Canada

Living in Canada

Traditions & Culture:Throughout Canada’s history, its culture has been influenced by European culture and traditions, especially British and French, and by its own indigenous cultures. Over time, elements of the cultures of Canada’s immigrant populations have become incorporated into mainstream Canadian culture. The culture of Canada is a term that embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, humour, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Canada and Canadians.

Food:The Most ‘Canadian’ Foods Include Bacon, Poutine And Maple Syrup. The national dish of Canada is a food called poutine, which is a high-calorie creation that consists of fries, cheddar cheese curds and gravy. The Canadian dish was originally seen in the province of Quebec, but can be found all around Canada and has spread to the United Kingdom and United States.

Safety: Canada is a friendly, safe country with a high standard of living. Low crime rates, great student health benefits, and universities focused on student security and health make studying in Canada a good choice for anyone who’s uneasy about personal safety while abroad. The Global Peace Index ranks Canada among its top 10 safest countries in the world to visit.

Welfare:

Health: Relative to other countries, medical insurance in Canada is inexpensive yet the services that Canadian hospitals provide are among some of the most advanced and accessible in the world.

Transport: Using the general-purpose public transport is the most common means of student transport, in Canada. Below are few details:

Air

Due to Canada’s large size, people often travel between major cities by airplane. All main cities have airports with regularly scheduled flights to and from many places.

Rail

Canada’s rail network runs across the country, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the east to Vancouver and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, in the west. Trains in Canada are safe and comfortable. It is often cheaper to buy train tickets in advance.

Bus

Catching a bus can be the cheapest way of travelling between cities. It is often the only way of getting to smaller towns if you are not driving a car. Remember that bus travel can be very long due to the great distances involved.

Ferry

In coastal areas of Canada such as British Columbia and the Atlantic region, ferry boats are a common way to travel. Many ferries transport both passengers and vehicles.

Car

Canada has a large network of highways, making long distance travel by car possible between most destinations.

Visa Process

STUDY PERMIT

• Student visa is called as ‘Study Permit’
• Study Permit is issued by CIC (Citizenship & Immigration Canada)
• For courses less than 6 months Study Permit is not required
• Study permit is for course duration + 90 days
• As a student there are 3 different visa checklist/categories
  1. SPP Category
  2. General Category
  3. University Category

Dependents information: Your spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit if:

• you are a full-time student at:
• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) or
• a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees
• you have a valid study permit

Immigration on Arrival: Your passport will be checked when you arrive at a Canadian Airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.

How to Apply: The Alpine India Experts will help you.

Planning & Housing:

1. Student Residence – Dormitories & Townhouses Some schools provide student residence on-campus or nearby the campus. Dormitories are usually larger buildings housing many students, while townhouses are detached, housing usually three to six students

2. Off-Campus Shared Apartment or Condominium Off-campus shared apartments provide students with a single room, in a living space with one or more other roommates. Like townhomes they most often contain a single occupancy bedroom or living space and have a shared kitchen, bathroom, dining, and living room area.

3. Host Family/HomestayLiving with a host family can provide you with a sense of home and security as you start your new life in Canada. Host families normally provide a private, single-occupancy room, and serve one – three meals per day and internet access.

4. Furnished or Unfurnished Apartment Rentals There are many secure ways to find a temporary furnished apartment rental before your arrival in Canada by using websites such as Airbnb, Craigslist, HouseTrip or Wimdu. These apartments are normally furnished, private rentals. Be sure to read the reviews of each rental and check the feedback from other guests who have previously stayed there.

Restricted items to bring to CANADA:

• live birds and hatching eggs
• eggs, yolks, egg whites
• poultry meat (other than fully cooked, canned, commercially sterile meat products)
• raw pet foods containing poultry products
• feathers
• poultry manure and litter
• laboratory material containing poultry products/by-products and etc.

Welcome week:Welcome Week is your opportunity to make friends, learn more about studying at the university and living in the country. You will be invited to attend a number of events throughout Welcome Week – some of which are optional and others compulsory.

Travel to your institution:If you are staying near the university, there is shuttle service available. Else, you may chose to travel by trains or buses.

Opening a bank account:In order to open a Canadian bank account, you will need two documents: one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. This applies both in branch and online. Proving your identity is simple. You just need your passport.