Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Quince777]

My PPR-COPR-PR story!

Thanks for sharing your story! It was quite interesting to read it.

[mcmasters]

How did you export on the same day? Do they not have a 3-day wait time rule? I haven't exported my vehicle yet, because the U.S. crossing near me says I have to bring them my original title (can't fax it) 72 hrs before I want to export my car. Are you saying it's not the same everywhere?

I physically exported the car and landed on the same day. But I did email the U.S. Customs office at Queenston about a week before I brought the car & scooter to the bridge. I did need to give 72 hours between emailing them and bringing the vehicles in person.

When I brought them in person, I got a stamp on each title that said the vehicle had been exported and the date. I could take them immediately to the Canadian side.

BTW Canadian immigration didn't even ask what I was bringing with me when I landed. My hubs drove the moving truck and I drove the car full of stuff. In the office they took my passport, made up my paperwork, and sent me on my way. They didn't even look in the truck. So it won't matter that I exported my vehicles until I go to register them in Ontario.

Yeah getting the original title can be a PITA. My hold-up was getting a permission letter from my bank because I'm still paying the loan for my scooter. I would've landed a week earlier if I hadn't had to wait for that letter because U.S. Customs wouldn't take a fax of it.

ddobro: thanks! It's so incredibly nice to be moved in. I've had all my stuff unpacked for a few weeks now. Normal life is starting!  

[bubba]

Everyone is different (especially border guards), but in my experience, I don't see how you could get in trouble for this.  I've been in Canada for more than a year and am even a taxable resident because I've spent all but 10 days of that time in Canada.  The first time I crossed I brought in 4 suitcases and a somewhat expensive bicycle.  I didn't know what I was doing so I even filled out the forms for bringing this stuff in as a resident (b4a or whatever it's called) and an effects to follow document.  The immigration officer at the airport didn't care at all, probably because the total value didn't pass $3,000 or so and none of it was brand new.  I've never been hassled during my land crossing as far as my intentions, but they have taken their sweet time to wrap their heads around my situation with all their indirect questions.  It may help that I have a year-long tourist visa.  Technically she's just visiting the country so why not?

So my wife and I are debating whether she should just move up here now.

As you may or may not know, we applied in August 2011, just got notification that we need to pay the RPRF (which I had conveniently forgotten to pay).

When she crosses the border, if she brings two huge suitcases and if I cross with her, will the customs officer be suspicious that she is just moving here before her PR is granted? Will that cause a problem? I have no idea how much longer this process will take (i'm guessing another month at least before PPR and another 2-3 weeks after that), but I'm anxious for her to come up. This is the main concern as she is always hassled by the border guards everytime she comes up about her intentions to stay.

Any thoughts?

[AmericaninQuebec]

After 45 minutes in the centre, he called us up and gave me my COPR-stapled passport, some sheets re maintaining my PR status, and settlement resources.  Also, I got a Canada flag pin!

BUT

he forgot the most important part!  He did not welcome me to Canada!  Haha.  My wife did that, gave me a huge hug right there, and we left smiling and taking pictures.

Tomorrow, I will go get my SIN# (card will come 10 business days later) in BC in person, and my wife will figure out how she applies for my MSP (she is already on MSP and can provide coverage through her own employer to pay my premiums).

That's it!

I'm in Canada, eh?
 

Congrats on landing! I didn't get any resources or a pin when I landed, but I did get a "Bienvenue au Canada" and a handshake.

[AmericaninQuebec]

I physically exported the car and landed on the same day. But I did email the U.S. Customs office at Queenston about a week before I brought the car & scooter to the bridge. I did need to give 72 hours between emailing them and bringing the vehicles in person.

When I brought them in person, I got a stamp on each title that said the vehicle had been exported and the date. I could take them immediately to the Canadian side.

BTW Canadian immigration didn't even ask what I was bringing with me when I landed. My hubs drove the moving truck and I drove the car full of stuff. In the office they took my passport, made up my paperwork, and sent me on my way. They didn't even look in the truck. So it won't matter that I exported my vehicles until I go to register them in Ontario.

Yeah getting the original title can be a PITA. My hold-up was getting a permission letter from my bank because I'm still paying the loan for my scooter. I would've landed a week earlier if I hadn't had to wait for that letter because U.S. Customs wouldn't take a fax of it.

ddobro: thanks! It's so incredibly nice to be moved in. I've had all my stuff unpacked for a few weeks now. Normal life is starting!  

Thanks for the info! I have my title, since my car was a cheap-o we bought off a private seller back in 2010 when I was coming to stay with my husband. I'd been living in big cities up until then and didn't need one. Hehe.

I need to look into getting that recall letter (i.e. the letter that says my car was never recalled) from the Chevy dealership around here. I think once I have that I'll do the import/export routine, since I only have 45 days to register in QC once I import, and I don't know how much hassle getting the recall letter will be.

[AllisonVSC]

Thanks for the info! I have my title, since my car was a cheap-o we bought off a private seller back in 2010 when I was coming to stay with my husband. I'd been living in big cities up until then and didn't need one. Hehe.

