Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[kayan]

One time I had a guy (American) at the border ask me why in the world I would want to move to Canada. It took all I had to not to bust my guts laughing, because despite being American I have come to hate a lot of things about that country even if my wife hadn't come along.

I've heard this being asked of numerous people, always followed by the same reactions as yours.

I think it's just a real crap shoot depending on who you get

That's really true. There was one Canadian border guard that my husband (a US citizen) was unfortunate enough to get more than once who always gave him grief. Every time, she would hold him for hours of questioning. If I was travelling with him, she would question me too. In another case, a Canadian border guard was trying to accuse my husband of smuggling drugs because why else would he be crossing the border so often. Sometime after that, he was denied entry. Surprisingly, that made his crossing the border a lot easier since he had to go inside the office to show his proof of ties every time. He was visiting me so much that the border guards began to recognize him and were pretty much waving him through.

 

[mjh49783aa]

And I also had a similar reaction when I was asked. I was thinking, "You must be frigging kidding me?! (LOLOLOL)" But nah. I just told him I couldn't afford to sponsor her or some line of crap like that. Sure, if they want to talk to me about what I'm bringing in and all that stuff, well that's their job. However, I personally don't think it's ANY of the US CBP's business as to why I want to move to Canada, nor do I have to justify my decision with them in that respect.

I've heard this being asked of numerous people, always followed by the same reactions as yours.

 

[mrswolfe]

Yup, I'm still here too. BUT...

I just got off the phone with my mom, and it would appear I got (what I think is) the initial assessment letter today. She said it's only asking for the RPRF (which we already paid), interview waived, etc. but I'll know for sure tomorrow when I actually have the letter in hand! (Currently in TO with Husband, but have to head back to NY tomorrow anyway, hah.)

So, while I'm excited to FINALLY see movement, I'm curious about the letter, since I haven't seen anyone mention receiving it in awhile... it seems like most are just getting the *in process* ecas update or the PPR email...

Either way... YAY MOVEMENT!

(as a side note, I asked my mom if there was a #Bxxxxx anywhere on the letter, and she said there's only the #Fxxxxx. So the mystery of #B vs. #F continues?)

YAY movement is right!

 

[mrswolfe]

Hi everyone! My husband just got his Visa back in the mail today! Quick question for those who have landed or looking to land...

The plan is for me to fly down to Florida and drive with hubs up back to Toronto, now I'm pondering on whether we should purchase travel insurance for the ride up and also for the 3 months he won't be covered by OHIP?

Has anyone purchased a third party insurance for the 3 month wait until OHIP kicks in?

ooh...another question...Should I get a one-way ticket to fly down to Florida and risk sending red flags with the border officer or get a round trip flight? Of course the one-way ticket is much cheaper...

YAY! My wife's visa arrived in the mail today and we are going to land on Sunday

 

[mrswolfe]

Gotta love these 2am tracker updates... Good thing I'm still awake!

"Medical results have been received."

SQUEE! ;D

and thank you CandC2009, kayan and Trish1982 (aka SB ) If they're moving on my file, they HAVE to be doing something with yours too!

Congrats again to JustandDaph and can_usa_97. Let's keep the good vibes flowing!

(and now to sleep before I get any sillier... maybe...)

Yay for medicals!

 

[mrswolfe]

Finally some good news!! Wife just got a Request for RPRF so I paid right away online. It says not to mail it to CPC-M if I've paid online, but should I let Mississauga/Buffalo know that it's been paid?

Very much good news!!

 

[mrswolfe]

small and redundant e-cas update last night, but my husband's account now shows "In Process" as the official status of my PR case, where as before it had just said "Application received" and then "We started processing your application on..." when you clicked on that.

Now if only we could get some PPR lovin'! 8)

You might be close! We got our PPR within two weeks of going In Process.

 

[mrswolfe]

Just got an ECAS update!!!

"We started processing <my wife>'s application on September 20, 2011."

Her ECAS shows IN PROCESS as well.

Woot movement!!

