moving to bangalore

rukie · Oct 28th, 2009, 07:21

My husband has been offered a job with IBM India. We are planning to move sometime in December 2009. I would like to know if you can send funds from the money earned in India to Canada to support our children with their university education and household expenses in Canada. How do you transfer the funds to Canada in Canadian/US dollars every month/quarterly.

Also how much funds are we allowed/would you recommend to bring with you in dollars when we arrive in India?

Also an unrelated question: Do they sell sim cards at the airport that I could put into my unlocked phone (I am bringing it from Canada but it is compatible in India) for the first couple of days.

One last question: would you recommend bringing a laptop from Canada or buying it in India? Does it take long to buy one in Bangalore if we were to buy it there and is it any cheaper than here?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

ribhu95 · Oct 29th, 2009, 22:34

Answering only some of the questions :

SIM cards - Haven't seen in the Bangalore airport. But as you get in into the city, you should be able to do it without difficulty and quickly after you cross yelahanka. You might have to give them copy of your passport plus a couple of phots for identity verification.

Get one from Canada.....check prices on indiaplaza.in or futurebazaar.com / in....it does not take time to buy but possibly cheaper in canada..

for your queries on how much USD you can bring - try checking out the govt of india, dept of customs website.

All the best and Welcome to India

ribhu

Raghu.Kumar · Oct 30th, 2009, 16:20

Hi Rukie,

Welcome to Bangalore. I am happy to let you know I am an Ex IBMer from Bangalore. Just a few questions ?

Is your husband coming on Expat terms or on Local Terms. if he is coming on Expat Terms then he would be assigned a Mobility Relatiionship Manager who would clarify all his queries on Compensation, transfer of foreign exchange etc. If he is on local terms then HR would be able to advice.

In any case, please go through the below link for some info on the foreign remittance.

http://www.femaonline.com/fema/circu...4_cirno_64.htm

In IBM, there are corporate deals with Mobile Service Providers. You can get a sim card for you as as well as your husband under the corporate scheme. All details and contacts would be given on the day one at the HR Induction.

There are many IBM offices in Bangalore, which location would your husband work ?

I suggest you get a laptop there itself, but ensure that it has got an India Warranty for Service. If you want to buy a Good lap top in Bangalore, you can get it the same day itself. Dell and HP laptos are popular and cost around 900 USD for the latest versions.

Hope this helps, Have a Nice Day.

Raghu

Quote:

Originally Posted by rukie

My husband has been offered a job with IBM India. We are planning to move sometime in December 2009. I would like to know if you can send funds from the money earned in India to Canada to support our children with their university education and household expenses in Canada. How do you transfer the funds to Canada in Canadian/US dollars every month/quarterly.

Also how much funds are we allowed/would you recommend to bring with you in dollars when we arrive in India?

Also an unrelated question: Do they sell sim cards at the airport that I could put into my unlocked phone (I am bringing it from Canada but it is compatible in India) for the first couple of days.

One last question: would you recommend bringing a laptop from Canada or buying it in India? Does it take long to buy one in Bangalore if we were to buy it there and is it any cheaper than here?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

rukie · Nov 2nd, 2009, 07:09

Thank you both very much for your help.

Raghu, to answer your questions:

- My husband is technically not coming as an official expat. However, since we are new to India and coming from Canada, we are being provided with several expat benefits including some initial temporary housing/transportation and an agent who will help us when we arrive in Bangalore.

- My husband will be at the IBM office in Whitefield area (1st Technology Place)

I also had another question regarding purchasing a laptop. Would you recommend any places to go to for purchasing a laptop and are certain brands better than others in Bangalore? (because even between Canada and the US, brands vary in quality and the countries are so close by)

Thanks again for all the help! Have a good day.

ribhu95 · Nov 2nd, 2009, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by rukie

Thank you both very much for your help.

