Applying for WatCard

WatCard can be applied for online, requiring a well-taken ID photo (no worries if you don’t have one, you can take it directly at The Centre, and also receive the card on the spot). So, when you want to apply, just head to The Centre.

The counter where you pick up the card can be used for top-up, but it’s not recommended as almost all places that accept WatCard payments also accept bank card payments, making it redundant.

The Centre address: Needles Hall South, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1

Note: The Centre is not the entire building but an office within Needles Hall. Also, there are two buildings in Needles Hall, and The Centre is located in the southern building. Here’s a photo with an arrow indicating the entrance (Nano’s instructional building is quite iconic; you won’t miss it)

Take the Bus!

I walked 5 km to The Centre just to take the bus after getting my WatCard… Once you have your WatCard, you can freely take the bus. If unsure, you can ask the person who issued your WatCard; they can check if your card has UPass activated, usually it is unless you opted out for the semester. Opting out of UPass started with COVID. Let me introduce UPass here because I feel not many people view the information on the WUSA website. The public transportation system in Waterloo is GRT, Grand River Transit. The student union at the University of Waterloo, WUSA, negotiated a contract with GRT, where our WUSA student union provides a fixed amount of money to GRT, allowing all students to take the bus freely. Hence, we have UPass, and the funds for GRT come from student fees each semester. Co-op term students ride for free, while students only pay during the Academic Term. For more details, you can check out the WUSA UPass website (I’m lazy, won’t include the link here). Due to Covid, many students aren’t on campus in Waterloo, so WUSA introduced the Opt-out UPass program. Opted-out students can save one semester’s worth of UPass, unable to bus this semester with their WatCard. Quick tip: If you can use your WatCard to ride the bus, you are covered by UPass source

The GRT system is quite convenient; buses here are punctual, but the intervals can be long. Therefore, always check the bus schedule on Google Maps to avoid waiting 20 minutes in the cold wind. It takes some time to get used to this habit.

Especially when there are many transfers, using Google Maps Trip Planner is a must.

Some tips:

1. Buses here don’t stop at every station, so press the Stop button when approaching your stop; the Stop Next light in front of the bus will illuminate when the driver will halt (different buses may have varying wordings on the light but serve the same function).

Dec. 20 addition: Pulling the yellow line on the window serves the same purpose as the stop button.

2. Ticket inspection for light rail is on the platform, not on the train, so familiarize yourself with the ticket validation area the first time to avoid unintentional fare evasion.

W-Store

WatCard can earn points at W-Store but you can pay with other methods while earning points… So why should I top up my WatCard?

W-Store is right next to The Centre; you can stop by after getting your student card. It’s basically a souvenir shop. If not for that school logo, the value for money is ridiculously low.

GIC

GIC, Canada’s government bonds, should be purchased by every international student. During the process, you receive a Direction Confirmation letter with an ID; call the bank with that ID to make an appointment. After the appointment, you can go to the designated bank on the agreed-upon day.

After the account-opening process, you’ll receive a bank card, automatically opening a Savings Account and a regular account. The Savings Account accrues interest (a meager 0.05%). Longer deposit periods offer slightly higher interest rates, with 0.2% for 90-day deposits, also quite low.

Once you have the card, you can set up online banking at home and view your Account Number. Here, note for students on co-op terms, remember to set up Direct Deposit.

At account opening, bank staff will ask if you want to set up Direct Deposit—your employer can directly deposit money into this account; scholarships and tuition refunds might also get credited here. So, it’s recommended to activate it. They’ll also ask if you want to set up Automatic Payment, helpful for recurring payments like rent. I personally chose not to opt for this quasi-subscription service.

Since I’m not yet 18, I’ll come back next year on my birthday to apply for a credit card. Ah…

EMT - Electronic Money Transfer

TODO

SIN

I applied online for SIN since I was in quarantine, and the online processing time is 20 days; still waiting for it (Dec. 18, 2021). Update: Dec. 20, 2021 I felt bored while queuing for my driver’s license and called the SIN hotline to inquire about progress. That’s when I learned that the SIN information is not emailed but sent by mail. So, if you can go out, it’s recommended to apply in person for faster processing. Nevertheless, I finally received my SIN.