A new PR with proof-of-funds money sitting in an Indian bank asked how people actually move it to Canada — NRO/NRE accounts, wire transfer, or something else. The thread (2022, historical exchange practices; verify current rules) surfaced several practical experiences:
- Demand draft via a forex house worked smoothly. One member obtained a CAD demand draft from a large travel-forex firm, noting the process was seamless because the firm had banking ties in North America — a route several group members had recommended.
- Bank branches are inconsistent about DDs. Another member was flatly told by their bank branch that it doesn't issue such DDs — until pointing out that a different branch of the same bank was issuing them. Lesson: if a branch refuses, ask the NRI/main branch or another branch before giving up.
- You don't need a Canadian account before landing for the DD route. Directly answered in the thread: carry the DD, open an account after you arrive, and deposit it there. Newcomers can shop around between banks on arrival.
- App-based transfers (e.g., Wise) were raised as a post-landing option, though no one in the thread reported completed experience with it.
Practical takeaway: the battle is less about choosing wire-vs-DD and more about branch-level execution. Confirm with the specific branch (or a reputable forex firm) that they'll actually issue a CAD instrument, and don't let one branch's refusal be your final answer.