Pre-Departure & Arrival
The two weeks before you fly — the part most consultancies skip.
What this service is
Most agents close the file when the visa comes through. We don't — the highest-stress moment for a Sri Lankan student abroad is the two weeks before the flight and the first 72 hours after landing. That's when accommodation falls through, bank accounts get rejected, SIMs don't work, and the family-WhatsApp panic starts.
Pre-departure with us covers the practical machinery: forex limits and the right banks to wire through, opening a UK / Australian / Canadian / Singapore bank account before you arrive (or the morning after), the right SIM and phone-plan for the city you're landing in, accommodation handover, transport from the airport, and the first 48 hours of orientation.
We also brief you on the student community in your destination — current alumni, the Sri Lankan student association at your university, and a warm intro to someone already on the ground. The point isn't a contact list; the point is that you land knowing one person.
What you receive
Concrete deliverables, not a sales pitch.
- check_circle Pre-departure checklist tailored to your destination city
- check_circle Forex strategy: limits, banks, transfer windows
- check_circle Pre-arrival bank-account opening (where the destination supports it)
- check_circle SIM card and phone-plan recommendations for your city
- check_circle Accommodation pickup confirmation + first-72-hours logistics
- check_circle Warm introduction to a Sri Lankan alumnus or current student at your university
How we work it
The 3-step process for Pre-Departure & Arrival.
Briefing session
2–3 weeks before your flight, we run a pre-departure briefing — usually a 60-minute WhatsApp call with you and your parents. Covers everything from luggage limits to your first day's logistics.
Departure-week checklist
The week of your flight, we send a final checklist: documents to carry in your hand luggage, forex topped up, university orientation confirmation, accommodation handover details. If anything's loose, we'll have flagged it earlier.
First 72 hours
We stay in WhatsApp contact during the first 72 hours — bank account opening, SIM activation, first university check-in. After that you're settled, and we leave you alone. Most students hear from us again in their first month abroad.
Common questions
About pre-departure & arrival.
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I didn't apply through Lanka Scholar — can I still get pre-departure support? expand_more
Yes. Pre-departure is one of the services you can take standalone. Many of our pre-departure students applied to universities themselves and only came to us for the flight-onwards piece. -
Do you help with accommodation? expand_more
We help review accommodation contracts and confirm handovers, but we don't act as a property agent. Universities almost always have a verified accommodation list, and most cities now have well-run student-housing platforms — we'll point you to the legitimate ones for your destination.
The other 4 services
Take any service standalone — or take all five.
University Selection
The right course at the right university — without the guesswork.
Read about this service arrow_forwardApplication & SOP Writing
A Statement of Purpose admissions officers actually want to read.
Read about this service arrow_forwardScholarship Strategy
Cut your tuition — sometimes by 30 to 100% — with the right scholarship mix.
Read about this service arrow_forwardVisa Application
The single biggest reason applications fail — handled by people who do it weekly.
Read about this service arrow_forwardReady to start with pre-departure & arrival?
Free for students — universities pay us. Walk in to any of our 4 offices or message us on WhatsApp.