Whether or not this is your first time away from your country, you are probably thinking about the different aspects of living in a new culture. Most grantees find that they must make some adjustments, since many things are new or unfamiliar. The process you will go through may be difficult, but it is also exciting and contributes to your personal enrichment and understanding of other ways of life.

Adapting to another culture may be frustrating at times, but there are people at your host university and at LASPAU who are able to help. Temporary problems should not discourage you. A growing familiarity with the new culture and with the resources available to you will greatly increase your enjoyment of your surroundings. You can read more about the process of cross-cultural adjustment by downloading this document in PDF format.

We also advise you to visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website, a website developed by the Canadian government to assist visitors and international students and the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) website, which provides current information about postsecondary education systems in Canada.

Immigration

Please pay particular attention to the "Who Needs a Study Permit" and the "How to Apply for a Study Permit" sections of the CIC website. It is critical that you obtain the appropriate immigration documents for yourself and your family prior to entering Canada.

Health Care

If included in your contract, LASPAU will automatically enroll you in the Virginia Surety insurance plan once you become a LASPAU-administered grantee, unless you inform us that you have alternative coverage. The Virginia Surety insurance plan, provided at no cost to you, is only for you and does not include any of your dependents. LASPAU will pay for insurance for your dependents, but you are responsible for arranging this coverage. Please click here for more information on the Virginia Surety insurance plan, as well as on how to obtain coverage for your dependents.

Employment

If you or your dependents would like to work while in Canada, you must be certain that both your program sponsor and the Canadian government will allow you do so:

• To verify whether your program sponsor will allow you to work, please contact your LASPAU program advisor or coordinator.
  
  
• To verify whether the Canadian government will allow you to work, please see the "Work Opportunities for Foreign Students" section of the CIC website or talk to your international student advisor at your host institution.

Housing and Your Mailing Address

Local newspapers, websites such as craigslist.org or rentalmonster.ca, and your host university's international office can serve as excellent resources when searching for off-campus or on-campus housing. You may also want to visit CIC's "Finding a Place to Live" fact sheet, which provides helpful tips on finding housing in Canada.

Make sure your mailbox at your home, dormitory, or residence hall indicates your full name (first and all surnames), since some postal carriers in Canada may not be accustomed to multiple surnames.

The Canadian Post Office provides a mail redirection service if you want to have your mail forwarded to you after you return to your home country. This is done by filling out a mail redirection form online or at a local post office. You will also want to fill out this form if you move homes while in Canada.

Shipping

When preparing to leave, you will probably find that you need to send some of your belongings home using an international shipping service. Check with the international student office at your host institution to see if they have any information about reliable shipping companies, or take a look at the Canadian Post Office or the Canadian Yellow Pages.

Useful Links for International Students in Canada

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website: The "Choose Canada to Study" section discusses health care, immigration, and employment. The "After You Arrive" section provides tips on banking, culture, transportation, and other important issues. All information on this website is available in English and French.

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) website: In particular, please read the "Postsecondary Education in Canada" section, which describes the higher education system in Canada. All information on this website is available in English and French.

Study Canada Study Canada is a comprehensive resource guide to schools in Canada. Also provdies information about the Canadian eduation system, climate, accommodations, cost of living, and history. Study Canada is published in 14 different languages.

Please note that the external links listed above are not maintained by LASPAU, and LASPAU is not responsible for any of their contents. Please let us know if you find other online resources that might be helpful to international students in Canada.