AVR from Canada to USA First Time

[canadapr1982]

Hello All and Harirajmohan Sir,

I was moved last month permanently to Canada on Oct 18. I am planning to use AVR next week on Friday, Nov 13 as we have to do within 30 days and this is the first time I am using AVR from Canada. So, my question is that

1. What time (Morning/Afternoon) is good to enter in USA ??
2. What I have to tell to officer if he will ask my purpose of visit?
3. For how many hours I have to stay in USA?? Can I immediately take U-turn or stay over there couple of hours and then come back to Canada?
4. What documents I have to carry while using AVR? Do I need to take any kind of letter from my employer like offer letter etc. ?
5. I am planning to book rental car....Is this good idea to book rental car and still I have USA driver license...Is there any issue while keeping USA driver license??

For Canada side, What I have to tell to Canadian immigration officer why I will go to USA and do I need to quarantaine again for 2 weeks?? Can I tell immigration officer that I am essential worker in USA and I have to travel every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks so that I am not suppose for quarantine??While coming back to Canada from USA, Is COPR and passport is enough as I am waiting for my PR card??

Please guys respond me as this is my first time to travel.

 

[harirajmohan]

Hello All and Harirajmohan Sir,

I was moved last month permanently to Canada on Oct 18. I am planning to use AVR next week on Friday, Nov 13 as we have to do within 30 days and this is the first time I am using AVR from Canada. So, my question is that

1. What time (Morning/Afternoon) is good to enter in USA ??
2. What I have to tell to officer if he will ask my purpose of visit?
3. For how many hours I have to stay in USA?? Can I immediately take U-turn or stay over there couple of hours and then come back to Canada?
4. What documents I have to carry while using AVR? Do I need to take any kind of letter from my employer like offer letter etc. ?
5. I am planning to book rental car....Is this good idea to book rental car and still I have USA driver license...Is there any issue while keeping USA driver license??

6. For Canada side, What I have to tell to Canadian immigration officer why I will go to USA and do I need to quarantaine again for 2 weeks??
7. Can I tell immigration officer that I am essential worker in USA and I have to travel every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks so that I am not suppose for quarantine??
8. While coming back to Canada from USA, Is COPR and passport is enough as I am waiting for my PR card??

Please guys respond me as this is my first time to travel.

1. Morning is preferrable to have less questions. Its not mandatory.
2. Officer expects you to travel to work. I am not sure you can simply say that you are trying to enter to retain status. Is your office far from border?
3. Same as #2.
4. I always carry I797, copy of I129, LCA, recent payslips(to prove that i am still employed). You should carry all documents as if you are coming for the first time.
5. No issues to use rental/personal car. Sometimes border will ask you to show the license but you can show and no issues. THey will ask you on when you moved etc. if they ask you why you have not changed it then you can tell that you just moved and will be changing soon.
6. No, dont ask any question but answer their questions only. You just tell that you are coming from work. They will ask you all details about the work, company, visa, are you canadian resident etc and then they will determine on quarantine. You wont get it as you are returning from work to Canada.
7. #6.
8. Yes both are alternate for PR card while travelling via personal/rental car.

Note for new traveler at the border: while taking documents etc while in the car, dont reach out to glove box etc suddenly. Just inform the officer that can i take the documents inside the bag/etc to let them know that you are trying to take the document(and they should not think that you are taking out something else).

 

[canadapr1982]

1. Morning is preferrable to have less questions. Its not mandatory.
2. Officer expects you to travel to work. I am not sure you can simply say that you are trying to enter to retain status. Is your office far from border?
3. Same as #2.
4. I always carry I797, copy of I129, LCA, recent payslips(to prove that i am still employed). You should carry all documents as if you are coming for the first time.
5. No issues to use rental/personal car. Sometimes border will ask you to show the license but you can show and no issues. THey will ask you on when you moved etc. if they ask you why you have not changed it then you can tell that you just moved and will be changing soon.
6. No, dont ask any question but answer their questions only. You just tell that you are coming from work. They will ask you all details about the work, company, visa, are you canadian resident etc and then they will determine on quarantine. You wont get it as you are returning from work to Canada.
7. #6.
8. Yes both are alternate for PR card while travelling via personal/rental car.

Note for new traveler at the border: while taking documents etc while in the car, dont reach out to glove box etc suddenly. Just inform the officer that can i take the documents inside the bag/etc to let them know that you are trying to take the document(and they should not think that you are taking out something else).

Sir, for point 2, my employer is in Farmington hill and my client is in lansing so around 2 hours from border.

Sir, for how many hours i have to stay in usa or else immediately i can take u turn or else stay there for couple of hours?

 

[harirajmohan]

Sir, for point 2, my employer is in Farmington hill and my client is in lansing so around 2 hours from border.

Sir, for how many hours i have to stay in usa or else immediately i can take u turn or else stay there for couple of hours?

Just travel for work. They dont verify on how long you stayed in US but the problem is when you return cbsa will know that you did not spend even 1-2 hours and returned back quickly hence its better to spend couple of hours inside US after crossing the border(whether you go to lansing or not) and then return back.

When you return, mention that you have been to work so that you are not quarantined.

