As I live in Minneapolis, I drove to International Falls and did my soft landing at Fort Frances for finishing my soft landing process. Here goes my experience:
Entering Canada
Officer at gate:
O1: What is the purpose of the visit?
Me: I do have approved PR application and entering Canada to finish the final step of the process.
O1: Can you hand me over your Passport, COPR and how long are you planning to stay in Canada ?
Me: Handed him the documents and said I wanted to the finish the process and return to USA same day if possible.
O1: Of course. Please pull over your car and enter into the building an immigration officer will be right with you.
Me: Sure.
I pulled over my car right next to the building and went with the documents.
O2: Hello. Good morning, how can i help you ?
Me: I do have the PR application approved and wanted to enter Canada.
O2: Are you planning to permanently move to Canada ?
Me: No officer, I would like to go back to USA on same day if possible.
O2: When are you planning to move to Canada ?
Me: I'm planning to move to permanently immigrate to Canada by March or April. I wanted to finishPR process, apply SIN and start searching job before moving to Canada.
O2: Sure, can you hand me over your documents?
Me: Handed COPR, passport.
Officers was really nice and super helpful throughout the process. She was explaining me what going on on the other side of the screen. She verified my details on COPR and pull up my application. Took biometrics and went inside for 10mins.
After 10mins she came back and asked how much cash I'm carrying right now. I said 51 USD.
After 5mins she came back and gave me my passport and asked me to sign the COPR. Later she explained about Goods to follow list and mentioned that please bring them while moving to Canada permanently. I thanked the officer and went to the town and applied SIN. Unfortunately couldn't apply bank account as they needed an upfront appointment to open an account.
Returning to USA
O1: How are you doing today?
Me: I'm good officer, how are you ?
O1: I'm doing well, thanks. Can you hand me over your doucments?
Me: Handed him passport and I797.
O1: He looked at the documents and asked your H1b is expiring in a month ?
Me: Yes officer, the company I work for is filing an extension of my work authorization.
O1: Give me a minute.
Me: Sure.
He closed the window and called other officers into the space and was discussing showing my i797document.
After 2mins,
O1: Can you park your car and come inside ?
Me: Sure.
An officer showed me where to park and followed me into the building.
O2: What are you trying to do at border ?
Me: I just entered into Canada and returning back into states.
O2: Oh, we thought you are here to apply for extension?
Me: No officer. The company I work for started the extension process and my current H1b is valid until 17th Dec 2021.
O2: Of course, it was a misunderstanding. You are free to go.
Me: No problem officer. Thank you.
Other officer accompanied me to my car and and apologized for the confusion.
Documents I took:
For Canada - Passport, COPR, bank statements of last 3 months (which they didn't check), Goods to follow list (which they mentioned to bring while moving permanently), vaccination card, negative covid test, submitting your details in ArriveCan app before entering Canada.
For USA - Passport, i797, car rental agreement( I took rental car for crossing border), paystubs, resume (just in case).
Overall my experience at border, into Canada and back to USA was nice (except that confusion while returning to USA). Officers at Canada border were super nice and helpful.
Let me know if anyone have any questions
Entering Canada
Officer at gate:
O1: What is the purpose of the visit?
Me: I do have approved PR application and entering Canada to finish the final step of the process.
O1: Can you hand me over your Passport, COPR and how long are you planning to stay in Canada ?
Me: Handed him the documents and said I wanted to the finish the process and return to USA same day if possible.
O1: Of course. Please pull over your car and enter into the building an immigration officer will be right with you.
Me: Sure.
I pulled over my car right next to the building and went with the documents.
O2: Hello. Good morning, how can i help you ?
Me: I do have the PR application approved and wanted to enter Canada.
O2: Are you planning to permanently move to Canada ?
Me: No officer, I would like to go back to USA on same day if possible.
O2: When are you planning to move to Canada ?
Me: I'm planning to move to permanently immigrate to Canada by March or April. I wanted to finishPR process, apply SIN and start searching job before moving to Canada.
O2: Sure, can you hand me over your documents?
Me: Handed COPR, passport.
Officers was really nice and super helpful throughout the process. She was explaining me what going on on the other side of the screen. She verified my details on COPR and pull up my application. Took biometrics and went inside for 10mins.
After 10mins she came back and asked how much cash I'm carrying right now. I said 51 USD.
After 5mins she came back and gave me my passport and asked me to sign the COPR. Later she explained about Goods to follow list and mentioned that please bring them while moving to Canada permanently. I thanked the officer and went to the town and applied SIN. Unfortunately couldn't apply bank account as they needed an upfront appointment to open an account.
Returning to USA
O1: How are you doing today?
Me: I'm good officer, how are you ?
O1: I'm doing well, thanks. Can you hand me over your doucments?
Me: Handed him passport and I797.
O1: He looked at the documents and asked your H1b is expiring in a month ?
Me: Yes officer, the company I work for is filing an extension of my work authorization.
O1: Give me a minute.
Me: Sure.
He closed the window and called other officers into the space and was discussing showing my i797document.
After 2mins,
O1: Can you park your car and come inside ?
Me: Sure.
An officer showed me where to park and followed me into the building.
O2: What are you trying to do at border ?
Me: I just entered into Canada and returning back into states.
O2: Oh, we thought you are here to apply for extension?
Me: No officer. The company I work for started the extension process and my current H1b is valid until 17th Dec 2021.
O2: Of course, it was a misunderstanding. You are free to go.
Me: No problem officer. Thank you.
Other officer accompanied me to my car and and apologized for the confusion.
Documents I took:
For Canada - Passport, COPR, bank statements of last 3 months (which they didn't check), Goods to follow list (which they mentioned to bring while moving permanently), vaccination card, negative covid test, submitting your details in ArriveCan app before entering Canada.
For USA - Passport, i797, car rental agreement( I took rental car for crossing border), paystubs, resume (just in case).
Overall my experience at border, into Canada and back to USA was nice (except that confusion while returning to USA). Officers at Canada border were super nice and helpful.
Let me know if anyone have any questions