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Study In Australia For Indian Students

Study In Australia For Indian Students: Latest Travel Update

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Study In Australia For Indian Students: Latest Travel Update

Study In Australia For Indian Students

Study in Australia for Indian students is now finally possible with the arrival of some good news. 

Australia continues to take further steps to safely reopen its borders, with additional changes coming into effect on 1 December. 

As per the official media statement, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that from 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can come to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. He further added that eligible visa holders include skilled and graduates, international students, as well as humanitarian, working holidaymaker and provisional family visa holders.

Under these arrangements, travellers must:

  • Be fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognized by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
  • Hold a valid visa for one of the eligible visa subclasses.
    Here is the subclass for international students.
  • Provide proof of their vaccination status.
  • Present a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within three days of departure.

Travellers to Australia must comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territory to which they plan to travel.

The PM also emphasized that with study in Australia opening up and the return of skilled workers will further cement the economic recovery and support the education sector.

You can read the full official media statement here.

After more than a year and a half, this comes as great news for our Indian students, especially if you’re planning to study in Australia and pursue your higher education. 

However, if you are stuck concerning your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight (absolutely FREE of cost service) and our trusted financial advisory.

Sign up below to get started.

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Study In Australia: The Latest Border Updates

Study In Australia: The Latest Border Updates

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Study In Australia: The Latest Border Updates

If you’re planning to study in Australia or are waiting for Australia to reopen its borders, it might get a bit tricky and confusing. This is because each state and territory have their own plans on how to reopen their borders.

Here are the latest updates:

Western Australia

According to a report from The Guardian, Western Australia will wait until as late as early-February to reopen its interstate borders.

No announcements have been made regarding international students’ return, however.

The states’ premier Mark McGowan did not set a specific reopening date but said controls would be eased once the state achieved 90% vaccination for people aged 12 and above.

A specific reopening date will be locked in once the state achieves 80% vaccination, expected in the first half of December, said the report.

New South Wales

A plan under New South Wales will see about 500 students returning to the state in December.

Victoria

 A total of 120 students could begin returning to Victoria by the end of 2021 under the first stage of the Victorian Government’s Student Arrivals Plan.

Under the first stage of the plan, a limited number of places will be available each week. These places will be prioritised for students who urgently need to return to Victoria to do practical work.

The second stage of the plan will expand to include more students, including those who are enrolled with other education providers such as TAFEs, English-language colleges, private education providers, other university students and secondary schools.

South Australia

South Australia is expected to welcome fully vaccinated domestic and international arrivals.

This includes international students with no quarantine period once 90% of South Australians aged 12 and above are fully vaccinated. 

It is expected that the 90% target will be reached in late December 2021. 

Queensland

Queensland announced that international students will return from January 2022.

The Queensland Student Arrivals Plan will follow a phased approach, starting with 250 students per fortnight in Phase 1.

The ACT Government

The ACT government said they will welcome back international tertiary education students for the start of the 2022 academic year. Students need to be fully vaccinated with a TGA recognized vaccine.

Tasmania

Vaccinated interstate and international arrivals can enter Tasmania without quarantining from December 15.

However, no updates have been announced for international students.

The University of Tasmania said they are working closely and actively with the Tasmanian and Australian governments to support the safe return of international students.

The university will contact students directly as soon as there is an opportunity for them to return to Tasmania.

How Can GradRight Help?

After more than a year and a half, this comes as great news, especially if you’re planning to study in Australia and pursue your higher education. 

However, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight (absolutely FREE of cost service) and our trusted financial advisory.

Sign up below to get started.

India's First Loan Bidding Platform

Get online lenders to bid on your profile to get the best student loans.

Try Now!
Canada To Reopen Airports To International Flights​

Canada To Reopen Airports To International Flights​

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Canada To Reopen More Airports To International Flights

Canada to reopen more airports to international flights starting November 30. November 30 is also the same day that passengers and crews would have to prove they’re fully vaccinated if they want to depart from a Canadian airport.

The announcement was made by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra at Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF), one of the eight.

In the official statement, Omar Alghabra said, “Increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely reopen these additional Canadian airports to international flights. This measure will help ensure travelers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels, while continuing to support the Government’s measured approach to reopening our border.”

Which Canadian Airports Are Currently Accepting International Flights?

