Kayla10:


And where have I made it a "big deal"? I only made an observation seeing as I genuinely thought it was mighty gracious of her. Also, you are actually making my point because as you say she "sees it differently"; that was the exact crux of my original comment. So what are you on about again?

Cheers!

Hello House.

We got PR through Ontario Nomination, is it possible to go to another province after landing formalities for 6-9 months before settling down in Ontario?

My husband will be back in Nigeria after 1month to join us end of year. We have family in Calgary, so accommodation is not a problem. My kids are still small so I don't plan to start work or school till last quarter of the year.

We are looking at this option because of the high accommodation cost in GTA.

Please will this have any effect on getting our citizenship.

Thank you

@ nwandy218 and eddycross.

For Gtb, there is a fixed and variable charge. I can't remember the specifics. You can chat a gtb agent by going to gtbank.com, on the bottom right you will see a chat option. I think its 24hrs.

You will also be asked if you want the charges to be to your naira account or deducted from part of the funds you are sending.

I did a test run with a thousand dollars and put the charge on my naira acct. Was charged 8,279 by gtb.

Modified: The bank (Canada) also collected 1.7% as funds transfer fee. 17 CAD flat rate.

Thanks alt3r3g0,
That helps.

alt3r3g0:
@ nwandy218 and eddycross.

For Gtb, there is a fixed and variable charge. I can't remember the specifics. You can chat a gtb agent by going to gtbank.com, on the bottom left you will see a chat screen. I think its 24hrs.

You will also be asked if you want the charges to be to your naira account or deducted from part of the funds you are sending.

I did a test run with a thousand dollars and put the charge on my naira acct. Was charged 8,279 by gtb.

The bank (Canada) also collected 1.7% as funds transfer fee.

moyinoluwa1:
Hello House.

We got PR through Ontario Nomination, is it possible to go to another province after landing formalities for 6-9 months before settling down in Ontario?

My husband will be back in Nigeria after 1month to join us end of year. We have family in Calgary, so accommodation is not a problem. My kids are still small so I don't plan to start work or school till last quarter of the year.

We are looking at this option because of the high accommodation cost in GTA.

Please will this have any effect on getting our citizenship.

Thank you

Honestly, i do not know. But I know that the charter of right and freedom gives everybody in Canada the right to move anywhere in Canada. At the same time, you were sponsored based on the assumption that you will settle in Ontario and i am guessing you signed some documents in relation to that. The general rule of thumb is to live at least 3 years in the province that sponsored you then you can move away from there. When you land you can seek advise from immigration services in Ontario.

No need going head to head with a strong willed person. I'd say thank you and cherry pick the advice.

Kayla10:


Someone just directed a low-key barb your way and you thanked him/her? Hehe! You are very nice oh!

Maternal please take a couple of steps down. That I came here for advice does not validate your conclusion that my home is an unhappy one. Note that I am not being defensive here. It take two persons together to steer my family's ship and I choose to have it that way. You can stop now. Thank you.

maternal:


The home is clearly not happy if she has to come here to ask for advice. Canada is a proven product where a person's achievement is based on merits. Most of the times any way. Nigeria is a unproven product. Currently a failed state. If she has concerns about her kids future or lack of it in Nigeria, she needs to pick up and migrate if she can legally. Instead of walking around stroking her alpha males husband's ego who deep down is consumed by fear. If it's time to go to war and my captain starts showing fear and is not ready to die for the cause, do you think I'd follow his lead ? Any man who puts his fear ahead of doing what's best for the kids will not be leading my household. I just couldn't take him seriously.

Thousand hugs Salford. My kind of guy!!!!! You just put paid to the argument.

salford1:

Marriage is not about take it or leave it though.lol
If migrating would break up a marriage, or if she can't get the husband to reason with her, then they better stay in naija. No woman wants to live in a house with a fustrated or angry husband.

Okay can we all stop commenting on the matter now. No offense taken from both sides of the argument. Thank you.

maternal:



I can’t answer everything, just the things I’m sure about, as it’s been a while.

