Hi all,
I would like to first thank this forum for all the helpful people and vast pool of good information. It has helped me a lot. I wanted to share my experience of soft landing by road via Windsor Tunnel. It will be a detailed post so bear with me but I hope it helps someone. I wrote certain pieces of this post in blue that made me think that the Immigration Officer was either not fully trained or was new and some info I received from him may not be entirely accurate. Continue reading and you will soon find out.
Tunnel Detroit to Windsor:
I had Windsor, Ontario entered in Google Maps on my phone and the directions took me through the tunnel. Tunnel has a speed limit of 40 km/hr. The toll was USD 5 going in to Canada and USD 4.5 coming back to US through the tunnel.
IMO @ Tunnel Exit (CBSA)
We reached around noon on a Friday and there was no lines or wait. I drove up to the booth and had my passports ready.
IMO: What are you here for?
Me: To complete our landing procedure.
IMO: Are you moving to Canada right now?
Me: No but we will move in next few months.
IMO: Do you have your Goods to Follow form filled out?
Me: Yes, I have it ready.
IMO: Was this your first time through the tunnel?
Me: Yes.
Me (reading the sign about firearms): I don't have any firearms but I have a paper cutter that I didn't intend to bring but is in the car.
IMO: No problem, that's fine.
IMO: Are you bringing any cash today?
Me: About USD 2K to open a bank account.
IMO asks me to lower the rear windows to peek inside the car and see if there was anyone else accompanying us. IMO asked me to pull up my car to a line which was just few feet ahead - probably to read and note the vehicle number plate. IMO steps out of the booth, puts a yellow slip under the windshield wiper and instructs me to head to the building on the right hand side where there was a sign stating Immigration.
IMO@Customs (CBSA)
We drive into the building as instructed and park at the designated spot. There was a sign to shut off the engine which I did. Two officers walk towards us from a seating booth in the corner. They took the yellow slip, peeked inside the car and asked if we are moving today. I said no we are not. They kept the yellow slip and asked us to go inside the building and showed us the directions to the building door.
IMO@Immigration (CBSA)
When we entered the building there was no wait and an IMO asks us come see him on his booth. I hand him our passports and mention that we are here to complete our landing procedure. Here is the conversation:
IMO: Do you have your CoPR?
Me: Yes (handing over the CoPRs)
IMO: Are you moving today?
Me: No.
IMO: Do you have your Goods to Follow form ready?
Me: Yes (handing over the form).
IMO (points at the address on GTF form): Whose address is this?
Me: It is my friends. That's where we will be staying when we move.
Me: I have few questions for you.
IMO: Go ahead.
Me: Where do I list the vehicle details?
IMO: Do you have any loans or lease on the vehicle?
Me: No, I have the title on my name and it is 100% owned.
IMO (points me to the Conveyances section B4): List the vehicles you plan to import
Me: I don't plan to import the car today but at a later date.
IMO: Yes, the boxes for Goods to Follow is checked in the B4 form so that's not a problem.
I take a moment to enter the vehicle make, model, year, VIN number and approx. value in CDN.
IMO: Strikes out blank spaces in the GTF (BSF186A) and asks me to add the value of all the items listed and write total at the bottom.
IMO: Have a seat and I will call you
IMO starts his review and starts working on his computer. From time to time, he asks few questions to his supervisor/colleague which made me wonder if he was new or under training...
After few mins IMO calls me to his booth and asks me to initial on couple of places on the CoPR and sign and date at the bottom. Does the same with my wife's. Hands back a copy of the CoPR, a stamped copy of the GTF, and passport with a stamp on it with CBSA and a reference number on it. No more questions/details asked on the Goods to follow so it worked as I wanted to. I also notice that the IMO struk out the one-time landing visa.
I had few other questions for him.
Me: How do I re-enter Canada?
IMO (points to the stamp in my passport): This will work.
Me: Will this work at airport too?
IMO: Yes, The IMO can look up this in the system and you should be good to return.
Me: I thought I had to apply for a PR Card and without which I cannot come in by air.
IMO: Your PR card application is done.
Me: I had prepared IMM5444E form for PR card application.
IMO: That is not needed. We took care of it and it will be sent to the address you provided.
