1.

Visit the local immigration services.

2.

Find temporary accommodations for your first few nights in Chatham-Kent.

3.

Exchange your money for Canadian currency at a bank.

4.

Apply for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

5.

Apply for the Interim Federal Health (IFH) Program, a short-term health insurance program that provides temporary health insurance until you are covered by OHIP.

6.

Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which you are required to have to work in Canada.

1.

Contact an immigrant-serving organization in your community that will help you get settled in Chatham-Kent.

2.

Get a map of Chatham-Kent and find out about transportation in your area, including About Town and the community’s public transit system.

3.

Open a bank account.

4.

Look for permanent accommodations.

5.

Find someone who will act as a reference or co-signer for your apartment and/or mortgage.

6.

Set up essential services such as utilities (water, heat, electricity) insurance and telephone.

7.

Register your children in school.

8.

Arrange childcare for your children if you will be working.

9.

Apply for the Canada Child Tax Benefit, a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18.

10.

Find a family doctor.

11.

Have your children immunized once you have arrived in Chatham-Kent.

12.

Apply for an Ontario driver’s license.

13.

Get license plates and registration for your car.

14.

Visit the Chatham-Kent Public Library to obtain a free library card and learn more about the various programs and services offered. You may obtain information in multiple languages as well as, use the public computers and Internet.

1.

Look into having your foreign credentials recognized (if you haven’t already done so).

2.

Register for language training to improve your skills or to learn English/French as a second language.

3.

Start volunteering to gain Canadian work experience.