What is the first thing I do when I arrive at the airport in Canada?

Six possible scenarios when landing in Canada

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After months of careful preparation to make your trip to Canada, you finally land at the prestigious Toronto Pearson International Airport and are excited to start a new life. You stand in line to present your documents to the immigration officer and realize that you left your visa application papers in your suitcase, then realize that you were unnecessarily delayed, fear that other stressful episodes may occur at the airport and are not sure what you should know, but don't worry because in this article we are going to help you with six (6) things to do when faced with possible scenarios that may occur.

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The first thing you should know is that you have to go to the customs control to present your valid passport and the immigration officer has the right to confirm that you met the requirements to migrate, so he will ask you questions such as: what do you do in your country of origin, who pays for your trip, do you already have a place of residence, among others, and this can make you feel overwhelmed even if you have your backups, then:

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1. Have all important visa documentation in your carry-on bag! 

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In reality, this task is done from home when you are packing your bags, but we have included it here to describe in a more realistic way what can happen right when you are at the airport, so you will be sure to be cautious at home. 

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Many people tend to keep their application documents in the suitcase in the hold of the plane and when they have to show them to the immigration officer they do not have them at hand, causing delays and stressful situations that can be avoided.

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Here are some important documents you should have on hand:

• If you are coming to study: acceptance letter from the college or university; bank statements with the required funds for your living and tuition payments; if you made advance tuition payments, have receipts; if you already have a fixed residence, show the lease or address. Whatever you have to support your stay will be valid for the officer.
• If you are coming to work: show evidence of the job offer and all documents supporting your visa application. 

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2. Read the study or work permits issued by the immigration officer carefully and have them all printed out.

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The officer will take you to the waiting room, sometimes they can wait up to five hours, and ask for your travel documents, then they will hand you your study and/or work permits.

• Carefully read the permits issued by the immigration officer.

It is important that when you receive the papers you pay attention to the data of each document and that the proper names, dates, among others, are well written because typing errors can occur and if you do not read at the time, the document will be with an error that will generate problems later.

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What should you read on your immigration permits?

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If you come to study, you will receive a document that says: Study permit, check it:

• That their first and last names are spelled correctly, as well as their date of birth.
• If you come alone without a partner, confirm that your study permit says in the Remarks section: "off campus", this is very important so you can work 20 hours off campus and also ask for the social insurance number (SIN), take note of this point because the SIN number is the one that allows you to work in Canada and in this office they will verify that you can work off campus.
• Check that the length of the permit covers the time you are coming to study in Canada.
• If your program of study includes a co-op permit, i.e., a program of study that includes periods of full-time work in companies in the field to enhance your career development, then check that your program of study also includes the co-op permit, which will say Co-Op permit. 
• Sometimes it happens that the immigration office at the airport does not print the co-op, in this case, request it immediately because if you do not, you will have to reapply, apply and pay for the process from Canada.
• Verify that your work permit, if you have one, is included in your study permit. Sometimes the officer prints each permit separately, or attaches the work permit to the study permit, this is valid, but we reiterate that you should check that your work permit shows off campusIf you do not see this on your permit, you will not be able to work outside the college or university.

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If you are traveling as a couple or family with children, please check:

• Have your partner be issued an open work permit so that he/she can change employers, occupations and job location, and that it lasts for the duration of his/her studies.
• If you have children from 0 to 4 years of age, verify that you are given a visitor record, this is a document that allows them to stay in Canada as a tourist for the same duration of their studies; always remember to verify that the dates of all permits coincide with the dates of their study time.
• If you have children from 5 to 22 years of age, verify that you receive their printed study permit.

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How to talk to the immigration officer if there is a mistake in your documents?

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In our daily advisories, we receive many cases of people who found an error in their entry permits and were afraid to talk to the officer, perhaps because the attitude of the officer was rigid, because they thought he was not going to understand them in their command of English or because they were carried away by the tension of the moment, whatever the reason, at Immiland we advise you to keep calm and speak with a lot of respect, but also with a lot of confidence before the officer that receives you, since this is a service that you are receiving for having applied legally during your visa process, you have the right to ask for a rectification of your documents. Even, look at it this way, you paid a series of fees when you applied for your visa, therefore, even though you are a foreigner, you are a sort of "client" at that moment, therefore, explain to the officer what the mistake was, give the best information you can so that he understands you and do not be afraid, Canadian officers are very kind people who are doing their job and as human beings they can also make mistakes and can understand your situation.

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3. Bring no more than $10,000 in cash! 

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While it is not illegal to spend more than $10,000 in cash when arriving in Canada, the Canadian government states by law that more than this amount must be declared. In fact, according to the Canada Migration Services Agency, every traveler without exception must declare any currency or monetary instrument valued at $10,000 Canadian dollars or more. This amount includes Canadian or foreign currency or a combination of both. Monetary instruments include, but are not limited to, stocks, bonds, bank drafts, cheques and traveler's cheques. That is why in our first article on the first five things to do before arriving in Canada we advised you to open a bank account, so you will have your money saved here.

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Be responsible with what you carry in your suitcase and be informed about baggage restrictions.

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• Do not carry fruit or animal products in your suitcase: in Canada there are certain prohibitions on bringing food through the airport. At the moment of arrival, you have to fill out an entry form in which you are asked if you are traveling with food, of course all your answers must be sincere because if you try to deceive an immigration officer by bringing a forbidden food, in addition to paying a very high fine, your products will be confiscated and you will start your Canadian dream on a very bad foot. Canada prohibits the entry of meats, fruits, eggs, some dairy products, among others. Find out what the law of this country establishes about bringing food into Canada for personal use.
• If you are traveling with pets: Pets must also meet Canadian entry requirements, you must have a health certificate, updated vaccinations, testing or administration of medications, all of which must have been obtained in your home country with your veterinarian, otherwise your pet may not be eligible to travel and will be denied entry.

Check with your travel airline for information. Learn more about bringing animals to Canada: importing and traveling with pets. 

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5. Know your airline's travel policies.

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This way you will be able to solve any issues that occur during your trip; for example, if your suitcase arrives broken or damaged, you can file a complaint with your airline and they will pay for your suitcase as good as new.

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6. Evaluate how you will get from the airport to your new residence.

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Depending on the amount of luggage you have traveled with, you can plan your route home.

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Cab service will be the most practical if you have large and heavy suitcases, but if you are traveling with light luggage, then take a look at the Canadian public transportation system , which is one of the best in the world and connects you to the different areas of the city.

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At Immiland, we offer a very practical service that will meet you at the airport and take you to your destination. Learn more about our airport pick up service and ask for a free quote. 

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With love,

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Immiland