Raghu, to answer your questions:

- My husband is technically not coming as an official expat. However, since we are new to India and coming from Canada, we are being provided with several expat benefits including some initial temporary housing/transportation and an agent who will help us when we arrive in Bangalore.

- My husband will be at the IBM office in Whitefield area (1st Technology Place)

I also had another question regarding purchasing a laptop. Would you recommend any places to go to for purchasing a laptop and are certain brands better than others in Bangalore? (because even between Canada and the US, brands vary in quality and the countries are so close by)

Thanks again for all the help! Have a good day.

ezone - ensure that you pay them only if they are delivering on the spot...also check the www for general feedback on them.

croma - is another possible spot.

also, keep checking the paper or electronic version of timesofindia.. will give you info on deals through advertisements.

ribhu

Raghu.Kumar · Nov 3rd, 2009, 12:30

Hi Rukie,

You may visit the Croma / Staples Stores on any location thats convenient to you and buy the lap top. I would recommend the Dell lap top. Check out the one on Brigade road first.

Croma Store, Eva Mall, Brigade Road
Croma Store, HM Vibha Towers, Koramangala
Staples Store, Hosur Road, Opp. Big Bazaar, Koramangala
Staples Store, Opp Innovative Multiplex, Outer Ring Road

Regarding your husband's office location, its good though a bit far away from town, but you can ask the agent to show you properties within Palm Meadows one of the nice Gated Communities in Bangalore.

Let me know if you need any other assistance.

Raghu

Quote:

Originally Posted by rukie

Thank you both very much for your help.

Raghu, to answer your questions:

- My husband is technically not coming as an official expat. However, since we are new to India and coming from Canada, we are being provided with several expat benefits including some initial temporary housing/transportation and an agent who will help us when we arrive in Bangalore.

- My husband will be at the IBM office in Whitefield area (1st Technology Place)

I also had another question regarding purchasing a laptop. Would you recommend any places to go to for purchasing a laptop and are certain brands better than others in Bangalore? (because even between Canada and the US, brands vary in quality and the countries are so close by)

Thanks again for all the help! Have a good day.

kismet108 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 14:00

Why not just purchase a laptop from Canada? I have a similar situation with my work in Bangalore. Before I left UK I purchased a Dell laptop with the support option. Its an international warranty and I actually used it today to replace a faulty power pack!

Most big PC names offer this type of service and for me its peace of mind wherever I am. The price difference probably isnt so much but thats depending on the make you go for.

It really depends on where the money is being paid? If its canada IBM it will go into a canada account, if its indian IBM they will help set up an indian account (usually with a preferred bank Citi, ICICI perhaps). It would make sense for you to have an international bank - worth calling them to ask for advice.

Before I left I set up a premier account at HSBC. All my banking is done through UK and I get a preferential exchange rate and other international banking services.

Its worked out for me over the year. It doesnt beat having cash for better exchange rates of course

. After a while I set up an indian HSBC account after getting all my Indian ID stuff sorted (pan card, work letters proving address and employment). So I can choose to transfer at a good rate with no charges.

I actually had a hard time getting a simcard. They all usually ask for ID and perhaps address verification. The only ID they tend to accept is Pan Card, Indian Drivers License. You may be able to use a foreign passport.

I couldnt be bothered with the hassle so I just had a resident indian friend get me a pay as you go sim for me. Its ok now that I have been here and have the relevant paperwork and loads of passport photos. But on first landing you probably will not have everything you need to get a sim card?

Is IBM paying for and arranging an agent to sort out your Residence Permits? I would look into that and make sure they have that covered. Its a nightmare unless you have someone that knows what they are doing.

Hope that helps

rukie · Nov 15th, 2009, 20:16

Thanks to everyone for helping us in moving to India.
We have applied for the Visa and are awaiting. It has been approved.

I think we will buy the laptop when we arrive.

How much does a 3 bedroom furnished/non furnished apartment cost in Whitefield area? We are looking for something clean, no bugs and modern bathroom and closet space for hanging clothes. We are not planning to ship any furniture from Canada.