I need to look into getting that recall letter (i.e. the letter that says my car was never recalled) from the Chevy dealership around here. I think once I have that I'll do the import/export routine, since I only have 45 days to register in QC once I import, and I don't know how much hassle getting the recall letter will be.

I found that mine Canadian dealer wanted me to pay for any recall work which was free in the US. So I just drove down to B'lo and had the work done at the dealership there. The dealer was also able to set up the recall clearance letter request for me after the work was done.

[mjh49783aa]

I got a smile, and a "You're all set!", but that was about it.

On the other hand, when my wife and I went to the local CIC office to ask some questions about a year or so ago, I did get a pamphlet with the lyrics to O Canada in both English and French, and that had a small Canadian flag pin on it. 

I also thought it was pretty cool that she can sing O Canada in both languages, too. (although her French is quite rusty)

Congrats on landing! I didn't get any resources or a pin when I landed, but I did get a "Bienvenue au Canada" and a handshake.

[Ichiro]

My PPR-COPR-PR story!

Thanks for a great story

[Ichiro]

Hey everyone,

I just had a quick question. I paid our RPRF (Nov 8th) online via Mastercard after it was requested on October 6th. I then sent/mailed a copy of the receipt to both Mississauga and Buffalo via expresspost and both offices received it on November 12th. Now not being familiar with the process a couple of weeks later I sent an email to Buffalo with a copy of the receipt and they said it would be added to the file (November 22nd) and now it is almost two months later and nothing has been received. I did call CIC on the 9th and they even confirmed it was posted on their system. Now the question, since this coming week will be two months since my email to Buffalo does anyone know how much longer we have to wait for a PPR email or snail mail?

I am asking because my wife is getting antsy and I am getting antsy.

Thanks

It's tough waiting, just sit tight.   Buffalo's been slow for the past month, but they have been picking things up lately.   For my partner's application we paid the RFPR on Oct 8th and the PPR email finally came in last Friday (about 3.5 months)

[AmericaninQuebec]

I found that mine Canadian dealer wanted me to pay for any recall work which was free in the US. So I just drove down to B'lo and had the work done at the dealership there. The dealer was also able to set up the recall clearance letter request for me after the work was done.

What kind of work? Everything I've read says you just need a letter from the dealership detailing if there has ever been a recall on your vehicle type, and if not then you're all set. It didn't even sound like it required an inspection of any sort. I remember seeing only cars that have had recalls need any sort of actual work done, because then you need to show further proof that the defaults had been corrected.

Thanks for the tip that the Canadian dealership may want payment for the letter. I think I'll have my husband call (partly because he's francophone and will be able to explain better and also because I find car dealers always seem to respect men more, sadly enough), but if they still want money for it then I'll either go down to VT or ask my folks to get me a letter from the local Chevy dealer near them.

[ben_449]

Just recieved my sponsorship approval and file sent to buffalo on Jan11,2012

Yay

[JAYJAY2]

Got an update on the website saying that

Permanent Residence

We received *** **** application for permanent residence on August 19, 2011.
 
We started processing *** **** application on January 12, 2012.


how long does it take them to approve it? haven't heard anything back yet so far

[ben_449]

 you are in the same timeline as me, I dont know yet but i think it takes like 2 to 3 weeks for Bufallo to start processing.

Got an update on the website saying that

Permanent Residence

We received *** **** application for permanent residence on August 19, 2011.
 
We started processing *** **** application on January 12, 2012.


how long does it take them to approve it? haven't heard anything back yet so far

[eeeeeeeelectric]

E-cas was pretty quick this time!  I got a tracker update that my status was updated to "Decision Made". Not shabby at all!

At Service Canada, getting my SIN# today!

Best to all waiting.

[AllisonVSC]

What kind of work? Everything I've read says you just need a letter from the dealership detailing if there has ever been a recall on your vehicle type, and if not then you're all set. It didn't even sound like it required an inspection of any sort. I remember seeing only cars that have had recalls need any sort of actual work done, because then you need to show further proof that the defaults had been corrected.

Thanks for the tip that the Canadian dealership may want payment for the letter. I think I'll have my husband call (partly because he's francophone and will be able to explain better and also because I find car dealers always seem to respect men more, sadly enough), but if they still want money for it then I'll either go down to VT or ask my folks to get me a letter from the local Chevy dealer near them.

You're right AIQ, only cars that have had recalls need work done, but in my experience the manufacturer only contacts the car owners for recalls for safety issues. There might be (and for me there were) minor recalls that I had to attend to before I could get the clearance letter. It was something to do with the computer system and they just hooked it up to another computer and synced the software. It took 10 minutes, but I couldn't get a clearance letter without it.

As far as the cost, that is for recall work not the letter. The local dealer had no access to the recall clearance info for my car. They told me I needed to call the manufacturer's US corporate office. I did and told them I needed the letter, they ran my VIN and told me what work I needed. Then I headed to the US to get the work done.