Hi Guys,
I am back from Alberta using AVR. Everything worked really good. Me and my spouse landed in middle of the night last week. Went thru' three officers. First one checked our paperwork and directed us to second one. Second again confirmed everything, and gave us the last page of CORP document and welcomed us to canada. Third one stamped our list of accompanying goods and lists of goods to follow. One of each form, he kept it with him and another one gave us as proof. While exiting gave our declaration cards to the officer at the gate. Everybody was soo nice and polite. Approximately 30 mins together from landing to entering in Canada.
Then went to hotel stayed there for 3 days. Second day morning, went to SIN office (got SIN immediately on paper and card will come later in the post), then went to health card office. Finished 2 important tasks. Then went to open the bank account. We had all money in form of traveler's check, thinking that it will get immediately converted to Canadian currency when we will go to the bank. But we were wrong. Traveler's checks are from american express and it will take 1 month to clear out (21 business days). So we have money in account but of no use till next one month. Good a thing that our friend is there, from whom we borrowed the Canadian currency. My advice: dont take travelers check. Take only cash.
Then rented a bachelor apartment for $800.00 (without lease) for my spouse who stayed back. Where lady asked us to provide proof of income or bank statement and $525.00 (security deposit and application fees)
I left for USA. Used AVR without any hassle except one....the immigration officer was very rude. He was may be thinking that he is offering some thing out of his pocket. But, who cares as long as everything worked out. Immigration clearance office for USA is located on the Canadian airport itself. So, custom/immigration clearance was done at the Canadian Airport itself. So, when landed in USA, just headed straight to exit door.
One big difference between americans and canadians. Americans: rude, moody and crazy people. Canadians: Everybody is with smiling faces, polite and friendly.
God's grace We dint apply for Green card of USA.
Thanks all for your great support to making our journey so nice to the stage of freedom. And good luck to you all and see you all in Canada.
Bye Bye.
Alvida
The way you defined Americans (Moody, rude…..) may be your opinion but actually you never fall in love with United States. You got to have redness in eyes and memoirs of those Irish, Jews, Asians, Middle Eastern and others who came in 18th and 19th century and built Capital, Monument, St Patrick Churches, streets, bridges, clock towers and highways. You haven’t loved the statue of liberty which is not the symbol of Monarch, power or wealth BUT a lady who welcomes the people such as you. Read the bottom of statue of liberty with quotes like “Bring me your poor and tired…..” and “Keep your ancient land…….” You haven’t loved the unique history and its Association with Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg. You haven’t learnt about the first families of lee, Madison and Jefferson. You haven’t kept the American soil in your heart and farms of Iowa and Wisconsin in your subconscious mind. You haven’t thought about the Mount Vernon and felt a home away from home. You spent 99% of your time in saving money at Patel Brothers and Indian Grocery stores, collecting coupons for Safeway, listening bollywood songs and thinking 24 hours about Bill rate, Dice.com, Technical recruiter, W2 Based payment, Corp_Corp agreement, percentage based split and sulekha.com.
By the way Statue of liberty quotes never says that “Bring me your reddy, golapatti, srinupatti, Gupta, Patel, bansal with 32 page resume” It only talks about the poor and tired.
That’s why you can not love and understand America, its people, its value, its constitution.