The 10 Canadian airports currently accepting international flights include:

  • Halifax Stanfield International
  • Québec City Jean Lesage International
  • Montréal-Trudeau International
  • Ottawa/Macdonald–Cartier International
  • Toronto Pearson International
  • Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre
  • Winnipeg James/Armstrong Richardson International
  • Edmonton International
  • Calgary International
  • Vancouver International

Canada To Reopen More Airports.

Starting November 30, 2021, the following additional Canadian airports will be reopened for international travel:

  • St. John’s International
  • John C. Munro Hamilton International
  • Region of Waterloo International
  • Regina International
  • Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International
  • Kelowna International
  • Abbotsford International
  • Victoria International

Omar Alghabra added that additional airports would be considered as conditions dictate. 

Do you wish to study in Canada?

Canada reopening more of its airports comes in as great news for students. 

But if you are still trying to figure out the right university and the program for you, worry not.

Shortlisting the right university(s) might seem a bit daunting but it’s also an important step that has the potential to determine your future life. Thankfully, there are ways to make better and informed decisions.

To tackle this problem, GradRight has launched another platform (in addition to our education loan platform, FundRight) called SelectRight, an AI-based data-driven platform that enables you to select, shortlist and apply to the right universities that are best suited for you.

Click On SelectRight below to get started!

Get Started With SelectRight
Australian International Borders To Open Soon For International Students

Australian International Borders To Open Soon For International Students

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Australia To Open Its Borders Soon For International Students

While New South Wales is scrapping home and hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated international travellers from November 1, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison clarified that Australia’s international borders are not open to “everyone” yet. Australia’s borders have been closed for the last 19 months to international travellers to prevent the spread of COVID-19

As per Morrison, the Australian International borders would open to more travellers “in a staged and careful way” with priority given to skilled migrants and international students ahead of tourists. Morrison was quoted saying, “The Commonwealth government has made no decision to allow other visa holders, skilled visa holders, student visa holders, international visitors travelling under an ETA or other international visa arrangements … to come to Australia under these arrangements. The premier understands that that’s a decision for the Commonwealth government not for the state governments. And when we believe that’s the right decision to make, we will make it in that time.”

In NSW however, from November 1, there will be no caps on overseas arrivals of people who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 

Currently, Australia recognizes the following vaccines for international travellers:

  • Pfizer
  • AstraZeneca
  • Moderna
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Sinovac
  • Covishield 

The New South Wales government recently announced a pilot plan to facilitate the return of some 500 international students from December 2021. All participating students will be required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA-recognised COVID-19 vaccination before landing in Sydney, while strict quarantine protocols will be in place.

International students will quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation in Sydney and adhere to the same health and quarantine requirements set by the Australian government for returning Australians

After 19 months, this, somewhat comes as good news, especially if you’re planning to go to Australia to pursue your higher education. However, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight and our trusted financial advisory.

Sign up below to get started.

India's First Loan Bidding Platform

Get online lenders to bid on your profile to get the best student loans.

Try Now!
No quarantine in the uk for fully vaccinated Indian travelers

No Quarantine In The UK For Fully Vaccinated Indian Travellers

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No Quarantine in the UK for Fully-Vaccinated Indian Travelers

No quarantine in the uk for fully vaccinated Indian travelers

The UK, on October 7, announced that Indian travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield or any other UK-approved Covid-19 vaccine will no longer have to undergo the mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in the UK from October 11. Having no quarantine in the UK comes as a major relief to all students.

Earlier, the UK had not even added Covishield to its list of approved vaccines. This drew sharp criticism from India, as many believed the decision to be “discriminatory”. Following this, the UK, on September 22, revised its travel advisory and included Covishield as an accepted vaccine. However, it still required Indians to quarantine and get tested on arrival. This meant the country still required fully-vaccinated travellers from India to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Britain. The UK had also said it didn’t accept the Cowin certificate which led to a major row between the two countries. 

However, recently, a British High Commission spokesperson said the decision to remove quarantine rules for fully-vaccinated Indian passengers was made after close technical cooperation between both countries’ ministries taking public health factors into account. 

The spokesperson added that the extension of vaccine certification is a further step to let people travel more freely again in a safe and sustainable way while also protecting public health.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted about the news and also thanked the Indian government for close cooperation during that time period.

This comes as great news, especially if you’re planning to go to the UK to pursue your higher education. However, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight and our trusted financial advisory.

Sign up below to get started.

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India's First Loan Bidding Platform

Get online lenders to bid on your profile to get the best student loans.

