Soft Landing/Moving to Canada

[harirajmohan]

Hi @starlordavuthu, I am planning to soft land as well, Im currently on Day1 CPT and F1 visa about to expire June 6, My CoPR is valid till July 27 plus my H1b got selected this year and my application is in process. Can I reenter US via AVR with expired F1 visa - do i need anything else except I20 .

If you still have courses to be finished and enrolled for summer/fall then its easier to tell the officer that you are still continuing your studies but if you are already done with enough courses then its risky as per my understanding.
Having I20 is not enough to prove your stay requirement. You need actual necessity to enter US to finish studies.
As you filed for H1, i assume you have finished your course requirements or graduated. If so then please check with lawyer.

 

[Ridham28]

If you still have courses to be finished and enrolled for summer/fall then its easier to tell the officer that you are still continuing your studies but if you are already done with enough courses then its risky as per my understanding.
Having I20 is not enough to prove your stay requirement. You need actual necessity to enter US to finish studies.
As you filed for H1, i assume you have finished your course requirements or graduated. If so then please check with lawyer.

Thanks for reply @harirajmohan . yes I have just started my Day1CPT program in January and have plenty of courses left (2.5 years to go) . So what Im understanding is I should do a soft landing before my F1 visa expires , is that correct?

 

[harirajmohan]

Thanks for reply @harirajmohan . yes I have just started my Day1CPT program in January and have plenty of courses left (2.5 years to go) . So what Im understanding is I should do a soft landing before my F1 visa expires , is that correct?

No, you can go after expiry as automatic visa revalidation will help return back to US as long as you have valid I94 before departing US(and you have enough courses left and already enrolled for next semester).
Take printouts of next semester enrollments, just in case the cbp officer asks on it.

 

[scthuluva01]

Hi guys,
I have a valid COPR and I’m traveling to canada via soft landing to validate my COPR and return to the USA. I’ll be moving permanently to Canada in December 2022.
My question : I want to get my PR validated and return the same day ( my flight is booked ) but it looks like we need to give a covid test. How can I travel back the same day if a covid test is needed upon arrival in canada?

Regards,
Sharat

 

[scthuluva01]

Hi guys,
I have a valid COPR and I’m traveling to canada via soft landing to validate my COPR and return to the USA. I’ll be moving permanently to Canada in December 2022.
My question : I want to get my PR validated and return the same day ( my flight is booked ) but it looks like we need to give a covid test. How can I travel back the same day if a covid test is needed upon arrival in canada?

Regards,
Sharat

 

[kusump]

Hi Everyone, I am planning to do soft landing via land border in Canada next weekend, are border open during next weekend as its memorial day long weekend?
Also, can we enter any day in US via land border?

Thanks in advance.

 

[FeelTheBern]

A few queries regarding soft landing by air:

1. Destination city in my COPR is Toronto. Can I still fly to another city (such as Calgary / Vancouver) for soft landing?
2. Is it compulsory to carry the GTC / GTF list and apply for SIN during soft landing?
3. Do I need to carry CAD if I travel from the US? Or, the US credit / debit cards work fine in Canada?
4. Do we need COVID antigen test results for flying to Canada or only for the return journey to the US?
5. Please share the document checklist for US-Canada and Canada-US flights (if anyone has traveled recently)

 

[Hank2804]

Hi Folks ,

I plan to do soft landing June 4th,2022 into Windsor, ON through Detroit tunnel. I had couple of questions and appreciate any responses :

1. What is the best way to respond to the PR card question. I was hoping to avoid the scenario where CBSA Officer doesn’t agree to send the PR cards to my friends address. Any tricks / best practices ?

2. Can I do the soft landing on Saturday ? Are there any timings I should adhere to ?

3. Are there any particular Canadian banks were I can open an account without a Canadian address ?

Thanks !

 

[nehcan123]

Hi - Does anyone know if US customs at Toronto or Vancouver airport must be cleared before 8:30 pm? If my flight is at 11 pm, does that mean I should arrive at the airport like at 7 pm to ensure i clear customs on time?
https://www.torontopearson.com/en/departures/us-customs-pearson
https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/navigate-yvr/customs-and-immigration/us-customs-and-border-protection

 

[Apoorvkumar15]

Is it a problem to make a soft landing at another city/state other than destination mentioned on COPR ? Also can you land in Quebec for soft landing ?

 

[tarikadeepak]

Hi, When can we go for soft landing at rainbow bridge? Do they keep changing their schedule?

 

[karthik2479]

Is it a problem to make a soft landing at another city/state other than destination mentioned on COPR ? Also can you land in Quebec for soft landing ?

Land at any destination other than Quebec

 

[Ridham28]

A few queries regarding soft landing by air:

1. Destination city in my COPR is Toronto. Can I still fly to another city (such as Calgary / Vancouver) for soft landing?
2. Is it compulsory to carry the GTC / GTF list and apply for SIN during soft landing?
3. Do I need to carry CAD if I travel from the US? Or, the US credit / debit cards work fine in Canada?
4. Do we need COVID antigen test results for flying to Canada or only for the return journey to the US?
5. Please share the document checklist for US-Canada and Canada-US flights (if anyone has traveled recently)

Hey @FeelTheBern Have you done your soft landing yet ? Im in the same boat of PNP and planning to land in Calgary instead of Toronto

 

[FeelTheBern]

Hey @FeelTheBern Have you done your soft landing yet ? Im in the same boat of PNP and planning to land in Calgary instead of Toronto

Hey @FeelTheBern Have you done your soft landing yet ? Im in the same boat of PNP and planning to land in Calgary instead of Toronto

Hi @Ridham28, here's my soft landing experience in Calgary: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/soft-landing-by-air.740881/post-10147955. Hope you find it useful!

 

[eeshan89]

Just wanted to update the group:

- I was able to complete the Soft Landing in 1st week of October by road at the US-Vancouver border without any issues.

Canada side :

- The Officer asked my purpose of visit and then asked me to hand over my Passport and COPR letter.
- He then took my documents, asked me to take a seat and came back after 15-20 mins.
- He then asked me sign my COPR , asked for a Canadain address where PR card will be mailed and congratulated me for officially becoming a Canadain PR.
- No other document like Proof of funds were asked. Just the Passport(with the stamped Visa of course) and COPR letter.
- Officer was generous enough to escort me back to the US border entry point and showed me the way back.

US side:
- CBP officer asked my purpose of visit to Canda.
- Agent at the Border then asked me to go next the CBP office building and asked me to park my car.
- Another CBP officer came out who took me inside the building.
- He asked me for my passport and original I-797. My stamped H1B visa is expired and he was well aware of the 30 days Auto revalidation policy.
- I was issued a new I-94.
- All this took around 30-45 mins as I was the only person there in line.
- I just returned back to US after that.






I

Hello! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm in the same boat as well - PNP through Ontario but living in Seattle right now.

I know this is an old post but wondering if you could help answer another question - could you elaborate on what you mentioned for 'purpose of visit'? Did you straight up mention that you are there for a soft landing and would be turning back around to the US immediately? Did the officer ask any follow-up questions?

Any help would be wonderful! Thanks!