Getting my papers sorted at the border... please help

[err88]

Hi all, hope everyone is good and that applications are going smoothly!

Ive come almost to the end of my application. Right now I have my visa to enter Canada as a resident, but I am in canada already on a valid vistor's visa.

I just spoke to immigration and was advised to go to my closest border and do what they call a "flag pole proceedure". Which means I technically dont leave canada I just 'turn around' at the border, go see the Canadian officials and get my visa right there. Otherwise I face a very long wait to get my papers sorted here in Montreal.

I thought I had asked her everything I needed to know, however after hanging up the phone I am now wondering if I am able to go to the border at the airport instead of driving a few hours to the USA border?

Does anybody know? I dont want to call back and wait on the phone for hours again. If noone knows, I am going to head to the airport anyway and try my luck. Its very close to me. But if anyone knows it would be great to find out before heading there.

 

[Misplaced Brit]

I personally would have thought it wouldn't matter which border you go to, so long as you go to one, but then again, I'm not too familiar with immigration procedures on this issue. It might be an idea to call immigration and ask if you can do that. If you can't, then at least it saves you an unnecessary trip.

 

[Kess]

Call the airport before you go just incase. Customs is usually found after security and for travellers with boarding passes, etc. They may have an office available outside of security but not sure if they would even handle your request.

Which airport were you planning to go to?

 

[scylla]

Unfortunately you can't land at the airport unless you have arrived via an International flight.

 

[err88]

I was going to go to Montreal Trudeau... but if I cant do that oh well I suppose the woman on the phone would have given me that as an option if it was one. I will try to call the airport anyway, but thank you everyone for replying and letting me know

 

[scylla]

Yes - it would be nice!

I asked that same question several months ago and also placed a call to CIC. It's not doable for the reasons that Kess stated. Everything is located after security and you aren't permitted past security without a boarding pass.

 

[scylla]

err88 - Once you call the airport, let us know if you get a different answer than the one that was given to me. Who knows, maybe what I was told was incorrect...

 

[err88]

Scylla you were correct! Not tat I didnt believe you as such its just I wanted to know if there were any exceptions perhaps at different airports. Anyway I do have to go to the border. Luckily my closest border is only 1 hour away and open 24/7.

Does anyone know if it is a long process once there? The guy on the phone explained it as being very fast and easy... Im in doubt!

 

[heatherusa]

I thought that I had seen somewhere that you could book an appointment with the nearest inland processing center.... anyone else seen/heard something like that?

 

[scylla]

Heatherusa - You can definitely book an appointment with an inland processing centre - but I think the wait time is around 6 weeks or something like that. I think err88 is trying to avoid this wait.

Err88 - The landing process at the boarder is in fact fast and easy. I think it took my husband 15 minutes in total (he had no goods to declare and no goods to follow). It does depend how many other people are there. However there's nothing difficult about it!

 

[heatherusa]

Heatherusa - You can definitely book an appointment with an inland processing centre - but I think the wait time is around 6 weeks or something like that. I think err88 is trying to avoid this wait.

Err88 - The landing process at the boarder is in fact fast and easy. I think it took my husband 15 minutes in total (he had no goods to declare and no goods to follow). It does depend how many other people are there. However there's nothing difficult about it!

Thanks for confirming that.. I was sure I had seen that somewhere, and wow, what a surprise that it takes 6 weeks (sarcasm!).

 

[angelbrat]

Depends which Inland office you book with, I believe, some take 4 weeks, some can take up to 12 weeks!!!

Flagpoling at the border is easy, try and arrive either late evening or very early morning, as this will also help the time involved.

I flagpoled when I got my first work visa, we arrived about 10pm and I was out by 10.30pm. When I landed, it was Inland at Vancouver and the process was so easy. Just remember to take your passport... ...one lady at my landing had forgotten hers and of course was sent away.

 

[scylla]

Ahhh!!!! Up to 12 weeks?

Heatherusa - looks like your sarcasm was well justified! ;D

 

[heatherusa]

Ahhh!!!! Up to 12 weeks?

Heatherusa - looks like your sarcasm was well justified! ;D

ROFL - that is far too funny.

 

[err88]

Thanks everyone for the helpful info!! Its not that I just want to avoid the wait, but my visitors visa expires in just over a month and the woman at CIC advised me not to risk waiting for an appointment and just get it done