Our two daughters arriving the following week after we come. However, my concern is that their flight arrives in Chennai and they take the domestic flight to Bangalore both ways. I am more concerned about their return flight. There is a 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. flight from Bangalore but their flight from Chennai does not live until 4:30 a.m. They are in their 20's but have never been to India like us. Is it a safe airport for the girls to be in transit for about 6 hours?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

salluks · Nov 16th, 2009, 11:42

i suggest u buy laptop in india as ur warranty will be covered here, also both my sis and her hubby work in IBM, they get co laptops at discounts, u should consider that too if ur buying lenovo.
transit in airports shouldn't be a problem as i once slept in mumbai airport for over 12 hrs freely.
u'll find well furnished apartments near Whitefield area so dont worry about that either.

rukie · Nov 21st, 2009, 19:50

Hi Salluks,

Thanks we will buy the laptop in India. Makes more sense with the warranty coverage.

Since my husband's work is in Whitefield area do you think that Whitefield is the most convenient location wise to find a place to live or are there any other close by neighborhood. How much would be looking in terms of rent for a two or three bedroom furnished/unfurnished flats. How much deposit do you have to pay.

We were planning to bring only our personal belongings and the rest will slowly and gradually buy it in Bangalore as we don't think it is worth paying for all the shipping from Canada.

Also how far is the airport from Whitefield area.

Any help suggestions with our move will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

ribhu95 · Nov 21st, 2009, 21:55

Quite a few living options in whitefield and nearby areas...

check out timesofindia.com - bangalore epaper edition....you can read off even some of the classified ads on rentals et al.

Airport to whitefield should be around 45 kms approximately.

Travelling time (which is more important in Bangalore than distance) could be as low as 1 hour in early mornings and late nights and could be as much as 2 hours or so in the "sickening" peak hour traffic - airport to whitefield.

ribhu

Oct 28th, 2009, 07:21	#1
rukie Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: bangalore Posts: 4	moving to bangalore My husband has been offered a job with IBM India. We are planning to move sometime in December 2009. I would like to know if you can send funds from the money earned in India to Canada to support our children with their university education and household expenses in Canada. How do you transfer the funds to Canada in Canadian/US dollars every month/quarterly. Also how much funds are we allowed/would you recommend to bring with you in dollars when we arrive in India? Also an unrelated question: Do they sell sim cards at the airport that I could put into my unlocked phone (I am bringing it from Canada but it is compatible in India) for the first couple of days. One last question: would you recommend bringing a laptop from Canada or buying it in India? Does it take long to buy one in Bangalore if we were to buy it there and is it any cheaper than here? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Nov 3rd, 2009, 14:00	#7
kismet108 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: London/Bangalore Posts: 22	Dell / Toshiba / HP and other things Why not just purchase a laptop from Canada? I have a similar situation with my work in Bangalore. Before I left UK I purchased a Dell laptop with the support option. Its an international warranty and I actually used it today to replace a faulty power pack! Most big PC names offer this type of service and for me its peace of mind wherever I am. The price difference probably isnt so much but thats depending on the make you go for. It really depends on where the money is being paid? If its canada IBM it will go into a canada account, if its indian IBM they will help set up an indian account (usually with a preferred bank Citi, ICICI perhaps). It would make sense for you to have an international bank - worth calling them to ask for advice. Before I left I set up a premier account at HSBC. All my banking is done through UK and I get a preferential exchange rate and other international banking services. Its worked out for me over the year. It doesnt beat having cash for better exchange rates of course . After a while I set up an indian HSBC account after getting all my Indian ID stuff sorted (pan card, work letters proving address and employment). So I can choose to transfer at a good rate with no charges. I actually had a hard time getting a simcard. They all usually ask for ID and perhaps address verification. The only ID they tend to accept is Pan Card, Indian Drivers License. You may be able to use a foreign passport. I couldnt be bothered with the hassle so I just had a resident indian friend get me a pay as you go sim for me. Its ok now that I have been here and have the relevant paperwork and loads of passport photos. But on first landing you probably will not have everything you need to get a sim card? Is IBM paying for and arranging an agent to sort out your Residence Permits? I would look into that and make sure they have that covered. Its a nightmare unless you have someone that knows what they are doing. Hope that helps

