Hello all,
First of all thanks for all the help and guidance I received in this forum from the members. I want to share my short landing experience with all of you, hopefully it may help a little. I will try to keep it short and to the point.
US to Canada:
I stay in the US and decided to land via road. I rented a vehicle and drove to Peace Bridge. It said "Canada" and looked like "toll booth". The officer over there was nice, checked my passport and I 797(h1b) and asked me to park the car and go in the building at my left side. I went inside and straight to the counter. The lady asked me purpose and asked my passport and CoPR. I handed those over and waited for like 10 mins Another offer announced my name. I and my wife went to his counter. He asked me general questions like DOB, Name, marriage date and some casual questions. Asked us to sign our CoPR and provide address for PR delivery. I told that I am staying at my relatives and provided the address. He clarified that the PR card will be delivered over there and asked if I am OK with it. He informed me that we are now PR of Canada and welcomed. I clarified with him that we can travel with CoPR via road and cross the border as many times we want until we get the PR card. To travel through air we need PRTD and CoPR will not help at airports more than one time. All done there then asked me to visit another counter for Goods in possession and Goods to Follow list stamping. Another gentleman here.. checked my list stamped and gave me copy and clarified that if I bring any stuff which is not on the list, may have to pay the duty.
Please note that they don't need any photographs of ANY item. (please double check on the CIC website), at least that's what the officer told me. If one has provided all the details and documents in the profile correctly there will be lesser questions during the landing.
Next day I got my SIN done, it's a 20 mins process (all you need is passport and CoPR) and also Bank Account done. Please note that SIN is not required to open a Bank Account so in case you reach Canada and realize that SIN office is closed (it closed at 4 PM) and have time left then probably you can visit bank and get the account open. Banks are open till 8 PM during weekdays. This is will save some time next day. One can add SIN to the account later.
Also, I got our photographs clicked at local photo studio for Canada PR and left the copies with my friend, this way I will save time and money on shipping if they ask for photographs again. I noticed that recently lot of people are getting requests for photographs for PR card and they have to ship it.
Canada to US:
I entered back to US via Peace Bridge. Officer checked my passport and i 797. He asked me reason for not having any stamp for my h1b. I explained him that I couldn't leave country after my h1b extention. That's all. I had Automatic Visa Revalidation printouts ready with me regardless.I entered back safely without any issue.
Thanks,
Chikoo
First of all thanks for all the help and guidance I received in this forum from the members. I want to share my short landing experience with all of you, hopefully it may help a little. I will try to keep it short and to the point.
US to Canada:
I stay in the US and decided to land via road. I rented a vehicle and drove to Peace Bridge. It said "Canada" and looked like "toll booth". The officer over there was nice, checked my passport and I 797(h1b) and asked me to park the car and go in the building at my left side. I went inside and straight to the counter. The lady asked me purpose and asked my passport and CoPR. I handed those over and waited for like 10 mins Another offer announced my name. I and my wife went to his counter. He asked me general questions like DOB, Name, marriage date and some casual questions. Asked us to sign our CoPR and provide address for PR delivery. I told that I am staying at my relatives and provided the address. He clarified that the PR card will be delivered over there and asked if I am OK with it. He informed me that we are now PR of Canada and welcomed. I clarified with him that we can travel with CoPR via road and cross the border as many times we want until we get the PR card. To travel through air we need PRTD and CoPR will not help at airports more than one time. All done there then asked me to visit another counter for Goods in possession and Goods to Follow list stamping. Another gentleman here.. checked my list stamped and gave me copy and clarified that if I bring any stuff which is not on the list, may have to pay the duty.
Please note that they don't need any photographs of ANY item. (please double check on the CIC website), at least that's what the officer told me. If one has provided all the details and documents in the profile correctly there will be lesser questions during the landing.
Next day I got my SIN done, it's a 20 mins process (all you need is passport and CoPR) and also Bank Account done. Please note that SIN is not required to open a Bank Account so in case you reach Canada and realize that SIN office is closed (it closed at 4 PM) and have time left then probably you can visit bank and get the account open. Banks are open till 8 PM during weekdays. This is will save some time next day. One can add SIN to the account later.
Also, I got our photographs clicked at local photo studio for Canada PR and left the copies with my friend, this way I will save time and money on shipping if they ask for photographs again. I noticed that recently lot of people are getting requests for photographs for PR card and they have to ship it.
Canada to US:
I entered back to US via Peace Bridge. Officer checked my passport and i 797. He asked me reason for not having any stamp for my h1b. I explained him that I couldn't leave country after my h1b extention. That's all. I had Automatic Visa Revalidation printouts ready with me regardless.I entered back safely without any issue.
Thanks,
Chikoo
