FSW WORLDWIDE

[ImpatientAlligator]

I always ask someone from the US the same question - does it feel like America lite or is it something else?

Honestly, it feels like I'm still in the US. The only differences being the high Indian representation in the service sector and the colo(u)rs of the street signs and colour instead of color.

PS: The occasional 'aboot' reminds me of the subtle differences in their accents.

 

[ImpatientAlligator]

It's like America that went to private school - eats his veggies and has manners and sh*t .

Americans have better manners on the roads though. Here, putting the indicator on means that you've earned the right of way and can cut it and merge at any speed without looking.

And I just witnessed a drag race in the middle of Downtown!

 

[AlmostThere2]

Good news everyone! I became a permanent resident yesterday.

The landing process at Toronto-Pearson was smooth and surprisingly fast. Went from kiosk to primary immigration officer to secondary (for PR activation) ... all done in 5 minutes total. Since I don't have a permanent address, they didn't take my address and told me fill out the PR card form later.

Then I told the customs checkpoint that I have goods to declare and they sent me to customs screening where they stamped the BSF186/A forms and gave me the blue slip. Again, all done within 5 minutes. I guess it's only the departures which are horrible at Pearson.

Congrats!!! What time did you land? Were there not a lot of first time immigrants? I mean 5 minutes seems extremely short, might have to consider booking another flight...TIA

 

[PRANIT01]

Americans have better manners on the roads though. Here, putting the indicator on means that you've earned the right of way and can cut it and merge at any speed without looking.

And I just witnessed a drag race in the middle of Downtown!

Calgary is same as Houston with the exception of very cold (now it is okay) but you know in Houston I don't go out on summer as it is very hot so it is same for me.
Yesterday I walked the almost 40-50% downtown, visited peace bridge, China Town ,Stephen Avenue, Malls ,jogged In the bow valley trail.
Downtown/pub obviously it is HOU
Nature -CAL
Malls can go both but I think cal is better
Trail-Cal,the trails are amazing
Cleanliness-CAL
Library-Hou
Tap water cal in Houston you can only drink bottleed water
I think Houstonians are more obese
jobs -Hou
restaurants-Hou
Sunshine-This part I hate calgary because here Sunshine is a luxury
quality of food and groceries for the same price-Cal
public transportation-Cal
Service in govt office-Cal
Safety cal
Calgary-Cal
Rent-Almost the same
I didn't see much indians here ,saw very few but they were complaining a lot so didn't talk to them.
Saw a lot of Asians.
One thing that bothered me is drugs, I think is is available in plenty here ( I am talking about coke,meth...not Marijuana)saw plenty of homeless using that in public

 

[me@akshara]

I noticed it too, but I hope the latter is true. Does anyone know the most recent numbers of the backlogs?

25080 for FSW

 

[me@akshara]

Hey folks!!! I received my Ready for Visa email on 13 June. Had taken a long break from these forums in 2021. I can't see a lot of the older folks, guess everyone got their PPRs already?

I am planning to send the two photographs and passport to VFS Global on 18th or 21st June.

How many days does it take to get back the stamped passport? I plan to send it to VFS, Delhi, India office.

now you can go and submit it in person

 

[ElvisRamaj]

My only hope is that they'll continuously do a No program specific draw instead of whatever they may have cooked up lol.

Other than that, waiting for another month or two wouldn't really matter at this point.

I strongly believe that at least between July and August, the next 5 consecutive draws will be All Program.

What I am waiting to see is the number of ITA actually sent. Plus, bill C-19 sounds a little worrisome because it leaves the door open to many possibilities.

On the other note, I am glad Marco is getting all the right attention fitting his abilitites on another ministry.



https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2022-06-13/loi-sur-les-mesures-d-urgence/le-ministre-marco-mendicino-compare-a-pinocchio.php

 

[ImpatientAlligator]

Congrats!!! What time did you land? Were there not a lot of first time immigrants? I mean 5 minutes seems extremely short, might have to consider booking another flight...TIA

Around 4PM Eastern, which is when a lot of flights from the US land. But, the process is pretty fast for Americans/Canadians, I suppose. There are a lot of self serving kiosks with workers directing you and there was virtually no queue for the kiosks. Then, based on the information you enter, you get slip. The primary officers take less than a minute for everyone - waving most people through based on the slip. For complicated cases, like PR landing, they send them to secondary. There as well, there wasn't much of a queue - I was second in line. I don't know if it's a recent thing but the process was smooth and super efficient.

Perhaps the queues will be longer when flights from non visa exempt countries arrive.

