Advice for Soft Landing via Detroit-Windsor border

[sowsiv]

Hello All,

Me and my husband are planning to do soft landing via detroit-windsor border very soon and we have our copr valid until May 19. We are planning to return the same day via u-turn. We both still have valid US visa stamped until september 2021, and my husband also has i797Approval until 2022. We are also taking our baby with us less than 2 years old.
I have few questions, please advise:

1. We are scared that what if the Uturn is not allowed and we are supposed to stay in a hotel?
2. We will take negative covid tests with us and also we are planning to go after our vacccination, do you think vaccination would help us with allowing an u-turn?
3. With our US visa statuses above, will there be any issue when we are coming back?
4. We are planning to go with a rental car from costco, should that be fine?
5. I heard peace bridge is better than windsor border, is it true?

Thanks in advance.

 

[canuck78]

Hello All,

Me and my husband are planning to do soft landing via detroit-windsor border very soon and we have our copr valid until May 19. We are planning to return the same day via u-turn. We both still have valid US visa stamped until september 2021, and my husband also has i797Approval until 2022. We are also taking our baby with us less than 2 years old.
I have few questions, please advise:

1. We are scared that what if the Uturn is not allowed and we are supposed to stay in a hotel?
2. We will take negative covid tests with us and also we are planning to go after our vacccination, do you think vaccination would help us with allowing an u-turn?
3. With our US visa statuses above, will there be any issue when we are coming back?
4. We are planning to go with a rental car from costco, should that be fine?
5. I heard peace bridge is better than windsor border, is it true?

Thanks in advance.

Whether you can do a soft landing is delendent on the CBSA agent. Although you are not supposed to be able to do a soft landing CBSA let’s most people go ahead. Being able to uturn and return to the US is also dependent on the CBSA agent. Vaccinations have no impact on your ability to do a soft landing. Rental car is fine.

 

[sowsiv]

Whether you can do a soft landing is delendent on the CBSA agent. Although you are not supposed to be able to do a soft landing CBSA let’s most people go ahead. Being able to uturn and return to the US is also dependent on the CBSA agent. Vaccinations have no impact on your ability to do a soft landing. Rental car is fine.

Thank you. I wanted to know what happens if they dont allow? would they send back, then its fine. But can it happen that we can return back without taking an u turn? Thanks in advance

 

[sowsiv]

Sorry to tag you directly but would be helpful if you can provide any advice thanks @harirajmohan @peacefulpal

 

[harirajmohan]

Thank you. I wanted to know what happens if they dont allow? would they send back, then its fine. But can it happen that we can return back without taking an u turn? Thanks in advance

If you trying to do softlanding then most probably they wont send you back as others said, its not up to us. And landing is not decided based on whether you plan to quarantine as per recent restriction clauses, one needs to.

Hello All,

Me and my husband are planning to do soft landing via detroit-windsor border very soon and we have our copr valid until May 19. We are planning to return the same day via u-turn. We both still have valid US visa stamped until september 2021, and my husband also has i797Approval until 2022. We are also taking our baby with us less than 2 years old.
I have few questions, please advise:

1. We are scared that what if the Uturn is not allowed and we are supposed to stay in a hotel?
2. We will take negative covid tests with us and also we are planning to go after our vacccination, do you think vaccination would help us with allowing an u-turn?
3. With our US visa statuses above, will there be any issue when we are coming back?
4. We are planning to go with a rental car from costco, should that be fine?
5. I heard peace bridge is better than windsor border, is it true?

Thanks in advance.

1. Its purely depends on the officer.
If you go via land then you can give friend's address wherever you would stay during quarantine period and you dont need to stay in hotel.
2. Vaccination is not considered currently to avoid quarantine. Negative test is mandatory.
3. Lot of people on H status(with/without visa) lands. As long as you have valid I94 issued by cbp/uscis then you should be good.
4. Rental car is fine.
5. No idea. Mostly all border posts became sticky due to covid.
Even residents were not having any exemption on quarantine/negative test when they go back to Canada after personal visit. So dont count on one border vs other ones. All are same.

 

[sowsiv]

thank you. i will keep these things in mind

 

[viveksharmaz]

Hey did you completed your Softlanding. If yes please share your experience here with us as i am also planning to go before Sep 2021.
If not please share your experience once you complete the Softlanding.

 

[sowsiv]

Hey did you completed your Softlanding. If yes please share your experience here with us as i am also planning to go before Sep 2021.
If not please share your experience once you complete the Softlanding.

not yet but i shall update here

 

[sowsiv]

@harirajmohan sorry for tagging directly, do you think cvs lab testing should be fine right for covid test report?

 

[harirajmohan]

@harirajmohan sorry for tagging directly, do you think cvs lab testing should be fine right for covid test report?

I never tried in cvs but looks like they have pcr test "Lab testing (PCR)" hence its fine as pcr is one in the list.
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/driving-canada-checklist/covid-19-testing-travellers-driving?utm_campaign=gac-amc-covid-20-21&utm_source=travel-covid_travel-restrictions_&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=en#getting-tested

I dont know if cvs charges but i usually get the free pcr test from rite-aid(via https://www.projectbaseline.com/). This one is pcr too.

 

[sowsiv]

thanks hari i actually checked the website and found its only available in few states, so went with cvs and is covered with insurance.

Yesterday i called cbp just for verifying that our visa status is okay to come back, sorry to write it again as u might already be annoyed because of me repeating same stuff.
both of our i94 are valid.
me - visa stamp from old employer until september but with new i797 until next year.
wife - visa stamp until september.
so technically i have a new i94 on my i797 and whatever i94 i download from internet for my wife.

1. The officer was telling that as canada is refusing you to enter and i am returning back, he cant extend the i94/ give a new one. i didnt understand this at all.
2. One of my friend was telling that sometimes the officer could backdate the i94 like in my case even though i have i797 until next year, because i am returning on this old visa stamp valid until september, can the officer make my i94 to be valid only until september. Can this happen?

Thanks in advance

 

[sowsiv]

hi i have updated my experience in detail here

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/soft-landing-moving-to-canada.730891/post-9407356