Soft landing from USA via Road

[APPNOV2014NY]

Hello All,

I am on L1 visa in USA. Visa is still valid i.e not expired.

I will be in Canada for 1-2 hours for soft landing and then return back to USA.

My question: While going from USA to Canada via Car, do I need to stop at any CBP check-post? If not then how would CBP know about my departure for I-94 documentation?

Thanks in advance !!

 

[dbss]

Depends on the post but the ones I have been through there are no exit controls on the border coming from USA to Canada.

When you enter back, they would know you left the country since you are only going to be here for 1-2 hours. Canada/US also share information so they can always check the system.

 

[DEEPCUR]

Depends on the post but the ones I have been through there are no exit controls on the border coming from USA to Canada.

When you enter back, they would know you left the country since you are only going to be here for 1-2 hours. Canada/US also share information so they can always check the system.

One related question. Is it practical to do landing by crossing rainbow bridge in peak winter (Jan - March) with 21 my old toddler? I live in Central US, and I'm debating on doing landing by going to Buffalo, take taxi to Niagara and then walk rainbow bridge. Or take direct flight to Toronto? Latter seems to be expensive ($250 flight charge for Buffalo compared to $480 to Toronto)

Any other suggestions?

 

[karthik2479]

One related question. Is it practical to do landing by crossing rainbow bridge in peak winter (Jan - March) with 21 my old toddler? I live in Central US, and I'm debating on doing landing by going to Buffalo, take taxi to Niagara and then walk rainbow bridge. Or take direct flight to Toronto? Latter seems to be expensive ($250 flight charge for Buffalo compared to $480 to Toronto)

Any other suggestions?

Hands down I would choose flying to Toronto especially with a toddler - it will be much more convenient and hassle free - you are better off renting a car from Buffalo airport and do a one way rental to Toronto. Additionally, in your price comparison you also need to include the cost of getting from Buffalo to the bridge (maybe stay in a hotel depending on timings) plus transportation to Toronto - if you include those the difference will hardly be 100 bucks - and the convenience - there is no price for it

 

[DEEPCUR]

Hands down I would choose flying to Toronto especially with a toddler - it will be much more convenient and hassle free - you are better off renting a car from Buffalo airport and do a one way rental to Toronto. Additionally, in your price comparison you also need to include the cost of getting from Buffalo to the bridge (maybe stay in a hotel depending on timings) plus transportation to Toronto - if you include those the difference will hardly be 100 bucks - and the convenience - there is no price for it

If I go to Buffalo, no need to go to Toronto. I can do landing in rainbow bridge which is just like 10-20 miles from the Buffalo airport.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

If I go to Buffalo, no need to go to Toronto. I can do landing in rainbow bridge which is just like 10-20 miles from the Buffalo airport.

You might get better answers in Buffalo forums of city-data and tripadvisor. These forums are frequented by locals.

 

[dora115]

I plan to go in my own car(clear title,no loan) for soft landing, I want to sell it later in US and don't want to import it, can anyone confirm if I can take my car or do I have to rent a car?

 

[DEEPCUR]

I plan to go in my own car(clear title,no loan) for soft landing, I want to sell it later in US and don't want to import it, can anyone confirm if I can take my car or do I have to rent a car?

I have seen people having tough time if they take their own car for landing. Since you are becoming a permanent resident, and given that they legally don't have anything called soft landing,at they sometimes consider it as accompanying good to Canada. If a vehicle is moved into Canada, it must have followed the import export process.

Of course, many are left without being asked too, but they can force to import if they want. It depends upon officer. If you check this forum, you'll notice that only time people had trouble with landing is when they do soft landing with personal car.

Better to avoid at all costs and list it as goods to follow. No harm in selling later.

 

[dora115]

I have seen people having tough time if they take their own car for landing. Since you are becoming a permanent resident, and given that they legally don't have anything called soft landing,at they sometimes consider it as accompanying good to Canada. If a vehicle is moved into Canada, it must have followed the import export process.

Of course, many are left without being asked too, but they can force to import if they want. It depends upon officer. If you check this forum, you'll notice that only time people had trouble with landing is when they do soft landing with personal car.

Better to avoid at all costs and list it as goods to follow. No harm in selling later.

Thanks @DEEPCUR

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

If you check this forum, you'll notice that only time people had trouble with landing is when they do soft landing with personal car.

I also plan to do soft landing via my own car. I plan to list car as GTF.

Interesting observation.Can you please share few links?

 

[karthik2479]

I also plan to do soft landing via my own car. I plan to list car as GTF.

Interesting observation.Can you please share few links?

I would be amazed to see this as well if folks are able to get their car in without importing it during sot landing - how do they register it then and get insurance on US plates? Since US insurance is anyways not valid in Canada (beyond 30 days).

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

I would be amazed to see this as well if folks are able to get their car in without importing it during sot landing - how do they register it then and get insurance on US plates? Since US insurance is anyways not valid in Canada (beyond 30 days).

Soft landing = Going to Canada temporarily to activate PR and then leaving Canada.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/driving-car-from-us-to-canada-and-back-to-us-without-importing.505571/

 

[DEEPCUR]

I also plan to do soft landing via my own car. I plan to list car as GTF.

Interesting observation.Can you please share few links?

One recent..

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/rough-landing-experience-peace-bridge.504479/#post-6254998

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

One recent..

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/rough-landing-experience-peace-bridge.504479/#post-6254998

Thanks. Please let us know if you find other cases. This one looks like an exception. May be CBSA guy did not realize that deadbird is returning back to USA after landing.

My 2015 move to Canada was super smooth and CBSA guys at Lacolle were very professional and helpful. I still plan to use my car for soft landing.

 

[DEEPCUR]

Thanks. Please let us know if you find other cases. This one looks like an exception. May be CBSA guy did not realize that deadbird is returning back to USA after landing.

My 2015 move to Canada was super smooth and CBSA guys at Lacolle were very professional and helpful. I still plan to use my car for soft landing.

Another one.. very old, but as you know nothing much changes in these developed countries for ages. If you dig this forum, I'm pretty sure you can find more.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/my-landing-experience-very-bad-need-some-advice-seniors-pls-help.38303/

I think it's more of following rules than being professional or rude. They cannot give someone hard time without a reason.

If you look at it logically, the ask makes sense given that there is no soft landing concept legally. You are a settler when you come first time and you are carrying a car that you own.

Anyways as I said earlier, many are left inside without many questions too even with personal car. I feel mostly the CBSA just excuses people in those cases because it being a common occurrence.