Me: So what status will I enter in Canada until I have my PR Card.
IMO: Whatever was your previous status.
(I was confused at this point about my PR card)
Me (showing my Canada visitor visa): What happens to this visitor visa now?
IMO: You don't need that anymore and strikes across the visitor visa.
(I cringe
as I was not sure if that was the right thing for him to do)
Me: I have a pet dog. What is the procedure to bring the dog in with us when we move?
IMO: Just make sure the rabies vaccines is up to date and bring the documentation to support it.
IMO then suggests that we may want to get the SIN & Health Card number issued. (I was confused about the Health Card comment). The IMO stepped out of his booth and walked with me outside of the building and showed me the directions to the office for SIN (2nd floor) and Health Card (3rd floor). It later turned out that the SIN office is on the 1st floor and I can't apply for Health Card until after 3 months of moving.
SIN / Service Canada Centre
It was just couple of blocks from the CBSA building but I chose to drive (pregnant wife). The address is 400 City Hall Square E #103, Windsor, ON N9A 7K6, Canada. I parked on McDougall Street right in front of the rear entrance door. For parking, I downloaded the Passport Canada app (mentioned on the parking meters) and entered the zone and spot numbers. Parking was about USD 2.75 for 2 hours (max.).
We went in to the SIN office and went to the lady at the reception. She added our names in the queue and asked us to wait until our name is called. We had to wait for about 30 mins or so. Our name was called by a SIN office lady and we went her booth. I mentioned we are here to apply for a new SIN. I handed her our passports and the CoPR. Our copy of CoPR, to my astonishment, was not stamped and signed. However the passports were stamped. The lady asked us to go back and get that sorted with CBSA and come back again. She made note in their queue system to hold our spot so we don't wait another 30-40 minutes when we return.
Back to CBSA
When I went to CBSA, the IMO who worked on my case was not there and I walked up to another IMO who was open. I told them about my situation and they mentioned the name of the previous IMO and rolled their eyes. They reviewed my case and asked me to initial at same two spots and sign at the bottom of the CoPR as the previous IMO had asked. They said the stamp on my passport was also upside down --- it doesn't matter but rolled their eyes again. My wife completed her CoPR signatures.
I then asked all of my prior questions again to the new IMO since I was certain that the previous IMO responses may be inaccurate at this point. Here is the conversation:
Me: Pet dog importing (see above).
IMO: Same response
Me: Can I apply for a Health Card today?
IMO: No, you will be eligible after 90 days of moving.
Me: Will I be able to re-enter Canada by air on this stamp?
IMO: No. You will need a PR Card to re-enter by air but you can drive in based on this CoPR.
Me: The previous IMO mentioned I am able to enter by air with this stamp.
IMO: No, you will need a PR Card for that.
Me: Can you please check if my PR card has been applied? The Previous IMO confirmed it was.
IMO: Whose address is this?
Me: My friends'. But we will be staying there when we move.
IMO: We don't send PR cards to friends' address. You will need to send us a change of address form when you finally move here and then the PR card will be sent to that new address after few weeks. The only thing you can do is get a PRTD (travel document for those who are PR but haven't received their card yet)
Me: The Previous IMO struck out my visitor visa as well. Should he have done that?
IMO: He shouldn't have struck that but we can't do anything now.
Me: Can you add a note on the visitor visa that it is still valid? I can use that to fly in.
IMO: I can't.
I left with questions in my mind whether my PR card has been applied or not. And in despair that my visitor visa has also been struck. I plan to call Canada Immigration help desk and check status of my PR card and hope to get some clarity.
Back to SIN Office / Service Canada Centre:
Our spot was secured when we went back and had to wait for a couple of minutes to talk to someone. When called, we gave our passport and CoPR (stamped & signed). We were asked to read a disclosure about our rights of privacy and how Canada uses our information for SIN. The SIN lady asked us few questions about our address in Canada and we were done in few mins.
Bottom Line:
Research as much as you can and know what to expect. Don't rely on the IMO to do their job right. Ask questions and double check. Make sure you have your Passports and CoPRs stamped before you leave the CBSA building.
I will try to answer any questions I might receive on this thread. All the best to all aspiring candidates.
