Hi All,
I landed on 29th June 2010 at Pearson International airport at 4.30 pm. Here is my experience & observation during journey from Ahmedabad to Toronto. I booked ticket in Air India AI 131 28th June 2010, which goes from Ahmedabad to BOM and BOM to London; from London, I had a connecting flight with ~6hrs stop. From Ahmedabad flight was delayed by 40 mins. During transit @ Bombay, I was fortunate to get a closure look of yuvaraj singh (Indian cricketer). From Bombay to London (AI131) was again delayed by 1.5 hrs, boarded flight at 2.30 a.m. (local), and reached London at 7.45 a.m. (Local). There have to stay for ~06 hrs as flights time was 1.15 pm during this period no facility provided by air-India. About service of Air India, I cannot say much because I do not have any experience of any Int'l flights, but comparing with domestic flights in India service was not good as Kingfisher gives more facility then Air India (Int'l flight).
From London flight, AI187 was on time and reached Toronto at 4.25 p.m. This time in flight wine, soft drink served and lunch.
Now the real things – Landing formality – At the point of entry in airport officers were checking all persons passport, PR card. Lady Officer asked me to show passport and just checking my face with picture in passport and by looking at visa stamp, she said OK go. Then I went to CBSA counter – there are many counters so you can go anywhere. I again went to woman Officer, she took my passport, COPR, and the form given in flight (actually in my flight they were not having enough forms on board so they arranged at Canada airport and when we were coming out from the flight at that time they gave the form). She asked me how many $ I am carrying and then she filled in the amount. After that, she told me to go in immigration section. I went to Officer and he asked me few question like what kind of job you will do here, Is there any change in my relationship after getting visa, then he asked me about POF and address and told me to show POF.. then he told me to sign on COPR and said you will get PR card in 4 to 6 weeks time. After that, I got few broachers and bag. This ends the formality of Immigration and I went to collect my baggage again the same problem you need $2 for trolley i got from the man who stands there or you can ask to a person who is giving the trolley he can arrange the change for you. After collecting baggage, I went to customs -- where we need to get the sign on goods to follow list. I prepared two docs accompanying and goods to follow (2 copies each). There was line for checking so one officer called me at his desk and asked to show papers and passport. After that he asked me to show proof of fund but when he show that i have already shown this to one of the officer then he said ok and asked about items list. I gave both the list ... he took only goods to follow list and checked and he was amazed and asked from where you got this information to keep snaps and excel sheet , he was asking that is this information available on cic.gc.ca?? I said no this is available in canadavisa.com forum where people exchange their experience about immigration matters. He stamped all my papers and gave me one copy back. Finally, I said thank you and he smiled... this ends the landing procedure day 29th June 2010.
30th June 2010
I went to Canada service centre – Scarborough and got the SIN number in 10 mins (I already had filled SIN form and required docs (COPR and Passport)) and officer told me to get this in 10 days. Visited dollarama store where most of the items are available between $1 and $2. People having low fund or want to save some money should buy product from this store and what I have seen is they are available at various places.
Planning to take Fido prepaid card (no contract) because I brought my GSM mobile from India and only Fido is in GSM technology (as far as I know).
Also visited park (Scarborough) at night where all residents of this area comes for playing different games like ice skating, swimming, basket ball etc.
1st July 2010
Now long weekend is there so will start searching job from Monday... meanwhile planning to open account with RBC. Any suggestion on this front is highly appreciated.
I am from IT field and can do job either in Software development or in Network field. So if any kind of help in this matter is highly appreciated.
Thanks and will update you about Job hunting experience.
Rupesh
