Detroit-Windsor Landing Experience

[EsterO]

Hi Everyone,

In the same situation. I applied and got my study visa a little late last year (Sept. 2018 intake, visa arrived October 30th). So i deferred till Sept. 2019. I plan entering Canada from the Windsor border since my school is Uni of Windsor. My question is, as a first timer coming from a country that requires TRV (which i have) can i ply this route...land in Detroit and take the border in? Asking because this would be a much cheaper route for me than going through Toronto. Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[dumdum_yo]

I am planning to finish my landing formalities in Canada at Windsor, ON. I am planning to drive from Chicago to the Windsor, ON and activate my PR. Would I be able to finish all the landing formalities(like applying for PR card, SIN etc) Widsor Border?

I do not have a H1b Visa(the H1b visa in passport expired in 2015) and I am on I94 extension till 2020. Would I be able to return back to US side in that case?

Hello!

Did you complete your landing? I am planning on traveling from Chicago as well for landing via Windsor Port. Please share your experience if you are done! Thanks

 

[pseetha]

Hello!

Did you complete your landing? I am planning on traveling from Chicago as well for landing via Windsor Port. Please share your experience if you are done! Thanks

Yes..it was good at Canada side..while coming into US, had issues / worry..since I didn't have a stamping..but it was all fine end of the day
.

 

[dumdum_yo]

Yes..it was good at Canada side..while coming into US, had issues / worry..since I didn't have a stamping..but it was all fine end of the day
.

Thanks for the quick reply. Can I ask you a couple of questions?
1. Did you drive your own car? If yes, I am assuming you added the car in Goods to Follow. Did they ask you anything about the car at all?
2. Did they let you apply for the PR card after knowing that you are visiting for a few days?

 

[pseetha]

Thanks for the quick reply. Can I ask you a couple of questions?
1. Did you drive your own car? If yes, I am assuming you added the car in Goods to Follow. Did they ask you anything about the car at all?
2. Did they let you apply for the PR card after knowing that you are visiting for a few days?

1. No.rental car. I would suggest that though I have a car to import and I went from Chicago too
2. No they did not allow to apply for pr card. But that's fine, u can do it after u move permanently. It's just a formality, you're a PR once ur stamping is done

 

[dumdum_yo]

1. No.rental car. I would suggest that though I have a car to import and I went from Chicago too
2. No they did not allow to apply for pr card. But that's fine, u can do it after u move permanently. It's just a formality, you're a PR once ur stamping is done

ok. thank you for your response.

 

[ankusaxe9]

1. No.rental car. I would suggest that though I have a car to import and I went from Chicago too
2. No they did not allow to apply for pr card. But that's fine, u can do it after u move permanently. It's just a formality, you're a PR once ur stamping is done

Hi Pseetha,

I am planning my landing to Canada via Detroit-Windsor and have few questions. Can I connect with you for few minutes?

 

[pseetha]

Hi Pseetha,

I am planning my landing to Canada via Detroit-Windsor and have few questions. Can I connect with you for few minutes?

Go ahead please.
This forum is to help each other

 

[ankusaxe9]

Go ahead please.
This forum is to help each other

Hi Pseetha,

Thanks for your response. I am planning to move Canada through Detroit-Windsor route and has following questions. Any help will be much appreciated.-
1. Which one is better route - Ambassador bridge or Windsor tunnel? Any pros-cons
2. I have expired visa on passport but have extension approved (I-797) till 2021. I saw in your post that you had similar situation. Were you able to get back to US without valid stamping on passport? If yes, Did immigration officers pose any questions?
3. Do they issue PR cards if we are giving friend's address. If not, can we enter Canada later through car without having PR cards?
4. We have two kids. If we take kids along with us in soft landing, will that be a problem? Do they have proper waiting ares where kids can sit and relax?
5. I am still debating on Soft vs Hard landing and haven't decided yet. In case of hard landing, I will be having a UHaul truck along with my car. My wife is primary applicant and will be driving car. Will it be a problem during immigration as we will be in separate vehicles?