Nov 15th, 2009, 20:16	#8
rukie Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: bangalore Posts: 4	moving to bangalore Thanks to everyone for helping us in moving to India. We have applied for the Visa and are awaiting. It has been approved. I think we will buy the laptop when we arrive. How much does a 3 bedroom furnished/non furnished apartment cost in Whitefield area? We are looking for something clean, no bugs and modern bathroom and closet space for hanging clothes. We are not planning to ship any furniture from Canada. Our two daughters arriving the following week after we come. However, my concern is that their flight arrives in Chennai and they take the domestic flight to Bangalore both ways. I am more concerned about their return flight. There is a 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. flight from Bangalore but their flight from Chennai does not live until 4:30 a.m. They are in their 20's but have never been to India like us. Is it a safe airport for the girls to be in transit for about 6 hours? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Nov 21st, 2009, 19:50	#10
rukie Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: bangalore Posts: 4	moving to bangalore Hi Salluks, Thanks we will buy the laptop in India. Makes more sense with the warranty coverage. Since my husband's work is in Whitefield area do you think that Whitefield is the most convenient location wise to find a place to live or are there any other close by neighborhood. How much would be looking in terms of rent for a two or three bedroom furnished/unfurnished flats. How much deposit do you have to pay. We were planning to bring only our personal belongings and the rest will slowly and gradually buy it in Bangalore as we don't think it is worth paying for all the shipping from Canada. Also how far is the airport from Whitefield area. Any help suggestions with our move will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

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Oct 29th, 2009, 22:34	#2
ribhu95 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 265	Answering only some of the questions : SIM cards - Haven't seen in the Bangalore airport. But as you get in into the city, you should be able to do it without difficulty and quickly after you cross yelahanka. You might have to give them copy of your passport plus a couple of phots for identity verification. Get one from Canada.....check prices on indiaplaza.in or futurebazaar.com / in....it does not take time to buy but possibly cheaper in canada.. for your queries on how much USD you can bring - try checking out the govt of india, dept of customs website. All the best and Welcome to India ribhu

Nov 2nd, 2009, 07:09	#4
rukie Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: bangalore Posts: 4	Thank you both very much for your help. Raghu, to answer your questions: - My husband is technically not coming as an official expat. However, since we are new to India and coming from Canada, we are being provided with several expat benefits including some initial temporary housing/transportation and an agent who will help us when we arrive in Bangalore. - My husband will be at the IBM office in Whitefield area (1st Technology Place) I also had another question regarding purchasing a laptop. Would you recommend any places to go to for purchasing a laptop and are certain brands better than others in Bangalore? (because even between Canada and the US, brands vary in quality and the countries are so close by) Thanks again for all the help! Have a good day.

Nov 16th, 2009, 11:42	#9
salluks Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 41	i suggest u buy laptop in india as ur warranty will be covered here, also both my sis and her hubby work in IBM, they get co laptops at discounts, u should consider that too if ur buying lenovo. transit in airports shouldn't be a problem as i once slept in mumbai airport for over 12 hrs freely. u'll find well furnished apartments near Whitefield area so dont worry about that either.

Nov 21st, 2009, 21:55	#11
ribhu95 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 265	Quite a few living options in whitefield and nearby areas... check out timesofindia.com - bangalore epaper edition....you can read off even some of the classified ads on rentals et al. Airport to whitefield should be around 45 kms approximately. Travelling time (which is more important in Bangalore than distance) could be as low as 1 hour in early mornings and late nights and could be as much as 2 hours or so in the "sickening" peak hour traffic - airport to whitefield. ribhu