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9/10/2014 Topic: Eligible to enroll in Nursing Courses? Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. It may be best to contact the HealthForce Ontario - Access Centre for some personalized information related to which courses you may be required to take and how to access your profession. Here is an excerpt regarding what the Access Centre does, The Access Centre within HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency can assist internationally educated nurses on their path to practise by providing one-on-one advisory services including: -information sessions -supportive counselling by appointment via telephone, in-person or Skype, and -on-site reference materials If you have previously registered as a client of the Access Centre and are seeking services offered to registered clients or have questions regarding any aspect of the licensure process, please call 416-862-2200 ext 1 or toll free 1-800-596-4046 ext 1 or e-mail [email protected]. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/11/2014 Topic: Semiconductor Design Jobs - Job Market Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. It is great that you are looking into this type of information before moving in 2015. It may be helpful to get some general information regarding working in Ontario from the Ontario Immigration - Working in Ontario website. You can also find some helpful information in our Settlement.Org Where can I find labour market information on the internet? article. There are some links to different companies on the Industry Canada website. For information specific to your field, including some information related to salaries and cities where there are positions available, you use the Job Bank website. This website used to be called the Working in Canada tool/website. It is very useful because you can search by “ASIC FPGA” to find listings and positions available in Canada. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will find employment in your field upon arrival in Ontario. However, once you arrive, you may want to connect with the nearest employment service. You can find some helpful information in these Settlement.Org What are bridging programs for internationally-trained professionals and tradespeople? and What employment services are available in my community? articles. You can also find some listings of settlement and employment agencies in our Services Near Me section. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/11/2014 Topic: If I lose my PR - Can my Wife Sponsor me? Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. As you may know, to meet these residency obligations, you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) in every 5-year period. This means that you can spend a total of up to 3 years outside of Canada during a 5-year period. However, if you leave the country for an extended period of time, it is up to you to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada that you will be able to meet your residency requirements. Loss of permanent residency is a complicated issue. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a definitive response regarding whether or not your wife will be able to successfully sponsor you after the loss of permanent residency. It is best if your wife seek some legal advice related to the plans or ideas you have in order to re-apply for your permanent residency. To find a lawyer, you can find some information in our Settlement.Org How do I find a lawyer? article. Once she returns to Canada, she may also want to contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre directly for some information on what your options are. Please note that she does not have to provide any personally identifying information in order to ask a question. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/12/2014 Topic: When I apply for a PR card must I stay in Canada? Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. You can find some helpful information in our Settlement.Org I need to leave Canada but do not have my PR card yet. What should I do? article. Here is an excerpt, Ideally, you should wait until you have your Permanent Resident (PR) card. If you must leave Canada, you should apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document from a Canadian visa office abroad as soon as you reach your destination. The only official documents that permanent residents of Canada can use to travel back to Canada on a commercial carrier (by air, land or sea) are the PR card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD), also know as a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) issued by a Canadian visa office abroad. If you are entering Canada in a private vehicle, such as your own car, and you do not present your PR card, you may be able to show other immigration documents. If you are wondering about your residency requirements, as you may know, to meet these residency obligations, you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) in every 5-year period. This means that you can spend a total of up to 3 years outside of Canada during a 5-year period. However, if you leave the country for an extended period of time, it is up to you to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada that you will be able to meet your residency requirements. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/17/2014 Topic: Change Address for the PR card Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. All that CIC specifies regarding the address is that it be a Canadian address. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/17/2014 Topic: Leave Canada before PR card arrives Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation with us. We are sorry to hear about your loss. If you leave Canada, in order to return to Canada, you are required to have a valid PR Card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) . It is likely you will have to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) at the nearest Canadian Visa Office. Some of our users have stated that they have had friends or family who are residing at the Canadian address that they provided, forward their PR Cards on to them via a safe/secure method once they have been processed and sent to the Canadian address they provided. Therefore, it is important to note that if you are outside Canada and you would like your friend or family member to send it to you, it is important that you are aware of the risks of it being misplaced. This is why it is important to choose a service that is secure and that allows you to track the whereabouts of your package. It is also important to note that if you are outside Canada and you would like your friend or family member to send it to you, it is important that you are aware of the risks of it being misplaced or possibly seized. If they will be carrying it for you, you may want to provide them with a letter giving them authorization to bring it outside Canada to you. We strongly contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre again to confirm this information and to find out what your options are at this point. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/17/2014 Topic: New Immigrant Pregnant & Delivering by C-section Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your additional question with us. You may want to try some of the suggestions listed in our Settlement.Org How can I find a family doctor? article. