Hi Asghar here's the resposnse and my experience. Hope it helps
Finally completed my landing and back to USA
======================================
Alright guys let me first thank Qurox,Leon,Hot-Lier, kar_thick and many others who have been really helpful on this forum.
I completed my landing via road Seattle Vancouver border. I was more worried about my return trip as my visa has expired and have extensions of i797 and i94 but it went fine too using AVR rule.
SO here's my story:
Left for Vancouver from my home in Seattle on 16th feb . Reached border in less than 2 hours. The border was really crowded as its the Presidents day weekend in the US and a working day on Monday in Vancouver . Has to wait almost an hour and then my turn came:
Booth Officer : What brings you to Canada ( very serious almost to the level of getting rude)
Ans: I am here to complete my landing. Handed him the passports with COPR
Booth Officer: How long are you going stay ?( very serious almost to the level of getting rude)
Ans: For a few days . Maybe 3-4 days.Cant say for sure since I have to get some paperwork like SIN and bank accounts done.
Booth Officer: How long is a few days? ( now reached the rude level )
Ans: I want to take your rude behavior and shove it ...... ( just kidding)
Ans: Like I said I am not sure since I have to get some paperwork done but if you really need then you can put 3 days.
Off: Do you have any firearms:
Ans: No
Booth Officer: Are you bringing any eatables ? ( rude rude rude)
Note: we had "sawaiin" a traditional dessert . as soon as he asked I was like oh boy !!!!
Ans: Yes office we have a traditional dessert . Its like sweet noodles cooked in milk.
Booth Officer: Whats it called?
Ans: Sawaiin
Booth Officer: what ?? Soy?
Ans: like I said its sweetened grain noodles and its traditional name is "sawaiin" Tongue
Booth Officer: Does it have meat in it?
Ans: No its does not
Booth Officer: ok park your cark next to the number 1 and go to the office
Ans: Alright office have a nice day !!
Parked the car EXACTLY where he told me to and then went in the building. There was a queue and then my turn came in 10 minutes
Officer in building: Greets us and asks what brings you to Canada ?
Note:-- This guy greeted us !!! wow !!!
Ans: We are here to complete our landing.
Officer in building: Its a very popular day for becoming a PR !!
Note : I could tell that this guy is very very courteous . Totally the opposite of the guy at the booth.
So he took my COPR ( both copies ) filled a couple of things on his computer , asked me to sign the COPR, spoke with my 6 year old daughter about recent and upcoming cartoons as he had children as well , spoke with me about cartoons and movies and sports, explained to me that I have to stay 2 years to keep the PR status alive and told me that I can get the SIN from a service Canada office but I will have to go there tomorrow since they are closed on Sunday. Greeted us . Said " welcome to Canada" after we signed the COPR . He then told us that his fellow office will complete the B4 formalities with me and it should not take long since I do not have anything to declare at the moment. I thanked him and took the seat and waited for the other office to come.
Guess what Huh
The same rude Booth Officer came in and called me
ahhhhhhhhhhhh my luck !!! Lets call him the Rude Officer from now on
Rude Officer : Give me your B4 form
Ans: here you go office
Rude Officer : This can't work
Ans: What ?
Rude Officer : You only have the photographs of the jewelry. U need an assessment from a Jeweler as well . Didn't u read it where you read about the pictures
Ans : Since by now I was totally pissed with this guy I said. Alright just let it go. I will not bring it. Stamp the other stuff please. ( still using please)
Note: I game him 2 sets of Goods to follow. I did not have any goods to accompany
Rude Officer : I will make a copy of this. This is all extra ( pointing out to the other copy). Threw it in the waste bin.
Note: I do understand that he wanted to make sure that both of the same so its ok if he made the copy himself.
Ans: Sure .... ( YOU ..... thinking to myself)
Rude Officer : Are you going to bring all the stuff at the same time .
