🇨🇦 Canada | Questions About Canadians Traveling back to Canada for a Few Months

[eugenequ]

I have a question: Did BlackBerry devices using 2G/3G EDGE networks work in Taiwan? I know hardly anyone in the world still uses BlackBerry… lol. can i use the basic 2g there?

I just got my gold card approved but haven’t been to Taiwan yet.

Over two decades ago, I had an old employee plan with Rogers, paying around $20 per month. I planned to keep it for family emergencies and voicemail access while in Taiwan. Would such a device and plan still function there?

[ChewDawg]

@eugenequ

Hey buddy, I’m from Nanaimo.

Small world. Family lives on Promenade Dr. I go back once a year.

[eugenequ]

@ChewDawg

Promenade Dr

Promenade Drive is located right in downtown, offering a full view of the harbor. I used to walk past there while crabbing and would think, If I lived in one of these high-rises, I’d be eating crab every day. But I haven’t done that in a while.

Small world, isn’t it? I live in Harewood.

I haven’t been to Taiwan yet, but I’ll be going soon—I just got my Gold Card approved. I haven’t even decided which city to settle in long-term.

[ChewDawg]

@eugenequ

If I lived in one of these high-rises, I’d be eating crab every day.

I usually crab as often as I can (my son learned to ride his bike in the park by the pier), and we have a boat in the marina (love taking it out to Snake Island). Love the summers. Convenient when I fly Harbour Air too—literally door to door service.

[Marco]

@eugenequ

I have a question: Did BlackBerry devices using 2G/3G EDGE networks work in Taiwan? I know hardly anyone in the world still uses BlackBerry… lol. can i use the basic 2g there?

I just got my gold card approved but haven’t been to Taiwan yet.

No.

2G Shutdown

3G Shutdown

You’ll need a new phone that supports 4G LTE or 5G NR. The phone must support VoLTE as the voice portion of the 2G and 3G networks have shut down as well.

I checked my phone too and it picks up no signal in 2G or 3G.

@eugenequ

Over two decades ago, I had an old employee plan with Rogers, paying around $20 per month. I planned to keep it for family emergencies and voicemail access while in Taiwan. Would such a device and plan still function there?

I would cancel any Robbers Wireless plan to be honest.

You wanna call Canada? I’m switching to Viber Out. I traditionally used the Skype to Phone service for $5ish US a month. But that’s a no go no more as that’s shutting down in 1½ months. Your friends and family can use LINE/Whatsapp/Telegram/Kakao/Viber/Signal to talk and text back and forth if they really wish.

If you MUST have a Canadian number, buy a local VOIP service and pay for it every month.

I think Teksavvy’s is $9.95 CA a month.

[eugenequ]

thank you so much buddy!

[afterspivak]

@eugenequ

Regarding your Social Insurance Number (SIN), you can always visit Service Canada and ask. But unless you plan to file taxes or claim a GST refund, there’s really no need for one—unless you’re planning to work.

SIN is also tied to OAS and CPP which may (depending on @Explant 's age and his future intentions on where to reside) be completely relevant. He should absolutely be aware of his SIN number.

Guy

[eugenequ]

I almost forgot about this—two years ago, I helped my parents apply for OAS. I remember reading that any absence from Canada lasting six months or more would result in those years being deducted from the calculation. They might even request your passport entry and exit stamps as proof. Anyone in Canada should keep this in mind when planning for OAS.

[ChewDawg]

@eugenequ

hat any absence from Canada lasting six months or more would result in those years being deducted from the calculation.

Yip, since 18, I have only lived in Canada 12 years after Age 18…Will get CPP for the limited time in Canada I worked, but not OAS. Need 20 years for minimum after the age of 18 to qualify for OAS. If there is a SSC arrangement (e.g., France or US), your time abroad can count. Taiwan does not have an SSC with Canada.

[Explant]

@afterspivak

@eugenequ

Regarding your Social Insurance Number (SIN), you can always visit Service Canada and ask. But unless you plan to file taxes or claim a GST refund, there’s really no need for one—unless you’re planning to work.

SIN is also tied to OAS and CPP which may (depending on @Explant 's age and his future intentions on where to reside) be completely relevant. He should absolutely be aware of his SIN number.

Guy

Cheers. For the record, I’m not THAT old. By golly!

[afterspivak]

I am rooting for you to get that old!

It beats the alternative.

Guy

[Shaozhi]

@Explant

Looking online I’m having a hard time seeing if the third party Sim card sellers are able to provide good range. I will be in central Vancouver Island, outskirts of a small city. Are there service type maps like we have in taiwan? I’m looking for unlimited internet, don’t need to do regular phone calls or texts.

Why don’t you just get a SIM card in Taiwan? I just arrived in Canada a few days ago and before I left, I got an e-sim for 20 days (1GB of data per day). I paid about NT800 for it. There are options for longer periods (30 days for about NT1200). Just get 3 if you’ll be here for 3 months. Just don’t activate all 3 at the same time. If your phone supports e-sim, you can even buy them when you’re in Canada.

[ChewDawg]

@ChewDawg

Yip, since 18, I have only lived in Canada 12 years after Age 18…Will get CPP for the limited time in Canada I worked, but not OAS. Need 20 years for minimum after the age of 18 to qualify for OAS. If there is a SSC arrangement (e.g., France or US), your time abroad can count. Taiwan does not have an SSC with Canada.

To add what I wrote above, there are gray areas. If you have a house and ID in one state that has an SSC, does it count for time vs another country where you may work? I have property in one country that does and ID and work in another that doesn’t .As I have about 16.5 years in Canada and France after Age 18 (which does have SSC), I’ll have to find 3.5 years in the next 2 decades to reach it by 65. UK and Taiwan unfortunately does not.

Not that I will need it…but extra beer money!

[Explant]

@Shaozhi

@Explant

Looking online I’m having a hard time seeing if the third party Sim card sellers are able to provide good range. I will be in central Vancouver Island, outskirts of a small city. Are there service type maps like we have in taiwan? I’m looking for unlimited internet, don’t need to do regular phone calls or texts.

Why don’t you just get a SIM card in Taiwan? I just arrived in Canada a few days ago and before I left, I got an e-sim for 20 days (1GB of data per day). I paid about NT800 for it. There are options for longer periods (30 days for about NT1200). Just get 3 if you’ll be here for 3 months. Just don’t activate all 3 at the same time. If your phone supports e-sim, you can even buy them when you’re in Canada.

That’s a good idea. I wasn’t aware that was even an option. Jokes above about age aside, I’m not a tech person for sure. I just learned the term eSim a couple days ago haha. Looking into it now

My worry is always if I buy something here and it won’t work there. I have had so many experiences with things not working in Canada from here that I am concerned (credit cards, bank cards, phones before etc etc.)

I get it’s all different now, but the fear remains and waiting on direct answers I am currently seeking from the Canadian side. It’s kind of why I thunk it would be easier to get a Sim in Canada and use a burner phone for wifi Hotspot to connect to my proper work phone (I can’t download apps and such on this phone). But am allowed to connect to wifi (preferably via my own router aka burner phone lol).