CPP-Ottawa

[Nexus2013]

Brought a U-Haul of stuff to Montreal yesterday. There was a huge line at the border, and the guy at passport control had lots of questions about where my wife and kids are living if I have a U-Haul full of stuff, where they are now, etc. He wasn't a dick about it, but he also didn't seem to listen much to the answers. He sent me to customs - basically the same as for PRs because technically, having always lived outside of Canada, I'm not a returning Canadian, I'm a settler. In the end, it's duty-free so it doesn't matter what they call me. I had the B4s ready, got them stamped and went on my merry way. It was pretty painless. I'm heading back to the US after a couple of days of getting our apartment set up and (hopefully) getting the kids signed up for school, and other miscellaneous bureaucratic stuff...

Glad to see so many people posting good news. Fingers crossed we'll hear good news soon too...

Did you get your belongings to Canada duty free before you have your PR card? If yes, would love to hear how. My stuff is sitting across the border in a trailer at a storage facility while I'm living here in Canada using my visitor status.

 

[Kiri]

Did you get your belongings to Canada duty free before you have your PR card? If yes, would love to hear how. My stuff is sitting across the border in a trailer at a storage facility while I'm living here in Canada using my visitor status.

As far as I know they won't let you bring your stuff if they don't even know if you'll be approved yet. The point of being a visitor is to be in Canada with intent to go back (at least to them). My stuff has been in a storage facility since November 2011 so I know how you feel. I pay $124 monthly on it and because of CIC delaying me a year I've put way more money into it than I would like. I could have saved nearly $3000 Wish there was a way to bring everything over now though!

 

[lunas]

Did you get your belongings to Canada duty free before you have your PR card? If yes, would love to hear how. My stuff is sitting across the border in a trailer at a storage facility while I'm living here in Canada using my visitor status.

He doesn't need a pr card. He's Canadian hey?

 

[Buffy2323]

Did you get your belongings to Canada duty free before you have your PR card? If yes, would love to hear how. My stuff is sitting across the border in a trailer at a storage facility while I'm living here in Canada using my visitor status.

Nexus and Kiri,

I feel your pain!! I am in process of putting all of my crap into storage and making that northern trek. I will be there in 3 weeks. It is exciting and also scary!!

Question for you both, you have been in Canada for awhile, right? Do you cross back and forth or are you staying put while you await the final PR? I am coming in July but would like to visit in October for my son's birthday and then definitely come back for the holidays. I am hoping being a Feb. applicant that all will be finalized by the end of 6 months but I am worried that once my son starts school in Sept. if we try to cross, even being inside our 6 month visitor status, that questions will be asked and we will have a hard time getting back into Canada. Any tips for me??

 

[IslandAnnie]

I am sorry for what may appear to some of you as a double post (as many of you also watch the "US Outland" thread as well and I have posted this over there as well), but I am very worried that our passport request was sent by Ottawa and we never received it....

I finally received our GCMS notes (they took longer than 30 days so emailed them asking about the delay and received the file within an hour!)

The good news it appears they believe our relationship is genuine ... But here is the concerning part - when reading our GCMS notes, I come across this -

-request letter sent: -PA: -ppt copy

does anyone know if this would have been my husband's PPT request??? if so, then we never got it (he has been checking email and junk mail everyday) and it was sent May 8!!! I have emailed an inquiry to Ottawa...and now we wait to see if they are going to respond to my email I'm sure there is some time limit to send the ppt copy after the request? and I'm thinking that time frame may have passed already?

Any ideas on what to do from here??

Would love to hear from anyone who has ordered and reviewed their notes, as to how their PPT request appeared.

 

[Kiri]

Nexus and Kiri,

I feel your pain!! I am in process of putting all of my crap into storage and making that northern trek. I will be there in 3 weeks. It is exciting and also scary!!

Question for you both, you have been in Canada for awhile, right? Do you cross back and forth or are you staying put while you await the final PR? I am coming in July but would like to visit in October for my son's birthday and then definitely come back for the holidays. I am hoping being a Feb. applicant that all will be finalized by the end of 6 months but I am worried that once my son starts school in Sept. if we try to cross, even being inside our 6 month visitor status, that questions will be asked and we will have a hard time getting back into Canada. Any tips for me??

