My Landing Experience:
Guys, been bit caught up in post-landing activities, though would like to share the landing experience for others who seek such info. Before we start let me tell all my friends who are in process of getting visa - IT IS WORTH ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND PAIN - REALLY AMAZING PLACE TO BE AT.
Based on the information from the friends in the forum, we planned our landing to be on a week day in day time - in start of the week (Monday) - so we can achieve basic things in week days following our landing.
1. Took flight via London airport to Toronto. The layover of 1.5 hours was really too little, we were running to catch connecting flight. Also, the security check at London airport is bit strict as you have to take out liquid items in visible bags (provided by them) and all this takes lot of time. Anyway, we almost made our connection to Toronto.
2. Took some dollars in cash and some in DD (bank provided official checks, payable in Canada).
3. Landed at Toronto Airport at 11:30am. Thanks to the forum and other landing exp posted here, we made sure that we land before evening and on a week day. This decision helped us a lot.
4. As told by many, you should rush to the counter after coming out of the plane. As you'd share the queue with visitors, the queue becomes quite long quickly enough, so better to reach early to immigration counter and relax later after collecting baggage.
5. From there to New Immigration center, followed by collecting SIN number is easy process.
Post landing activities:
DAY 1 : Checked in Hotel. Immediately went to a bank across street and opened an account and safe deposit box.
DAY 2 : Rented a car and completed Bank formalities, bought a mobile and plan.
DAY 3 : Looked around for place for rent, finalized one, paid advance. Went to Niagara Falls.
DAY 4 : Moved in the new place, completed grocery and other house hold items purchase.
DAY 5 : Bought a car
DAY 6 : Weekend - more household stuff, bought second mobile and connection
DAY 7 : Shopped for Car insurance, prepares for written driving test.
DAY 8 : Applied for G1 license. Got it.
DAY 9 : Took Lesson and gave drive test and got full G license.
DAY 10: Got car registered, number plates and auto insurance.
So, within 10 days, we had got all basic necessities of modern day life (Location, Communication & Mobility) - Car, bank accounts, credit cards, driving license, mobile phones and a rented place to stay.
As we planned, we are going to start job hunting in coming week. It is not really that bad.
In the process of landing and settling down, the information we got from this forum helped us IMMENSELY and we can not thank our friends enough for that. The locals here were kind of surprised that how come we are so well informed and prepared for the initial basic steps.
Now, some observations:
1. People are extremely good and very very helpful.
2. Canada is very very beautiful - specially in spring and summer. We have already driven around a lot - crossed 1500 kms mark already.
3. But quite costly place, in two weeks we have spent more than $7000, but that will depend on person to person. I found it to be 30-40% costlier than US. Petrol price is exactly same as that of in India.
4. Jobs are mostly through network. We made some good friends who helped a lot. People are awesome and very helpful.
5. It is better to land in Toronto where there are lot of immigrants, so you will get help easily enough.
If anyone needs any particular information, feel free to send me a pm.
The major advantages we got from pointers in forum:
1. Got Driving extract, this helped us in appearing for Full G license directly.
2. Landed in day time on week day at the ariport, helped us get SIN number from the airport itself.
3. The banks referred in the forum are really good ones - TD has lot of locations.
4. Most mobiles from India (latest ones) work on the major mobile companies here. Though you get most good mobiles for free with 2 year contract with any carrier, so you need not bother about mobiles much.
5. You can get a car rented easily on your India driving license.
6. The goods accompanied and goods to follow list pointers in forum helped us. Better to prepare a good goods to follow list for items that you may bring in future.
All the best.