 

[ImpatientAlligator]

Calgary is same as Houston with the exception of very cold (now it is okay) but you know in Houston I don't go out on summer as it is very hot so it is same for me.
Yesterday I walked the almost 40-50% downtown, visited peace bridge, China Town ,Stephen Avenue, Malls ,jogged In the bow valley trail.
Downtown/pub obviously it is HOU
Nature -CAL
Malls can go both but I think cal is better
Trail-Cal,the trails are amazing
Cleanliness-CAL
Library-Hou
Tap water cal in Houston you can only drink bottleed water
I think Houstonians are more obese
jobs -Hou
restaurants-Hou
Sunshine-This part I hate calgary because here Sunshine is a luxury
quality of food and groceries for the same price-Cal
public transportation-Cal
Service in govt office-Cal
Safety cal
Calgary-Cal
Rent-Almost the same
I didn't see much indians here ,saw very few but they were complaining a lot so didn't talk to them.
Saw a lot of Asians.
One thing that bothered me is drugs, I think is is available in plenty here ( I am talking about coke,meth...not Marijuana)saw plenty of homeless using that in public

With respect to Seattle,

Size - Toronto is massive

Climate - Toronto is south of Seattle. So, summers are hotter and I can feel it. Winters will be a lot colder though - Seattle rarely drops below freezing. Toronto also gets sunshine throughout the year though, unlike Seattle

Malls, pubs, restaurants - Toronto wins hands down coz of size

Cleanliness - Downtown is about the same. Homelessness, drug use is similar to Seattle. Just don't make eye contact and walk through.

Public Transportation, govt office services - Same

Rent, grocery prices - 100USD to 100CAD for similar items

Restaurant, bar prices - 100USD vs 150CAD for similar meals

Nature - Seattle absolutely trumps Toronto. I miss the mountains already

 

[seadrag0n]

Around 4PM Eastern, which is when a lot of flights from the US land. But, the process is pretty fast for Americans/Canadians, I suppose. There are a lot of self serving kiosks with workers directing you and there was virtually no queue for the kiosks. Then, based on the information you enter, you get slip. The primary officers take less than a minute for everyone - waving most people through based on the slip. For complicated cases, like PR landing, they send them to secondary. There as well, there wasn't much of a queue - I was second in line. I don't know if it's a recent thing but the process was smooth and super efficient.

Perhaps the queues will be longer when flights from non visa exempt countries arrive.

Pearson airport is a godforsaken place lol

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Trudeau is shirking Canada’s inflation fight: Scotiabank

One of Canada’s largest commercial banks fired a broadside at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, warning that high levels of federal spending are hurting the fight against inflation.

Economists at Bank of Nova Scotia, in a report to investors published Sunday evening, said that aggressive interest rate increases launched by Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem will unduly punish businesses, given still-elevated levels of fiscal stimulus


Even the banks are coming out against this drama teacher and his slavic history teaching sidekick
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trudeau-is-shirking-canada-s-inflation-fight-scotiabank-1.1781115

 

[Deleted member 994371]

Trudeau is shirking Canada’s inflation fight: Scotiabank

One of Canada’s largest commercial banks fired a broadside at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, warning that high levels of federal spending are hurting the fight against inflation.

Economists at Bank of Nova Scotia, in a report to investors published Sunday evening, said that aggressive interest rate increases launched by Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem will unduly punish businesses, given still-elevated levels of fiscal stimulus


Even the banks are coming out against this drama teacher and his slavic history teaching sidekick
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trudeau-is-shirking-canada-s-inflation-fight-scotiabank-1.1781115

Canadian People: Oh well. At least he is good-looking.

 

[Windsor37]

Good news everyone! I became a permanent resident yesterday.

The landing process at Toronto-Pearson was smooth and surprisingly fast. Went from kiosk to primary immigration officer to secondary (for PR activation) ... all done in 5 minutes total. Since I don't have a permanent address, they didn't take my address and told me fill out the PR card form later.

Then I told the customs checkpoint that I have goods to declare and they sent me to customs screening where they stamped the BSF186/A forms and gave me the blue slip. Again, all done within 5 minutes. I guess it's only the departures which are horrible at Pearson.

The PR card form is the webform right? I also didn't have an address, but wasn't given any form, I assumed that this is just the webform.

 

[raklukr]

Good news everyone! I became a permanent resident yesterday.

The landing process at Toronto-Pearson was smooth and surprisingly fast. Went from kiosk to primary immigration officer to secondary (for PR activation) ... all done in 5 minutes total. Since I don't have a permanent address, they didn't take my address and told me fill out the PR card form later.

Then I told the customs checkpoint that I have goods to declare and they sent me to customs screening where they stamped the BSF186/A forms and gave me the blue slip. Again, all done within 5 minutes. I guess it's only the departures which are horrible at Pearson.

Congratulations, I'll be landing in about 3 weeks in Toronto as well. Glad to hear everything went smoothly.

 

[abqalhamairi]

On the phone with ircc waiting to be connected to an agent for the past 1 hour and 20 mins…
My god!