Ans : ( I remember that when I told him that I will stay 3 or 4 days he somehow got offended as I want being accurate but I still answered what the truth was) Officer I am not sure about it at the moment. I might bring all the stuff at this time and might take a couple or 3 trips. ( I did say it in a very firm voice )
Rude Officer : Looked at me and then said ok they will cut off the stuff from the list whenever you bring it.
Ans: oh thats fine. It works perfectly for me . Thanks for informing me.
So there were other minor rude incidents which I do not remember at the moment and my wife was about to tell him to be little bit courteous but finally he stamped all the Goods to Follow stuff and gave it to us. Thats it said nothing as if we can leave or anything else. I asked can we leave now. He said " didn't the officer before me explain it to you " I said yes he did but I am asking if we are done with the Goods to Follow stuff. he said Yes. and then we sat on the chair and arranged our documents . I tried to go to the bathroom but there was a notice there " The bathrooms are locked . Ask your office for pin" Grin
I decided I will hold on to my nature needs to avoid any further communication with this rude guy as my destination was just 10 minutes from the border.
===============================================================================================
Note:
All I needed was the address in Canada, Passport with visa, B4 Forms for accompanying and follow, COPR
They didnt ask for the IMM forms and probably the good office filled it himself.
==========================================================================
Next day I went to get my SIN. Nothing was required but the address in Canada. No need of the SIN NS form. They fill it themselves. Do write down your parent's maiden names though
=================================================================
Bank : Was just roaming around in Surrey and saw a TD Bank branch . Went in and told that the I needed to open a bank account and we are new immigrants. They told me that I needed to deposit some amount probably 1500 CAD to keep the checking account free , otherwise I can open a savings account which has a limit of 1 debit transaction a month. Since I was going back to the US , I just opened the Savings account and they also told me that they will issue us credit cards 1000CAD limit to each of us. More importantly they will mail it to us in the US themselves.
By the way we were told that they do not take into account US credit history.
==================================================================================================================================
Now the big day coming back to the US
======================================
I had my passports in my hand with extended i797/i94 ( Valid till June 2014) inside each passport.
I greeted him myself as soon as I reached the booth " Good afternoon "
Booth /Rude Officer : I do not want this junk ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Note: I am wondering what the hell did I do to him
Booth /Rude Officer : just give me your passports ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
I took the i797s out and gave him the passpots and told him that these are out extended i797 (junk issued by you )
Booth /Rude Officer : I know what it is. Why did you go to Canada ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans: to complete out PR formalities
Booth /Rude Officer : So what do you want in the US ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans: we have a contract till June 2014. We will finish it and then leave for Canada
Booth /Rude Officer : Whats the date on the i797 ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans : June 2014
Booth /Rude Officer : 2014 ?? it cannot be 2014. When did you file it ? ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans : The filling/receiving date is 4th May 2013 ( when you just ask the date how am I supposed to know YOU ..............)
Booth /Rude Officer : Switch off your car and give me the keys
Note: He thinks I will run off or something. And he calls for a secondary officer as well.
When the secondary officer arrives he told me to follow him to the secondary checking area
So I parked the car ( by the I was being escorted and guided by 2 officers which made me feel important )
I was instructed to go to the building . I took my bag with the documents and tried to go to the building when the officer told me to leave the bag. I told him that this bag has all my documents and I opend the bag and showed to him. he handed me my passports and an orange slip and told me to g to the building. Obviously there was a queue there with only one office at the counter. My turn finally came after 45 minutes and I was called by the officr. I handed him the passports and the orange slip. His response was " I cant do this at this time " I was like baffled. Then he said that his shft is getting off in 5 minutes ( it was quarter to 1)
so told me to stand back in the line. He then came to the line and picked a guy who was 2 places behind me. This was a blessing in disguise for me as he seemed to be rude like the office at the booth. As luck has it. I saw the same booth guy coming and sat on the counter right in front of me and I was the first in the line AAAAAAHHHHHHHH !!! and suddenly I head " Next in line please" from somewhere else and I literally ran to the guy for 2 reasons. 1 he saved me from going to that idiot at the booth. 2 he said tha words "Please" which I had not heard for a while except from myself.