YAY movement!

 

[Bargeld]

It might be a real good idea to show the CBP agent your Canadian visitor record if it states that you've applied for a Canadian PR. I've showed it to them pretty much every time I've crossed into Michigan with my wife - including the one time I had to drive her through Michigan to Windsor to visit her mother, and again while going back to the Soo through Michigan. It's almost guaranteed in my experience that they'll look at it real carefully and read what it says before they let us pass. But ultimately, they do let us pass. But with that being said, if they still want to be jerks and tell her to go back, then there's not much you, (or I in my case) can really do.

Hehe yeah, the visitor record is stapled/folded to my passport on the page with a stamp, I have no intention of removing it, so I imagine when showing that to a border patrol agent they will look at it, and my wife will be with me at all times while PR process is going when going through any entry to Canada. While nothing in life is a guarantee, they informed me that given the situation no border/immigration officer I come across in Canada (whether it by by plane or car) will give me much crap when shown the visitor record unless they have a reason to (stashing a ton of goods in the car for example and not declaring), and I certainly would point out for the officer to look at my current visitor record to avoid any hassles. An uncle of mine when visiting Canada tends to get crap from the border patrol crossing in from Michigan because he gives them an attitude when they ask questions. Polite and directness can get you pretty far.

On another note I'm happy to read all this progress on people's PR app's. When baby is born (latest will be 1st/2nd week of October, earliest possible is today) we're going to call Buffalo and then the CIC to update them on our family change. In our app we filed with a semi-outdated FBI clearance document (filed in May, FBI document is from Dec 2010), have an updated one from June/July after submitting for a new FBI clearance document at the same time we sent the full app to Mississauga, and will ask Buffalo if we should send the updated FBI clearance in before they request it so as to avoid possibly getting thrown to the back of a pile later on when they finally touch the app again. I don't have high hopes for that but can't hurt to ask. Since our app was received late in May, I don't imagine the application in Buffalo currently will be touched before baby is born.

 

[Calgary-Bound]

YAY! My wife's visa arrived in the mail today and we are going to land on Sunday

Congrats and I hope you have a smooth landing process.

 

[Feaky Snucker]

I'm 90% certain that the B# is the paper file, and the F# is the electronic one.

 

[amaranth]

LOL, wow....I think you take the record then

... make that 14 now. The tracker REALLY seems to want me to know they received my medicals :

I also realized last night that I cant use the email/fax info on the bottom of the letter, since they're the numbers for Buffalo, but the proof of RPRF has to go to Mississauga. All I have found on the CIC site is how to pay it, but not how to prove I already did... I feel so stupid right now. :-[ ( Maybe now that I'm back IN Buffalo, the disorganization and cluelessness of the VO are seeping into MY brain? )

 

[davidgarcin]

E-CAS was updated for us too! Medical Results have been received!!! ;D

 

[amaranth]

He was visiting me so much that the border guards began to recognize him and were pretty much waving him through.

I have this happen a lot! One time my parents were crossing with me for a weekend, and the Canadian officer started giving them a really hard time because they didn't have passports, just regular driver's licenses (This was LONG before having a passport was mandatory). When he got to my passport, he stopped, looked at me, and said "Oh, YOU again? Still dating that guy, eh? Why don't you just move here?" Then waved us through.

 

[QCSunshine]

Hi everyone! My husband just got his Visa back in the mail today! Quick question for those who have landed or looking to land...

The plan is for me to fly down to Florida and drive with hubs up back to Toronto, now I'm pondering on whether we should purchase travel insurance for the ride up and also for the 3 months he won't be covered by OHIP?

Has anyone purchased a third party insurance for the 3 month wait until OHIP kicks in?

ooh...another question...Should I get a one-way ticket to fly down to Florida and risk sending red flags with the border officer or get a round trip flight? Of course the one-way ticket is much cheaper...

This thread contains helpful info on health insurance if you are in Canada while waiting for PR or if you need coverage until your post-PR provincial coverage begins:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t56620.0.html