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India To Canada Direct Flights Have Resumed

India To Canada Direct Flights Have Resumed; Here’s What You Need To Know

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India To Canada Direct Flights Have Resumed

Direct flights from India to Canada have resumed after almost 5 months. Canada first announced its ban on direct flights from India in April 2021 during the second wave of Covid-19. After multiple postponements, the latest being in August 2021, direct flights from India are officially back in business!

Air Canada, the flag carrier and the largest airline of Canada, has restarted nonstop flights from India to Toronto with the Delhi Airport being the first port of call for them effective September 21, 2021, onwards with a new Covid testing protocol.

Air Canada’s Covid Test Requirements For Flights From India

As per Air Canada’s website, these are the new requirements from all the passengers travelling to Canada:

  • WHO-approved vaccinated passengers must undergo an RT-PCR or a rapid PCR test within 18 hours of boarding their flights from the Covid-19 Testing Centre and Lounge at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3.
  • The requirement of a negative RT-PCR report from a third country (transit country) has been dropped.

In addition to the new requirements, the following conditions still remain:

  • All travellers must be double vaccinated.
  • Only the following vaccines are recognised by Canada:
    1. Johnson
    2. Moderna
    3. Pfizer
    4. Covishield
  • All documents must be uploaded before departure on https://www.arrivecan-online.com

With the ban on direct flights from India to Canada lifted, it comes as a sigh of relief (albeit new stringent testing requirements) as it now doesn’t require travellers to opt for indirect flight routes.

Flight tickets’ prices can be very expensive and to help students get a cheaper rate, we have additional services called GradOns.
This includes services like student accommodations, flight tickets at cheaper rates, US bank accounts, Canada GIC Account, Forex services, debit cards and credit cards. 

Click on GradOns below to get started.

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best forex card for students

Forex For Students Going Abroad, Explained.

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Forex For Study Abroad Students, Explained.

best forex card for students

What Is Forex?

Foreign Exchange (forex or FX) is the trading of one currency for another. Foreign exchange transactions take place on the foreign exchange market, also known as the forex market which is an electronic network of banks, institutions, and individual traders. Forex for students going abroad is very important as Forex transactions allow students to pay for their expenses without worrying about currency or cash issues. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the best forex card for students. 

In simple terms, a 100 Rupee note is valid only in India, but if you were to go abroad, you’d need to buy the currency of that country. Each country decides the exchange rate of its currency, which is called the mid-market rate. Forex rates are constantly fluctuating and it is important to find the best time to make a transaction.

Best Forex Cards for Students: The Different Types Of Services

Different Forex services serve different purposes, such as:

  • Wire transfer/Remittance: Money transfer from a domestic account to international account or vice versa is a remittance. Considering you are in India, an outward remittance is money transfer from an Indian account to an international account and the opposite is termed inward remittance. It is primarily used for University fee payment or bank account to bank account money transfer.
  • Forex card: In the absence of an international account, students use a forex card which allows them to convert the currency at a fixed rate & load into a card. This card can then be used as a debit card, although, it doesn’t help in building a credit history. It is widely used for personal expenses.
  • Currency notes: A maximum of USD 3000 can be carried in the form of currency notes. Bank & forex brokers convert the currency and hand over the amount in cash to you.

Key Forex Service Providers

  • EbixCash
  • BookMyForex
  • Wall Street Forex
  • WISE
  • ICICI Bank

Tips to find the best deals

There are many forex organisations and choosing the best one can seem daunting.

Here’s a handy checklist you can use to find the best forex card for students.

Find out:

  • Is exchange for relevant currency available?
  • What is the markup fee?
  • Other charges apart from the exchange rate?
  • What is the process to book an order for a remittance/Forex card?
  • What are the documents required?
  • Turn around time for wire transaction completion?
  • Is forex card home delivery available? & what is the TAT?
  • How much time does the card activation process take?
  • What are the ATM withdrawal/POS/E-commerce transaction charges on a forex card?
  • Can tax be exempted for your transaction?

Forex For Students: FAQs

Is there a limit to how much Forex I can carry?

The total amount of Foreign Exchange utilized by a student both in terms of Forex cards & Wire transfers, in a financial year must not exceed USD 250,000 for educational purposes.

My brother is studying abroad. Can I use his card for my use?

No, Forex cards for students are highly regulated and KYC compliant. If you don’t have valid proof of Forex purchase, your entire Forex amount is liable to be confiscated.

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What are the benefits of a Forex Card over Debit/Credit Card?