 

[dumdum_yo]

Hi Pseetha,

Thanks for your response. I am planning to move Canada through Detroit-Windsor route and has following questions. Any help will be much appreciated.-
1. Which one is better route - Ambassador bridge or Windsor tunnel? Any pros-cons
2. I have expired visa on passport but have extension approved (I-797) till 2021. I saw in your post that you had similar situation. Were you able to get back to US without valid stamping on passport? If yes, Did immigration officers pose any questions?
3. Do they issue PR cards if we are giving friend's address. If not, can we enter Canada later through car without having PR cards?
4. We have two kids. If we take kids along with us in soft landing, will that be a problem? Do they have proper waiting ares where kids can sit and relax?
5. I am still debating on Soft vs Hard landing and haven't decided yet. In case of hard landing, I will be having a UHaul truck along with my car. My wife is primary applicant and will be driving car. Will it be a problem during immigration as we will be in separate vehicles?

Hi! I just completed my soft landing via Windsor and wrote a post about it. Take a look at it. Here are my thoughts about your questions:
1. I took tunnel (Google maps took me through this). It was Friday late morning and there was no queue/wait whatsoever. Everything was close by (walking distance).
2. I didn't have visa stamping issue but US IMO barely asked us any question. We were with US IMO for less than a minute. Returned US later on Friday evening. Based on some of my friends experiences, you don't need a stamped visa to travel by road.
3. In my case, I got mixed responses from 2 different IMOs but eventually turned out that they wanted my "change of address" to happen before they could send the PR Cards. I had to call Canada Immigration and give my friends address on phone and then they started processing. Check out my thread for more info.
4. I am assuming were also on the application. In which case you need to have them with you for their landing. Immigration office (tunnel one alteast) has seating/waiting space like any government office.
5. Shouldn't be a problem. Make sure the primary applicant goes first in the drive through booth and the secondary applicant follows right behind. Let the IMO at the booth that your secondary applicant is right behind. Make sure you carry all the titles and documents for vehicles you are planning to import.

Good luck!

 

[ankusaxe9]

Hi! I just completed my soft landing via Windsor and wrote a post about it. Take a look at it. Here are my thoughts about your questions:
1. I took tunnel (Google maps took me through this). It was Friday late morning and there was no queue/wait whatsoever. Everything was close by (walking distance).
2. I didn't have visa stamping issue but US IMO barely asked us any question. We were with US IMO for less than a minute. Returned US later on Friday evening. Based on some of my friends experiences, you don't need a stamped visa to travel by road.
3. In my case, I got mixed responses from 2 different IMOs but eventually turned out that they wanted my "change of address" to happen before they could send the PR Cards. I had to call Canada Immigration and give my friends address on phone and then they started processing. Check out my thread for more info.
4. I am assuming were also on the application. In which case you need to have them with you for their landing. Immigration office (tunnel one alteast) has seating/waiting space like any government office.
5. Shouldn't be a problem. Make sure the primary applicant goes first in the drive through booth and the secondary applicant follows right behind. Let the IMO at the booth that your secondary applicant is right behind. Make sure you carry all the titles and documents for vehicles you are planning to import.

Good luck!

Thanks. It clarified lots of my doubts. Do you know if can take UHaul truck (Small one for 1 BHK) through tunnel? and if sufficient parking is there around SIN office?

 

[dumdum_yo]

Thanks. It clarified lots of my doubts. Do you know if can take UHaul truck (Small one for 1 BHK) through tunnel? and if sufficient parking is there around SIN office?

Parking is there. Shouldn't be a problem. About the tunnel size... I think it would fit but still check online if trucks are allowed through the tunnel. I am sure this info is available on some Canadian transit website.

 

[pr131985]

Parking is there. Shouldn't be a problem. About the tunnel size... I think it would fit but still check online if trucks are allowed through the tunnel. I am sure this info is available on some Canadian transit website.

I plan to do a soft landing via Detroit-Windsor as well.
Is it compulsory to have a Goods to follow form when you soft land?
I don't plan to move to Canada until late this year or early next year.

 

[ankusaxe9]

I plan to do a soft landing via Detroit-Windsor as well.
Is it compulsory to have a Goods to follow form when you soft land?
I don't plan to move to Canada until late this year or early next year.

Nopes, its not a restriction.

 

[Mirapakay]

@pseetha @dumdum_yo Looks like I am in same boat. I will need your help. Is Windsor the only option for soft landing if you are living in Chicago-Wisconsin area?