My Airport Landing Experience - Toronto, ON

[Nuff_Love]

Congratulations and best wishes! If you stay in Toronto, I hope we get to meet at one of the CV gatherings

@Nuff_Love, they don't do anything except make note of the amount. It's part of tracking money laundering or something. As long as you're not doing anything illegal with the money, no worries. They just want you to declare it so they can be sure.

Thanks for your feedback. Are you speaking from experience?

 

[ashu1710]

Hi Guys,
I've finally arrived!!!!! In the spirit of sharing information, I thought I would also share my landing experience in case anyone else has questions, or it can be of use to anyone.

• I arrived at the Lester B. Pearson Toronto Airport in Ontario (Mississauga) at 10:15pm yesterday (a Friday)
• Upon disembarking from the plane, we were directed to the Arrivals Hall (5-10 minutes of walking from the terminal, depending on how fast you walk); there were enough arriving passengers there, that it took me about 5 - 10 minutes to get through the line to a kiosk. I joined the line for 'All Passports'
• The kiosk asks you to indicate the country you're coming from, how you arrived (from the US, from another country, from another country but transit through the US), and the purpose for your visit (Immigration), as well as questions about what you're bringing into the country and if you're bringing in any money or monetary instruments valued at more than CAD$10,000). You also have to let it scan your travel document and wait for the kiosk to take a picture of you (remove your glasses if you wear them). At completion, it will print a declaration slip for you. This takes less than 2 minutes unless you're having difficulty understanding the kiosk's instructions, but there are Officers in the hall to assist you if needed.
• Once you finish at the kiosk, you will be directed to wait in line until an Immigration Officer can speak to you (this part was quick, I basically waited in line for 5 seconds, if that much). The Officer will ask you the purpose of your visit ("landing to become a permanent resident"), and if you have any 'goods to follow' (in my case "no"), and will make a mark on your declaration slip with a highlighter, then direct you to leave the Arrivals Hall. This took less than a minute
• As you're leaving the Arrivals Hall, an Officer will direct you to a room for 'New Immigrants, Work Permits, and Study Permits'. Before she directed me, I asked her where I should go as a permanent resident completing my landing, but I suspect she was about to tell me anyway based on the marks she saw on my declaration form
• The Immigration Room took the longest time; there were about 20 - 30 persons ahead of me when I arrived, and it took 30 minutes for me to get to an Immigration Officer
• When it was my turn, I handed my passport, COPR, and declaration form to the Immigration Officer. I asked him if he needed anything else and he said no. He made some small talk about a recent news item related to my home country, and asked me for a Canadian address, but otherwise didn't ask me anything else - no statutory questions - or ask for any other documents - no Proof of Funds. After logging my address, he had me sign in 3 places on both copies of the COPR, handed me my copy of the COPR, gave back my passport and declaration slip, and said 'Welcome to Canada'. That was it. Took about 2 minutes, although I feel like I was processed faster than many of the people ahead of me, but that might have been because some persons were in groups, and there were at least 4 persons who needed a translator to communicate with the Immigration Officers (Spanish-speakers, I think).
• The Immigration Officer directed me toward baggage claim, which was right outside the room. Since I was waiting in line for 30 minutes in the Immigration Room, my luggage was already out on the carousel. I grabbed a cart and collected my checked bags (I had 2 checked, 1 carry-on, and 1 personal item (backpack)). This took 5-10 minutes, but only because I was silly and didn't put away my documents first, so I was juggling holding my documents (without dropping them), maneuvering a luggage cart to the carousel, and getting my bags unto the cart.
• With bags in hand (or 'on cart), I walked out of baggage claim. A Customs Officer took my declaration slip as I was leaving, but didn't ask to check my luggage, or ask me for a 'List of Goods'.
• A few steps later, I met up with my sister and our friend, who were waiting for me with a camera (and a beanie and jacket). However, it was warm enough that I actually didn't need the jacket, even though it's the middle of January and was night. (I was wearing skinny jeans, a long-sleeved turtleneck with a camisole underneath it, a fleece sweater, and sneakers).

