HELPING IMMIGRANTS MAKE CANADA HOME

Did you know that Canada accepts 250,000 immigrants each year and that Canada's intake of immigrants is the highest in the world? Are you one of those immigrants? You have just moved to Canada and have no idea how to start looking for a job, obtain your residency card, SIN card, health card, driver's licence, open a bank account, difficulty with the language, building your credit file or finding rental premises.

At EDL Consulting Services we are here to help you. We care about people especially newcomers. This is an exciting time in your life yet a very challenging one. Adapting to new surroundings can be very tough but with a little help from a Canadian; the adjustment can be shorter and smoother. Canada is known as the land of opportunity. If you want to succeed, you can. All you need is motivation, knowledge and the right resources.

PERMANENT RESIDENCY CARD

This card is one of the most important cards you will need. It is required for each member of your family to prove their residency in Canada. It is recommended that you obtain this card within 30 days of arriving in Canada.

OBTAINING YOUR SIN CARD

You will need a SIN (social insurance number) card which contains 8 digits in order to work in Canada. Do not give this number to anyone.

HEALTH CARD

Each member of your family will need a health card. Your health card will cover such things as, hospital care, treatment and examinations performed by your family doctor, many types of surgery, laboratory tests, immunizations and x-rays. Your health card does not cover dental expenses, prescription glasses, prescription drugs or ambulance services.

DRIVER'S LICENCE

In order to drive a car in Canada; you need a valid driver's licence from the Province in which you reside. You can use your international driver's licence for up to 60 days; however, if you want to continue driving, you must obtain a valid driver's licence.

OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT

There are many banks that will offer new immigrants free day-to-day banking for one year by opening either a chequing or savings account. You pay no monthly fee or no fees on an unlimited number of transactions like withdrawals, writing cheques, paying bills etc.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

We will assist you by locating schools which you can attend either free or for a small fee to help you learn how to speak and write English.

ENROLLING YOUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL/DAYCARE

Every child in Canada under the age of 16 must attend school. We will assist you in finding the right school in your neighbourhood. You may qualify for subsidize daycare. Subsidize daycare is where the government assist families with either full-time or part-time daycare for their children which is provided by a licensed child care worker.

BUILDING YOUR CREDIT FILE

What is a credit file? A credit file is where your credit history is recorded in filesmaintained by two of the largest credit reporting agencies, Equifax Canada and Trans-Union Canada. Your credit file is created when you first borrow money or apply for credit. On a regular basis, companies that lend money or issue credit cards to you, including banks, finance companies, credit unions, retailers, send specific factual information related to the financial transactions they have with you to credit reporting agencies. It is important that you pay your bills on time to avoid ruining your credit rating.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Do you need help finding a place to live? Rent or Own? We can assist you finding the right home for the right price and location. If you decide to rent, you will need to understand what your rights are under the Landlord and Tenant Act. If you decide to purchase your home; you will need to know the costs associated with purchasing a home such as closing costs, insurance, utilities and land transfer tax.

LAWYER/LEGAL AID

If you require any legal services, we can help you find a competent and reasonable lawyer. You may also qualify for legal aid. Legal Aid provides low-income people access to a range of legal services tailored to meet their legal needs by providing them with the opportunity to retain a lawyer and a reduced fee.

FINDING EMPLOYMENT

Finding a job is one of the most difficult things you may ever experience. It is a time consuming and pain staking job in itself. You will need to have the right tools such as a well-written resume, cover letter, techniques as to how to conduct yourself at interviews. We will help you get prepared and provide you with all the right tools to help you find the right job.