+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Can I enter Canada with PR, but without landing?

o_o

Hero Member
Nov 14, 2013
571
41
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-Ottawa
NOC Code......
2174
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-05-2014
Doc's Request.
Submitted with App.
Nomination.....
19-08-2014 (PER)
AOR Received.
No
IELTS Request
Submitted with App.
File Transfer...
No Clue
Med's Request
16-09-2014
Med's Done....
05-11-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
08-01-2015 (CPC-O) 30-01-2015 (Los Angeles)
VISA ISSUED...
10-02-2015
LANDED..........
05-10-2015 (PRC recvd. 01-26-2016)
I'm an Indian in the US on a H1B. Unfortunately, my H1B has never been stamped on my passport i.e. if I were to leave the US, they would not allow me back without visiting a US Consulate. (AVR won't work.) This also means I don't intend to stay in Canada once I get my US visa i.e. I would return to the US in about a week or so.

I'm thinking of driving to the Canadian border from the US and doing my H1B consulate interview in Canada. My problem is regarding the Proof of Funds. I have several times the required funds in my savings bank account with a reputable bank in the US. I plan to take a bank statement for proof of funds.

I'm wondering if the Canadian Immigration Officer refuses my bank statement as Proof of Funds, is there any way I can still enter Canada? I'm not from a visa-Exempt country. Can I convince the Immigration Officer to let me in, and I would complete the landing formalities later on??

I want to avoid driving with a $10,000 to $15,000 bank draft if it were possible.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
92,538
20,357
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
It's difficult to answer your post since you haven't provided complete information. What is your status in Canada? Are you already a PR? Or has your PR visa been issued but you haven't landed? Or is your status in Canada something else?
 

o_o

Hero Member
Nov 14, 2013
571
41
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-Ottawa
NOC Code......
2174
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-05-2014
Doc's Request.
Submitted with App.
Nomination.....
19-08-2014 (PER)
AOR Received.
No
IELTS Request
Submitted with App.
File Transfer...
No Clue
Med's Request
16-09-2014
Med's Done....
05-11-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
08-01-2015 (CPC-O) 30-01-2015 (Los Angeles)
VISA ISSUED...
10-02-2015
LANDED..........
05-10-2015 (PRC recvd. 01-26-2016)
scylla said:
It's difficult to answer your post since you haven't provided complete information. What is your status in Canada? Are you already a PR? Or has your PR visa been issued but you haven't landed? Or is your status in Canada something else?
Thank you scylla for all the help you have provided to me in the past. I've mentioned some of my details in my original post, but anyway, I will try to clarify them here.

I'm in the US on a H1B (but it is not stamped on my passport.) I have never been to Canada, but I have got the PR visa stamped on my passport and the CoPR. I have not landed yet. I'm also an Indian i.e. from a non-visa exempt country, so if I normally have to enter Canada, I need a visa.

Is there anything else you are looking for?
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
92,538
20,357
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Thanks - that clarifies the situation.

In that case you can certainly enter Canada without landing - but you will need a valid Canadian TRV to do this since you hold a non visa exempt passport. When you enter Canada, you will need to let the CBSA officer know that you are only entering as a visitor at this time (using your TRV) and will be landing at a later date.

A US bank statement is fine for POF. You do not need a bank draft.
 

o_o

Hero Member
Nov 14, 2013
571
41
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-Ottawa
NOC Code......
2174
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-05-2014
Doc's Request.
Submitted with App.
Nomination.....
19-08-2014 (PER)
AOR Received.
No
IELTS Request
Submitted with App.
File Transfer...
No Clue
Med's Request
16-09-2014
Med's Done....
05-11-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
08-01-2015 (CPC-O) 30-01-2015 (Los Angeles)
VISA ISSUED...
10-02-2015
LANDED..........
05-10-2015 (PRC recvd. 01-26-2016)
scylla said:
Thanks - that clarifies the situation.

In that case you can certainly enter Canada without landing - but you will need a valid Canadian TRV to do this since you hold a non visa exempt passport. When you enter Canada, you will need to let the CBSA officer know that you are only entering as a visitor at this time (using your TRV) and will be landing at a later date.

A US bank statement is fine for POF. You do not need a bank draft.
Thank you scylla. Actually your last statement helps me a lot.

I can certainly get a US bank statement from one of the largest banks in this country and having a balance of a few multiple times of the amount I need to show as Proof of Funds. I was just wondering what would happen if I went to the Canadian border with my car and they refused my US bank statement. I would not be allowed entry into Canada because of the Proof of Funds. I also would not be allowed to go back to the US because of the expired visa.

After you mentioned it though I have seen a number of other people in the US only going with bank statements.
 

cseeker

Hero Member
Apr 3, 2014
225
12
Ottawa
Visa Office......
Inland
o_o, were you able to enter Canada on a TRV when you had a Canada PR visa also in your passport (i.e. without PR landing)?
 

cprak0

Hero Member
May 25, 2010
506
26
Ottawa
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
21-05-2011
o_o said:
Thank you scylla. Actually your last statement helps me a lot.

I can certainly get a US bank statement from one of the largest banks in this country and having a balance of a few multiple times of the amount I need to show as Proof of Funds. I was just wondering what would happen if I went to the Canadian border with my car and they refused my US bank statement. I would not be allowed entry into Canada because of the Proof of Funds. I also would not be allowed to go back to the US because of the expired visa.

After you mentioned it though I have seen a number of other people in the US only going with bank statements.
USD bank statements way more than the minimum?!! You should have no problems. Most often they don't even bother to ask for the proof, just the amount for them to fill out, that's it.
It takes a day (working day) to apply for the PR card (at the POE), SIN, and a Canadian bank account - would be useful.
 

Visitor89

Star Member
Dec 16, 2016
95
2
Thanks - that clarifies the situation.

In that case you can certainly enter Canada without landing - but you will need a valid Canadian TRV to do this since you hold a non visa exempt passport. When you enter Canada, you will need to let the CBSA officer know that you are only entering as a visitor at this time (using your TRV) and will be landing at a later date.

A US bank statement is fine for POF. You do not need a bank draft.
Im in a similar situation. Any idea if this solution worked?