Quite helpful & detailed landing experience. I am also planning to go to Sarnia once I receive the passports with COPR.
All the best
All the best
Finally, we have landed yesterday at Sarnia blue water bridge, Ontario. The entire process was so straight forward and easy. It took 30 minutes for the entire process to complete.
Why we picked Sarnia?
The reason being Niagara bridges (160-170 km away from my home) looked to be very choosy these days. They change timings whenever they want and I don't want to get disappointed after traveling so far. However, Sarnia bridge is 215 km. Before we started our drive, I have called up their immigration office in Sarnia and they said they accept PR landing 24 hours. Hence, this raised my confidence.
We started at 6:00 PM and reached Sarnia at 8:00 PM - Paid toll 4 CAD and entered Michigan US border. Officer asked few questions,
1) How many people are in the car and asked us to open windows? He checked and we are four of us. However, we are doing flag polling for only 3 people as my son is a citizen already. Officer asked for my son's passport which we are not carrying (forgot to take it) and I told them that we are only carrying his Ontario birth certificate. He accepted his birth certificate and gave us small document and advised us to go to their office. We parked our car and entered inside - waited for 10 minutes and they asked us why we are coming; I told the officer that we want to do flag polling and he said "Okay" and asked us to wait while he can process our applications. After 10 more minutes, the officer escorted us and opened the small gate which can take us to Canada. Once, we have crossed the gate, he handed over our passports and the yellow slips and asked us to go to Canada entrance.
Paid toll again 4 CAD, Back to Canada, the officer asked why are we coming, I have mentioned that it is PR landing purpose. She asked us to open all the car windows and she asked whether we are carrying any fire arms or any cash more than 10000 CAD; I said No. She then instructed us to proceed to the immigration office where green lights were flashing. I reached the office and two officers came near my car and asked why are we here? I said, again, PR landing. They showed us the way and we entered the office and found that there are 3 officers actively working and 6 people are waiting for various immigration categories, I guess. I took the token and waited for my turn. They called my token after 10 minutes of wait, they asked "why are you here? " We said, PR landing. How many are landing today, We said three and he asked I can see 4 people here. Immediately, I have handed over my son's birth certificate and he said "Oh..okay" He asked us to wait for few minutes while he can process our applications. We have waited for 5 minutes and he asked basic questions, did we commit any crime or ever Canada refused our entry etc....We answered "No". He asked us to sign COPR and handed over our copy and he said: "PR cards will be sent to your residential address".
We said thanks to the officer and asked him on how to declare "goods to follow" as we don't have pictures of our jewellery. He said they can't do it until they have pictures for it. He said, you can still try getting your jewellery and explain customs that you landed as an inland and you don't have pictures. He said, I don;t promise but you can try.
We said thanks and headed back to our place as permanenet residents - reached home in the midnight.