Hi all,
Several people here got their PPR recently, so I suppose I will just share my recent landing experience. As I mentioned, I received my passport back on May 16 (Ottawa received my passport on April 18), with COPR and visa stamped on my passport (dated April 29, not sure what my passport was doing, sitting in the facility for 15+ days after stamping). On the same day, I drove to Peace Bridge at Fort Erie to complete my landing formality. I was going to do it at Niagara Falls, but I decided to go to Fort Erie, because I did not have a US visa, and I did not want to deal with US border (at Fort Erie, we can just take a U-Turn to return to Canada without dealing with the US border).
So I made the u-turn, and the border lady asked me where I came from. I explained that I was there just to land, and that I came specifically for that reason. She asked if I was importing anything, asked for my passport to check my immigrant visa. Then she gave me a yellow slip after asking me several questions (whether I had goods to be imported, firearms, etc; for which I answered 'no' to all, which was reflected on the yellow slip). She then told me to enter the building to complete my landing. I entered the building, and after about 10 minutes, a border agent called me I then presented my passport, and she started asking me about my employment letter, and also proof of funds. I wasn't prepared with employment letter, so I had to scramble around with my smartphone to gather what I could find from the Internet (which was not much).
She started giving me lectures on how TA/RA is not real work since we get paid to do our studies, on how as a skilled worker, I was expected to already have held a 'real' job (how I 'pre-emptively' applied for PR, and somehow got it, not sure what that really means). I tried to explain that I was qualified for PR under the PhD stream, but she kept insisting what she said before, so I figured that I should just keep my mouth shut and remain silent, with just one thought in my mind that she was a border agent, and it was not up to her to determine my eligibility to immigrate (it was CIC's job, which they had done, processing my application for the past 16 months).
She grinded me on proof of funds, asking me where the money comes from. She asked me how come none of the salary or funding from school went into the account. I told her it was on different account. She got upset when I told her this, telling me that I should've been more prepared, especially since I have more than one bank accounts in Canada. Then once again she told me to pull up information from my other bank accounts from my smartphone.
She asked me about stuff I said during interview 4 years ago when I applied for student visa (they had all these things on their system, so do not lie), and about other things which I don't think will be relevant for anybody else. After all said and done, she finally said that I am a permanent resident, and that I have the rights of a citizen except the right of vote, and that I am subject to PR residency requirements. No congratulations, and no 'welcome to Canada'.
I asked her several questions regarding residency requirements, PR card, etc, then I left, feeling a bit dissapointed with my experience (especially since most people are actually having a pleasant experience during landing; well, not me).
The moral of the story, while most likely they will not ask, bring with you all POF (also all statements on all bank accounts you have in Canada), and employment documents. You want to make sure that your landing is as smooth and pleasant as possible (after waiting for all those months). If you have ever been rejected a student visa before, then expect them to ask you some questions about it (PM me, and we can discuss if you are concerned about this issue).
I wish the rest of you good luck with your applications. I will still visit the forum from time to time, so if you have any questions about landing or anything else that I may be able to help, do not hesitate to contact me through PM or here