So this officer was the exact opposite. Greeted us and was very courteous . he did tell me that I was not sent here because of the passport or extension. I didn't ask him why I was sent to the secondary checking and suspect the sensors might be caught something and they wanted to double check.
So he did now know abou the AVR but was kind of certain that it wont be an issue and checked with his manager just to be sure and came back and let us go.
he tool the white expired i94 ( expired in 2011) out and said that its expired and I wont need it and did not put any entry stamp on my passsport as well. I did not notice it there as I rushed outside where my car was already thoroughly check and left the border and celebrated with my family at lunch !!
So heres my whole story. At both borders I met the good and the bad So it totally depends on the individual !!!
Documents required on way back :
Passports
Current i797/i94
============================================asgharpeer said:Hi Sarayu,
Thanks for your info about using AVR. Can you help me clarify the questions i have to plan for my landing around 1st week of June 2014.
1) I am staying in Houston. Planning to take a flight from Houston to Calgary, AB. I hope i can detach my I-94 card from my passport and keep it with me. Will they ask for I-94 which is at the bottom portion of I-797 while boarding the flight from Houston?
Should be ok. On your way back you need the i94 attched to your latest i797. The original white i94 is useless since its expired
2) I see most of those used AVR to enter back to USA by landing. Is it safer to use AVR to enter back to USA by flying? If that is the case do POE IO at airport do more scrutinizing than POE IO at land border?
It can be used by air as well but not that common
3) I am planning to be there for a week in Calgary to finish the formalities applying SIN, etc before returning to Houston. Is one week sifficient?
If you are giving someone's address and then they will mail your cards to you then you need only one day to complete all the formalities. It will take a few weeks to get the SIN in mail and a couple of months for the PR ( check the time online)
4) I am trying to get one of my friend's friend address who is staying near Calgary for mailing PR card. While carrying out landing formalities, I planned not to say to Canada IO, that i am going to return back to US within a week, If i say so, they might not provide me PR card this time and will ask me to apply PR in the future when i intend to permanently relocate to canda right? Is it safe to play that game?
Depends on the individual. It is very rare that they will reject issuing the PR . Have heard it happen to a couple of people but its rare. Read my experience. I have explained in detail
5) What is "Good to Follow List"? Should i worry about that at this point of time as I am not planning to relocate to canada now. May plan to relocate after completing my Houston project in Sept 2014 (Still not sure.Project may get extended for couple of months)
Yes you should mention whatever you want to bring from USA to Canada on that list. It is important and you should detail everything unless you are not planning to being anything. For jewellery you will need to get it appraised from a jeweller.
6) As I am ANP-H1B nominee, should i need to show proof of funds?
Yes you do but again depends on the indidual dealing with you. Didn't ask from me anything regardsing funds. Find my detailed post below
Thanks
APM
Finally completed my landing and back to USA
======================================
Alright guys let me first thank Qurox,Leon,Hot-Lier, kar_thick and many others who have been really helpful on this forum.
I completed my landing via road Seattle Vancouver border. I was more worried about my return trip as my visa has expired and have extensions of i797 and i94 but it went fine too using AVR rule.
SO here's my story:
Left for Vancouver from my home in Seattle on 16th feb . Reached border in less than 2 hours. The border was really crowded as its the Presidents day weekend in the US and a working day on Monday in Vancouver . Has to wait almost an hour and then my turn came:
Booth Officer : What brings you to Canada ( very serious almost to the level of getting rude)
Ans: I am here to complete my landing. Handed him the passports with COPR
Booth Officer: How long are you going stay ?( very serious almost to the level of getting rude)
Ans: For a few days . Maybe 3-4 days.Cant say for sure since I have to get some paperwork like SIN and bank accounts done.
