US outland applicants' thread :)

[nsr]

Hi Folks,

Just Got my COPR and Passport back today and will be landing tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[lawgrrl]

Hi Folks,

Just Got my COPR and Passport back today and will be landing tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help.

Way cool! And WELCOME!

 

[nsr]

Thank you so much!!!

 

[AACA]

Received my passport and COPR today

 

[Kiri]

So if someone could update the spreadsheet that would be great!

I got my COPR yesterday (September 27th)! I actually got COPR without a PPR!

FINALLY ITS GONNA BE OVER!

...now to figure out all the form stuff for landing.. oh boy. Will be landing December 3rd though because we're going down to the states again mid-November for a few weeks and figure it'd be best to do the landing then when I can go make an itemized goods to follow thing.

 

[cempjwi]

Thanks. If I stick it on the goods to follow list, do I need to provide any documentation on the car? Or is it ok just to list it and then provide all of that information later if we ever do decide to import it?

You do not need any documentation if you are not planning to import it upon landing. Just make sure it is listed on your forms. Make sure you have at least two copies upon landing (it will save you time) and have you copy stamped by them upon landing. Goods to follow must be cleared later on for release at a CBSA office within Canada, and they will also keep a copy of your forms; make sure you are not left without a stamped copy of your forms for your records.

When we presented our forms we had 13 pages between goods we had with us and goods that were following and the agent manually added all the values up (which took a while because we had several electronics with serial numbers). If you have many pages I would recommend totalling each page and having goods-with-you and goods-to-follow subtotals as well as a global total; it will save you some time at the border.

 

[SadieRoo]

my husband told me the strike was over, lets cross our fingers!

 

[nsr]

Hello Folks,

First of all thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks and tons of thanks for all the help I received from you guys. You guys are awesome. I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Special thanks to Canadavisa team who made it possible and of course free of charge. Today I Confess that the help I received from here was 100 times more then my own lawyer to whom I paid CAD $5500. ( yes it is right not an extra zero in this figure, it was 5500). Sounds stupid right? yaa I know. But It was hard situation when I went to him but later everything worked out. But he is one of the top ones in Toronto ( you know why because he only takes genuine looking and possible looking case and thus has over 96% success rate). Anyways don't ask his name, after all he did all process for me.

So now here comes the landing story. Sorry I was really busy since I land and couldn't post it here. But I definitely want to post it here because it may answer at least few people's questions or doubts.

On 26th september I received my passport back from lawyer in vancouver,BC.( Passport stamped at LA and then they send it through flat rate international mail to toronto(lawyer's address)). If anyone is in this situation, I want to tell them there are not many people( national of visa required country) in this forums who lives in canada on any temporary permit. So if you are in this category and your passport is travelling from US to canada then it takes at least 2 weeks to get it and it is not registered mail and not possible to track it. Waiting for my passport was hardest time in this process( because of passport involved in this step). If possible use alternate method like making it send to US address of freind and make them send you with tracking.

So enough was enough. I didn't want to give them any more time to think again about this or change their decision lol. On 27th my wife was gonna start work late afternoon so we woke up early and headed to states in our car. At 8.45 AM we crossed Peace arch border( waiting was about half an hour). Headed straight to walmart and then JCpenny in Bellingham. We had to exchange some clothes from there. Filled up gas in my car, it cheaper in states as compare to BC so why not. Then headed back to peace arch bridge( didn't want to spend any more time in states because wanted to land ASAP). When we reached there in one of booth lineup there, didn't take long to figure out that our lane was the slowest lane. And it was damn slow literally. The cars stopped next to me in other lanes were already gone 10 mins before we reached at the booth. Anyhow, So we reached at the booth and it was lady officer and she asked when we headed to states. I told her this morning and also that I will be landing today. Questions she asked here was:- Is this your car? Are you bringing less then 10,000 dollars? How much shopping you did today? Any liquor or cigarettes we bought today?

Then she gave us a card and told us to go inside. We parked our car and headed inside. It was all empty. We were told to go to B section. There were only two people in front of us waiting. But there were no officers sitting or serving people. They were there and chatting to each other but not helping us. So after 5-7 mins someone( officer from other side section A) interrupted their conversation and laugh and told them to help us. Then they called other officers( I think they were having smoke brake) and started helping us. Two people in front of us were being helped now and we were first and last in the lane now. Then suddenly another officer came and called us. Guess who she was? Same officer who was in our booth lane. Someone probably kicked her out of her booth as she was taking way too long. Anyway she took papers from me, my address in canada ( driver licence from BC) and told her she has to do some background checks. I was like whatttttt again. She told us to have a seat and she will call us once she is done.

