Thanks
@DEEPCUR
So I did my landing and here is how it went.
1.I crossed the rainbow bridge in my personal car. The officer at the checkpost asked few questions:
a. Where do you live in US?
b. What's your status in US?
c. What work you do?
d. When do you plan to move permanently?
After this she sent me to the cbsa office for other formalities.
2. First I met immigration officer. She did her verification, signed CoPR.
HOWEVER, she did not take my address. I asked her about how they will send PR card and she said you will have to apply after you settle permanently. I tried to explain that I am staying with a cousin and that's the address I want to give but she would not budge. Her point was people take PR card but don't settle but use that PR card for medical benefits etc. So they don't give it until you settle. AT that time you submit the form for PR and it comes by registered mail and you have to sign for it .
She said you can travel by road using a CoPR or apply for Returning Resident Visa for travel by air.
Again this is subjective and depends on officer. Another guy was able to give a friend's address and that officer took that.
Then I asked her about GTF and she sent me to customs officer.
Here is where everything that
@DEEPCUR said came true.
3. The first custom officer question was about the car.he asked if I was importing it today and I said no. He said I cannot drive in Canada if I don't import. I can drive back to US and come back in a rental car that will be returned back to US.
If I have to drive in Canada they will do the import right there and put an ON plate and take the NJ plate. The guy before me had the same situation and by the time I got to the officer he was already pissed about this.
I finally took the GTF form and started to fill that out.
Then fortunately for me there was a shift change. I filled out the GTF form in great detail and went back to the new officer.He asked if I am importing anything today and I said no. He asked about the car and I said I will drive back in a week.
Thankfully this officer was cool with all this. He said keep the list with you and bring it when you import things. For electronics he had me write serial nos, Vin for the car. For jewelry he said bring pictures as well as receipts when you import. He gave me a form about importing a vehicle and said you are good to go.
I cannot explain the relief at that point.
I collected my passport and got out of there as soon as I could.
So in summary, don't drive your personal car for landing. You may be subject to the whims of the officer.
If you don't have things that you really want to import skip the GTF list since that may save you the trip to customs. You do the immigration and get out.
Be prepared,thanks to this post I was aware of this possiblity so was not surprised. Worst case scenario I would have come back, park near Niagara, walk over to Canada and have my cousin pick me up .
So know your backup options.