Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Calgary-Bound]

For my PPR they wanted 2 pics,copies of my passport,height and eye color,and self addressed envelope.

[gypsy494]

Anybody heard anything from Seattle after submitting the passport? Its been 2.5 Weeks and the return tracking is not activated yet...Sigh.

Nope Bloodyguitars...they had mine 3 weeks yesterday.

 :'(I keep checking to see if the return was  activated...and am afraid to leave the house. lol
Just  cause we had bad luck with Fed Ex before ( xmas time) finding our apartment. ....
So excited to get it...land...get  my belongings up here and get a job and MOVE to an house.

So excited it should be coming soon...so you hang in there!!!
My bday is Mon so really hoping I will get the best bday pressie EVER!!

[OhCanadiana]

Just a question about the landing process.. what do you need to bring besides the COPR?  I've seen talk about a B4 form for your goods, where do you get one of those?  My husband is planning on coming just with two or three suitcases filled with mostly clothing only, and a few other random things including a computer, ipod, etc, but not much else besides that (he has brought over some clothes and stuff before when visiting and just left them here).   He isn't bringing his car, as he is just going to give it to his sister.  Anything else we should know about the landing process?

You'll need COPR, passport, B4/B4A, address where the PR Card should be mailed and yourselves.  And hopefully a camera to record the moment  

The B4 story is:

If you are a returning Canadian, you only get to fill out one B4/B4A that will allow you to import goods duty free as long as you've been out of Canada for at least one year and have owned, used, and possessed the items for at least 6 months (6 month req't waived if you've been out of Canada for five years).   If you are importing any item over 10,000 Canadian you will have to pay duties on the amount over 10k.   The government gives you one opportunity to tell them what you are bringing in.

Similarly, your husband, as an immigrant can fill out one B4/B4A set which he has to turn in on his first visit where he intends to live in Canada more than 12 months.  He does not have the 10k limit per item.

Therefore, you need to fill the form out with everything you are importing (when he lands, on any shipment, or future trips) in your B4/B4A set.    

For clothes and toiletries, you can just estimate the value - ideally on separate line items per trip so that you don't run into issues when they cross items off as you import them.   For jewelry and electronics, you do need to list them one per line item and include: for jewelry a photo (can be one you took yourself and printed) - don't forget wedding bands! - and for electronics you should include model and serial number.   You can complete multiple B4A forms and just number them.  Folks have also reported using other formats (Excel, packing lists) successfully.

If you can take an extra copy, it will make life easier for you and the CBSA agent since they keep one and give one (once stamped) back to you.

If you decide to use them, the B4 is available at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf
And the B4A is at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pbg/cf/b4a/

Detailed instructions are at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html

[gypsy494]

For my PPR they wanted 2 pics,copies of my passport,height and eye color,and self addressed envelope.

Same here plus copy of the letter they sent (ppr)

[bloodyguitars]

we haven't heard anything yet but we just sent ours out a week ago only.  Hope you get yours soon, it says in the letter it will be within 4 weeks so should be soon!  I am really hoping we get ours before May 1st as we already booked a flight for that day!

Interesting...my ppr email said 3 Weeks.I hope it comes next week. Btw, I sent you a personal msg. Goodluck on your landing!

[Calgary-Bound]

Same here plus copy of the letter they sent (ppr)

Its funny how everyone is asked to send different stuff.You would think it would be standard procedure for every app.I just double checked to make sure they didnt ask for a copy of the letter to be sure they didnt lol.

[Isometry]

For my PPR they wanted 2 pics,copies of my passport,height and eye color,and self addressed envelope.

My PPR doesn't mention height or eye color anywhere, even on the photo specs. Now I'm worried that they need that and I didn't send it  

They asked for a print out of the PPR email, 2 photos, my passport (or copies of my passport), and a return envelope.

Also, I read gypsy494's PPR again, as hers came from the same visa office in the same day as mine. However, mine says that the passport will be returned within 3 weeks, hers says 4. I really want to be sure of the time frame to know if I can land before my wedding anniversary... this is driving me crazy!

And now I need to stop worrying because I already have my PPR that means we're basically done, and I should seriously calm down.

[gypsy494]

I think I've developed a twitch with this blasted waiting for our passports, or even some word that they are coming. Or not coming. Or that sea otters ate them. ANYTHING. Even my eternally patient husband is getting pissy at them (not the sea otters, LA of course)!

