US Citizen Landing Process

[ptecib]

Hello,
   I'm a US citizen working and living here in Canada the past four yrs under work permits. I finally got my PR for Canada, and I'm doing my landing on 7/6/2011. I plan to drive to the US border, and have them redirect me to the Canadian side to do my landing. I think they call this process "flag pole". Has anyone tried this, and if so, what's the process like? What other information do I need to bring with me? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
                                                                                                       Thanks.

[Leon]

Since you are a US citizen and don't need a US visa, you can easily drive across and do some shopping & have lunch on the other side before landing in which case it isn't really flagpoling anymore but if you want to flagpole, you arrive on the US side, tell them that you have changed your mind about going to the US and ask to be turned around in which case they should send you back.  Some have found that US immigration isn't always happy to be bothered with this kind of thing and maybe they will not be nice to you.

To land, you need your PR visa and passport, your proof of funds if applicable and list of goods and goods to follow but you probably do not have any if you have been living in Canada 4 years already.

[ptecib]

Thanks. Also, my partner, who's Canadian, will be going with me. She isn't going to the border with me, but she's going to wait for me on the Canadian side. I'll be driving her vehicle to the border, because my vehicle isn't that dependable. Will this be a problem when I get to the border on the US side? The vehicle is registered in her name and has Canadian plates on it. My vehicle is registered in my name, and has Canadian plates on it. But as I said earlier, it's not that dependable to drive to the border.

[Leon]

I don't suppose it would be a problem if you are not taking it to the US, otherwise they might want to see the title and ask if you have permission to use the car.  It would be better if the girlfriend was with you.  As for taking it back to Canada, it shouldn't be a problem as it is a Canadian registered car.

[qwerbilzak]

Can one fly into Buffalo, then land driving a rented car from Buffalo?

Sorry if this is a stupid question. 

[Leon]

Yes you can but I recall a family wanting to do that saying that they were instructed to get a rental car with Canadian plates.  You can actually get that in Buffalo and then return it to a rental office on the Canadian side.

[qwerbilzak]

Yes you can but I recall a family wanting to do that saying that they were instructed to get a rental car with Canadian plates.  You can actually get that in Buffalo and then return it to a rental office on the Canadian side.

Thanks, Leon.

That's interesting.  But how could you do that if fly round trip through Buffalo? 

[Leon]

So you want to drive across to land and then drive back to Buffalo?  I am sure you can do that too.

[ptecib]

Thanks for your help Leon.

[qwerbilzak]

Thanks for your help Leon.

Ok, great.  Thanks!

[ptecib]

Hello,
    Does anyone know what US-Canadian border crossing would be the closest one for me to drive and do my landing to become a permanent resident of Canada? I live in Newfoundland. I was told that the border crossing at Houltan, Maine- Woodstock, New Brunswick was no good because Woodstock borders Quebec. Is this true?
                                                                                                                           Thanks

[YorkFactory]

That border crossing is about a two-hour drive from the nearest point in Quebec.

[ptecib]

Hello,
    Does anyone know about how long the landing process for permanent residence takes at the Canadian border?
                                                                                                    Thanks

[AllisonVSC]

Landing takes about 15 minutes if there is no waiting. You hand over your documents and answer some questions at immigration and the officer enters some things into the computer. Then you go to customs to present your list of personal goods. It is easy and straightforward (and almost anticlimactic compared to the visa process).