A member from Pakistan, facing a currency exchange hike, asked whether someone residing in Canada or the US could open a GIC block account on their behalf for their SDS application, and how the GIC process generally works.
What the thread clarified:- GIC funds should be submitted from the applicant's own account to avoid issues — while fees can sometimes be paid from other accounts, the GIC itself is treated more strictly.
- Per common bank guidelines (Scotiabank was referenced specifically), money sent to the GIC account must come from the applicant's own account or a parent's account — not from an unrelated relative or a third party residing abroad. This directly rules out having someone in Canada/US open or fund the GIC on your behalf if they're not your parent.
- Once payment is received by the bank, a GIC certificate is generally issued within about 2–3 working days, though the exact timing depends on the specific bank processing it.
The practical takeaway: don't try to have an unrelated third party in Canada or the US open or fund your GIC — banks like Scotiabank specifically require the funds to come from the applicant's own account or a parent's account, and doing otherwise risks complications with your study permit application.