Hi folks,
I am pleased to inform that I along with my wife have successfully and safely landed in Calgary Canada on 29th July 2015. I wanted to share my return of experience that soley related to me and you may get benefit out of it.
*Before Arrival:
(1) I was doing job in Saudi Arabia, quite my job in May and came to my home country Pakistan to spend some time with family before departure. I stayed in pakistan for 3 months.
Note: If I would have traveled directly from saudi, I would have saved time and money as in pakistan because I wasted alot of time and money to get demand draft made. I got my pay order made from Habib Qatar exchange company Karachi as none of the banks helped me out for FDD,so consider it a good time taking activity if you are planning to shift your funds to pakistan and later on planning to fly from there. I wouldn't recommend.
(2) I got Polio certificate made from the airport, but no body asked me about it at any location.
(3) I got my NICOP renewed for Rs 10500 ea, changed country to Canada frm Saudi arabia.
(4) I booked KLM flight in 2 month advance for 28th July 2015, one ticket cost me around 125K Rs. I chose the summer time to fly so rate is pretty high.
*Flight Experience:
(1) we flew from Karachi by Itehad airways, as KLM doesn't fly from Pakistan, so Itehad took us to Abu dhabi, we waited there for 3 hrs, then KLM took us Amsterdam (flight duration 7 hrs). The plan economy class was such that in a row it had 2 seat on left, 4 seats in middle, and 2 seats on right. What I and other experienced, people sitting in middle seats faced terrible space problem specially reclining as it was very tight, person like me with normal weight (73 kg), 5-8" height experience problem, however, people sitting on left and right (2 seater) were pretty OK. The same was proved when we flew from amsterdam to Calgary, I got seats on the left side.
Lesson learnt. Be careful for your seat selection, choose the front one if possible.
(2) KLM flight overall was very good, lunch, breakfast and other liquids were given from time to time. It tool 9 hrs from Amsterdam to Calgary.
(3) We were given declaration form in the plan, we were 2 persons, so I filled one card only.
Note: On the declaration card, I asked which address I have to mention, and flight crew confirmed me it should me my home address, if I am coming first time, then it should be my home country address.
*On the day of Arrival in Canada Experience:
(3) When we landed, we went to passport control, it asked basic questions, like is it your first time in Canada, why u guys are coming etc. Then, we were asked to proceed to immigration. Immigration was also pretty quick, we presented our COPRs, passports, IO asked us about address for PR card, so I gave him.
(Plus points): I had printed address, officer was very happy to see that as he said he often find people doing mistakes for writing PR car address.
Information point: Officer confirmed me the day we arrived in canada, our counter starts from there and this is the date we officially become permanent resident.
Note: IO didn't ask me to show proof of funds, however, he asked me how much cash/ DD you are carrying. He didn't ask me to show. He trusted what I said.
(3) After immigration, we went to collect luggage, after then we headed to Customs, here come the strange part.
(Plus point): I had Goods accompanying and good to follow form filed along with list of items attached. Once officer saw it, he was very happy as I saved time and effort for him and myself.
Lesson learnt: I had take pictures of my jewelries (Gold), on each picture I did mention the weight, and approx price. But, officer did not stamped my pictures, and he didn't stamped my Goods accompanying form. As per him, he mentioned, "you can bring as much as possible, he will not apply tax, and he will not put his stamp on it as he is not jeweler or expert, so he suggested to to go market and get appraisal done, if you don't do that and suppose if you fly out of canada with all this jewelry when next time you come back, I am going to apply tax on it". I was surprised as I mentioned him about other people doing this stuff, but he didn't accepted it, so I didn't argued with him and accepted what he said.
(3) Officer did sign and stamped my Goods to follow list and Goods to follow form, he pasted a computerized number on my list and said I can collect my goods to follow by showing it.
(4) Officer gave me a form and asked me, how much Cash I have, and how much DD I have. I told him and he trusted me, and wrote it on the form, he didn't ask me to show cash or DD.
*After Arrival:
(1) I got an apartment deal for 1 month from a person who was my friend's friend, apartment was in Calgary down town, 5 Avenue, 8th street SW. I opted it for initial one month just to sort out official things and it seems it is really helpful. I will explain later.I will start finding apartment after couple of days.
(2) Next days, I went to Harry Hays Service Canada, and SIN number for myself and my wife, they asked me the address and I have them the same address which I have for PR card.
(3) I got opened account in TD, guys there are many deals in it, and person can choose as per his budget and requirement. I opened All inclusive account for me and my wife, on one account they mentioned 6 month free of charge and on second account,they said to provide galaxy note but I have to maintain 5000 $ else 29.5 $ will be deducted every month. So, be careful.
(4) I explored alot of celluar networks, the best and expensive are Tellus, Bell, but their subsidaries are equally good like FIDO and Virgin. I chose Virgin as it was meeting for requirement i.e. 40$ a month, 500 MB and 500 minutes.
Lesson learnt: Fido was very good, but they don't give it to newcomers, as they need second photo ID like Canadian driving license which we don;t have so forget about it.
*Other important notes:
(1) All electronic items here are 120 V, flat thin pin, so you must bring adapter for hooking up.
(2) I had Iphone 5S, and Galaxy S4. I used it in all guld countries, bahrain, saudi, dubai, qatar and in pakistan, so both are working here. This proved me that my phones were unlocked, so before buying any sim, you need to ensure this too.
(3) There is no water arrangement in wahsrooms, like moslm shower etc, so bring lottas... you know what I meant. smile emoticon
(4) weather is very good here, in the night is goes some where 8-10 deg C and in day it is 20 deg C, so you can plan your clothes accordingly.
Note: In Canada, during first week of evey month, there comes a long weekend, where either friday is off or monday is off, so now I have a long weeked where monday is off, All official offices are closed and you can chill out.
(5) The very good part I liked is C train in Calgary, and specially where I am staying, from 8th street, 7th Avenu till Center Hall, you can ride train free of cost, and I am using it, it;s excellent.
(6) I could't register myself for health insurance due to long weekend, and there is some little issue I came to know like I don't have officially a housing contract and they need my own housing contract, so I am still exploring how to get this issue resolved, so if any housing you take it has to be officially signed of document.
(7) For other shopping stuff, you can go to Safeway, wallmart, and for cheap an quick items you can go to Dollarama.
Hope that would help. Needed best wishes and prayers...
I would like to thanks for all forum members here as this forum was really helpful in my journey. Good luck to all.