OMGoodness ...now that made me laff.
I feel ya and mines only been 3 weeks since they rcd it( passport)
I am not getting a twitch...but I started a nervous habit of fiddling with my hair.
Bloody hell I will not look like my passport pic...cause I will soon be bald.

[gypsy494]

Its funny how everyone is asked to send different stuff.You would think it would be standard procedure for every app.I just double checked to make sure they didnt ask for a copy of the letter to be sure they didnt lol.

I know lol...mine did not even say pics...but I took some and sent anyways lol

[g-man]

For my PPR they wanted 2 pics,copies of my passport,height and eye color,and self addressed envelope.

They explicitly asked for this in the email/letter, correct? Mine has a nifty little checkbox listing and the only thing on the list is "copy of birth certificate."

[Timemachine]

My PPR doesn't mention height or eye color anywhere, even on the photo specs. Now I'm worried that they need that and I didn't send it  

They asked for a print out of the PPR email, 2 photos, my passport (or copies of my passport), and a return envelope.

Also, I read gypsy494's PPR again, as hers came from the same visa office in the same day as mine. However, mine says that the passport will be returned within 3 weeks, hers says 4. I really want to be sure of the time frame to know if I can land before my wedding anniversary... this is driving me crazy!

And now I need to stop worrying because I already have my PPR that means we're basically done, and I should seriously calm down.

Ours didn't say ANYTHING about pics, or a paper takling about eye color, etc......all we sent was the photocopy of the passport, copy of the PPR email and return envelope.....uh oh

[bloodyguitars]

My PPR doesn't mention height or eye color anywhere, even on the photo specs. Now I'm worried that they need that and I didn't send it  

They asked for a print out of the PPR email, 2 photos, my passport (or copies of my passport), and a return envelope.

Also, I read gypsy494's PPR again, as hers came from the same visa office in the same day as mine. However, mine says that the passport will be returned within 3 weeks, hers says 4. I really want to be sure of the time frame to know if I can land before my wedding anniversary... this is driving me crazy!

And now I need to stop worrying because I already have my PPR that means we're basically done, and I should seriously calm down.

My ppr said 3 Weeks and I booked my flight tickets according to that. I gave it 5 Weeks and booked my flight on 1st  May :-( . I am really starting to worry now.

[Timemachine]

You'll need COPR, passport, B4/B4A, address where the PR Card should be mailed and yourselves.  And hopefully a camera to record the moment  

The B4 story is:

If you are a returning Canadian, you only get to fill out one B4/B4A that will allow you to import goods duty free as long as you've been out of Canada for at least one year and have owned, used, and possessed the items for at least 6 months (6 month req't waived if you've been out of Canada for five years).   If you are importing any item over 10,000 Canadian you will have to pay duties on the amount over 10k.   The government gives you one opportunity to tell them what you are bringing in.

Similarly, your husband, as an immigrant can fill out one B4/B4A set which he has to turn in on his first visit where he intends to live in Canada more than 12 months.  He does not have the 10k limit per item.

Therefore, you need to fill the form out with everything you are importing (when he lands, on any shipment, or future trips) in your B4/B4A set.    

For clothes and toiletries, you can just estimate the value - ideally on separate line items per trip so that you don't run into issues when they cross items off as you import them.   For jewelry and electronics, you do need to list them one per line item and include: for jewelry a photo (can be one you took yourself and printed) - don't forget wedding bands! - and for electronics you should include model and serial number.   You can complete multiple B4A forms and just number them.  Folks have also reported using other formats (Excel, packing lists) successfully.

If you can take an extra copy, it will make life easier for you and the CBSA agent since they keep one and give one (once stamped) back to you.

If you decide to use them, the B4 is available at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf
And the B4A is at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pbg/cf/b4a/

Detailed instructions are at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html

Thanks, this is very helpful!

[GOGOGO]

Mine asks for copy of PPR mail too, passport copy, 4 photos, form for address+name+dob+height+eye colour, and add a pre-paid envelope only if using US Express Mail for returning documents to US address.

And passport will be returned within 30 business days plus mailing time. (So mean to me, comparatively!)

By the way, I've never ever sent in copy of my birth certificate.

[Isometry]

What does this address/name/dob/eye color/height form look like? Does anyone have a link?