Attention IEN's: Things you should know to make your move to Canada much easier.

[clay07]

Hi all:

On behalf of my fellow IEN's, would someone who has gone through the process of immigrating to the different provinces in Canada, please share with us your experiences and the things we can do before actually getting there.

I know this much: I have everything so far except to be registered, and that won't happen until I get the work permit which I'll get when I land in Canada (to be issued by the Immigration Officer at the Airport). I'll then send a copy to CNO who will then review my application for general class registration. I know the process varies with each province. Please share your experiences.

Also, here are some other areas I'd like to be addressed please:

• How long after you entering the country did you wait to finally be registered as a nurse? (I know it varies, I just need an estimated time or just share with me your experience-if you don't mind).
  
• How did you go about apartment searching before arriving in Canada? Did you trust the rental agencies or did you have a family member or friend do the physical search for you? Some of us have neither, speak to this possibility as well please (that is doing it on your own).
  
• What do we need to get started? Such as a social insurance number (SIN), is there anything else?
  
• Where can we get the SIN and other?
  
• What do we need to take in when applying for the SIN?
  
• Do we need our social insurance number to transact every business, such as getting an apartment?
  
• How long did you have to wait to get your SIN?
  
• I know that to have been issued a work permit one would have needed to have a job offer, so while waiting to be registered, were you able to work as a nurses' aid or something so as to get paid in the mean time? Was that possible for you? Any other suggestions?
  
• How did you manage to take care of expenses (living, utilities, msc.) while waiting to be registered and not being able to work as a nurse? (if that is too personal, forgive me, it doesn't have to be detailed, just suggestions)
  
• How long did you wait before changing status from work permit to permanent resident?
  
• If you have additional info, please feel free to post.
  

I really appreciate you all for your contribution. Thanks in advance.

IEN.

[clay07]

Thats a quick reply! Thanks!

Yes i will definitely call them again and clarify my concern and hope I can get an assessment soon.

Maybe I think your application coming from United states were process speedily than my application coming from the Philippines. Just maybe, and your Nursing education doesnt require a lot of thinking or assessment compared to mine. With my case , I graduated BS in |Respiratory Therapy and BS in Nursing but still I don't know what will be their assessment.

Anyway thanks a lot for sharing... Take Care

you're welcome.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

clay07, until the interest in Canada began to grow and people started asking questions about registering in Canada, I didn't know any of this stuff either. I only knew what happened to me when I moved from Manitoba to Alberta. And how much it all cost me... $$$$$$$ Even just moving two provinces over the process took nearly two months' processing time.

[clay07]

Janfrn:

I guess that's why they say some people are trail blazers.... at a cost!!!! Appreciate you and others on the forum for having shared your experiences as well as advice.

Thanks again.

[shurchik]

rogue2578,

Do not despair - the CNO call-center is notoriously insufficient, but the organization itself is fair and functional, if you follow their rules. They don't have preferential treatment for US candidates. They treat all applications the same, as long as they are complete. When you called, did they tell you that they have all the documents they need from you? See, that is the key phrase. I called them in May, was told that my application is complete and that CNO has all the documents they need for assesment. At the risk of being a pain, I got them to repeat it several times (different calls to different customer reps). I'd rather have them annoyed with me, than receive misleading info, as it has happened with CNO a few times before. All the reps I spoke with told me that it would take at least 12 weeks for the assesment of my file. If fact, two of them said 12 weeks, and another one said 15 weeks, and became rude when I mentioned the other two responses. So I left it at that. Five days after those calls I received an official letter from the CNO telling me that my file has been assesed and now I am eligible to sit for the CRNE exam. Needless to say, I didn't complain that it took 5 days insted of 15 weeks!

Point of the story is: don't get emotional when dealing with bureaucrats, make sure that you've done everything that's required on your part, and check/re-check/triple-check all the info you receive from them.

And by the way, if you do get approve in June (I hope you do!), immediately ask them if they can e-mail you the application form for the exam. The nearest CRNE is in October, and the registration deadline's in July. There's no guarantee that CNO will get you the application form in time through regular mail.

Good luck!