 

[canprofus]

Just travel for work. They dont verify on how long you stayed in US but the problem is when you return cbsa will know that you did not spend even 1-2 hours and returned back quickly hence its better to spend couple of hours inside US after crossing the border(whether you go to lansing or not) and then return back.

When you return, mention that you have been to work so that you are not quarantined.

to some people they seem to be giving new i94 stating multiple entry and for some they just let in without anything like that. if an i94 states multiple entry, can it be used like visa as long as one is in Canada. do you know when they choose to give that?

 

[harirajmohan]

to some people they seem to be giving new i94 stating multiple entry and for some they just let in without anything like that. if an i94 states multiple entry, can it be used like visa as long as one is in Canada. do you know when they choose to give that?

I94 issued at border(while landing from plane or driving via road) and uscis are same.
Some border officials give new one and some dont. if you look in the last few years from 2012, the cbp at airports dont issue paper I94 anymore but it doesnt mean that you dont have I94 record. So it doesnt matter if you are allowed using same i94 or issuing a new one.

 

[canprofus]

I94 issued at border(while landing from plane or driving via road) and uscis are same.
Some border officials give new one and some dont. if you look in the last few years from 2012, the cbp at airports dont issue paper I94 anymore but it doesnt mean that you dont have I94 record. So it doesnt matter if you are allowed using same i94 or issuing a new one.

Thanks.. is it okay to say we live in Canada if we are crossing the land border and fly to a different location from Detroit to work? Or can we just say my family lives here in Canada?

 

[harirajmohan]

Thanks.. is it okay to say we live in Canada if we are crossing the land border and fly to a different location from Detroit to work? Or can we just say my family lives here in Canada?

You need to tell your clear plan with locations and destinations. I am not clear.

 

[canadapr1982]

Just travel for work. They dont verify on how long you stayed in US but the problem is when you return cbsa will know that you did not spend even 1-2 hours and returned back quickly hence its better to spend couple of hours inside US after crossing the border(whether you go to lansing or not) and then return back.

When you return, mention that you have been to work so that you are not quarantined.

Sir, if immigration officer ask from USA side that since i m permanently move to canada as a permanent resident, why i will continue job in michigan? Why u don’t search job in canada? As I entered canada on 18 oct, so i have to travel before 18 nov...correct?I m planning to travel on nov 11 as i have holiday on veteran’s day and I don’t waste this holiday...is it ok to travel on holiday because some offices are open ??I think mostly offices are open on veterans day.

 

[harirajmohan]

1. if immigration officer ask from USA side that since i m permanently move to canada as a permanent resident, why i will continue job in michigan? Why u don’t search job in canada?

2. As I entered canada on 18 oct, so i have to travel before 18 nov...correct?I m planning to travel on nov 11 as i have holiday on veteran’s day and I don’t waste this holiday...is it ok to travel on holiday because some offices are open ??I think mostly offices are open on veterans day.

1. THey wont ask on it. We are commuting for years being a PR.
2. Its not holiday in US hence no question will be on US side.

 

[canprofus]

1. THey wont ask on it. We are commuting for years being a PR.
2. Its not holiday in US hence no question will be on US side.

One more question related to stamping for commuters.. I spoke to someone who commutes to Buffalo daily got 221g during visa interview for mentioning about the commute. The officer said such a thing cannot be done and handed 221g to investigate further. They got 221g before pandemic and yet to clear it. Can commuting cause issues in visa front?

 

[canadapr1982]

1. THey wont ask on it. We are commuting for years being a PR.
2. Its not holiday in US hence no question will be on US side.

Thanks Sir. One last question, can i carry my work laptop with me or there is no need?

 

[harirajmohan]

One more question related to stamping for commuters.. I spoke to someone who commutes to Buffalo daily got 221g during visa interview for mentioning about the commute. The officer said such a thing cannot be done and handed 221g to investigate further. They got 221g before pandemic and yet to clear it. Can commuting cause issues in visa front?

I am not sure. I told that i was commuting during the interview in 2017. No issues. I enter the last 5 trips in DS160 which are of day trips to US as i commute. No issues in the last 2 times of stamping during 2018 and 2020.

Thanks Sir. One last question, can i carry my work laptop with me or there is no need?

Many take laptops including myself.

 

[canprofus]

Really? 221g is likely for other reason.....few people got 221g for commuting.....but got cleared in days
However if your job is else where and not close to border...that may raise flags

Not sure. They mentioned that officer said this as reason and gave 221g.. length of the 221g might be due to consulate closures in general.

What do you recommend to someone whose family lives in Canada, but the person needs to travel to NC for few days a week? Enter through Detroit and fly from there (2 hour flight) or directly fly from Toronto? Can base the residence accordingly. Thanks.

 

[canadapr1982]

Thanks Sir. One last question, can i carry my work laptop with me or there is no need?

Today I successfully completed AVR first time after moving permanently to Windsor through Ambassador bridge. From USA immigration side, the officer only asked my passport and I-797 just ask regular questions like where i work and where i m going? From Canada immigration side, the officer asked passport and copr since i m waiting for pr card. No quarantine as I told to officer that i m coming from work. Overall it was good experience first time. Thanks to all of you guys and harirajmohan sir.