I found this 'experience note' for landing in North Portal (where we will be landing). This might help you folks a little bit... I am sure the process is nearly the same all over borders. Thanks
According to the CBSA website, our nearest POE is North Portal,
Saskatchewan. The immigration office at North Portal is open 7 days a week,
8:00-23:00. I checked Google map about direction how to get there from
Saskatoon. Its approx 500 km / 6 hrs away.
Sunday 3 am, we drove in our rental car (the nice lady at Hertz gave us a
Ford Mustang ). Arrived at North Portal 8:30 am. Parked our car, and
entered the Customs building, towards the immigration office. We told the
lady that we're here for landing. She checked our passports and COPR
letters. She said to complete the landing, we have to be seeking admission
to Canada. She told us to go to the US Customs office, it's ok if we didn't
have the proper visas, they'll just simply send us back to Canada. After
that, she gave all of our documents back.
We walked toward the US Customs office, and told the guy that we're here for
landing in Canada. The guy understood and asked for our passports. After
examining them, he said "Negative on US Visa." He asked us to sit while he
started some paperwork. While waiting, we noticed that they're on different
timezone . Anyways, 10 minutes later, he asked both of us to come in to the
office, and gave each of us a form to fill in. The form asked us about our
Name, Address, phone number, Height, Weight, Father's name and Address,
Mother's name and Address. He gave us another form which we have to sign, it
states our reason why we're refused entry to the states. He assured us that
we are not criminals, simply attempting to get our immigration status in
Canada. He gave another form which we have to give to Canadian immigration.
We left the states, and walked back into Canadian immigration office. We
showed our passports again, COPR again, and the form from US customs
earlier. She asked us to sit. After 10 minutes, she called us. This time she
went through the COPR, asked us to ensure that the information are correct,
that we have no other dependants, no criminal records, never been asked to
leave Canada, never been refused entry to Canada. We said they are all
correct. She asked us to sign the COPR, and detach the copies from
originals, and stapled the COPR to our passports, next to the immigration
visa. She stamped our passport, and congratulate us. We have just landed.
She explained about getting SIN next, health coverage, residency
requirements, and how to become citizen. She asked if we have any questions,
and we said no. Then she gave us two tiny pins in the shape of Canadian
flag, shook our hands, and said Congratulations. We said thanks and left the
building, all smiles and happy.
After leaving the building, we drove over towards the Duty Free shop. It has
a very big CANADA sign outside. We took a few pictures in there (with our
rental Mustang too )
And that's all. It was quick and painless. The whole landing thing took us
around 1 hour. We are going to apply for new SIN later today.
According to the CBSA website, our nearest POE is North Portal,
Saskatchewan. The immigration office at North Portal is open 7 days a week,
8:00-23:00. I checked Google map about direction how to get there from
Saskatoon. Its approx 500 km / 6 hrs away.
Sunday 3 am, we drove in our rental car (the nice lady at Hertz gave us a
Ford Mustang ). Arrived at North Portal 8:30 am. Parked our car, and
entered the Customs building, towards the immigration office. We told the
lady that we're here for landing. She checked our passports and COPR
letters. She said to complete the landing, we have to be seeking admission
to Canada. She told us to go to the US Customs office, it's ok if we didn't
have the proper visas, they'll just simply send us back to Canada. After
that, she gave all of our documents back.
We walked toward the US Customs office, and told the guy that we're here for
landing in Canada. The guy understood and asked for our passports. After
examining them, he said "Negative on US Visa." He asked us to sit while he
started some paperwork. While waiting, we noticed that they're on different
timezone . Anyways, 10 minutes later, he asked both of us to come in to the
office, and gave each of us a form to fill in. The form asked us about our
Name, Address, phone number, Height, Weight, Father's name and Address,
Mother's name and Address. He gave us another form which we have to sign, it
states our reason why we're refused entry to the states. He assured us that
we are not criminals, simply attempting to get our immigration status in
Canada. He gave another form which we have to give to Canadian immigration.
We left the states, and walked back into Canadian immigration office. We
showed our passports again, COPR again, and the form from US customs
earlier. She asked us to sit. After 10 minutes, she called us. This time she
went through the COPR, asked us to ensure that the information are correct,
that we have no other dependants, no criminal records, never been asked to
leave Canada, never been refused entry to Canada. We said they are all
correct. She asked us to sign the COPR, and detach the copies from
originals, and stapled the COPR to our passports, next to the immigration
visa. She stamped our passport, and congratulate us. We have just landed.
She explained about getting SIN next, health coverage, residency
requirements, and how to become citizen. She asked if we have any questions,
and we said no. Then she gave us two tiny pins in the shape of Canadian
flag, shook our hands, and said Congratulations. We said thanks and left the
building, all smiles and happy.
After leaving the building, we drove over towards the Duty Free shop. It has
a very big CANADA sign outside. We took a few pictures in there (with our
rental Mustang too )
And that's all. It was quick and painless. The whole landing thing took us
around 1 hour. We are going to apply for new SIN later today.