Then started the waiting game again, she was taking too long here too as compare to other officers. After about 15 mins she called me and said I need to go through some points on COPR. Those were like do I any dependents other than listed here? Did I do any crime? She already wrote NO there and asked me to put my initials. Then she told me to sign and she signed after me. Then She handed me my copy and a paper with information about where to apply SIN number and stuff and thats it. But no welcome to canada nothing LOL, I was like whatever. But it feels good when they say right?

Then we headed straight to service canada and were done in 15 minutes. She made copy of COPR and gave me SIN number on paper and said card will be coming in about 10 days. She told me inform Canada revenue and bank about my new SIN card changed from old temporary SIN. I called Canada Revenue and he said why you need to tell us about this. Service canada will do this, this is the internal procedure. I was like they told me to inform you guys. He said NO it takes about 30 days to reflect in our system but you don't need to worry. Later I informed Bank and they said its necessary to update your SIN with them.

Yesterday I was checking my Ecas, it now says COMPLETE with two different addresses. One my home address which was updated by officer at landing and other was mailing address which is my lawyers address still. So today I called them to see they sending my PR card to my home address or my mailing address( which is lawyer's address). She told me my mailing address is the address I had 2 years ago( my last home address). Its funny because they were gonna send my PR card to this address although they have my home address(current address but it was not mailing address). Anyways I made her update all addresses to my current home address.

The end( long writing lol). Now waiting begins for PR card and heading back home after 2 and half years.

Cheers!!!!!

 

[chach]

great post nsr!

i was wondering if some members who have already could also share their stories of "landing" day. Just wanted to get an idea of what to expect.

 

[parker24]

great post nsr!

i was wondering if some members who have already could also share their stories of "landing" day. Just wanted to get an idea of what to expect.

Here's my copy and pasted story. Hubby landed this past Jan

It was nerve wracking. We landed at the Ogdensburg/Prescott Bridge, little tiny thing! Went through to the US Customs, he asked the citizenship of everyone (it was myself, my mother and hubby) and my mom, the driver, told him. The customs agent asked "How do you know him?" (my husband, to my mother) "Well he's my son-in-law" Agent: Oh that's too bad. Me: :-X Mom: For him maybe! Agent: For someone it is yes! I was freaking out when he said that haha. We did a U-turn, back OVER the bridge, to Canadian side, got up to the Agent, asked what our business was in the US, mom said hubby was landing as a PR. Apparently this agent was having an influx of immigrants, he seemed annoyed that he had to fill out more paperwork LOL. Asked us about tobacco, firearms and drugs, naturally. Then gave us back our passports, and a yellow slip to take in to the building. I'll take a moment and note, I'm a very excitable person, my husband isn't haha. I was practically jumping while walking in until I got glared at by agents inside! MEEP! So we go up, they tell us to sit down : ... We wait like 5 minutes and then the officer called us up, all three of us. Asked for hubby's COPR and asked what his status was in Canada. He says visitor. "Do you have it with you?" "Uh..no.. We applied for an extension at the beginning of November, but haven't heard anything yet" "Do you have the proof of that?" Him and me: Nope. She must have found it, asked for my mom and my passports to make sure we were Canadian and sent us to sit down. I attempted to read her lips hahah! But all I got was sign here, the card etc. So hubby explained afterwards that she had him go over everything and makes sure it was all right, told him about importing the car (we can just show up at that bridge with the title), talked about him getting a SIN and his PR card. Told him to NEVER lose the COPR, he'll need it like his birth certificate and marriage certificate, needs to be in a safe spot after he gets PR card. She stapled one of the pages of the COPR to his passport and said Congratulations! He was 5 feet from us so when he turned around we got up, went outside and I started getting bouncy again ;D Then drove back to Canada! Straight to Service Canada, got a SIN (took 15-20 minutes) and then to Service Ontario to ask about OHIP. You can apply before the three months, but you still have to wait three months. And said that he would need his Ontario DL, his PR card and a bill with his Canadian Address on it to get a health card.

