My landing experience at Toronto (YYZ)

[nivek]

.....
Bank Account:

Had opened up an account with Scotiabank from India itself (startright program) but decided to move ahead with TD.

Setup an appointment (their website allows to setup appointments) and the actual formalities took about 30 mins. They have a "new to Canada" package - quite similar to offerings by the other banks. Also, received a $1000 unsecured credit card along with a debit card.

Will repeat this exercise (for my wife) next week with the same bank and same person. The entire process was a breeze. He recommended that I order the personalised cheques online from my account as the branch can only give out generic ones.

Deposited all my cash (incl cash withdrawn from travel card) in the self banking machine and received all receipts with account balances updated immediately.

Thanks for the very informative post... you had mentioned about opening an account in Scotiabank from India. I was also planning to go for the same approach but you mentioned that you opened another account in TD. So, I am a bit confused and had the following doubts:-

1) Why did you change your account from Scotiabank to TD once you reached Canada?
2) In the Scotiabank account, did you transfer any money before reaching Canada?

 

[RookieMistake]

Thanks for the very informative post... you had mentioned about opening an account in Scotiabank from India. I was also planning to go for the same approach but you mentioned that you opened another account in TD. So, I am a bit confused and had the following doubts:-

1) Why did you change your account from Scotiabank to TD once you reached Canada?
2) In the Scotiabank account, did you transfer any money before reaching Canada?

Hi,
1) No real "reason" actually - TD was nearby (where I was staying) and I'd read some good/heard things about TD on Reddit & from locals. Not that I heard anything bad about Scotia. They're all good IMHO - and as always with these things YMMV.
2) No I did not. I transferred all money after opening the TD account. I used ICICI Money2World to transfer my funds online directly from my ICICI account to TD Account. It was all online, hassle free and took about 1 working day for the balance to show up on TD.
I don't rem the exact charges but I'm sure you can find the details online on ICICI and TD's account. ICICI also maintains (as do all banks AFAIK) a list of its forex xhcg rates updated daily after market closes.

I carried couple'o AXIS Travel Cards too - I withdrew all of it in one shot (you're charged each time you withdraw from an ATM but not for POS or online tx) at TD's ATM and deposited it directly in the TD's self bank green machines. Balances were reflected immediately.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gab123]

Very helpful information..Thanks!
You had a job before landing or you are searching now?

 

[dora115]

Hi,
1) No real "reason" actually - TD was nearby (where I was staying) and I'd read some good/heard things about TD on Reddit & from locals. Not that I heard anything bad about Scotia. They're all good IMHO - and as always with these things YMMV.
2) No I did not. I transferred all money after opening the TD account. I used ICICI Money2World to transfer my funds online directly from my ICICI account to TD Account. It was all online, hassle free and took about 1 working day for the balance to show up on TD.
I don't rem the exact charges but I'm sure you can find the details online on ICICI and TD's account. ICICI also maintains (as do all banks AFAIK) a list of its forex xhcg rates updated daily after market closes.

I carried couple'o AXIS Travel Cards too - I withdrew all of it in one shot (you're charged each time you withdraw from an ATM but not for POS or online tx) at TD's ATM and deposited it directly in the TD's self bank green machines. Balances were reflected immediately.

Hope this helps.

Hi @RookieMistake were you able to open a bank account without address proof, I recently read someone was denied opening a Scotiabank account without address proof.

 

[RookieMistake]

Hi @RookieMistake were you able to open a bank account without address proof, I recently read someone was denied opening a Scotiabank account without address proof.

Hey Dora,

Yes I was able to without any proof - they din't ask me anything - I just dictated and they typed it in. No questions asked.
This was TD btw have no exp with other banks.

 

[email.6633]

but keep in mind that you have to give an address in bank. All the debit/creditcards are sent via mail to the address you give.

 

[dora115]

Hey Dora,

Yes I was able to without any proof - they din't ask me anything - I just dictated and they typed it in. No questions asked.
This was TD btw have no exp with other banks.

but keep in mind that you have to give an address in bank. All the debit/creditcards are sent via mail to the address you give.

Thanks

 

[cypher0ps]

I landed in YYZ. The border officer didn't hand back to me a copy of the COPR. I asked him where to go next and he pointed to the exit door. Well, I didn't know I was supposed to insist on having my copy back.
Now, I am having issues processing my SIN and other things because I don't have the COPR

 

[PMV]

Thank you @RookieMistake for this highly informative post.

I have a question regarding goods to carry and goods to follow lists. So I’m aware I have to list and declare all articles that I’m going to carry and also those that I will bring in at a later date.

However, how does one declare assets in India such as properties and PPF etc? I mean if I am to sell my property after X amount of years and would like to transfer the money from sale to canada, will canada tax me on it? and if so, then can I avoid this by declaring all my assets along with estimated sale projections, when I land? I vaguely remember a term called “certificate of value”.

Anyone, please help me out. Big thanks in advance.

 

[RookieMistake]

I landed in YYZ. The border officer didn't hand back to me a copy of the COPR. I asked him where to go next and he pointed to the exit door. Well, I didn't know I was supposed to insist on having my copy back.
Now, I am having issues processing my SIN and other things because I don't have the COPR

How is that even possible? You should get in touch with CIC - AFAIK the CoPR is yours to keep legally. I don't know what that officer was thinking.
Get in touch with CIC as soon as possible. That CoPR is your only official record of landing.

I maybe wrong but this is unheard of, I've never heard it.

 

[Jakev]

Thank you @RookieMistake for this highly informative post.

I have a question regarding goods to carry and goods to follow lists. So I’m aware I have to list and declare all articles that I’m going to carry and also those that I will bring in at a later date.

However, how does one declare assets in India such as properties and PPF etc? I mean if I am to sell my property after X amount of years and would like to transfer the money from sale to canada, will canada tax me on it? and if so, then can I avoid this by declaring all my assets along with estimated sale projections, when I land? I vaguely remember a term called “certificate of value”.

Anyone, please help me out. Big thanks in advance.

No hassles when you land and declare upfront, any incoming assets/pecuniary value etc

However, going forward then the 183 day rule applies: this means should you stay in Canada for over 180 days, and receive this amount from sale of your property you will be taxed as per Canadian Tax laws. There are several ways to reduce your tax liability, and suggest you to contact a certified tax advisor, if possible.

Remember this: You need to file taxes in Canada from Year 1 onward even if your income is zero - this helps you claim benefits, document your residency obligations etc.

On a related note, are you the designer who was active on the NDVO Whatsapp group?

 

[aziz.mechanical.eng]

Thanks for all the info @RookieMistake , it is extremely helpful! I am planning to land in Canada myself and was always wondering how the actual process would take place. Hope you settle down quickly and enjoy life in Canada.

 

[RookieMistake]

Very helpful information..Thanks!
You had a job before landing or you are searching now?

Hey,

No I din't have any offers. Just packed up and left
For now enjoying the Snow, Christmas, markets and new years. Will resume the challenges and miseries of job hunting in 2018.

Cheers,

Rookie

 

[Umairalii]

Thanks for the excellent Post RookieMistake!

I got to know from some people that they carried printed pictures of the items (goods to follow) along with the BSF-186, BSF 186-A forms. Is that necessary ? as i can't find you mentioned any such thing.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Thanks for the excellent Post RookieMistake!

I got to know from some people that they carried printed pictures of the items (goods to follow) along with the BSF-186, BSF 186-A forms. Is that necessary ? as i can't find you mentioned any such thing.

Only photos of jewelry are required. Also few people from USA carry copy of car title.