# Was first in Ontario now Alberta. With Alberta having oil I found there were more jobs, and Alberta has one of the lowest taxes in the country. Sales tax is only 5 percent.

# Live in a middle-class neighborhood. I have no complaints. Choosing a neighborhood depends on you personally, nobody can answer that. Mortgage plans depends on your credit score, the down payment you’ve made, etc. Again this is something personal that nobody can answer.

#It’s not hard to settle in a civilized/developed country. All schools are decent really.

#You can combine work and taking care of the kids, but it’ll be hard and you may not see the kids as much. Welcome to North America.

# Other than the cold which you’ll become climatize, there’s no real culture shock. Everyone from around the world lives here, and western culture is popular and not as foreign as other cultures. Plus you have enough Nigerians here to feel comfortable if you start feeling homesick.

# Just buy warm clothes. As for the cold weather, you have heaters literally everywhere you go. Plus we get a good 6 months of warm weather, so it’s not cold 12 months out of the year like stereotyped.

# A naija dish can go for 10-12 dollars a plate. Jelloff, stew, goat meat, and a can of coke for example.

#You can start any business you want as long as you follow rules/regulations

# How much someone can survive on depends on that family. Again, this is a personal question.

Calgary is a good, clean, and progressive city. I find Alberta to be more progressive than other provinces. Choosing Calgary was a wise choice in my opinion. What made you pick Calgary ? Welcome to Calgary.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpnO1HOmtfE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Fhp-XJ6xo&t=9s

hello, please there's something I'll like to ask you... in private if you don't mind

vascey:
Una don start with all these yeye arguments abi.

Whether you like it or not- you are leaving Nigeria for Canny because things are not alright with you in Naija.

If they were, you would stay back. It doesn't matter how much you earn, be it 3m/month or 3k/month, any problem is a problem and Nigeria's problems transcends your monthly take home pay.

So please leave maternal alone.

I just have to agree.... whether it's even wanting a change or a new environment sef. It's still a problem that one seeks to solve.

The problem is people aren't object so they immediately think it's about money.

No be person wey get money(directly or indirectly) sef dey migrate ?

eddycross:
Can you share the cost of transferring USD from GTB to Canada? Thanks

I've sent them mails a few times, haven't got a response.

Nwandy218:
What percentage of money transferred was bank charges? Did you also have to pay any transfer fees?
Is there any fixed charges or they are based on the amount being transferred? Thanks. Just trying to know how much it costs to move large sums of money from a gtb dom acct to a cad acct. 0

@ nwandy218 & eddycross: I haven't reviewed how other banks process this transaction, and it is possible some other banks may have better or cheaper arrangements. However, the following is excerpted from the Gtbank internet banking page, fx transfers to Other banks link -

" Please Note: Request received before 2pm will be treated same day, while those received after 2pm will be treated next working day. Processing of any request is subject to compliance with local regulations.

Details of Charges per (transaction) - Commission: 0.5% of Transaction Amount (if source of funds is inflow) or 2% of Transaction Amount (if source of funds is through cash deposit) (subject to a minimum of 10 dollars), VAT: 5% of Commission, Telex: 4000 Naira (or its equivalent in the currency being transferred). Off Shore Charges: USD: $25, GBP: £12, Euro: EUR20. "

So for a transfer of about $10k, charges would be $200 (commission) + $10 (VAT on commission) + NGN4000 (for some reason i was last charged 6k for the telex) + $25 (offshore charges), altogether less than $250, and you can run all charges through your naira acct.

The big issue here is how you sourced the forex in your account, and I have done the estimate above based on how most people get forex from mallams paying cash into your account. I guess some people would baulk at paying NGN80k in charges, but note this is 2.5% of the money transferred.

However, if you are able to get the mallam or other sources to do a transfer into your account, the charges drop significantly per the bolded above with commission now at $50, VAT $2.50 and when you include telex and offshore charges, it would be less than $100.

Thanks A555, and especially for the breakdown.

I took alt3r3g0's recommendation and chatted GT via live chat. Below is the response they gave me.... it jives with your being charged 6K.