  • Little to no issuance fee.
  •  $2 or its equivalent in other currency is charged per withdrawal vs upto $500/$1000 for international debit/credit cards.
  • No Merchant Service fee.
  • Frozen exchange rates.
  • No additional conversion charges.

Where can I send a Wire Transfer / Purchase a Forex card from?

  • Banks
  • Online Sites
  • Local Vendors

What documents are required for different Forex services?

Remittance (Wire Transfer):

  • Passport front & back
  • PAN Card
  • University offer letter
  • Student Visa
  • Cheque
  • A2 form (Provided by forex agent)
  • Form 26AS (if applicable)

Forex Card:

  • Passport front & back
  • PAN Card
  • Student Visa
  • One way air ticket
  • Form 26AS (if applicable)

Currency Notes:

  • Passport front & back
  • PAN Card
  • Student Visa
  • One way air ticket

When is the ideal time to find the best exchange rates?

The forex market closes by 5:00 pm every day. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm is an ideal time to make a transaction. Towards the end of business hours, the rates tend to increase. Avoid transactions on weekends as holiday charges will be applicable.

Is there an annual limit to utilize forex?

A total of USD 250,000 can be transferred for education purposes. This limit is inclusive of wire transfer, forex card & currency notes. A maximum of $3000 can be carried in the form of cash.

What are the other charges applicable?

Most forex agents charge as follows apart from the forex rate:

  • Conversion charges/Service charges (ranging from INR 200 – INR 500)
  • GST @ 0.1%
  • Tax (as applicable)

But the charges may vary based on the agent that you choose. Please check with your agent before you go ahead.

Can my Forex card be home delivered?

Most banks do not have a home delivery service. However, some forex brokers provide home delivery service for forex cards. 

When should I really buy a forex card?

You can buy a forex card within 60 days of the travel date. However, it is recommended to order the card at least a week before your travel date. This will ensure you have sufficient time for card delivery & activation.

What are a few market practices to look out for?

Here are a few unhealthy practices that are common in the market:

  • Hidden transaction charges.
  • Unclear communication on required documents.
  • The unclear status of transaction.
  • Forex card delivery issues.
  • Poor TAT on Forex card activation.
  • Poor customer service.
  • Unreasonable exchange rate.
  • Unlicensed agents.

Best Forex Card For Students: Why GradRight Is A Good Option?

GradRight’s additional services, GradOns, brings you the best in town partners for safe & fast transactions. We can help you choose the best forex card for students. Here’s why you should choose GradOns for your Forex.

  • Compare rates of multiple partners on the same page.
  • Freeze rates for upto 3 days.
  • Forex card available at your doorstep.
  • Verified & licensed forex agents.
  • Better rates.
  • Guaranteed Cashback on completion of a transaction.

Click on GradOns to get started!

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Canada extends travel ban on direct Indian flights till September 21, 2021

Canada Extends Travel Ban On Indian Flights

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Canada Extends Travel Ban On Indian Flights

The Canadian government, on Monday i.e. August 10th, 2021, has extended the Canada travel ban on Indian flights till September 21. The ban was earlier till August 21.

Here is the official statement:

“Based on the latest public health advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada is extending the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India until September 21, 2021, at 23:59 EDT.”

The Canada travel ban was first imposed on April 22. Recently, for the fifth time, the ban has been extended.

Due to the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus during the second wave as well as the increasing threat of the Delta variant, many countries have decided to impose a travel ban on flights from the subcontinent. This is adding more hurdles for Indian students who want to go to Canada for their higher education.

How does this affect the travel plans of students?

With direct flights from India banned till September, students would have to look at indirect flights via Qatar, Doha, Maldives, Mexico, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and Egypt. Each of the following countries has its own set of guidelines concerning Covid testing, quarantine duration and the requirement of return tickets.

We have covered the different indirect flight routes from India to Canada along with their pros, cons and things to keep in mind like supporting documentation and accommodation availabilities in this blog here.

Flight tickets’ prices can be very expensive on some of these routes. To help students get a cheaper rate, we have additional services called GradOns.

This includes services like accommodations, flight tickets (cheaper rates), Canada GIC Account, Forex services and credit and debit cards too.

Click on GradOns below to get started

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India To Canada Indirect Flight Routes For Students

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India To Canada Indirect Flight Routes For Students

Indirect flights from India to Canada

Due to the high number of cases due to Covid-19 and the increase in the spread of the Delta variant, many countries have restricted direct flights from India. One such country, which is a very popular study abroad destination for Indian students, is Canada. Canada has imposed its travel ban on Indian flights, first, on April 22nd. Recently, for the fifth time, the ban has been extended from August 21 to September 21. This has proved to be an obstacle for students who are Canada-bound. However, indirect flights from India to Canada are accepted with certain conditions.

