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PR Soft landing from US - After EO

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praveen07cse

Star Member
Feb 18, 2019
82
47
dileepch7 said:
Out of all entry points, which one do you suggest is the best one for soft landing?
Click to expand...
Mostly all of the borders should have the same information on crossing. Given that lot of people were able to successfully complete landing and return without issues, Seattle and Toronto border would be my option.
I didn't see anyone reporting issues from any of the border as well.
 
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pp90032

Full Member
Jul 16, 2020
24
7
Looks like soft landing and returning back to USA is not an option anymore? From their website https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html
If you’re outside Canada
If you come to Canada, make sure you’re exempt from the travel restrictions. You won’t be allowed to enter Canada right now if you’re travelling for reasons like:

  • tourism
  • recreation
  • entertainment
  • to finalize your permanent residence application but not settle here yet
These are not valid reasons to come to Canada right now.
Click to expand...
So ppl who have got their CoPR after March 18th and not completed travel, can no longer complete the process and come back?
 
M

Maverick99

Full Member
Jul 21, 2020
27
6
I plan to do a soft landing in early September as my COPR expires in November this year. Is anyone planning to do the softly anding around the same time?
Also are there any concerns if you have a valid H1B stamp on your passport to return back to USA?

Any experiences from anyone who recently did a soft landing will be super helpful. Thanks :)
 
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praveen07cse

Star Member
Feb 18, 2019
82
47
M

Maverick99

Full Member
Jul 21, 2020
27
6
decdeccan said:
no worries if you have a valid stamp
Click to expand...
Thanks :)

Any details/information about the experience you or someone who did recent soft landing can provide:
1) What documents need to be provided during soft landing.
2) How would we know that the physical PR card application was submitted by the officer during our landing? Any confirmation letter provided?
3) For the goods list, what is the monetary value we need to provide; current market value or value that we paid when we originally bought the items?
2) What confirmation/receipt we should look for to assure that during soft landing we have immigrated as PR successfully.
 
D

dileepch7

Newbie
Jul 16, 2020
9
2
Let me explain about my landing experience:

I traveled from Denver to Sweetgrass-Coutts border on 07/26/2020 (Sunday). At entry point the officer asked me the reason for entering Canada for which I told him that I want to activate my PR and return back immediately but planning to permanently return back soon. He gave yellow slip and directed me to the CBSA office. The officer there asked me the reason and was extremely unhappy with my decision to travel during the pandemic. He told me that there was no need to travel for immigration which is a non- essential purpose. He made me wait for 1 hr and again called me and told that he doesn’t want to issue PR and asked me to return back. I told him my COPR is expiring in 2 months but he countered me that all expiring COPRs will be extended. Then I told him that there are no clear guidelines for extension process and the duration it will take and I am planning to return back for settlement in 3 months. He again asked me to wait for 30 minutes and in the meanwhile did background check on me and finally called me with signed COPR and said my PR is activated from today. I literally felt like a miracle given the situation.

So, it depends entirely on the CBSA officer’s discretion whether to entertain our request during these times.

While returning back to US, they found my visa was expired, asked for my i-797 and directed me to DHS office. They made me wait for 1 hour and then said they cannot allow me to enter US since my visa was expired and asked me to return back Canada and get stamped visa. It seems they were not aware of AVR process, so i explained them about this process. But they were adamant on refusing entry and said since my expired visa with old employer and i797 is with new employer, AVR process is not valid in my case. Some how they again asked me to wait, this time 2 hours and finally called me and said I can enter US.

To conclude, I took a chance and it paid off. I am not sure whether you can follow the same path as it depends on the border officers on both sides.
 
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P

praveen07cse

Star Member
Feb 18, 2019
82
47
dileepch7 said:
Let me explain about my landing experience:

I traveled from Denver to Sweetgrass-Coutts border on 07/26/2020 (Sunday). At entry point the officer asked me the reason for entering Canada for which I told him that I want to activate my PR and return back immediately but planning to permanently return back soon. He gave yellow slip and directed me to the CBSA office. The officer there asked me the reason and was extremely unhappy with my decision to travel during the pandemic. He told me that there was no need to travel for immigration which is a non- essential purpose. He made me wait for 1 hr and again called me and told that he doesn’t want to issue PR and asked me to return back. I told him my COPR is expiring in 2 months but he countered me that all expiring COPRs will be extended. Then I told him that there are no clear guidelines for extension process and the duration it will take and I am planning to return back for settlement in 3 months. He again asked me to wait for 30 minutes and in the meanwhile did background check on me and finally called me with signed COPR and said my PR is activated from today. I literally felt like a miracle given the situation.

So, it depends entirely on the CBSA officer’s discretion whether to entertain our request during these times.

While returning back to US, they found my visa was expired, asked for my i-797 and directed me to DHS office. They made me wait for 1 hour and then said they cannot allow me to enter US since my visa was expired and asked me to return back Canada and get stamped visa. It seems they were not aware of AVR process, so i explained them about this process. But they were adamant on refusing entry and said since my expired visa with old employer and i797 is with new employer, AVR process is not valid in my case. Some how they again asked me to wait, this time 2 hours and finally called me and said I can enter US.

To conclude, I took a chance and it paid off. I am not sure whether you can follow the same path as it depends on the border officers on both sides.
Click to expand...
Congrats. This is really a great experience . Happy for you !!
 
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praveen07cse

Star Member
Feb 18, 2019
82
47
Hello All. I was preparing for my landing this weekend. Sorry for the delay in updating the list with successful entries.
Below are the new PR's :)

Successful landing and AVR : With quarantine : Lewiston–Queenston bridge
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/automatic-visa-revalidation-avr-to-enter-usa.604996/post-8744291

Congrats @Aliya45

Successful landing : With quarantine : Toronto air
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/new-rule-for-already-approved-pr-applicants.695531/#post-8744282

Congrats @tca_2018

Successful landing : U turn : Detroit-Windsor land border
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/coprs-with-approval-after-march-18-and-soon-to-expire-counterfoils-entering-canada.691134/post-8744455

Congrats @cancan0505

Successful landing : U turn : Detroit-Windsor land border
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/planning-to-utilize-avr-via-detroit-windsor-ambassador-bridge.695502/post-8747282

Congrats @Nav731

Successful landing : U turn :Denver to Sweetgrass-Coutts
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/landing-experience-by-car-at-peace-bridge-poe-at-buffalo-ny.694457/post-8746884

Congrats @dileepch7
 
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A

abhinav92

Newbie
Jul 7, 2020
7
2
I recently completed the whole process and it went super smoothly. Here is my experience:

My plan was to land, quarantine and come back to the US. Flew to Toronto from US on 18th July. The officer was very nice and polite. Asked for my passport and COPR. I hardly waited for 5 minutes while this process completed. Since my case was based on spousal sponsorship, one member here warned me not to travel alone and have my spouse travel with me from the US (which I felt was unnecessary burden so I decided not to risk the health of my wife and had her stay in US as I travelled by myself). After he stamped my COPR, I went to the next desk where I was asked questions about my health, my temperature was recorded and quarantine plans were fed into an iPad. That also went extremely well. The whole process took less than 30 mins (not very many immigrants were present there).

After quarantining for 14 days, I travelled back to the US today. Immigration happened at the Toronto airport and the CBP officer was again very polite (which I found surprising). He didn't even ask for anything other than my passport with the valid H1B stamp. I was out and about in 5 mins.

I hope this will help. All the best to everyone who is travelling. :)
 
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