The charges are 0.5% or 10unit as commission amount, 5% vat on the commission, N6000 telex copy, and 25usd correspondent bank charge.However, if the source of deposit into the account is a cash deposits and you are transferring out you are charged 2% as commission,And 5% vat on the commission .

A555:




@ nwandy218 & eddycross: I haven't reviewed how other banks process this transaction, and it is possible some other banks may have better or cheaper arrangements. However, the following is excerpted from the Gtbank internet banking page, fx transfers to Other banks link -

" Please Note: Request received before 2pm will be treated same day, while those received after 2pm will be treated next working day. Processing of any request is subject to compliance with local regulations.

Details of Charges per (transaction) - Commission: 0.5% of Transaction Amount (if source of funds is inflow) or 2% of Transaction Amount (if source of funds is through cash deposit) (subject to a minimum of 10 dollars), VAT: 5% of Commission, Telex: 4000 Naira (or its equivalent in the currency being transferred). Off Shore Charges: USD: $25, GBP: £12, Euro: EUR20. "

So for a transfer of about $10k, charges would be $200 (commission) + $10 (VAT on commission) + NGN4000 (for some reason i was last charged 6k for the telex) + $25 (offshore charges), altogether less than $250, and you can run all charges through your naira acct.

The big issue here is how you sourced the forex in your account, and I have done the estimate above based on how most people get forex from mallams paying cash into your account. I guess some people would baulk at paying NGN80k in charges, but note this is 2.5% of the money transferred.

However, if you are able to get the mallam or other sources to do a transfer into your account, the charges drop significantly per the bolded above with commission now at $50, VAT $2.50 and when you include telex and offshore charges, it would be less than $100.

honey86:


Honestly, i do not know. But I know that the charter of right and freedom gives everybody in Canada the right to move anywhere in Canada. At the same time, you were sponsored based on the assumption that you will settle in Ontario and i am guessing you signed some documents in relation to that. The general rule of thumb is to live at least 3 years in the province that sponsored you then you can move away from there. When you land you can seek advise from immigration services in Ontario.

This is noted. Thank you very much

rainazoe:
Thank you so much. This advice is so on apt. I have chilled from yapping about Canada o and don't even brood about it so it doesn't come between us.

We will definitely make the short landing and I hope he falls in love with Canada.

Let me share this with you. My brother never liked the idea of relocating to Canada 8yrs ago. He decided to do short landing and come back to Naija hustle as an architect but never came back until 7yrs later. He admonished all his friends to relocate. He is doing pretty well over there now. So fear not, when Oga reach ILu Oba, he will definitely have a change of mind.

@ Eddycross, I know it is possible to leave naira in your Gtb account in Nigeria, then get to Canny and get naija forex agents there who can exchange dollar for you while you transfer to their naira account in Naija. That is what we intend to do as we will be landing Ontario next week. However, with this post, I am wondering if this transfer method saves more money than our own plan. Please advise.

eddycross:
Thanks A555, and especially for the breakdown.

I took alt3r3g0's recommendation and chatted GT via live chat. Below is the response they gave me.... it jives with your being charged 6K.

The charges are 0.5% or 10unit as commission amount, 5% vat on the commission, N6000 telex copy, and 25usd correspondent bank charge.However, if the source of deposit into the account is a cash deposits and you are transferring out you are charged 2% as commission,And 5% vat on the commission .

Feygbe:


Thank you very much

Hello Feygbe,

I went through your post and they were really very inspiring. I noticed you used NYSC for your work experience. I would like to please ask if NYSC was indicated on your work reference letter from your PPA.
Thanks a lot for your reply.

Hi Salford, I am wondering if some of what I have been hearing about elementary schools in Canny not up to Nigerian standard in terms of curriculum is what will make some parents send kids back to Naija to school.
From what I heard, the schools don't challenge kids academically as Naija schools do, they hardly even give them homeworks. Parents have to get extra lessons at some cost. Then there is the talk of elementary schools rating, I have actually seen the ratings of Ontario schools online. How does one choose the right school for kids in Ontario. Can you or anyone here share experience and advise on how to get the best Catholic or public school for elementary students. Thanks!

salford1:

There are families here with kids sent back to attend government funded boarding schools in Nigeria.

rainazoe:
Maternal please take a couple of steps down. That I came here for advice does not validate your conclusion that my home is an unhappy one. Note that I am not being defensive here. It take two persons together to steer my family's ship and I choose to have it that way. You can stop now. Thank you.

