Best way to move from San Francisco to Hamil to kingston, Ontario (3 hours north of T

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi Everybody! Has anybody ever moved cross country? Or from the US to Canada? I am moving from San Francisco to Ontario (north of Toronto)</p>

<p>I am attending University in Ontario for vetinary school! I was born in Canada but grew up in the US (California). I don’t remember anything about Canada and have no clue about moving there. </p>

<p>I have about five 20 x 24 boxes that I need to ship there. What is the best way to go about moving them cross country?</p>

<p>I am also bringing a car. I don’t want to ruin it by putting so many miles on it (used Toyota camry or might be a used pruis) and according to mapquest it will take 45 hours to drive there! Or roughly, 350 in gas cost. </p>

<p>Morever, I’m only 22 and my parents (who are helping in part to finance my vet school and lending me their car for two years only) refuse to let me drive it there since Im a small girl and it would take 45 hours of driving and it might not be safe , etc.</p>

<p>How would I go about shipping the car?</p>

<p>I myself am flying there.</p>

<p>Does anybody know about buying car insurance there as well as cell phone? I currently have triple A and also At and T cell phone plan.</p>

<p>Quite honestly I am scared to death about going to Canada for professional school. But it’s so much cheaper than American vet schools (by about 10k). I was going to go to an American vet school, but they received my intent to enroll a little bit to late : (</p>

<p>Anybody who has lived in Ontario—can you guys give me any tips? I am Canadian by birth and Also hold American citizenship, but I have NO IDEA what it’s like to live there. I don’t have any friends nor family and the last time my parents were in Canada was 21 years ago!</p>

<p>Does anybody know the cost of living in Ontario how it compares to SF Suburbs? If I am sick, can’t I just drive an hours south of the border to upstate New York and go visit the doctor there? </p>

<p>I am scared to death : _ (</p>

<p>I have no clue how the Ontario health system works: dental, optometry, and everything else (I have asthma )</p>

2

<p>I live in Buffalo, NY and am not Canadian, so I can’t answer very many of your questions. But I can answer a few of them.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>As a Canadian citizen you should be able to participate in the excellent, cheap (to the patient) government provided health care when you are in Ontario. Once you’re on campus, ask someone at the college how to get the appropriate Canadian health card and you’ll be ok. There’s no need to think about crossing the boarder just for a doctor visit.</p>

<p>Second, your title for the thread is confusing. Are you going to Hamilton, ON or Kingston, ON? They are on opposite sides of Toronto. Hamilton is about an hour west of Toronto along the QEW, which is probably the most congested freeway in all of Canada. Kingston, ON is about 3 hours north-east of Toronto along the 401–an interstate-quality, limited access highway. The weather in Kingston is colder than in Hamilton since Kingston is right on a great lake.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Don’t know anything about the particulars, but Canada is a very friendly and civilized country. You’ll be able to get a lead on where to buy car insurance by asking for information from your new friends. Also, Canada has yellow pages and tv ads too. My impression on cell phones is you buy them there pretty much like you buy them here. The main thing you want to find out about your current plan as well as cell phone plan you do buy in Canada is how the international calling charges work. If the cell phone charges are too steep, you could consider a land-line. Calling long distance to/from Canada is done in the same way as calling from one state to another. The charges are a bit higher, but if you get an international calling package, they’re not bad. Or there’s skype for getting in touch with the folks back in California.</p>

<p>

The Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal metro areas are probably the most expensive places to live in Canada. Compared to Buffalo, prices for housing and gas seem high. Other prices, are higher than in WNY. Once the difference wasn’t so steep because the American dollar was so strong compared to the Canadian dollar. But ever since the 2008 economic meltdown, the two currencies have been trading at “near par” Right now an American dollar is worth about $1.04 or $1.05 Canadian. Not enough to make a difference. But since SF is one of the most expensive places to live in the US, my guess is that you won’t find the cost of living in ON as high as living in SF. But it might not be significantly cheaper either</p>

<p>There are two things that you’ll run into everyday that will strike you as very expensive in Canada: </p>

<p>1) Sales taxes—which are call VATs (Value Added Taxes) if I recall correctly. Both the Canadian Federal Government and the Ontario Provincial Government slap pretty steep VATs on almost everything. If I recall correctly, the total VAT in ON is something close to 17%.</p>

<p>2) Gasoline. Gas is sold by the litre and so the advertised price may look cheap. But it take about 4 litres to make a bit over 1 gallon. So multiply those gas prices by four to compare to the price you see in the states. Gas in WNY has been running in the neighborhood of $2.89 to $3.00 this summer. Gas in ON is usually at least a dollar more per gallon—in other words, ON gas seems to be priced just over $1.00/litre Canadian.</p>

