Landing process for those living in Canada

[dfb]

I called this morning about setting up an appointment to "land" without leaving and coming back. The letter I got with my passport indicated that you can do this.

The women I spoke to said it was "easier" just to drive to the border and come back and said there was a 6-8 week wait for an appointment to do it locally.

Has anyone here actually done the landing without leaving?

Also, the letter says that you can't leave Canada until you get your PR card. I travel to the US frequently from November - January. Is it possible for me to defer my landing until my final trip in January even though the visa is in my passport. In the alternative, I have a valid work permit - can I still travel on that while waiting for my PR card??

 

[mitamata]

Do you travel by car? From what I understand, you should have no problems getting back to Canada without the PR card (my mother-in-law's been doing it for years), but make sure you have your COPR with you. That's proof of your permanent residency status. The PR card is more an issue with airlines, who want to make sure you'll be allowed into the country and they won't have to take you back home.

If you mean the landing at the CIC office, plenty of people have done it. Mostly those who applied inland, they don't have a choice in the matter. It's a piece of cake, but there is a wait.
If you're crossing the border with a visa in your passport, I think they'll make you land.

 

[dfb]

I will be flying for all of those trips, so will need the card. I guess I just have to spend a day driving to Buffalo and back in the next few weeks to get this taken care of. Thanks.

They left the work permit in my passport, so maybe I can still travel on that while I wait for the PR card...