Do you know sometimes I wonder if people are reading the same thing I'm reading

No where did he suggest your marriage is an unhappy one. Are y'all for real? All maternal did was state a point, but maybe because his point wasn't laced with words like "dear", y'all turned his post into something it ain't. Seriously sha....someone even calling him Bruce lee? Lol I don't know what y'all are reading, all I see is a bunch a sentimental Nigerians

Una dey lucky say Canadians are generally nice people, if na Yankee una dey relocate with this una emotions, rants about some being rude and sentiments, una go go back Naija. Coz those ones have zero chill.

Hi Salford, I am wondering if some of what I have been hearing about elementary schools in Canny not up to Nigerian standard in terms of curriculum is what will make some parents send kids back to Naija to school.
From what I heard, the schools don't challenge kids academically as Naija schools do, they hardly even give them homeworks. Parents have to get extra lessons at some cost. Then there is the talk of elementary schools rating, I have actually seen the ratings of Ontario schools online. How does one choose the right school for kids in Ontario. Can you or anyone here share experience and advise on how to get the best Catholic or public school for elementary students. Thanks

salford1:

There are families here with kids sent back to attend government funded boarding schools in Nigeria.

[sub][/sub]

A555:


Changed USD into my Gtbank domiciliary account before i left. I travelled with USD$5k only because of the size of my family, honestly I don't even like travelling with that much money. On arrival, got my SIN next day, then proceeded to open bank accounts same day(I went with RBC). Requested a USD account as well as the CAD accounts, then I transferred from my Nigerian dom account to the USD account. Cash was credited into my account within 24hrs. When you consider the time difference it could be up to 48hrs if you miss the window to initiate the transfer in Nigerian time. I had to be careful to initiate the transfer before the GTbank closed their fx transactions for the day or it gets carried over to the next day and extends by a further day or so. And you can move between your CAD and USD accounts as easily as moving cash between your current and savings accounts in Nigeria.

Thanks a lot for this. I have seen all the discussion after this and i believe i know how to go about it now?

Please can we sheath our swords? To be honest in more recent times, it has been one case of team A vs team B and so on and so forth and it is getting tiring and unproductive. I have been on both the giving and receiving end and so I am not making this comment from a "saintly point if view"
We are all different and view things differently and that is the exact point of having a forum so we can interact and share our wealth of information for positive advancement. Things were going well since oohunt started this thread up until a short while ago.
It is very possible for us to be open to divergent opinions on an issue please. Yes, we can learn to deliver our opinions in a more emotionally intelligent manner and we can also learn to give rebuttals likewise.

In my opinion, I think that often times we do not have enough objective conversations about migration when one or both spouses are eligible and even obtain pr but are reluctant or afraid or confused about moving. It is a reality for some people. Conversations that have taken place in the past here have been about infidelity and distance and all what not as though that is the major or only consideration when a family has to live apart. I live by the mantra do unto others as you want to be done to you. In that vain, a good question to ask for a couple who have a relationship with mutual understanding and beneficence is this. If I was the one reluctant to relocate because I have a good career in Nigeria and a steady source of income I am comfortable with and dynamics I feel I can control, would I want my spouse to coerce or force me into leaving all of that and moving towards a perceived unknown? Would I be willing to do that? Would I alsp expect my spouse to not relocate because I am reluctant to? If not, what would I be willing to do? Where can we find a place of compromise? I think the answer to that question would give some perspective for people in this situation.

