Dear Brothers and Sisters:
By the grace of almighty last year 31st December morning [11:45 am local time] I have landed Vancouver safely. I choose Cathey Pacific airlines. The journey was quit hassle free. Last 2/3 days we were going through Jet lock. I mean sleeping in day time of Canada and watching TV in night time. Now, its quite ok. all the offices were closed till yesterday, 2nd Jan for new year and Xmas...so I could not able to apply for SIN and medical card till now. Hopefully will be done by next 2/3 days.
I am writing in details so that people who will come Vancouver through Cathe Pacific knows the route. My flight was in 2100 hrs (BD time) 30th December. I report to airport 1830 hrs (BD time). The route of Cathe Pacific was Dhaka-Hongkong-Vancouver. Dhaka-HK operate by Dragonair and HK-Vancouver operates by Cathe. I face some problem while check in at BD airport as the weight is little more than allowable weight. So, I had to pay $100 for extra weight. So, Please provide top concern in weight management of your bags. I came to know that the rules are changed recently.....earlier one person is allowed to carry 2 bags each of 50 lbs/23 kgs. but from 1st January 2012 one person is allowed to carry only one bag of 23 kgs/50lbs. I request to cross check the information with your concern airline. One more thing, please check your seats in BD because in BD I have received 2 boarding pass together (one for DKH-HK and another for HK-Vancouver). So, you can not change the seat anymore. and in my case I got the most faul seat in dragonair. I think the lady in BD airport did not like my face
(((
Anyway, that was the only thing I faced difficulties throughout the journey. I have arrived 0600 hrs (HK time) in HK airport. The airport is huge. Huge sitting arrangements....you can sleep there too, big food court (all types of foods are available, McDonald, Chinese). My transit was 10 hrs at HK airport. But I passed the time easily. lots of free internet terminals. So, passing time is not a big issue there. My next flight was at 1425 hrs (HK time).
The service of Cathe Pacific airlines are really top class. spacious seats. friendly people. I have landed at Vancouver airport at 1145 hrs (Vancouver time). I have not faced any difficulties in Vancouver airport. Just little afraid of customs people as there were some foods in my bags but I have declared no food in custom declaration form. While you will be in flight the air-hostess will provide a custom declaration form to every one. One form for one family. You also need to declare how much money you carry in the form if the total money is higher than CAD $10,000 and the rest are general declarations. I have been asked by customs as well as immigration officer about the money. They only asked how much I carry. The total time required to finish all process is 30 min. There is separate lines/ques in every section for new immigrants. There is a separate booth for new immigrants where they have informed us about Vancouver, provide medical application form (that I need to send concern authority by postal service with landing documents (CORP doc)), some introductory information as well as addresses of Service Canada offices where I need to go for SIN application. Then we have faced immigration officer. She was very straight forward. just took 15 min to finish her job. She also asked me about the money and address where they will send our PR cards through postal service directly. please note I have not required to fill any form/application for this.
After completing I have given the custom declaration form to custom officer. He asked me what I have in my bags and I said all are house hold materials as I am new immigrant and this is my first landing. So, they did not bother anything and let me go...at reception my uncle, aunt were waiting for us. and we came their home safely.
According to me:
1. I think we do not need to fill the PR application in any time, its the immigration officer's duty to do everything on this. He/She just ask you to give one address where they will send the PR card.
2. Please do not think too much on SIN/Medical application form. Once you will be in Canada you will know everything, what to do and where to go.
3. Goods details form is not compulsory, but if you want you can fill it.
4. I bring all cash. just endorse some US dollers in passport. Traveler's cheque/bank draft is another option but in whole process you will lose some money.
5. Please keep your CORP doc, educational, birth certificate, marriage certificate with your hand bag. Immigration officer of BD as well as Canada may wants to see those.
thanks// Shamim