I have been here for 2 years and 2 months (with only 3 weeks during that time frame was I in the states). I came for 6 months, left for 3 weeks, came back and actually had a little difficulty getting back in since I brought some stuff (I didn't want to stay another 6 months without some gaming stuff, books, more clothes so I had to convince them I'd leave at the end of it if I couldn't get extension). Got a 5 month TRV for my passport and applied for extension for a year at the end of that, got approved. Just applied back in April for extension again since my app is still in the ringer and the delay wasn't our fault but CIC's - am here on implied status now until we get a decision on that. Nothing yet.

Only tips I can give is be honest. If they even remotely think you're lying they will reject you. I think the lady who let me come back after just being here months only let me in because I offered up all the information and was completely open and honest. -- of course that could backfire for some people, but who knows.. that's just my story. I avoid the border because I'm afraid of getting hassled and not let back in. Just biding my time until this PR crap is over with, praying they don't reject my extension (or that PPR will come before I'd get a rejection so that when I cross I can go visit family and just come back after a couple weeks again and have the PPR letter so they'll know I'm in process and pray they let me back in). I won't cross the border without that letter to bring back with me... not unless I have to.

 

[Buffy2323]

I have been here for 2 years and 2 months (with only 3 weeks during that time frame was I in the states). I came for 6 months, left for 3 weeks, came back and actually had a little difficulty getting back in since I brought some stuff (I didn't want to stay another 6 months without some gaming stuff, books, more clothes so I had to convince them I'd leave at the end of it if I couldn't get extension). Got a 5 month TRV for my passport and applied for extension for a year at the end of that, got approved. Just applied back in April for extension again since my app is still in the ringer and the delay wasn't our fault but CIC's - am here on implied status now until we get a decision on that. Nothing yet.

Only tips I can give is be honest. If they even remotely think you're lying they will reject you. I think the lady who let me come back after just being here months only let me in because I offered up all the information and was completely open and honest. -- of course that could backfire for some people, but who knows.. that's just my story. I avoid the border because I'm afraid of getting hassled and not let back in. Just biding my time until this PR crap is over with, praying they don't reject my extension (or that PPR will come before I'd get a rejection so that when I cross I can go visit family and just come back after a couple weeks again and have the PPR letter so they'll know I'm in process and pray they let me back in). I won't cross the border without that letter to bring back with me... not unless I have to.

Thanks for the information. If we come back in October it will be for a short visit (over Canada Thanksgiving which coincides with my son's birthday). That would be about 2 1/2 months into our "visitor" status. But come Christmas would be closer to 5 months. I know I am allowed to be in Canada up to 6 months but I worry because my son is a minor that they will question that he is going to school in Canada (which he will be). I have a back up plan if we must come back to the States after 6 months but it's basically just staying with my parents. Do you think a notarized letter form them stating that we plan to move back and stay with them if we don't have status within 6 months would be ok? I don't want to break any rules but I am also stuck because my year lease ends at the end of July and I can't lock into another year lease. It's hard being in limbo!! We are trying to do things the "right" way but it sure isn't easy!!!!

 

[Kiri]

Thanks for the information. If we come back in October it will be for a short visit (over Canada Thanksgiving which coincides with my son's birthday). That would be about 2 1/2 months into our "visitor" status. But come Christmas would be closer to 5 months. I know I am allowed to be in Canada up to 6 months but I worry because my son is a minor that they will question that he is going to school in Canada (which he will be). I have a back up plan if we must come back to the States after 6 months but it's basically just staying with my parents. Do you think a notarized letter form them stating that we plan to move back and stay with them if we don't have status within 6 months would be ok? I don't want to break any rules but I am also stuck because my year lease ends at the end of July and I can't lock into another year lease. It's hard being in limbo!! We are trying to do things the "right" way but it sure isn't easy!!!!

The right way isn't easy at all, that's for sure. Notarized letter might help your case. Tickets or paperwork proving that you have a reason to go back to the states is very important. Proof of ties to the states (lease to show you have a place (you don't have to mention when expires), bank accounts, vehicles you're leaving behind, other property, family letters) are a must. Utilities in the states helps too (like a phone thing).

My proof was I had family and the job I work for was in the states (I do my illustrations on the computer and email them to clients and the company).

