Canada, the process may be entirely different now than it was two years ago.

One of the biggest hurdles for immigrants seeking to immigrate today is the emphasis on language skills in at least one of Canada's official languages: English or French. However, let's assume that you have met all the program eligibility requirements and you are about to move to live permanently in Canada, what to expect?

If you break it down into plans, the first five year plan will likely be working very very hard. Most people do not settle into a high paying job with regular hours regardless of their professional and academic achievements in their home country. The jokes you hear about former doctors being taxi drivers is not too far off base. Many take two or three jobs and work overtime to make ends meet. Immigrants are unlikely to be able to get credit with no past credit history in Canada. Therefore, their upfront expenses are significant. Once they have earned enough to cover those expenses, they usually work to save money for a downpayment on a home. While rent is not a bad option, many want to build equity by purchasing their own home.