In this article, we look at the different indirect flights from India to Canada along with their respective pros and cons so you can choose what’s best for you.

Here’s what the official statements say:

  • “…Passengers who travel to Canada from India via an indirect route will need to obtain a pre-departure negative COVID-19 molecular test result from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada,” says Transport Canada’s website.
  • If you’ve previously tested positive for COVID-19, you must show proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test conducted between 14 and 90 days before departure, instead of a negative COVID-19 molecular test.
    “This proof must be obtained in a third country before the continuation of the journey to Canada,” Transport Canada advised. “You might need to seek entry and stay in a third country for at least 14 days.”

India To Canada Via Qatar

Doha, the capital of Qatar is known for its exquisite and modern architecture and has become the first preference of travelers who wish to avail indirect flights from India to Canada.

The Good

  • Availability of direct flights.
  • Less travel time.

The Bad

  • 10 days quarantine is compulsory.
  • Important to be vaccinated by the recognised vaccines by MOPH (2 doses of CoviShield and a gap of 14 days after the 2nd dose).
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Things To Keep In Mind

  • Authorized travelers who present a valid international certificate for full vaccination against Covid 19, with the use of an approved vaccine, will undergo antibody testing on arrival. Those testing negative will be exempt from the 10-day quarantine requirement.
  • Those testing positive will be required to undergo PCR testing and are not exempt from the quarantine requirement.
  • Approval from the Ehteraz app is required to be taken within 72 – 12 hours of travel; if only 12 hours are left, then they approve only in special cases.
  • It usually takes about 12 – 24 to get the RTPCR report in Doha. 
  • Here is the official Quarantine Accommodation Reservation form.

India To Canada Via Albania

It’s pretty safe to travel around Albania. The country is very welcoming to travelers. Use it as a stopover to board indirect flights from India to Canada.

The Good

  • Hotel availability is never an issue.
  • As of now, a vaccination certificate is not required to travel.
  • Good flight connections from Albania to Canada.
  • It does not come under Air Bubble and so, a return ticket is not required.

The Bad

  • An expensive travel option.
  • Flight availability can be a challenge.

India To Canada Via Maldives

The Maldives is an amazing exotic island, perfect for holiday destinations and ever since the Maldives has opened its doors for Indians, it has once again started to get popular among travelers seeking indirect flights from India to Canada.

The Good

  • Fully vaccinated visitors with approved vaccination certificates do not need to quarantine.
  • India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations.
  • On-Arrival visa Processing.

The Bad

  • Limited resort options opened for South Asians in the Maldives.
  • Expensive flight connections from the Maldives to Canada.

Things To Keep In Mind

  • A return ticket to India is required as it comes under the Air Bubble agreement.
  • Imuga Form is to be filled before you enter the Maldives.
  • Check resorts that are approved for quarantine in the Maldives.
  • All travellers are required to present a negative result of the nucleic acid test (PCR) taken 72 hours before departure

India To Canada Via Mexico

Since May, Canada via Mexico has been the most tested route and has been a blessing in disguise to travellers wanting to go to Canada from India.

The Good

  • The route has been tested by 1000s of passengers to Canada.
  • Hotel availabilities is not an issue.
  • A vaccination certificate is not required.
  • It does not come under Air bubble so a return ticket is not required.
  • Travellers from India are not required to quarantine after entering Mexico.

The Bad

  • Flights are very expensive.
  • An increase in Covid cases is a concern.

Things To Keep In Mind

*This information is subject to change. Please check the relevant government websites.

How To Choose A Route That's Best For You?

You can have the following points in mind while choosing a particular route from India to Canada. Choose a country/route where:

  • Visa processing doesn’t take much time.
  • The results of RT-PCR are obtained quickly.
  • The number of Covid cases is less or in a gradual decline.
  • Number of travellers are less as a higher number of travellers results in an increase in ticket prices.

Flight tickets’ prices can be very expensive on some of these routes and to help students get a better rate, we have additional services called GradOns.
This includes services like accommodations, flight tickets at cheaper rates, US bank accounts, Canada GIC Account, Forex services, debit cards and credit cards. 

Click on GradOns below to get started and hop on an indirect flight from India to Canada.

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