 

[MommyBear]

Hi,

American Citizen married to Canadian citizen. I have been going back in forth between the US and Canada, but have never overstayed more than 6 months at a time for the past 6 years. Have never applied for Canadian PR until now. I want to apply as outland, but am stumped as to how to fill out this section of the general Application Form.

COuntry of residence: do I put Canada or the US? If I put down Canada, can I still apply as outland? ANd if no, then how do I answer

"During the past five years have you lived in any country other than your country of citizenship or your current country of residence." Is it a problem to indicate dates I was in Canada?

 

[computergeek]

COuntry of residence: do I put Canada or the US? If I put down Canada, can I still apply as outland? ANd if no, then how do I answer

If you are living in Canada, you should list Canada. If you are living in the US, you should list the US. "Outland" means your application is processed at a visa office abroad (in your case that means Ottawa, supporting my contention that Canadians are now as geographically challenged as Americans.) If you wish to apply Inland there are specific requirements that you be living in Canada with your spouse/partner. But there is no requirement that you live anywhere for Outland (only that you maintain legal status if you are living in Canada).

"During the past five years have you lived in any country other than your country of citizenship or your current country of residence." Is it a problem to indicate dates I was in Canada?

No. It would be a problem if you lied. Do not lie as misrepresentation is a serious problem that can cause you quite a bit of grief.

 

[Concertina]

Hello All!
Im engaged to a Canadian- met in school 3 yrs ago, started dating 2+ years ago, engaged Jan 2013. I live and work in Michigan, he's temporarily living n working in Toronto- until June 2014. Then, we'll be able to move in together (finally!)- buy a house in the Windsor area so I can keep crossing. I don't need to move into Canada any sooner then June 2014.
What's the best order to do things in? Get married, get temp visa, send in Sponsorship/PR app? Get temp visa, get married, apply for Spon/PR?
All advice would be more than appreciated- we're worried about misstepping somewhere along this process. We were going to send in the spon/ PR app as conjugal partners n get married Sept. 2014 but luckily found this Forum! So we're flexible- biggest concern is getting the right documentation so I can live in Canada and cross the border M-F while we wait on processing times for my PR.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, All!

 

[OKLandman]

Well here is an update to my status:
I came to Canada ( from the US) to visit my spouse. I saved a bunch of money and decided to go for the 6 months I was legally allowed too. When I got to the border I was of course sent inside and questions by the immigration officers. I was honest with them, showed them copies of my application, told them what I wanted to do. They were very nice and helpful. They told me that I should get a LMO job since I can't legally work while Im visiting etc. Then they did something awesome. They gave me a visitors permit. This allows me to stay in the country for a year. I can also file an extension until my PR stuff is processed and stay longer. Since I am married to a Canadian Citizen it also allows me to get be on her healthcare. I was so excited for that =).

As far as application stuff goes. It's still just says application received on Jun 28 when I check it online. I did however email the LA office ( were my app was sent) and give them my Canadian address. I did that last Thursday and it has already been updated.

Other than that... just waiting

 

[theamazingaustin]

Ok, while I'm sure this is covered somewhere, there is SO much information on this site I couldn't find it!

I'm US - my Wife is Canadian.
App was received on Dec 10, 2012
We're now at "Decision Made. The office will contact you concerning this decision" since about two weeks ago.

What I'm wondering is what happens next?! They already have all my medicals, police reports, and I had to email them a copy of my passport after the first part of the assessment. I'm sure I'm approved - I have no reason not to be - but:

• Will they now send me a passport request? - If so is this by mail, or email? <<< I'm pretty sure this is "Yes"
• Also, since I filed outland, will they send any information / passport requests to my address in the US, or to my wife's residence (Where I am at) here in Canada? <<< This one's important, haha.

When I log into the site, under "Your current mailing address" it has the Canadian address - I'm pretty sure it had the US address before, but maybe not.

I'm planning to go back to the states for a week at the end of this month, but if they're going to be sending it there, or if they're going to request I show up at a Canadian Embassy / Vista Office in the states, I really cant afford to go back and forth twice. Have been out of a decent job for almost a year now!

My file is at OPP-Ottawa too, btw.

>>> Thanks for your help guys! And I promise I searched the heck out of this question, but I just couldn't find the specifics about this.
-Austin