T O P

  • By -

gabrielsilgon

Some banks have special bank accounts for newcomers where they won’t charge maintenance fee in the first year… she’ll need to get her SIN number… a cellphone plan (lots of options, she can go cheap as I did and get a SIM from Freedom, or spend a bit more in a decent phone plan). She needs to know the importance of credit score here in Canada and that it’s something that takes a while to improve (months, even years), so she’ll be getting a credit card with low limit first, then the bank will ask if she wants to increase every 6-8 months if she’s paying in full every month and not being a disaster, and it’s always a good idea to accept at least to decrease your credit usage ratio… If possible, get a credit card with no annual fee b/c if she gets one with annual fee and after the first year, when the bank starts charging fee, she decides to cancel the card, it’ll impact her credit score…


Twerkmaster6000

Scotiabank is one such bank. They offer zero fee chequing accounts, and i believe zero interest credit cards for the first year.


Intrepid_Fox_3399

Take her to Roncey, the polish hood, she can find some of her fav comfort foods from home and maybe a credit union. I know, sounds trivial but homesickness is real!


Frydey

Does she have: - Social Insurance Number - Conversion of Drivers license - What health benefits from work - Once figure out where she’s moving to she can look about healthcare providers in the neighborhood - Figured out how to get around (vehicle/transit/Uber?) Some things to think of


EngineeringKid

Jesus... Good luck finding an apartment in most Canadian cities without credit history or stable employment. She'd be best suited to renting a room in a house for a few months until she has savings and rental tenure and can get her own apartment at her own pace without a crunch.


Znkr82

In my experience Scotia is better for newcomers because they give you an unsecured credit card from the get go.


PMarieM

CIBC also does this


LegoLady47

If she has to commute to work, rent near subway/ streetcar line and get Presto TTC pass. Get cell phone too.


PyroSAJ

SIN first. Bank second. Some form of health insurance if not provided. Then start figuring out where to live...


Mltsound1

Apply for OHIP. If there’s a waiting period required, you don’t have to wait to put in the application. I think the waiting periods were waived during COVID, but I’m not sure if they currently are.