Traveling Tips
After giving your medicals and receiving clearance, you are 99% sure of getting your Visa. It is now time to get ready for your journey to Canada.
If you are pressed for time, the first thing to do is block/reserve your tickets (this implies making reservation with no financial commitment) for your date of
travel. Allow a couple of weeks after your medicals to get your Visa. You can reserve your ticket via a travel agent or directly with an airlines.
After you receive your Visa, confirm your ticket reservation and pay the money as if you don't your reservation with automatically get cancelled.
While booking the tickets take care about two important things: luggage and food. Be sure to confirm luggage allowances, dimensions, and weight with your airline
to avoid problems at the airport. Most airlines have an allowance 2 bags of 23 kgs each (some offer 2 bags of 32 kgs each) plus 2 carry-on bags weighing less than 7kgs each.
When booking a flight, avoid flights where you have to change airlines in the middle of the journey. A direct flight is best. If airline transfers can't be avoided,
leave at least a 6-8 hrs gap between the scheduled arrival of one flight and the scheduled departure of the connecting flight just in case your flight is delayed.
If possible, try and avoid flying through the U.S. as they have strict immigration and baggage content regulations.
Also note that there are no direct flights to Vancouver or Victoria. Airlines either have flight via China or via Europe. Once you get to Vancouver you can
choose to fly to Victoria or take the ferry across.
Once you land at Vancouver airport, you will be directed to the Immigration counter where you will receive your Study Permit. They will ask you to show your
Passport and Acceptance letter from the University so it is good to keep these documents in your hand luggage where they are easily accesible.
It will take you atleast an hour or so to pass through Immigration depending on the number of students and other commuter traffic.
Once you have cleared Immigration, there is a Pacific Coach Lines(PCL) bus service available with services for you and your luggage from Vancouver airport
to downtown Victoria via the ferry.
Once you board the bus from Vancouver airport, it will take you to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (B.C. Ferries- Tsawwassen). The bus will then go
onto the ferry. You will be asked to vacate the bus and sit in the ferry lounge for the duration of the trip(1 hr 40min)(Your luggage will remain in the bus).
The sea ride will be scenic and very beautiful (remember to have your camera ready!).
Once the ferry reaches Swartz Bay ferry terminal in Victoria, you again board the bus and the bus will drop you at downtown Victoria.
If you can inform us about the approximate time of arrival and give us a call when you reach downtown, we can have some come and receive you and help you get
to your new home.
If you decide to fly to Victoria, you can catch a cab from outside the airport.
Bon Voyage!!
Recommended Travel Agent:
Bandhu Travels Pvt. Ltd. (New Delhi)
Contact: Mr. Sunil Kumar Kushwaha
108 - 1st Floor, New Delhi House,
27 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi
Phone: 23737218/19, 23719636.
E-mail: bandhutravels@rediffmail.com
Airlines*: Air India, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and China Eastern
* While booking international flights make sure to give your preference for veg or non-veg because some airlines carry less vegetarian meals.
This page was last modified on: October 10, 2008. 03:27 pm