coollover said:
AoA,
It is great to read your mail on canada visa forum, i appreciate your help for new comers in Canada.
I am planing to land in Jan, 14, kindly tell me what items/things are necessary to bring.
1) Which Airline?
2) how to bring fragile items? Mean Ghatay ka Dibbay etc
3) what documents are necessary to bring from Pakistan i.e. Kids Medical forms etc
4) Gram Kapray?
and also tell which goods/items you think are better to bring from Pakistan.
also share your experiences..
One suggestion, kindly make a general instruction essay/email for new comers.
Mirza Bhai kindly tell me, i want to land in Mississauga and wants to continue my education.
i search that i can study in University of Toronto, Mississauga because in this university they have my area of subject (Molecular Biology).
Can i find my residence near university. i am coming with my family..
regards.
1. Airlines:
Only PIA is direct to Toronto from Pakistan.
Other options are Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad (via Abu Dhabi), Turkish (via Istanbul).
Some people are also going via Bahrain>London>Toronto etc but it involves Air Canada.
I would advise to take PIA if you don't want connecting flight/airport hassles. Fly directly if you can find good fare. Specially with kids the journey can be extra tiring. I've heard that Pakistan to Canada flight services are reasonable with PIA, and seating is ok too. Pretty much every other airline is squeezing more and more seats into their economy class sections, including the great ones.
Otherwise I would advise for Emirates/Etihad/Turkish as they offer good service, and no issues with food as everything is halal.
On air canada you would need to reserve muslim meal (in advance when you book), and they don't offer 2 free bags in luggage. This is with Gulf Air mixed with Air Canada routing via london heathrow.
Also, make sure to avoid traveling via USA. You will need US visa and extra security, etc, so it is not worth it even if it is cheaper. Avoid airlines with very long connecting times.
2. Wrap the items in bubble-wrap, etc and then into clothes, etc and in boxes. But these should only be used for important/fragile things.
Bring a couple of dinner sets if u have family and are social. The ones available in Canada are only 24pc which are only good for 4 people.
Check with airline or cargo companies to book your stuff as cargo, etc.
3. Bring immunization records of all school-going children, have their school certificates, etc. Bring all your degrees, certificates, marksheets, transcripts, etc from Pakistan, as necessary for you and your spouse.
4. Medicine is quite costly for newcomers without insurance. Check the destination province where you will land. Some have a 3-month waiting period before the provincial health coverage starts, so obtain private insurance for initial 3 months if you're staying that long, or for whatever period you're here (if less than 3 months). Otherwise you will be charged a lot of money in case of emergency, etc. Do not take a risk.
5. Some things you can buy here. But in January it is very cold in Canada. Bring jackets, warm hats, gloves, etc to make sure you don't get sick because of the severe cold (depends on the weather). Bring some so that u can survive before buying more locally. Snow shoes you can buy here as suitable for Canadian weather are better available here. If you like wearing leather jackets......bring those from Pak as they're very expensive here (each costs like $300-400 here)
