Appreciate your advice driving to Canada this Sunday

[pandadekiko]

Hello guys,

Thanks for reading this post first of all. I am living in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania right now and I plan to drive to Toronto this Sunday for my initial landing, and I have these following questions for your options please:

1) Do I need to make an appointment to cross the bridge this Sunday or can I just go anytime I want?

2) I am still working for my company in the US thus I can't stay for too long in Canada this time, what is the minimal time I shall spend in Toronto for my initial landing? I have a friend in Toronto and he said I can use his address to receive my green card and he will then mail it to me.

3) My understanding is I will be applying for my SIN number, health card and drivers license. Are there anything else I shall do ?

Thank you again for your help !

Cheers

 

[ContactFront]

1, No. Just go.
2. No such thing. You can literally make a U turn and drive home after you land.
3. Maybe also open up a bank account.

 

[pandadekiko]

1, No. Just go.
2. No such thing. You can literally make a U turn and drive home after you land.
3. Maybe also open up a bank account.

Awesome, thank you so much for your answer.
How many days do you think it will take to apply for the SIN, Health Card, Drivers License and Bank account?

 

[manboarpig]

Border Crossing: Real-Time Border Crossing Information - Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC)
There's a box at the bottom of the page where you can see traffic updates

 

[pandadekiko]

Border Crossing: Real-Time Border Crossing Information
There's a box at the bottom of the page where you can see traffic updates

Wow, that is really neat. Thank you so much for sharing the link !

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello guys,

Thanks for reading this post first of all. I am living in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania right now and I plan to drive to Toronto this Sunday for my initial landing, and I have these following questions for your options please:

1) Do I need to make an appointment to cross the bridge this Sunday or can I just go anytime I want?

2) I am still working for my company in the US thus I can't stay for too long in Canada this time, what is the minimal time I shall spend in Toronto for my initial landing? I have a friend in Toronto and he said I can use his address to receive my green card and he will then mail it to me.

3) My understanding is I will be applying for my SIN number, health card and drivers license. Are there anything else I shall do ?

Thank you again for your help !

Cheers

1. No.

2. You don't need to spend any time in Canada. Also, it's called a PR card, not a green card.

3. As you are not moving to Canada at this point, you cannot apply for OHIP and likely not for a DL eiter.

 

[jes_ON]

Hello guys,

Thanks for reading this post first of all. I am living in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania right now and I plan to drive to Toronto this Sunday for my initial landing, and I have these following questions for your options please:

1) Do I need to make an appointment to cross the bridge this Sunday or can I just go anytime I want?

They do not make appointments. And you should know that recently, the border crossings at Buffalo/Niagara area have been refusing to process PR landings during peak / busy travel times, usually on weekends. (Although they initially said they were discouraging flagpoling, refusals have affected others returning from the USA). They recommend landing during off-peak times (e.g. Tue-Wed-Thu, in the evenings).

You can always call the CBSA office where you intend to cross.

http://immigration.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/2017/05/03/immigration-alert-changes-application-process-ports-entry/

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/rainbow-bridge-pr-landing-failed.501556/page-15

3) My understanding is I will be applying for my SIN number, health card and drivers license. Are there anything else I shall do ?

I don't think you will be able to apply for the health card or DL until you actually establish residence in Ontario and can provide proof. Merely landing as a PR is not enough.

You should be able to get the SIN. And - bank accounts can be a PITA, choose wisely - as of my most recent inquiries (last month), RBC has the only true cross-border banking - supposedly you can send money in either direction.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

They do not make appointments. And you should know that recently, the border crossings at Buffalo/Niagara area have been refusing to process PR landings during peak / busy travel times, usually on weekends. (Although they initially said they were discouraging flagpoling, refusals have affected others returning from the USA). They recommend landing during off-peak times (e.g. Tue-Wed-Thu, in the evenings).

You can always call the CBSA office where you intend to cross.

http://immigration.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/2017/05/03/immigration-alert-changes-application-process-ports-entry/

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/rainbow-bridge-pr-landing-failed.501556/page-15

As OP actually lives in the US, s/he will not be refused landing.

 

[pandadekiko]

Thank you very much for your suggestions !

 

[pandadekiko]

Thank you everyone who answered my previous questions, and I like to share that I drove to Toronto last Sunday and did my landing. My PR card will be mailed to me in 60 days. Wish everyone good luck in your PR application !