Temidewale:
Hi Salford, I am wondering if some of what I have been hearing about elementary schools in Canny not up to Nigerian standard in terms of curriculum is what will make some parents send kids back to Naija to school.
From what I heard, the schools don't challenge kids academically as Naija schools do, they hardly even give them homeworks. Parents have to get extra lessons at some cost. Then there is the talk of elementary schools rating, I have actually seen the ratings of Ontario schools online. How does one choose the right school for kids in Ontario. Can you or anyone here share experience and advise on how to get the best Catholic or public school for elementary students. Thanks

I truly don't know how best to answer this in a way that I can commumicate my thoughts effectively but I'll try. I think you should consider if a Nigerian school aged child and Canadian school aged child are at par in terms of education. I mean looking at what the broader definition of what education is. Not learning by rote or being able to study time tables or do grade 4 math at age 4 etc etc. There are lots of studies available online about the disadvantages of so much homework. Infact in Finland which currently has the best education in the world there is no homework. In fact kids are allowed to choose if they want home work and what they want as homework. For instance a child can choose to decide to play football or visit a rec center as home work. May sound ridiculous but in the long run, how are they performing on a global scale? How is their economy performing? How are they able to do things differently? Are they more innovative? What is the qualitu of research their schools are churning out? Those are metrics to consider. Kids seem to be thriving better with the no homework style in the long run. Even schools who follow the traditional method of learning here and give home work do not do so like we do back home. My 3 year old can explain concepts abd expreas himself and communicate in ways now that he wouldn't be able to if he was still in Nigeria. Education here teaches kids to think out of box and forms a basis for critical thinking and innovation which are key for success in today's world. Back home, we focus more on in the box thinking and learning by rote. In the end it boils down to what you prefer or want. I don't know about Ontario but in Alberta generally you get into the designated public schools based on where you live. There are some schools that rank way higher that you can waitlist your kids for. You can also opt for traditional learning schools within the public school system who wear uniforms and have higher rankings. Or opt for private schools. Forgive my typos.

One of my friends went through express entry. Where does one start?

@Tamm, spot on about ur findings thus far.

rainazoe:
Maternal please take a couple of steps down. That I came here for advice does not validate your conclusion that my home is an unhappy one. Note that I am not being defensive here. It take two persons together to steer my family's ship and I choose to have it that way. You can stop now. Thank you.

No mind maternal. I wonder why she carry the matter for head. Who told her that the marriage is unhappy. Abi she don turn psychic.

I ve noticed there are some feminists on this thread. One thing abt these feminists is that they take things to the extreme when it concerns them or the female folk without considering the male folk. The annoying thing though is that despite their claims of being feminist you never see them toast a guy or recommend that a female toasts a guy or better still propose to a guy. Hell! I'll love for a lady to walk up to me and say she likes me.
No way! you don't see them think like that. Like let's make most things a shared responsibility btw the male and female.
Rather they want to literally grow balls like the males and do as they please.

tee10:
It's ridiculous how a particular guy here make wide assumptions about people and there marriage

I know folks who are pushing this Canada thing just so they can have the best of both worlds in Nigerian and Canada, many of them are only trying to hedge there risk in case Nigeria falls apart

Folks should limit themselves to what they know and stop this over sabi attitude

I fail to see why people can state their opinions, then when I do the same I get bullied. A woman came on a message board asking for advice, and i gave her my 2 cents. If one doesn't want people to make assumptions on themselves or marriage, then they should refrain discussion such topics on a public message board.

Unlike some here I strategically reply to things I've either experienced or know someone who did. Nigeria is a failed state. The youths are attempting to leave in numbers. Unemployment is high, Nigerian bodies are constantly being recovered in the ocean by youths attempting to leave, etc. I've always said one should migrate to Canada and get that insurance passport. Always. We're saying the same thing. EVERYONE I know who left Canada after school instead of staying to get papers have regretted it and are now applying for the skilled worker program from naija. This is not some tonto dikeh or nneji chick flick nollywood movie. This is real life. If you have a chance to leave naija for Canada and get your kids that Canadian passport, you better do it. Their future and prosperity should be any mother's top priority. That's my point. Cool down.