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/17/2014 Topic: Entry without PR card Moderator	Hello Andy, Thank you for sharing your situation and questions with us. We hope that others who are in a similar situation can share their suggestions and experiences with you. We do not have any information regarding what the officer will ask you. However, in terms of what the officer may ask, they may want to know that you are meeting your residency requirements. Basically, the onus is on each individual permanent resident to meet their own residency requirements. This means that it is up to you to ensure that you are meeting the residency requirement within each 5 year period and that you are also keeping track of your time spent inside and outside Canada. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fulfilling your residency obligation. In terms of proofs either to prove that you were in Canada or that you were outside of Canada you may want to keep: Airplane tickets/boarding passes Bus tickets/boarding passes Accomodation/Apartment information such as Lease, Rent Receipts for the time that you are in Canada Hotel receipts And any other documents that can prove the time you were present in Canada in the event that you were questioned by an immigration officer and asked to provide proof of your time in/outside of Canada. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/19/2014 Topic: 14 Year Old Estranged From Family Moderator	Hello, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. We can appreciate that you would be concerned about this. You mentioned that your granddaughter left her parents' home with the help of the Family and Children's Services (FACS). You may want to contact the Family and Children's Services (FACS) to see if they have any procedures regarding accessing that type of documentation or replacements and to see if they can provide some assistance securing ID documents. You may also want to dial 211 on your phone for free to speak to an Information and Referral Specialist. They may be able to provide you with some information and referrals of other organizations in your area serving children and youth. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Anna Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS Settlement.Org
9/26/2014 Topic: High Risk Pregnancy - Costs Moderator	Hello, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a difficult situation. The costs of a high-risk pregnancy depend on the type of health care coverage you have. If you are covered by OHIP, most of the medical costs related to pregnancy and birth are covered. The Settlement.Org article I am pregnant. Where can I find services? may be helpful for you as well as the resource Giving Birth in a New Land – A Guide for Women New to Canada and Their Families from Best Start Resource Centre. If you have private insurance, you should check what services they cover as there are often exemptions. If you do not have OHIP or private insurance that covers pregnancy, there may be significant costs involved although some low-cost/free services are available. If you are in this situation, you may want to read the Settlement.Org article I am pregnant and I don't have OHIP. What health care can I get? and the Discussion Forum post No OHIP and Pregnant - Options? I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Julia Your Settlement.Org Team
9/26/2014 Topic: Photo Resubmission for PR Card - Questions Moderator	Hello, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a confusing situation. According to the CIC webiste, your photo must: ...be on photographic paper that has a backing which accepts and retains the date. Photos without this backing are not acceptable;[...]bear the date the photo was taken (not the date the photo was printed) directly on the back of one print (stick-on labels are not acceptable). It is generally expected that the photographer will stamp the back of your photo(s) showing the date the photo was taken as well as other required information. You can print out this photo specification sheet[pdf] to take with you when you get your photos redone. You may want to contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre for more information and to confirm the information provided above. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
9/26/2014 Topic: My PR & SIN cards were stolen what should I do? Moderator	Hello, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a stressful situation. For your Social Insurance Number(SIN), there are steps you must take to protect yourself. You can read what steps to take in our Settlement.Org article, What do I do if my SIN is lost or stolen? Here is an excerpt: Report this to your local Service Canada Centre as soon as possible. In addition, Service Canada recommends that you: -Report this to the police. -Review your bank account and credit cards for any unusual activity. -Watch your mail for any changes or disruptions. -Get a credit report to check for unusual activity. For your Permanent Resident (PR) Card you can read what steps you may have to take in our Settlement.Org article, What if my Permanent Resident (PR) Card is lost or stolen? If you are in Canada, you can contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre to report it. You can apply for a new PR Card.The CIC Call Centre number is 1-888-242-2100. There are steps you can take if you are outside Canada found on the CIC website. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
9/26/2014 Topic: Goods to Follow - Going for few weeks intially Moderator	Hi There, Thank you for sharing your question with us. According the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) agent we spoke to, if you are not planning on staying in Canada for a full year when you first arrive in Canada you can fill out the B4/B4A forms when you return to stay in Canada permanently. If you need more information, or wish to confirm this information, you can call the Canada Border Information Services phone line at 1-204-983-3500 (from outside Canada). You may also find the information in Settlement.Org’s I am immigrating to Canada. Can I bring my belongings with me? article to be useful. Good luck with your upcoming journey. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ==== Julia Your Settlement.Org Team
9/26/2014 Topic: Will my red & white OHIP card expire? Moderator	Hi There, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a confusing situation. Previously the 'Red and White' OHIP card never expired. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will be phasing out these old card in favour of the new photo cards over the next few years. You can read our Settlement.Org article How do I renew my Health Card (OHIP)? for some helpful information. According to the Ministry website, you must renew your OHIP card if "You received notification from the ministry to register for a photo health card". This does not mean that your Health Card or health care coverage are expiring exactly, however, you must follow this request so you do not have any gap in your coverage as these changes are made. You may want to contact Service Ontario for more information and to confirm the information provided. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
9/28/2014 Topic: How can my child take the school bus? Moderator	Hello Star2014, Thank you for sharing your situation with us. You may find it helpful to read our Settlement.Org article What transportation do students use to get to school? If you live in Vaughan, as your account suggests, and your older child attends a public school in York Region, you may want to contact Student Transportation Services of York Region and explain your situation to them and ask if they might make accommodations for you. If you do not live in Vaughan, you may contact your child's school or school board to see if they may accommodate you. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Sarah Your Settlement.Org Team