Basically, I was in and out of the airport in about an hour, and the only documents I ended up showing anyone was my COPR and my passport (and the declaration slip the kiosk prints for you).
Since I arrived so late, the ServiceCanada station wasn't open, so I haven't gotten my SIN (social insurance number) yet, but I will do that first thing Monday, along with going to CIBC to open a bank account, request a credit card, and wire transfer funds to the new account. My sister had already arranged a cellphone (Rogers) and a PRESTO card (for public transportation) for me, which I went online and registered today.
Hope this was helpful, and good luck to everyone in their Canada journeys!

Congratulations and welcome to Canada!

 

[moose17]

Thanks for your feedback. Are you speaking from experience?

I didn't take over that much (I had, like, $50 at most haha) but the woman in the customs booth said basically that (because when she asked about cash I hesitated because I wasn't sure if she was asking about cash in regards to the 10k thing or if she was asking about settlement funds, and then we joked about hardly ever using cash anymore) and I've read it too.

 

[Breakthrough17]

If this is a short landing - get an extra set of photos clicked and give it to your family

Hi, Please can you explain the need for extra sets of passport photos if its short landing, because thats what i m going to do. thanks

 

[harmonika]

Hi, Please can you explain the need for extra sets of passport photos if its short landing, because thats what i m going to do. thanks

In case the photos in COPR get rejected , you may want to have extra photos done locally (for your friend/ family) to send , when required.

I took that as an advice from a thread in this forum and think it is a good idea

 

[Breakthrough17]

In case the photos in COPR get rejected , you may want to have extra photos done locally (for your friend/ family) to send , when required.

I took that as an advice from a thread in this forum and think it is a good idea

Thanks for that info

 

[moose17]

Yeah, I'm kind of wishing we'd done photos there since we knew the ones we originally sent weren't very good. We just got a notice asking for replacements within 30 days for 2 of the 3 of us, except we're moving in 5 weeks and would rather just wait and do them there. I'm going to see if I can get an extension, otherwise we'll send 2 more pairs taken at Walgreens and wait for them to get rejected again but at least by then we'd be in Canada. What really gets me is we didn't even give an address to send them to when we landed so I thought this whole issues would be held off until we got that arranged.

 

[VDej]

In case the photos in COPR get rejected , you may want to have extra photos done locally (for your friend/ family) to send , when required.

I took that as an advice from a thread in this forum and think it is a good idea

Hi harmonica.
I'm quite new and don't understand this photo statement. Could you please explain? Thanks

 

[special3220]

Thanks for such a detailed post, much appreciated.

Hi Guys,
I've finally arrived!!!!! In the spirit of sharing information, I thought I would also share my landing experience in case anyone else has questions, or it can be of use to anyone.