 

[amikety]

I have 0 proof I was returning to the USA. Luckily, no one asked for any.

Thinking about, I was one naïve jerk.

 

[Nexus2013]

Nexus and Kiri,

I feel your pain!! I am in process of putting all of my crap into storage and making that northern trek. I will be there in 3 weeks. It is exciting and also scary!!

Question for you both, you have been in Canada for awhile, right? Do you cross back and forth or are you staying put while you await the final PR? I am coming in July but would like to visit in October for my son's birthday and then definitely come back for the holidays. I am hoping being a Feb. applicant that all will be finalized by the end of 6 months but I am worried that once my son starts school in Sept. if we try to cross, even being inside our 6 month visitor status, that questions will be asked and we will have a hard time getting back into Canada. Any tips for me??

I (we) did the back and forth thing for a few years before packing up the US home and moving here last Aug. In our 3.5 years together we have easily done 100+ border crossings! In this last year it's only been a handful of times but very little fuss at the airports, but border crossings are way more cautious. I agree with Kiri, always tell the truth. One hint of lying and you will go many levels up in the "grilling" department. If you are going about this the legit/legal way, you don't have too much to fear. When I would talk about being in the PR process; saying where I was in the process and "talking the talk", that seemed to help. If you are crossing with out personal belongings, you just look like a visitor. Not sure if having your son in school here will cause you any difficulty but lets hope by Oct we will both be "free to move about the cabin"!!!!

A few recommendations I would make:
Carry your receipt for the PR application.
I always travel with documents showing my ties to the US. (mortgage statements, pay stubs, utility bills, etc)
Don't even try to bring anything that can be construed as personal belongings.

 

[Kiri]

Another point to make about being completely honest and upfront... if they suspect you even once, or catch you lying even once they WILL mark your record and EVERY TIME you cross you will face scrutiny about your honesty. They note everything.

 

[Nexus2013]

Thanks for the information. If we come back in October it will be for a short visit (over Canada Thanksgiving which coincides with my son's birthday). That would be about 2 1/2 months into our "visitor" status. But come Christmas would be closer to 5 months. I know I am allowed to be in Canada up to 6 months but I worry because my son is a minor that they will question that he is going to school in Canada (which he will be). I have a back up plan if we must come back to the States after 6 months but it's basically just staying with my parents. Do you think a notarized letter form them stating that we plan to move back and stay with them if we don't have status within 6 months would be ok? I don't want to break any rules but I am also stuck because my year lease ends at the end of July and I can't lock into another year lease. It's hard being in limbo!! We are trying to do things the "right" way but it sure isn't easy!!!!

If you go back in Oct, your 6 months resets so Christmas will be only 2 months!

Another point to make about being completely honest and upfront... if they suspect you even once, or catch you lying even once they WILL mark your record and EVERY TIME you cross you will face scrutiny about your honesty. They note everything.

Or worse... ban you for a year. :'(

 

[Kiri]

Or worse... ban you for a year. :'(

Ah yeah, that too -_-

 

[keesio]

Nexus and Kiri,

I feel your pain!! I am in process of putting all of my crap into storage and making that northern trek. I will be there in 3 weeks. It is exciting and also scary!!

Question for you both, you have been in Canada for awhile, right? Do you cross back and forth or are you staying put while you await the final PR? I am coming in July but would like to visit in October for my son's birthday and then definitely come back for the holidays. I am hoping being a Feb. applicant that all will be finalized by the end of 6 months but I am worried that once my son starts school in Sept. if we try to cross, even being inside our 6 month visitor status, that questions will be asked and we will have a hard time getting back into Canada. Any tips for me??

Hi Buffy,
We're (my wife and I) are in a similar situation. Sent in application in January. My wife plans on visiting me for awhile in Canada in July and plans on leaving at the latest in November (but hopefully sooner when her COPR comes in if all goes well). From what I understand from all the great advice here is to make sure you have a clear plan to leave while a visitor (return ticket, etc) and to have your sponsorship approval letter and any other proof of ties to the US. If you are honest and do not raise any flags, it should be ok...

 

[brightredscream]

I'm going crazy!
Hubby's COPR was issued on June 28, decision made on July 1st...but address is still his US addy! Wth?!?!