Immigrating from UK via US a bad idea?

[DaiWelsh]

Quick check - we are immigrating shortly to windsor, ontario area, wife and kids are canadian citizens, FIL has PR, but I have applied for PR and will not have it yet (spousal application, will state dual intent at border). We are expecting to land at Toronto but are just considering Detroit as it is so much closer. Obviously this would mean entering US briefly and arriving via the land border at tunnel or bridge. Is this a really bad idea that we should totally discount or does it actually have potential to be a cheaper/quicker option (we are struggling to find a cheap and easy way to get from Toronto airport to Windsor atm)?

 

[on-hold]

I don't really understand your question -- are you asking if there is some disadvantage to immigrating at the Detroit-Windsor border? There isn't.

 

[Aquakitty]

Quick check - we are immigrating shortly to windsor, ontario area, wife and kids are canadian citizens, FIL has PR, but I have applied for PR and will not have it yet (spousal application, will state dual intent at border). We are expecting to land at Toronto but are just considering Detroit as it is so much closer. Obviously this would mean entering US briefly and arriving via the land border at tunnel or bridge. Is this a really bad idea that we should totally discount or does it actually have potential to be a cheaper/quicker option (we are struggling to find a cheap and easy way to get from Toronto airport to Windsor atm)?

There is no problem at all with landing at a land border, as long as that border has immigration services which all the decent size crossings do. Just take a look here if you want to see all crossings that offer immigration: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/imm-eng.html.

Of course, this assumes you don't need a visa to enter the US and don't have any restrictions on visiting the US.

 

[Majromax]

Of course, this assumes you don't need a visa to enter the US and don't have any restrictions on visiting the US.

Even then, the US border officials can administratively deny you entry and send you around anyway.

We are expecting to land at Toronto but are just considering Detroit as it is so much closer. Obviously this would mean entering US briefly and arriving via the land border at tunnel or bridge.

If you're already within Canada when your permanent residency is approved, then you cannot land at Pearson International Airport (Toromto). Its immigration services are, as far as I am aware, available only to those on inbound international flights.

 

[taffy7]

No problem what so ever except being a Brit you will need a visa to get into the states . You can apply on line and i think its about a tenner .


My husband is also coming in August without his PR. Good luck.If you decide to comme to Toronto you can rent a car fro the airport but no direct service , better off going to Detroit.

 

[taffy7]

When he gets his PR he will cross back over the boarder and flaggpole . So he won't go into the states. As a Brit he will need a visa to enter the US when he first arrives.



He will then cross over to Canada as a visitor .

 

[Aquakitty]

Even then, the US border officials can administratively deny you entry and send you around anyway.

The OP can't do that without a visa though I don't think, as they have to travel from the airport to the Canadian border through the US. If they deny him how would he get through to the border.

 

[Majromax]

The OP can't do that without a visa though I don't think, as they have to travel from the airport to the Canadian border through the US. If they deny him how would he get through to the border.

Oh, yes in that case entry to the States will be necessary for transit. I missed the "fly into Detroit" part of the original post.

 

[taffy7]

The OP can't do that without a visa though I don't think, as they have to travel from the airport to the Canadian border through the US. If they deny him how would he get through to the border.

yes he can do that ... he can apply for a visa on line . He can get denied yes but he could also get denied coming into Canada ,its a chance we all take coming into any country .

 

[DaiWelsh]

Thanks for all the answers, to clarify my concern with landing at Detroit is that it adds one extra step - acceptance for entry to US, on top of acceptance for entry to Canada. We would get visas for US (certainly for me, presumably for wife, kids, FIL also), but my worry was that they may somehow decide not to let one or all of us into the US (maybe because although I was planning to enter Canada immediately they would have concerns that I may get turned away at Us-Canada border and so would not let me into US?).

I don't think it should be a problem as we should all be fine to enter US as a visitor (once we have visas ofc) and if we are turned away by Canada we would be able to go back to UK without any question ( we all have British passports).

I guess I was hoping someone would either say "this is routine, US would definitely not turn you away if you were just transiting to Canada and have British passport anyway" or "US may well turn you away for X reason so it is not worth the risk". In the absence of a definitive answer then I have to weigh the risk of an extra border crossing (UK-US) against the hassle of getting from Toronto-Windsor. We will be 6 travelling including 3 children and one 92 year old so being turned away (or even detained) at the border is not a trivial issue for us.

@taffy7: we can rent a car at airport, but not one big enough for 6 people, 6 large suitcases, 6 small suitcases and a small dog afaics. We have looked at a taxi service but it is expensive and the best prospect would not take the dog

It looks like maybe we will get a family member to bring a 12 seater to Toronto, so we *may* be ok, but not sure yet so Detroit is still a possibility.

 

[Aquakitty]

maybe because although I was planning to enter Canada immediately they would have concerns that I may get turned away at Us-Canada border and so would not let me into US?

This won't be a problem because you will have a US visa, the visa will have an expiry date, so once you get into the US you can stay for as long as the visa allows.

Also, you can rent vans and take the rentals across the border, but the issue is you would have to return the van to another city in another country and this is going to be expensive. Whenever you don't bring a vehicle back to the same location the rental costs skyrocket, and who knows what they will charge for dropping it in another country (if they allow that, I'm sure some of them do).

 

[taffy7]

If your wife and children hold Canadian passports they won't need a visa for the states. Its a chance every one takes when crossing a border.I wouldn't do it myself. I would just come to Toronto and get a ride back to Windsor .


The transit over here is terrible fro the airport and so expensive . Your best bet is either a 12 seater bus or two cars . Who is the 92 year old that is coming with you . Make sure you have heath insurance for at least 6 months for visitors . Ohip won't cover your wife or children for 3 months after they land.

 

[taffy7]

FYI if you want to fly out of Wales .. just guessing with your screen name. KLM flys Cardiff Amsterdam.


The dog will require a rabies shot 3 weeks prior to departure and will need a pre screen flight visit from your vet . When you arrive in Toronto you will have to pay i think 35 $ and will be checked by a vet . Even though The UK is a rabies free country you are better off being safe than sorry .