For all those folks like me who wants to know more about landing in Niagara Region here is my input from my experience.
INLAND LANDING - NOT AN OPTION IF YOU NEED YOUR PR CARD SOON:
I've received my passport on 11 August 2017. I've tried to contact CIC on that day to book an appointment and was unable to reach the customer service line because it was already after hours.
I tried calling them on 15 August and finally was able to connect to an agent after spending 1hour listening to that boring old fashioned tone music 50 times repeatedly (trust me I can hum that in sleep
)
The agent was able to answer all my questions and sent me an email with instructions and contact information with all options available for landing process. I was told I will be contacted by Etobikoe office about the landing appointment.
But as the waiting time was 2-3 weeks and I read on several blogs that it might take more time than usual so I have decided to go with border landing process(Will have to cancel the appointment if I'll hear anything from them)
My Findings:
Note: There is no official announcement anywhere about timings or restrictions of Niagara region except one blog post from PWC law firm.
Let us go over the DO’s
Most people have many questions about this process and this is just a formality to make a note of your exit point. Out of my curiosity, I asked officer2 to explain me the reason behind this procedure.
The officer2 told politely that this procedure is for us to go back to Canada and show the exit point as we are entering into Canada. I asked a question about the future impacts with this and I got a reply saying there will no issues with it in future. He also added, "we give this a lot in a day".
Was this process time to consume:
I would say yes because I had to wake up at 4 am and travel all alone with coffee breaks in between.
4hours for travel, 30min pit stops, approx. 30 min for the total process at both borders
I was in office by 10 am (+ plus as you don't need to take a day off to finish this process)
Necessary docs
Questions asked by Canadian Border service officer
PS: I'm lazy to type so copied some information from this blog post here. (same happened with me).
I've scored 6.5 in my IELTS score so please excuse my typos and correct me if I'm wrong.
INLAND LANDING - NOT AN OPTION IF YOU NEED YOUR PR CARD SOON:
I've received my passport on 11 August 2017. I've tried to contact CIC on that day to book an appointment and was unable to reach the customer service line because it was already after hours.
I tried calling them on 15 August and finally was able to connect to an agent after spending 1hour listening to that boring old fashioned tone music 50 times repeatedly (trust me I can hum that in sleep
)The agent was able to answer all my questions and sent me an email with instructions and contact information with all options available for landing process. I was told I will be contacted by Etobikoe office about the landing appointment.
But as the waiting time was 2-3 weeks and I read on several blogs that it might take more time than usual so I have decided to go with border landing process(Will have to cancel the appointment if I'll hear anything from them)
My Findings:
- Best thing to do is to contact CBSA at 1-506-636-5064(Outside); 1-800-461-9999 (Toll-Free Phone Within Canada )
- to make sure if the day your planning for Landing is acceptable as currently and they are only doing the flag poll process on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only.
- I've decided to be by 7 am on USA side but arrived at 7.09am and was second in line. Officer1 took my passport and asked me the reason for which I told my Canada PR landing. So I was asked to park the car and wait in the building he wrote something on the orange slip which was then given to Officer 2 in the waiting room and officer2 gave me a white slip showing the way towards Canada Port of Entry.
- I've arrived 7.21 am at Canada Port of entry and the officer asked me to show passport and the papers and then I was asked to park the car and go into the building. Finished my process and came out in 7.33am. (See below for more information).
- I had an optional choice to opt for rainbow bridge border landing if the Peace Bridge Fail or even thinking of driving to Sarnia as I was desperate to get this done today.
Note: There is no official announcement anywhere about timings or restrictions of Niagara region except one blog post from PWC law firm.
Let us go over the DO’s
- If possible travel by your own car or ask your friend to drive you to the border.
- Be honest with the officer as they will be taking their jobs seriously and any word you speak in a different way will land you in trouble.
- Be prepared with Passport and COPR handy
- Make sure to check your details in the COPR for the final time before you sign the COPR paper
- Keep 4$ CAD or 3$ US pay your toll for entering the Peace Bridge
- I read about people going to borders in rush hours for doing the landing process and ended up getting an appointment for next day or some other day in a week. Make sure to check with CBSA before you go. There is no wrong in asking for information for which they have established a helpline.
- Never speak unnecessarily until they ask you for something.
Most people have many questions about this process and this is just a formality to make a note of your exit point. Out of my curiosity, I asked officer2 to explain me the reason behind this procedure.
The officer2 told politely that this procedure is for us to go back to Canada and show the exit point as we are entering into Canada. I asked a question about the future impacts with this and I got a reply saying there will no issues with it in future. He also added, "we give this a lot in a day".
Was this process time to consume:
I would say yes because I had to wake up at 4 am and travel all alone with coffee breaks in between.
4hours for travel, 30min pit stops, approx. 30 min for the total process at both borders
I was in office by 10 am (+ plus as you don't need to take a day off to finish this process)
Necessary docs
- Passport
- Confirmation of PR docs
- Ontario's Photo ID card (I do not have a license) for both ID and Address proof
- Current valid WP
Questions asked by Canadian Border service officer
- Have you Committed any crime and was arrested for the same?
- Are you bringing anything from the US?
- Has your relationship status changed after PR was applied?
- Do you have any new dependents (kids) after the PR application was filed?
- Have you ever been denied entry into Canada?
- Have you ever been denied a VISA to Canada?
- The current address you are living in?
- Congratulations on becoming PR
- Please keep your copy of CO-PR safe as you will need it for many future CIC related things (I think he was referring to future PR renewals and Citizenship process)
- Please maintain an audit of all your travel outside of Canada after becoming PR as you will need it for many future CIC related things (I think he was referring to future PR renewals and Citizenship process)
- PR card will be delivered to your address in 2 months
- You cannot travel outside of Canada until you receive your PR Card
- However, you can travel by land using CO-PR. As a work around - if there is some emergency that you need to travel somewhere by Air, please select your return destination to US (Buffalo) and from there travel by Cab/Bus to enter Canada.(Not applicable for me as I do not have an American Tourist Visa)
PS: I'm lazy to type so copied some information from this blog post here.
(same happened with me).I've scored 6.5 in my IELTS score so please excuse my typos and correct me if I'm wrong.
