Before You Arrive

• Come to Canada
• Foreign Credentials Referral Office
• Northumberland County
• Immigrate to Ontario
• Working in Canada
• Building Futures in Canada
• Settlement.org

Canadian experience class

If you are a temporary foreign worker or foreign student who graduated in Canada, you may have the qualities to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent residence. You must be familiar with Canadian society and can contribute to the Canadian economy. You should have knowledge of English or French and qualifying work experience.

Provincial nominee

You can be nominated by a province or territory if you have the skills, education and work experience needed to make an immediate economic contribution. You must be able to economically establish yourself successfully as permanent resident in Canada. You must be nominated by a Canadian province or territory.

If you are eligible, you can sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada. If you do, you must be able to:

• support them financially, and
• make sure they do not need social assistance from the government.

You can only hire a caregiver through the program if you have:

• found a caregiver who already has a work permit in the Live-in Caregiver Program and who is looking for a new employer, and
• been approved for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that shows the caregiver has agreed to live in your home.

Other options for hiring a caregiver

If this doesn’t apply to you, you can still hire a foreign caregiver through the:

• Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Workers pilots
  • No LMIA required for the pilots.
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program
  • You need to get a positive LMIA from Service Canada and the caregiver must apply for a regular work permit.

You can decide, with the caregiver, if they live in or out of your home.

Other helpful resources

Education documents are official records from your secondary school, college, or university. These types of documents might include the following:

• Degrees, diplomas, and certificates
• Program descriptions, transcripts
• Detailed course information can also be useful
• Work experience

Bring documents that explain your past work experience. These documents might include the following:

• Job descriptions
• Employment records
• Performance evaluations
• Letters from employers and work supervisors
• Descriptions of training that you have completed
• Credential Assessment – Foreign Skilled Workers

If you are applying as the principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) you must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of your completed foreign educational credentials, especially if these were obtained outside of Canada. You must include the ECA with your application along with proof of your foreign credential.

To learn more about how you should have your education assessed by a CIC-designated organization, visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

A resume and cover letter are used by most people looking for a job in Canada. You should prepare these documents before you arrive here.

Here are some other important documents you should think about bringing with you to Canada:

• Medical records for you and your family including vaccinations records
• School records for your children
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificates
• Driver’s license
• Legal documents such as wills or proof of real estate ownership in your country of origin

The Federal Government has produced some important information to help you get started on gathering and preparing all your documents. Visit Welcome to Canada: What you should know to find more information on what important documents you should bring with you to Canada.

Most of your documents will have to be submitted in English or French. Before you translate your documents, find out which language is needed (English or French).

You will have to pay for translation services. Also, some organizations may only accept documents translated by certain companies or their own agencies. Be sure to ask the organization you are applying to for a list of qualified translation companies.

Canada has a system of laws that apply to all people who live here. These laws are created by a government that was chosen by the public. Basic laws are in place to keep society in order and to keep peace.

We call our system of laws the justice system. Everyone in Canada is equal under the justice system. You are innocent until proven guilty. If you are guilty of breaking the law, you will be fined or go to jail, depending on the crime.

Some important laws that apply in Northumberland County are:

• All children aged 6 to 16 must go to school or get a formal education.
• You cannot make any kind of sexually harassing remarks or advances.
• You cannot hit or harm anyone, including your spouse or children, either in the home or in public.
• You cannot damage or destroy public or personal property.
• You cannot buy or drink alcohol until you are 19.
• You cannot buy tobacco, tobacco products, vapes or vaping products until you are 19. You cannot smoke tobacco products until you are 18.
• You cannot buy or sell addictive drugs such as  heroin or cocaine. Cannabis (marijuana) is now legal in Canada but its sales and possession is regulated by the government.
• Some prescription drugs are prohibited in Canada.

For more information, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Canadian Law and Justice page.

In Northumberland County, you will have the same rights and freedoms as all people who live here. These are the same for all Canadians.

Some rights and freedoms include:

• You have the right to freedom of speech.
• You have the right to a peaceful life and must respect the laws that promote peace in our community.
• You have the right to practice your own religion.
• You have the right to rent or buy a safe home.
• You cannot be treated differently or unfairly because of your race, language, sex, sexuality, creed, religion, colour, family status or age.

Visit the Justice Law website to read more about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Before you arrive, you will need to find out what kind of work you are qualified to do, or can be trained to do.