Accomodation hunt started

Its just been a few days since I got the admit and had not started thinking anything other than my admit until one of the fellow Queen's admit told that there are just 12 rooms in the hostel for MBA students which are decided through a lottery!
So the process is on now! Looking for Kingston area. Using his research to decide on the accommodation!

Visa application links

Canadian Visa applications for applicants outside Chandigarh and Delhi can be processed through VFS who have officially tied up with Canadian Embassy.

VFS: http://www.vfs-canada.co.in

Visa application details: http://www.vfs-canada.co.in/visaapplication.html
Visa photo specifications: http://www.vfs-canada.co.in/photospecifications.html

Other Canadian Visa application sites: http://geo.international.gc.ca/asia/new-delhi/menu-en.asp

DHL University Express Page has some tips for Visa @ http://dhluniversityexpress.com/visas.asp

Canadian Visa photo clicked

Ah! I am one step closer to the Visa by getting the Visa photograph clicked.
Will get it tomorrow. Let's see how it comes.

Queen's Official Offer Letter Packet received

I received the Queen's official offer letter packet by Fedex.
It contains

• Official offer letter on the Queen's School of Business letter head personally signed by BW.
  
• Personal Data form
• Details of the Study Admit process
• Details of the research being done at Queens

I have to get the Personal Data form typed and send it back with CAD$2000 as initial deposit.

Visa Counselor's advice

I talked to one of the Visa Counselor at VFS Bangalore and got the following information

• Liquid Cash doesn't only mean cash in your bank account, but also includes anything which can be readily converted to cash. This includes Mutual Funds, Insurance.
• What other than Cash in bank account can be used to show finance for Visa application? Apart from Liquid cash Insurance, Mutual Funds, Fixed Deposits, Provident Funds can be used for showing the finances for the Visa Application.
• You don't really need the money from the Bank Loan for the Visa Application. The sanction letter is enough to prove your financial worth.
• When I told her that I will be getting my Provident Fund encashed, so she advised me not to do that. Doing this would make me questionable on the huge amount of fund deposits in my bank accounts.
• She advised me to get the photos(3) required for Visa of the proper specifications: 1.5 inches by 2 inches. (more info about the photo specifications available at http://www.vfs-canada.co.in/photospecifications.html
• What about getting a loan with a US Cosigner? (I asked this question as I had heard that Visa can be rejected if you have a US loan with a US-Cosigner) It is not easy to get such a loan. Further you will make your Visa application complex. You can go for a US sponsorer though
• Difference between Co-signer and sponsorer? Co-signer will take the entire responsibility of your loan amount, if it is not repaid. A sponsorer can undertake your education expenses with what he already has.
  

VFS (http://www.vfs-canada.co.in) has visa counseling facilities for a charge of Rs 2500 where they help you collect your papers for Visa and counsel you for any help for Visa applications.

ISIC Card

I found a ISIC Card information from STIC Travel centre. There are some discounts on air fares etc.
Information is available at http://isicweb.net/
In case one has sent his international couriers by DHL University Express, he might have got this card. One needs to send >=3 University applications to get this card free. Details at http://dhluniversityexpress.com/abt.asp

Kingston Info

Searching for Information on Kingston found interesting information

• Kingston is the birth place of famous pop singer Bryan Adams
• Singer Avril Lavigne, from nearby Napanee, began her career after gaining notice singing at a Kingston fair and bookstore.
• The first winner of the television series Canadian Idol was Kingston native Ryan Malcolm.
• Kingston was the home of Canada's first Prime Minister,Sir John A. Macdonald.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston,_Ontario