Temidewale:
Hi Salford, I am wondering if some of what I have been hearing about elementary schools in Canny not up to Nigerian standard in terms of curriculum is what will make some parents send kids back to Naija to school.
From what I heard, the schools don't challenge kids academically as Naija schools do, they hardly even give them homeworks. Parents have to get extra lessons at some cost. Then there is the talk of elementary schools rating, I have actually seen the ratings of Ontario schools online. How does one choose the right school for kids in Ontario. Can you or anyone here share experience and advise on how to get the best Catholic or public school for elementary students. Thanks

I can only speak with respect to Calgary. From the little I know, there are Catholic schools and some other special schools (i don't remember what they are called again, probably the same one vcole was referring to about traditional learning centres). All i remember is that admittance to that special school is by lottery. These ones are competitive to get in and usually have waitlists. For Catholic school, one of the parents must have a baptismal certificate from a Catholic church, else the parent of the kid would be placed on a waitlist as mentioned above till they satisfy the catholic members of the community. Catholic school and that the special schools do give lots of homework.

There are private schools too, and some of them are owned by religious organizations, but they do not come cheap.
A neighbour (Husband lives and works in Nigeria) has 3 kids in one of the private schools close to my area.

People send their children to Nigeria for different reasons, some are:

1. Gangs related (Check-Rundle and Malborough areas of Calgary). My sister in London also sent her kids to boarding house in Nigeria due to the above reason in Central London.

2. Schools here have been adopting same sex education as part of their curriculum. This gives kids the right to choose their own sex after hearing stuffs about non-binary, LGBTQ e.t.c. Nowadays, some student as young as 14 are championing homosexual causes in schools. The catholic church recently lost a battle to have their own modified "sex education" different from the one approved by the province of Alberta. The Premier and education minister objected the idea.

3. Girls (plus high school age) are being taught that they own their body and can abort a baby without the parents consent.

4. Alot of home students are weak in mathematics. Although, they excel in computer related course like programming and CAD.

5. Some do not want their kids to lose touch with their culture. My kid for example feels swallows are disgusting. He only started eating it after much combined efforts.

These are just some reasons I could think off the top of my head. We could go on and on. It is not easy raising kids the Nigerian way(culture) here. It requires hardwork and dedication despite busy schedules. While alot dont care about the factors above, some would be worried about it and kukku send their kids to naija. May God teach them in His ways.

I think the Indians are successful in raising their kids right becuase they all try to live around the same area and are closely knit, so their kids learn from the community in which they live in. Check Mcknight, Saddletown and Falconridge area of Calgary.

Canadianfly:


Do you know sometimes I wonder if people are reading the same thing I'm reading

No where did he suggest your marriage is an unhappy one. Are y'all for real? All maternal did was state a point, but maybe because his point wasn't laced with words like "dear", y'all turned his post into something it ain't. Seriously sha....someone even calling him Bruce lee? Lol I don't know what y'all are reading, all I see is a bunch a sentimental Nigerians

Una dey lucky say Canadians are generally nice people, if na Yankee una dey relocate with this una emotions, rants about some being rude and sentiments, una go go back Naija. Coz those ones have zero chill.

maternal:


The home is clearly not happy if she has to come here to ask for advice. Canada is a proven product where a person's achievement is based on merits. Most of the times any way. Nigeria is a unproven product. Currently a failed state. If she has concerns about her kids future or lack of it in Nigeria, she needs to pick up and migrate if she can legally. Instead of walking around stroking her alpha males husband's ego who deep down is consumed by fear. If it's time to go to war and my captain starts showing fear and is not ready to die for the cause, do you think I'd follow his lead ? Any man who puts his fear ahead of doing what's best for the kids will not be leading my household. I just couldn't take him seriously.

It's obvious that we are not reading the same thing

I think it boils down to the fact that some of us do not understand the complexity of Nigerian marriages

Babachi:

So you are male. You got no chill for a male. You sound like an emotionally charged female just like one Canadianfly. I guess that's why u chose maternal as your monicker. Don't get me wrong, I love the ladies but a man's gotta be a man.
If a Nigerian man like you said decides to leave for Canada without consulting his wife, its wrong. If on the other hand he tries to convince her of the benefits of making the move then she ought to listen to him and try to make things work.

That double standard again.