[rogue2578]

point of the story is: don't get emotional when dealing with bureaucrats, make sure that you've done everything that's required on your part, and check/re-check/triple-check all the info you receive from them.

and by the way, if you do get approve in june (i hope you do!), immediately ask them if they can e-mail you the application form for the exam. the nearest crne is in october, and the registration deadline's in july. there's no guarantee that cno will get you the application form in time through regular mail.

good luck!

shurchik ,thank you! the best advise i received...significantly you gave me a vivid explanation. im just waiting in vain for their verdict, thinking that it will take however long it takes.

as matter of fact, i already have all expected parties such my school, (prc) license verification etc sent all the pertinent document way back march. i even called last april 21, 2009 a csr told me that cno already received all the paper works needed to begin their assessment.

and yesterday just out of the blue i decided why not give them a call and i just might get an answer. but much to my dismay i got a disappointing feedback adding 12 weeks more to my agony. i was like what???...

anyways, you are absoultely right about how to deal with the system. i should do what i have to and all else in my power to ask and verify triple times or more those informations.

i am just grateful for your advise. . i never knew anyone i could ask this about.

thanks again!

[mzee]

Thank you for letting me know in advance I am sure that will come in handy pretty soon!

Is there any lab book and med book (Canada) you would recommend me to get so I get myself prepared?

[mzee]

Do you know if the exam is same all over Canada or each province has it's own....(this is because I am considering Ontario and British Columbia haven't made my mind yet).

[clay07]

The more time that passes by the more applications from IENs each of the Colleges of Nursing have to process. The more they have to process, the longer it takes to get to the top of the pile. Simple supply (assessors' time) and demand (applications on their desks).

clay07, Ontario does their registration a bit differently than the rest of Canada. The CNO charges $171.73 for registration which doesn't ever expire, but to remain a member you have to renew annually at a cost of $122.66; you cannot work as an RN in Ontario without CNO registration. BUT... all that money buys you is registration. In other provinces the fee includes membership in the Canadian Nurses' Association, Canadian Nurse Protective Service coverage, access to group insurance (car, home, disability) and two monthly nursing journals as well as discounted educational opportunities, access to scholarships and bursaries and representative lobbying efforts to maintain nursing standards and initiatives. In Ontario to get those same benefits you have to be a member of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) at a cost of $265 a year. So the total for a new nurse in Ontario to have all the same benefits that the other Colleges porvide would be $436.73; renewal would cost $387.66. Not a huge difference.

So I called CNO just now. Same fees as you mentioned Janfrn for both initial registration and renewal. Get this, while mine isn't half as bad as your scenario, the deadline for renewal is Dec. 31, 2009. So, if I get registered by the end of July or beginning of August, it'll only be four months before renewing my license! Oh well, live and learn.

Mzee:

I asked the agent if the test is the same in all the provinces and she said yes, except in Quebec. As was mentioned by Janfrn, Canada uses SI units...metric system...I don't know of any books to recommend. What I did was google the most popular/common labs as well as ask my mom because Jamaica uses the same system like Canada.

[rogue2578]

Post by shurchik

[I]Needless to say, I didn't complain that it took 5 days insted of 15 weeks! [/i

I pray to God I'd be lucky as you shurchik...

I just called CNO and the agent told me that I already called yesterday. She trying to implicate that theres no need to call 2 days in row especially without much progress happening with my application.

CNO call-center " notorious indeed " ^_-

[Mcgyver]

I have been here for 19 days now in Manitoba,and we are almost done with our two weeks orientation. Back home I use to think my institution has too much paperwork, but after a few days of getting to know all the necessary documentation and forms here in my assigned region... I was wrong:uhoh3:.Actually our lecturers assured us that they just don't love to kill trees here,:DIt is just a few ways to safe guard our clients and of course our license.I have been a surigical ICU nurse in the Philippines for two years...I believe my experiences there are different interms of approach,as well as knowledge .They have equipment here that is way better to make nursing less stressful than it is.There is an adjustment with our skills as it vary according to the facility you areassigned.Few weeks from now I will be one of the nurses on the floor,hopefully I can adopt and respond to the changes in my nursing career,and perform of what is expected of me,..no pressure:rolleyes:

[clay07]

I arrived in Canada on June 24, 2009 at ~7:45p. The immigration officer was really pleasant. She asked what was the purpose of my visit and took the paperwork and processed it.

The work permit does have restrictions (as expected).

1. Unless authorized, you can't attend any educational institution and take any academic, professional or vocational training. (She gave an example that if I wanted to take french class for a couple of months that's fine, just not something that will issue a diploma/degree).

2.Not authorized to work in any other position other than stated.

3.Not authorized to work for any employer other than stated.

4.Not authorized to work in any location other than stated.

5. Must leave Canada by, stated.

Day 2: June 25

Faxed a copy of my work permit to CNO (included a copy of the job offer).

Applied for the SIN at Service Canada, not Service Ontario. I got the number not the card. The card will be sent to me in the mail within 1 -2 weeks.

The rest I'll get done when I get to London.

So far, so good.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Glad it is going well