• I arrived at the Lester B. Pearson Toronto Airport in Ontario (Mississauga) at 10:15pm yesterday (a Friday)
• Upon disembarking from the plane, we were directed to the Arrivals Hall (5-10 minutes of walking from the terminal, depending on how fast you walk); there were enough arriving passengers there, that it took me about 5 - 10 minutes to get through the line to a kiosk. I joined the line for 'All Passports'
• The kiosk asks you to indicate the country you're coming from, how you arrived (from the US, from another country, from another country but transit through the US), and the purpose for your visit (Immigration), as well as questions about what you're bringing into the country and if you're bringing in any money or monetary instruments valued at more than CAD$10,000). You also have to let it scan your travel document and wait for the kiosk to take a picture of you (remove your glasses if you wear them). At completion, it will print a declaration slip for you. This takes less than 2 minutes unless you're having difficulty understanding the kiosk's instructions, but there are Officers in the hall to assist you if needed.
• Once you finish at the kiosk, you will be directed to wait in line until an Immigration Officer can speak to you (this part was quick, I basically waited in line for 5 seconds, if that much). The Officer will ask you the purpose of your visit ("landing to become a permanent resident"), and if you have any 'goods to follow' (in my case "no"), and will make a mark on your declaration slip with a highlighter, then direct you to leave the Arrivals Hall. This took less than a minute
• As you're leaving the Arrivals Hall, an Officer will direct you to a room for 'New Immigrants, Work Permits, and Study Permits'. Before she directed me, I asked her where I should go as a permanent resident completing my landing, but I suspect she was about to tell me anyway based on the marks she saw on my declaration form
• The Immigration Room took the longest time; there were about 20 - 30 persons ahead of me when I arrived, and it took 30 minutes for me to get to an Immigration Officer
• When it was my turn, I handed my passport, COPR, and declaration form to the Immigration Officer. I asked him if he needed anything else and he said no. He made some small talk about a recent news item related to my home country, and asked me for a Canadian address, but otherwise didn't ask me anything else - no statutory questions - or ask for any other documents - no Proof of Funds. After logging my address, he had me sign in 3 places on both copies of the COPR, handed me my copy of the COPR, gave back my passport and declaration slip, and said 'Welcome to Canada'. That was it. Took about 2 minutes, although I feel like I was processed faster than many of the people ahead of me, but that might have been because some persons were in groups, and there were at least 4 persons who needed a translator to communicate with the Immigration Officers (Spanish-speakers, I think).
• The Immigration Officer directed me toward baggage claim, which was right outside the room. Since I was waiting in line for 30 minutes in the Immigration Room, my luggage was already out on the carousel. I grabbed a cart and collected my checked bags (I had 2 checked, 1 carry-on, and 1 personal item (backpack)). This took 5-10 minutes, but only because I was silly and didn't put away my documents first, so I was juggling holding my documents (without dropping them), maneuvering a luggage cart to the carousel, and getting my bags unto the cart.
• With bags in hand (or 'on cart), I walked out of baggage claim. A Customs Officer took my declaration slip as I was leaving, but didn't ask to check my luggage, or ask me for a 'List of Goods'.
• A few steps later, I met up with my sister and our friend, who were waiting for me with a camera (and a beanie and jacket). However, it was warm enough that I actually didn't need the jacket, even though it's the middle of January and was night. (I was wearing skinny jeans, a long-sleeved turtleneck with a camisole underneath it, a fleece sweater, and sneakers).

Basically, I was in and out of the airport in about an hour, and the only documents I ended up showing anyone was my COPR and my passport (and the declaration slip the kiosk prints for you).
Since I arrived so late, the ServiceCanada station wasn't open, so I haven't gotten my SIN (social insurance number) yet, but I will do that first thing Monday, along with going to CIBC to open a bank account, request a credit card, and wire transfer funds to the new account. My sister had already arranged a cellphone (Rogers) and a PRESTO card (for public transportation) for me, which I went online and registered today.
Hope this was helpful, and good luck to everyone in their Canada journeys!

 

[clguy]

Hi harmonica.
I'm quite new and don't understand this photo statement. Could you please explain? Thanks

He is suggesting to take new photos according to the specification that CIC requires just in case they ask for a new set of photos. I think they generally ask for new photos if they are six months or older.

 

[VDej]

He is suggesting to take new photos according to the specification that CIC requires just in case they ask for a new set of photos. I think they generally ask for new photos if they are six months or older.

Why does harmonica say one's family would send these photos? Couldn't the applicant do them him/herself?

If the photo has been appended to the COPR, they can still remove it for another?

 

[clguy]

Why does harmonica say one's family would send these photos? Couldn't the applicant do them him/herself?

If the photo has been appended to the COPR, they can still remove it for another?

In the event that you are not present in Canada your friend/ family member could send the photos to CIC for you.

 

[mapleleaf987]

Congratulations! such a delightful post, made my Sunday morning.. would have loved to see happy pics.if you didnt mind sharing
IMO everyone who lands should take an airport pic & share here..that'll be quite a joy )

 

[mapleleaf987]

Congratulations and best wishes! If you stay in Toronto, I hope we get to meet at one of the CV gatherings

@Nuff_Love, they don't do anything except make note of the amount. It's part of tracking money laundering or something. As long as you're not doing anything illegal with the money, no worries. They just want you to declare it so they can be sure.

What's cv gatherings?

 

[VDej]

What's cv gatherings?

Canada Visa gatherings. Like a get together of everyone that has been a member here, and then successfully transitioned to Canada.