<p>Finally, you write:

Don’t be scared! Canada is really a very friendly place. And it’s actually not that much different than the US. Enjoy rediscovering your roots! And best of luck in vet school!</p>

3

<p>Probably University of Guelph, rss. </p>

<p>OP, have you graduated with a bachelor’s already? Or are you talking about moving in Fall of 2011?</p>

4

<p>You need to find out specifically:</p>

<p>1) How long your car can have a US license plate on it in Ontario. In other words, how soon does it need to be re-registered there.</p>

<p>2) Whether or not it is even possible to license it in Canada. In other words, does this specific make and model meet Canadian standards.</p>

<p>3) How long you can drive in Canada with your US auto insurance. In other words, how soon it needs to be insured there.</p>

<p>It may make more sense for you to buy a car in Canada.</p>

<p>As for shipping all of your stuff, you should contact a professional mover that has experience with US-Canadian moves and ask for their shipping advice and an estimate of the total cost. Then stop by the US Post Office and talk with them about mailing your boxes. There should be a special international book/media rate. After considering how much it will cost to ship everything, you may decide to just get new stuff there.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

5

<p>Ontario is a wonderful place to live – completely like the U.S., except the people are nicer, and more of them speak French, especially in eastern Ontario where Kingston is. It will be much colder than California during the winter, though (October-April, at least). You knew that. And the wine isn’t nearly as good.</p>

<p>If you insist on shipping things, rather than driving yourself there, you may have better luck shipping to Buffalo or Burlington VT, then driving yourself and your stuff from there. Shipping a lot of possessions, and a car, across the border is going to be a lot more complicated than driving across in a loaded car.</p>

6

<p>One parent could drive with you and then fly home.</p>

7

<p>Don’t worry about living in Canada- many advantages. Canadians are friendly as a rule and I’m sure people will take you “under their wing”. Do you need a car for school? Get as much help/info as you can from your vet school. They admitted you and have a stake in you.</p>

8

<p>I am Canadian, but live in the US.
I think you are talking about school in Guelph, Ontario. It is only an hour drive from Toronto, less from the western suburbs like Mississauga and Oakville.
The weather there will be very similar to the weather in Chicago. Windy winters, hot and humid summers.
No help as to how to move :frowning:
As for health insurance, once you become a resident of Ontario (check how long it takes, years ago it used to be 2 or 3 months), you will be covered by OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Program) and all doctors visits are either free or have a minimal co-pay ($5-$10). No coverage for dental, drugs or glasses. Mind you, drugs are much cheaper in Canada.
I should stay in touch with you. Have a daughter that is very much interested in becoming a vet. Was it easier to get accepted to the school in Canada? Is it less expensive. PM me please if you can. I have a very close friend that lives in Guelph!</p>

9

<p>You won’t be going to Hamilton or Kingston if you’re headed to veterinary school, as the only one in Ontario is at the Univ. of Guelph which is approximately an hour northwest of Toronto.</p>

<p>Shipping things is going to make things more difficult for you than bringing them with you, because there are customs issues and regulations about shipped goods that you’ll need to arrange. Unless you’re having a moving company handle it, I’d rethink shipping anything. You will need to check with the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario as to what you’ll need to do to have a car here and whether or not you will have to change your license as a student. You will have student health coverage through your university that will cover you at the student health centre on campus. You will need to check with OHIP to see how it works for you to establish residency. If you are only here as a student, for the school year, even as a dual citizen, you may not be covered. Check with them to be sure. Your student health coverage will cover a portion of dental and prescription costs. Do not opt out of it.</p>

<p>You will need to get a Canadian cellphone and plan. Rogers is likely your best option in Ontario and they have stores where you can go in and set up an account, and buy a Canadian phone.</p>

<p>There’s nothing to be afraid of, trust me! Canada is a wonderful place. I moved here when I was about your age and have lived most of my adult life in Canada. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Friendly people, little crime, wonderful safe and clean cities, excellent education, universal healthcare, it’s a beautiful country and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your years here.</p>

<p>Your cost of living in Guelph is likely to be lower than in the San Fran suburbs. It’s a smallish city.</p>

<p>If you have specific questions, feel free to send me an email. Click on my username and in the dropdown menu, send me an email, not a PM. My PM inbox is always full. Congratulations on vet school (it’s a great one!) and welcome to Canada! You’ll love it here.</p>