Cheers!
I would like to first thank this forum for all the helpful people and vast pool of good information. It has helped me a lot. I wanted to share my experience of soft landing by road via Windsor Tunnel. It will be a detailed post so bear with me but I hope it helps someone. I wrote certain pieces of this post in blue that made me think that the Immigration Officer was either not fully trained or was new and some info I received from him may not be entirely accurate. Continue reading and you will soon find out.
Tunnel Detroit to Windsor:
I had Windsor, Ontario entered in Google Maps on my phone and the directions took me through the tunnel. Tunnel has a speed limit of 40 km/hr. The toll was USD 5 going in to Canada and USD 4.5 coming back to US through the tunnel.
IMO @ Tunnel Exit (CBSA)
We reached around noon on a Friday and there was no lines or wait. I drove up to the booth and had my passports ready.
IMO: What are you here for?
Me: To complete our landing procedure.
IMO: Are you moving to Canada right now?
Me: No but we will move in next few months.
IMO: Do you have your Goods to Follow form filled out?
Me: Yes, I have it ready.
IMO: Was this your first time through the tunnel?
Me: Yes.
Me (reading the sign about firearms): I don't have any firearms but I have a paper cutter that I didn't intend to bring but is in the car.
IMO: No problem, that's fine.
IMO: Are you bringing any cash today?
Me: About USD 2K to open a bank account.
IMO asks me to lower the rear windows to peek inside the car and see if there was anyone else accompanying us. IMO asked me to pull up my car to a line which was just few feet ahead - probably to read and note the vehicle number plate. IMO steps out of the booth, puts a yellow slip under the windshield wiper and instructs me to head to the building on the right hand side where there was a sign stating Immigration.
IMO@Customs (CBSA)
We drive into the building as instructed and park at the designated spot. There was a sign to shut off the engine which I did. Two officers walk towards us from a seating booth in the corner. They took the yellow slip, peeked inside the car and asked if we are moving today. I said no we are not. They kept the yellow slip and asked us to go inside the building and showed us the directions to the building door.
IMO@Immigration (CBSA)
When we entered the building there was no wait and an IMO asks us come see him on his booth. I hand him our passports and mention that we are here to complete our landing procedure. Here is the conversation:
IMO: Do you have your CoPR?
Me: Yes (handing over the CoPRs)
IMO: Are you moving today?
Me: No.
IMO: Do you have your Goods to Follow form ready?
Me: Yes (handing over the form).
IMO (points at the address on GTF form): Whose address is this?
Me: It is my friends. That's where we will be staying when we move.
Me: I have few questions for you.
IMO: Go ahead.
Me: Where do I list the vehicle details?
IMO: Do you have any loans or lease on the vehicle?
Me: No, I have the title on my name and it is 100% owned.
IMO (points me to the Conveyances section B4): List the vehicles you plan to import
Me: I don't plan to import the car today but at a later date.
IMO: Yes, the boxes for Goods to Follow is checked in the B4 form so that's not a problem.
I take a moment to enter the vehicle make, model, year, VIN number and approx. value in CDN.
IMO: Strikes out blank spaces in the GTF (BSF186A) and asks me to add the value of all the items listed and write total at the bottom.
IMO: Have a seat and I will call you
IMO starts his review and starts working on his computer. From time to time, he asks few questions to his supervisor/colleague which made me wonder if he was new or under training...
After few mins IMO calls me to his booth and asks me to initial on couple of places on the CoPR and sign and date at the bottom. Does the same with my wife's. Hands back a copy of the CoPR, a stamped copy of the GTF, and passport with a stamp on it with CBSA and a reference number on it. No more questions/details asked on the Goods to follow so it worked as I wanted to. I also notice that the IMO struk out the one-time landing visa.
I had few other questions for him.
Me: How do I re-enter Canada?
IMO (points to the stamp in my passport): This will work.
Me: Will this work at airport too?
IMO: Yes, The IMO can look up this in the system and you should be good to return.
Me: I thought I had to apply for a PR Card and without which I cannot come in by air.
IMO: Your PR card application is done.
Me: I had prepared IMM5444E form for PR card application.
IMO: That is not needed. We took care of it and it will be sent to the address you provided.