Booth Officer: How long is a few days? ( now reached the rude level )
Ans: I want to take your rude behavior and shove it ...... ( just kidding)
Ans: Like I said I am not sure since I have to get some paperwork done but if you really need then you can put 3 days.
Off: Do you have any firearms:
Ans: No
Booth Officer: Are you bringing any eatables ? ( rude rude rude)
Note: we had "sawaiin" a traditional dessert . as soon as he asked I was like oh boy !!!!
Ans: Yes office we have a traditional dessert . Its like sweet noodles cooked in milk.
Booth Officer: Whats it called?
Ans: Sawaiin
Booth Officer: what ?? Soy?
Ans: like I said its sweetened grain noodles and its traditional name is "sawaiin" Tongue
Booth Officer: Does it have meat in it?
Ans: No its does not
Booth Officer: ok park your cark next to the number 1 and go to the office
Ans: Alright office have a nice day !!
Parked the car EXACTLY where he told me to and then went in the building. There was a queue and then my turn came in 10 minutes
Officer in building: Greets us and asks what brings you to Canada ?
Note:-- This guy greeted us !!! wow !!!
Ans: We are here to complete our landing.
Officer in building: Its a very popular day for becoming a PR !!
Note : I could tell that this guy is very very courteous . Totally the opposite of the guy at the booth.
So he took my COPR ( both copies ) filled a couple of things on his computer , asked me to sign the COPR, spoke with my 6 year old daughter about recent and upcoming cartoons as he had children as well , spoke with me about cartoons and movies and sports, explained to me that I have to stay 2 years to keep the PR status alive and told me that I can get the SIN from a service Canada office but I will have to go there tomorrow since they are closed on Sunday. Greeted us . Said " welcome to Canada" after we signed the COPR . He then told us that his fellow office will complete the B4 formalities with me and it should not take long since I do not have anything to declare at the moment. I thanked him and took the seat and waited for the other office to come.
Guess what Huh
The same rude Booth Officer came in and called me
ahhhhhhhhhhhh my luck !!! Lets call him the Rude Officer from now on
Rude Officer : Give me your B4 form
Ans: here you go office
Rude Officer : This can't work
Ans: What ?
Rude Officer : You only have the photographs of the jewelry. U need an assessment from a Jeweler as well . Didn't u read it where you read about the pictures
Ans : Since by now I was totally pissed with this guy I said. Alright just let it go. I will not bring it. Stamp the other stuff please. ( still using please)
Note: I game him 2 sets of Goods to follow. I did not have any goods to accompany
Rude Officer : I will make a copy of this. This is all extra ( pointing out to the other copy). Threw it in the waste bin.
Note: I do understand that he wanted to make sure that both of the same so its ok if he made the copy himself.
Ans: Sure .... ( YOU ..... thinking to myself)
Rude Officer : Are you going to bring all the stuff at the same time .
Ans : ( I remember that when I told him that I will stay 3 or 4 days he somehow got offended as I want being accurate but I still answered what the truth was) Officer I am not sure about it at the moment. I might bring all the stuff at this time and might take a couple or 3 trips. ( I did say it in a very firm voice )
Rude Officer : Looked at me and then said ok they will cut off the stuff from the list whenever you bring it.
Ans: oh thats fine. It works perfectly for me . Thanks for informing me.
So there were other minor rude incidents which I do not remember at the moment and my wife was about to tell him to be little bit courteous but finally he stamped all the Goods to Follow stuff and gave it to us. Thats it said nothing as if we can leave or anything else. I asked can we leave now. He said " didn't the officer before me explain it to you " I said yes he did but I am asking if we are done with the Goods to Follow stuff. he said Yes. and then we sat on the chair and arranged our documents . I tried to go to the bathroom but there was a notice there " The bathrooms are locked . Ask your office for pin" Grin
I decided I will hold on to my nature needs to avoid any further communication with this rude guy as my destination was just 10 minutes from the border.
