Currency

Let’s cover a little about currencies. It is very important that you have enough cash at hand for any kind for emergency. Then you would also need cash once you reach Canada. I used my travel currency card everywhere. I also opened a bank account a week after I arrived in Canada (I had opened another account while I was still in India). Once I had the local accounts, I withdrew all the money from my currency card and transferred it to my local account.  

Here is the break-up of how much you should ideally carry.

    1.       Rs.1000-3000 cash and a credit card if possible 

    2.       $500-$1000 cash. (Have around $50-$100 USD and rest in CAD. USD is more widely accepted in Europe)

    3.       THE MOST IMPORTANT thing of all- travel currency card. This is one of the most convenient things around. This is a prepaid card (SBI Vishwa Yatra, AXIS Thomas Cook travel card etc). You can load it with currency in India use it as a normal debit card in Canada. I carried all my money (for at least the next four months) in this form. You can swipe these cards (no extra charge) in Canada like a normal debit/credit card and withdraw cash at an ATM ($1-$2 charge per transaction). So I used this method to transfer money from India to Canada. Whenever, I am in need of money, my parents load money into this card and I get the money in my card within a day. This is the best method to transfer money because if you do a normal wire transfer, you are charged Rs.500-800 in transaction charges. This is much more convenient.

    4.       You can also open a Canadian Bank account while you are in India. Oh yes, I did that too. Scotia bank has a start right program. They open an account in Canada for you once you give them all the documents. (You would need your VISA ready for opening the account though). You have to get in touch with the partner bank for that. The partner bank in India is Kotak Mahindra. They open the account in 15-20 days. You can collect your student (debit and credit card) from the branch, once you land in Canada.

Things to Carry

This is no easy task. It is exciting to start packing, but trust me the weight restrictions get on your nerve once you start running out of capacity. At one point I had to throw stuff out to make sure my luggage is not over weight.

Most carriers allow 2 pieces (23kg each) of luggage. Apart from that you can carry a cabin luggage (8kg) + a laptop bag + small handbag (books)/purse (for girls).

Make sure you weight your luggage while packing. Carrying extra luggage is very expensive. You might end up paying anywhere from $50 to $100 for carrying 4-5kgs extra (rates are different from airline to airline). Make sure you call you airline in advance to confirm the luggage restrictions. Also, make sure you avail the extra piece of luggage offered to students travelling to North America.

So let’s let started with the list.

1.       Pressure cooker, small 2-3 litres  (this can be a life saver, trust me, you won’t regret it)

2.       Small frying pan with spatula

3.       Basic cutlery (plate, spoon, fork, cutting knife)

4.       International adapter. Once you are out of India, your devices would need an adapter to connect to the power source. There are many adapters in the market which support multiple countries (it has various different types of pins). You will have a layover in Europe also. So make sure you take a multi-country adapter. Ebay is the best place to hunt for one.

5.       Basic medicine (along with prescriptions). You do not get medicine here over the counter. Make sure you carry basic medications for cough, cold, fever, indigestion, pain-relief etc.

6.       Warm jacket (to see you through fall). You would still have to buy a snow jacket once winter approaches. But buy those here. You won’t get it in India, and even if you get it will not be enough.

7.       Thermal wear (upper and lowers). It gets really cold in winter. 2012 had a very mild winter, but 2013 has been very cold. There have been a couple of snow days (15-30 cm of snow) so far. It March now, and temperatures are still ranging between -3 to -10. It’s even colder with the wind chill.

8.       Woollen wear, scarves, woollen caps, suits (I am an MBA student, so at least 2 suits are a must)

9.       Leather shoes (leather items are kind of expensive). Do not bring too many sports shoes; you can wear them only in summer-fall. (MBA students have to dress in business casuals all week, so there is no scope of wearing sports shoes.)

10.   Neckties

11.   Deodorants (believe me or not the only brands of deos you will find here are Axe and Adidas). What you mostly get here in that section is roll-on deos. I hate those!!

12.   Scientific calculator (if you are a student). I had 3 at home and it never occurred to me that I would need one here.

13.   Masala. Now I cook here every day and carrying masala is not a necessity, you do get it here, but not everywhere. So get a few packets for your initial days here.

14.   Currency. Around Rs.1000-2000 for emergency. Having a few credit cards help a lot. I will carry an entire section talking about currencies later.

15.   Small Umbrella (there were couple of rainy days in fall). The umbrellas you get here are very fragile. Get a small one if you have enough space.

16.   Bed sheets, pillow covers (yes, you get everything here in Canada but it’s expensive.) $15-$20 for a single bed sheet and pillow cover. Just imagine!!! Again, get a few if you have space.

Pre-Application Medical Examination for Canada Study Permit

• Students applying to Canadian Universities may have their medical examination before submitting their Study Permit application by visiting one of the Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) in India.Once you have submitted your application, you may not complete a medical examination until requested by the Visa Office to do so.
• This not mandatory prior to submission of your application. However, doing so may result in faster processing. Medical results are valid for one year. Do not undergo a subsequent medical examination if you had one in the last year.
• After completion of your medical examination, the DMP will provide you with one copy of your medical examination form. This form must be submitted together with your Study Permit application.
• PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION UNTIL ONE WEEK AFTER YOUR MEDICAL EXAMINATION IS COMPLETED.



When visiting the DMP you must go with the following documents:

• 5 passport pictures
• Your original passport
• A photocopy of your passport bio data page
• Your letter of acceptance from a Canadian University
• Your complete residential address, including district and state. Your current address must be clearly written on the back of the copy of your passport bio data page. The address indicated must be your  residential address, not your mailing address, and  not the address of your agent or representative. This address will determine  where your medical results will be sent, to our office in Delhi or in Chandigarh.