Me: So what status will I enter in Canada until I have my PR Card.
IMO: Whatever was your previous status.
(I was confused at this point about my PR card)
Me (showing my Canada visitor visa): What happens to this visitor visa now?
IMO: You don't need that anymore and strikes across the visitor visa.
(I cringe
as I was not sure if that was the right thing for him to do)Me: I have a pet dog. What is the procedure to bring the dog in with us when we move?
IMO: Just make sure the rabies vaccines is up to date and bring the documentation to support it.
IMO then suggests that we may want to get the SIN & Health Card number issued. (I was confused about the Health Card comment). The IMO stepped out of his booth and walked with me outside of the building and showed me the directions to the office for SIN (2nd floor) and Health Card (3rd floor). It later turned out that the SIN office is on the 1st floor and I can't apply for Health Card until after 3 months of moving.
SIN / Service Canada Centre
It was just couple of blocks from the CBSA building but I chose to drive (pregnant wife). The address is 400 City Hall Square E #103, Windsor, ON N9A 7K6, Canada. I parked on McDougall Street right in front of the rear entrance door. For parking, I downloaded the Passport Canada app (mentioned on the parking meters) and entered the zone and spot numbers. Parking was about USD 2.75 for 2 hours (max.).
We went in to the SIN office and went to the lady at the reception. She added our names in the queue and asked us to wait until our name is called. We had to wait for about 30 mins or so. Our name was called by a SIN office lady and we went her booth. I mentioned we are here to apply for a new SIN. I handed her our passports and the CoPR. Our copy of CoPR, to my astonishment, was not stamped and signed. However the passports were stamped. The lady asked us to go back and get that sorted with CBSA and come back again. She made note in their queue system to hold our spot so we don't wait another 30-40 minutes when we return.
Back to CBSA
When I went to CBSA, the IMO who worked on my case was not there and I walked up to another IMO who was open. I told them about my situation and they mentioned the name of the previous IMO and rolled their eyes. They reviewed my case and asked me to initial at same two spots and sign at the bottom of the CoPR as the previous IMO had asked. They said the stamp on my passport was also upside down --- it doesn't matter but rolled their eyes again. My wife completed her CoPR signatures.
I then asked all of my prior questions again to the new IMO since I was certain that the previous IMO responses may be inaccurate at this point. Here is the conversation:
Me: Pet dog importing (see above).
IMO: Same response
Me: Can I apply for a Health Card today?
IMO: No, you will be eligible after 90 days of moving.
Me: Will I be able to re-enter Canada by air on this stamp?
IMO: No. You will need a PR Card to re-enter by air but you can drive in based on this CoPR.
Me: The previous IMO mentioned I am able to enter by air with this stamp.
IMO: No, you will need a PR Card for that.
Me: Can you please check if my PR card has been applied? The Previous IMO confirmed it was.
IMO: Whose address is this?
Me: My friends'. But we will be staying there when we move.
IMO: We don't send PR cards to friends' address. You will need to send us a change of address form when you finally move here and then the PR card will be sent to that new address after few weeks. The only thing you can do is get a PRTD (travel document for those who are PR but haven't received their card yet)
Me: The Previous IMO struck out my visitor visa as well. Should he have done that?
IMO: He shouldn't have struck that but we can't do anything now.
Me: Can you add a note on the visitor visa that it is still valid? I can use that to fly in.
IMO: I can't.
I left with questions in my mind whether my PR card has been applied or not. And in despair that my visitor visa has also been struck. I plan to call Canada Immigration help desk and check status of my PR card and hope to get some clarity.
Back to SIN Office / Service Canada Centre:
Our spot was secured when we went back and had to wait for a couple of minutes to talk to someone. When called, we gave our passport and CoPR (stamped & signed). We were asked to read a disclosure about our rights of privacy and how Canada uses our information for SIN. The SIN lady asked us few questions about our address in Canada and we were done in few mins.
Bottom Line:
Research as much as you can and know what to expect. Don't rely on the IMO to do their job right. Ask questions and double check. Make sure you have your Passports and CoPRs stamped before you leave the CBSA building.
I will try to answer any questions I might receive on this thread. All the best to all aspiring candidates.
Cheers!