===============================================================================================
Note:
All I needed was the address in Canada, Passport with visa, B4 Forms for accompanying and follow, COPR
They didnt ask for the IMM forms and probably the good office filled it himself.
==========================================================================
Next day I went to get my SIN. Nothing was required but the address in Canada. No need of the SIN NS form. They fill it themselves. Do write down your parent's maiden names though
=================================================================
Bank : Was just roaming around in Surrey and saw a TD Bank branch . Went in and told that the I needed to open a bank account and we are new immigrants. They told me that I needed to deposit some amount probably 1500 CAD to keep the checking account free , otherwise I can open a savings account which has a limit of 1 debit transaction a month. Since I was going back to the US , I just opened the Savings account and they also told me that they will issue us credit cards 1000CAD limit to each of us. More importantly they will mail it to us in the US themselves.
By the way we were told that they do not take into account US credit history.
==================================================================================================================================
Now the big day coming back to the US
======================================
I had my passports in my hand with extended i797/i94 ( Valid till June 2014) inside each passport.
I greeted him myself as soon as I reached the booth " Good afternoon "
Booth /Rude Officer : I do not want this junk ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Note: I am wondering what the hell did I do to him
Booth /Rude Officer : just give me your passports ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
I took the i797s out and gave him the passpots and told him that these are out extended i797 (junk issued by you )
Booth /Rude Officer : I know what it is. Why did you go to Canada ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans: to complete out PR formalities
Booth /Rude Officer : So what do you want in the US ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans: we have a contract till June 2014. We will finish it and then leave for Canada
Booth /Rude Officer : Whats the date on the i797 ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans : June 2014
Booth /Rude Officer : 2014 ?? it cannot be 2014. When did you file it ? ( AS RUDE AS POSSIBLE )
Ans : The filling/receiving date is 4th May 2013 ( when you just ask the date how am I supposed to know YOU ..............)
Booth /Rude Officer : Switch off your car and give me the keys
Note: He thinks I will run off or something. And he calls for a secondary officer as well.
When the secondary officer arrives he told me to follow him to the secondary checking area
So I parked the car ( by the I was being escorted and guided by 2 officers which made me feel important )
I was instructed to go to the building . I took my bag with the documents and tried to go to the building when the officer told me to leave the bag. I told him that this bag has all my documents and I opend the bag and showed to him. he handed me my passports and an orange slip and told me to g to the building. Obviously there was a queue there with only one office at the counter. My turn finally came after 45 minutes and I was called by the officr. I handed him the passports and the orange slip. His response was " I cant do this at this time " I was like baffled. Then he said that his shft is getting off in 5 minutes ( it was quarter to 1)
so told me to stand back in the line. He then came to the line and picked a guy who was 2 places behind me. This was a blessing in disguise for me as he seemed to be rude like the office at the booth. As luck has it. I saw the same booth guy coming and sat on the counter right in front of me and I was the first in the line AAAAAAHHHHHHHH !!! and suddenly I head " Next in line please" from somewhere else and I literally ran to the guy for 2 reasons. 1 he saved me from going to that idiot at the booth. 2 he said tha words "Please" which I had not heard for a while except from myself.
So this officer was the exact opposite. Greeted us and was very courteous . he did tell me that I was not sent here because of the passport or extension. I didn't ask him why I was sent to the secondary checking and suspect the sensors might be caught something and they wanted to double check.
So he did now know abou the AVR but was kind of certain that it wont be an issue and checked with his manager just to be sure and came back and let us go.
he tool the white expired i94 ( expired in 2011) out and said that its expired and I wont need it and did not put any entry stamp on my passsport as well. I did not notice it there as I rushed outside where my car was already thoroughly check and left the border and celebrated with my family at lunch !!
So heres my whole story. At both borders I met the good and the bad So it totally depends on the individual !!!
Documents required on way back :
Passports
Current i797/i94