2022-09-15 21:32:18
Ще раз- інструкція про перші кроки на шляху до життя в Едмонтоні від канадських волонтерів:
Independent Survival in Edmonton for Couples
If you are a couple coming to Edmonton on the CUAET visa, it will be an especial challenge to find housing for the first 2-4 weeks after arrival. Staying with a host family is of course the easiest and safest way to get started, but there will not be enough hosts for everyone. If you are a couple with some savings, consider the approach below to getting started in Edmonton without a host. You can still ask for help in the group, and volunteers can assist you with rides and help with paperwork.
Best candidates for this approach
You are a couple, or at least two adults who can share a room and plan to be roommates.
You are vaccinated. Get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if you’re not vaccinated and want to be. You must get it at least 14 days before travel. If you're not vaccinated, you'll have to wait an extra two weeks to get your support payment. You will also require more expensive accommodation (non-shared bathroom), if you are paying for it yourself.
You have enough money to pay for three weeks in an airbnb – room in a shared house (A good price will be $50 / night, so at least $1000. You will need food too -- another $500. $2000 is a reasonable figure for what you would need). Since you are vaccinated, you don’t need a private airbnb apartment – you can get a room in a shared house – this is a lot cheaper.
You have decent English and are willing to take a job quickly (may not be your ideal job). If you have a job offer, even better.
This approach requires organization and efficiency, but many people have pulled it off over the past few weeks. It can be done!
Fundamentally it is a gamble that one of you will manage to find a job in time and/or the support payment will help you rent something and/or you will be able to find a rental with easier terms. It is helped by the fact that an airbnb room suitable for a couple is not that expensive.
Steps
3-4 weeks in advance – Buy plane tickets all the way to Edmonton. Do not leave the Toronto-Edmonton leg for later. Booking 3-4 weeks in advance vs right before will easily save enough money to pay for the airbnb stay.
3-4 weeks in advance – Book a 20 day stay in an airbnb in a location with decent bus access (you will need the bus to get around).
1 week in advance – Request an airport pickup or volunteer helper, if you like.
1 week in advance -- Call a Servus Credit Union branch convenient to your airbnb, and make an appointment to open an account for the first business you are in Edmonton (Day 1). Ask for help in the group if needed -- a volunteer can help you figure out the most convenient branch, and help you make an appointment. If you don't make an appointment to open an account, you may have to wait several days, which is not a disaster, but will delay when you receive the support payment.
Day 1 -- After you arrive, immediately get a local SIM card. You can do this at any shopping centre. You may need a local phone number to open a bank account.
Day 1 – Open a bank account so you can apply for the federal support payment. Do this on the first day. You can do this because you are vaccinated and don’t need to quarantine. Servus Credit Union will get you $250 cash and a $1500 credit card.
Day 1 – Apply for the federal support payment – do this on your first day – the payment will take two weeks to arrive.
Day 2 – Go early in the morning and get a SIN in person.
Days 1-5 – Do all the other required paperwork as quickly as possible (health care, etc). Ask for help in the group as needed. You can request a volunteer to give you rides and help with specific errands.
Days 3-20 – As soon as you have the SIN, look for a job. Take what you can get. You can get a better job later. Your options when renting will be much higher if you have any kind of job at all. Better to first get a place to live, and then improve the job.
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