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Joining the Toronto-FriendsCircle@googlegroups.com

Dear all,

The administrator has informed that there r quite many Invite Requests to join our group (I got some PMs as well) & he wanted our referrals. Kindly note the rules of joining:

"This google group is a Private Club of existing members who have known each other from Dubai. For New Joiners, u should have attended at least one of our meetings, for each of us to know u personally".

See u guys in the next meet...

Qorax
 
sanjn said:
Hi Guys,

I'm planning to land mid Aug from Dubai and am planning on carrying the POF in TCs.

Is this ok or will I end up loosing a lot when encashed etc? Any suggestions on the best way to do this?

Are Thomas cook TC cheaper/ more convenient or should I opt for for a bank's TCs?

Would appreciate any experiences / suggestions.

Thanks & cheers,
Sanjn

Guys,

Sifarsen has advised correctly about TCs vs. Drafts. From the UAE its abvisable to carry some Cash & the rest in Bank Drafts. Why?
1. TCs r difficult to obtain there.
2. Only Banks & Thomas Cook r dealing with it.
3. U pay additional charges to obtain them.
4. After landing, most estb r yet charging conversion rates/handling fees.

IMHO rather than obtaining the Cash/Drafts from Banks I'd advise u to obtain it from Exchanges. 'Coz, Exchange Houses will offer u better rates than Banks. For both, Cash as well as Draft.

Now, as Drafts r stopped by most Exchanges u can approach Al Fardan Exchange, the only Exchange House yet offering Forex Drafts (as per till date I moved from Dubai).

If u so desire, u can meet Mr. Arshad, the Asst. Branch Manager of Al Fardan Exchange, Nasser Square Branch, Deira-Dubai, he's known to me & will offer u better rates of the day than then market price. And charge AED5 per draft only.

Qorax
 
qorax said:
Joining the Toronto-FriendsCircle @ googlegroups.com

Dear all,

The administrator has informed that there r quite many Invite Requests to join our group (I got some PMs as well) & he wanted our referrals. Kindly note the rules of joining:

"This google group is a Private Club of existing members who have known each other from Dubai. For New Joiners, u should have attended at least one of our meetings, for each of us to know u personally".
Captain, I am not in toronto right now...I am back in abu dhabi..I hope u can vouch for me..we missed an opurtunity to meet at abu dhabi, I hope u remember that..I have sent a request for joining the group..Please advise.

See u guys in the next meet...

Qorax
 
Sifarsen & Qorax,

Thanks for the info.
@qorax, I'll certainly chk out Mr.Arshad.. I too deal with Al Fardan exclusively, but at J.Ali.

A doubt .. i'll be there only for a couple of weeks, then am planning to return and put my papers here etc (we have a 3 month notice period!) .. and come finally in feb. So if I carry a draft, I'll need to open a bnk a/c etc right away rather than when I'm back in feb, isn't it? Maybe that's a good idea, considering that I can then stop using my uae credit cards and close them early. Do you see any -ves in this? I was initially planning to bring the money back, hence the choice of TCs.

Thanks & cheers,
Sanjn
 
sanjn said:
Sifarsen & Qorax,

Thanks for the info.
@ qorax, I'll certainly chk out Mr.Arshad.. I too deal with Al Fardan exclusively, but at J.Ali.

A doubt .. i'll be there only for a couple of weeks, then am planning to return and put my papers here etc (we have a 3 month notice period!) .. and come finally in feb. So if I carry a draft, I'll need to open a bnk a/c etc right away rather than when I'm back in feb, isn't it? Maybe that's a good idea, considering that I can then stop using my uae credit cards and close them early. Do you see any -ves in this? I was initially planning to bring the money back, hence the choice of TCs.

Thanks & cheers,
Sanjn
Thats a good idea,I also did the same thing...i was there in toronto for 2 weeks starting 4th june. Opened an acount with TD,got the draft encashed in my new account.Also applied for a secured credit card, so that when I go next I will have a credit history. You can also do the same...let me know if u have any ques..good luck
 
And I thought it was America Born Confused Desi.... :)[


quote author=qorax link=topic=46132.msg349631#msg349631 date=1279032702]
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
[/quote]
 
WaitingForPR_09 said:
And I thought it was America Born Confused Desi.... :)[


quote author=qorax link=topic=46132.msg349631#msg349631 date=1279032702]
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Wasn't it ABCD?
 
Capt Sir, It was actually ADCB...but when it read this at a glance, I read it as ABCD. In the USA it very common phrase. Just mentioned it because I could not resist from laughing on myself.

qorax said:
Wasn't it ABCD?
 
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/toronto-gathering-t49495.0.html

Hey there! I didn't realise there was already a group going for meeting up! I've suggested Aug 22 or 29th in Toronto to meet if anyone is interested please check it out and let me know what date works best!

I'm not a landed immigrant but am a regular on the forum while I wait for my husband to join me in Canada :)

Anyways, might be nice to share some stories face to face so please check out the above link!

Best wishes all
 
Toronto-FriendsCircle : Next Meet

Date: 14-8-2010 (Saturday)
Time: 11.30 hrs.
Venue: Yorkdale Mall, Food Court
Theme: Family Get-Together over Lunch*
Admission: Existing Group; New Joiners Welcome
*Kids More than Welcome

Interested forum members plz post your willingness. Whereinafter, we can touch-base thru PM for further details.

Qorax
 
qorax said:
Toronto-FriendsCircle : Next Meet

Date: 14-8-2010 (Saturday)
Time: 11.30 hrs.
Venue: Yorkdale Mall, Food Court
Theme: Family Get-Together over Lunch*
Admission: Existing Group; New Joiners Welcome
*Kids More than Welcome

Interested forum members plz post your willingness. Whereinafter, we can touch-base thru PM for further details.

Qorax

3401 DUFFERIN ST, Toronto or somewhere else.
 
wow guys this is simply awesome... thanks to the starter of this thread and all those who have extended their co-operation... m planning to land in october.. hope to c u guys soon

Cheers
 
qorax said:
Toronto-FriendsCircle : Next Meet

Date: 14-8-2010 (Saturday)
Time: 11.30 hrs.
Venue: Yorkdale Mall, Food Court
Theme: Family Get-Together over Lunch*
Admission: Existing Group; New Joiners Welcome
*Kids More than Welcome

Interested forum members plz post your willingness. Whereinafter, we can touch-base thru PM for further details.

Qorax

I will be landing in December and will definately join these meetings. Thanks for such a nice initiative which can gather us all from Dubai to Toronto...