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COPR EXPIRY- H1B Approved but not Stamped

A

aperi

Newbie
Mar 3, 2020
8
6
Hello,

I am currently in the US with a approved H1B visa (valid I-797) but have not been able to get it stamped on my passport yet. I also have a valid COPR which is about to expire in May 2021. The IRCC website states that, people living in the US with a valid COPR can travel to Canada to settle permanently, however I am not ready to permanently relocate to Canada. In this case what are my options ?

I know the US consulates are not open for H1B visa appointments. There is the option of AVR, but how risky is this ?

Can I risk travelling to Canada for my landing stamp and try to return back to the US on the same day using the AVR ? Is the AVR valid only for land crossing or both Air/Land ?

Finally, anyone else stuck in a similar situation ?

Thanks,
 
aperi said:
Hello,

I am currently in the US with a approved H1B visa (valid I-797) but have not been able to get it stamped on my passport yet. I also have a valid COPR which is about to expire in May 2021. The IRCC website states that, people living in the US with a valid COPR can travel to Canada to settle permanently, however I am not ready to permanently relocate to Canada. In this case what are my options ?

I know the US consulates are not open for H1B visa appointments. There is the option of AVR, but how risky is this ?

Can I risk travelling to Canada for my landing stamp and try to return back to the US on the same day using the AVR ? Is the AVR valid only for land crossing or both Air/Land ?

Finally, anyone else stuck in a similar situation ?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
AVR is valid for both air and land travel, as long as you have valid I94 and approved I797 you should be good. Ton of people used AVR to enter back into United States after soft landing and other reasons. How risky depends on you, there is no reason for CBP officer to deny entry unless you give them one.
 
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aperi said:
Can I risk travelling to Canada for my landing stamp and try to return back to the US on the same day using the AVR ? Is the AVR valid only for land crossing or both Air/Land ?
Click to expand...
One additional note which is not covered is about the quarantine rules. So you might not be able to return on same day. You can request them if you can return, if they dont allow then you might need to quarantine hence plan accordingly.
Also you need to prepare for your entry into Canada as you cant just simply go in anymore:
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying-canada-checklist
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/driving-canada-checklist
 
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harirajmohan said:
One additional note which is not covered is about the quarantine rules. So you might not be able to return on same day. You can request them if you can return, if they dont allow then you might need to quarantine hence plan accordingly.
Also you need to prepare for your entry into Canada as your cant just simply go in anymore:
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying-canada-checklist
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/driving-canada-checklist
Click to expand...
With all these new rules it is simply not the best idea to do soft landing.
 
starlordavuthu said:
With all these new rules it is simply not the best idea to do soft landing.
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well if the copr is expiring in a month, no other choice. i am not sure if cic extends the validity like last year. if not they need to land to gain PR status.
 
harirajmohan said:
well if the copr is expiring in a month, no other choice. i am not sure if cic extends the validity like last year. if not they need to land to gain PR status.
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That is true, but it doesnt make sense if IRCC forces someone (by not extending COPR) to do hard/soft landing in these uncertain times.
 
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OolongLikeALittlePuppy said:
Shouldn’t that policy extend till end of COVID?
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Pandemic wont go for next few years and 2020 was complete lockdown during that initial period hence they allowed. If they keep extending then people will postpone for years and cic gives visa for the benefit of Canada, not for the benefit of candidates.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/inter...nning-out-of-time-to-come-to-canada-1.5327768
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html
 
If my understanding is right, I can only travel to Canada if my COPR was approved before March 18 2020 Or if I am exempt from certain travel restrictions as stated in the link below. So am I right to assume all the people who did their soft landing and returned using AVR either:

1.) Had their COPR approved prior to March 18 2020
2.) Are exempt from travel restrictions.

Anyone here who does not belong to these categories and has travelled to confirm their COPR ? Replies are highly valued. Thanks

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html
 
aperi said:
If my understanding is right, I can only travel to Canada if my COPR was approved before March 18 2020 Or if I am exempt from certain travel restrictions as stated in the link below. So am I right to assume all the people who did their soft landing and returned using AVR either:

1.) Had their COPR approved prior to March 18 2020
2.) Are exempt from travel restrictions.

Anyone here who does not belong to these categories and has travelled to confirm their COPR ? Replies are highly valued. Thanks

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html
Click to expand...
Realistically people are landing but per site, they say they would allow if you move permanently.

Here is the result based on eligibility: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start
You indicated that you are:
  • a foreign national
  • not showing signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19
  • coming from the United States
  • an approved permanent resident not yet in Canada
Based on your answers, you will likely be allowed to enter Canada; however, the final determination will be made by a government official at the port of entry.

You must be coming to Canada to settle permanently.
 
I tried soft landing last week at Peace bridge but was denied. They are allowing in only if you are coming in to live permanently. Unfortunately, I have to do the car export formality to be allowed to drive in. Please let me know if anyone recently drove in to Canada with own US car without car export-import formalities.
 
dreamer131713 said:
I tried soft landing last week at Peace bridge but was denied. They are allowing in only if you are coming in to live permanently. Unfortunately, I have to do the car export formality to be allowed to drive in. Please let me know if anyone recently drove in to Canada with own US car without car export-import formalities.
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Lol, are you asking if anyone recently committed a crime?
 
starlordavuthu said:
Lol, are you asking if anyone recently committed a crime?
Click to expand...

Oops! I did not know that it is a crime, I can always come back and do the import-export process later right by adding the car to the GTF list. People do drive with US plates if they are visiting for sometime right.
 
dreamer131713 said:
Oops! I did not know that it is a crime, I can always come back and do the import-export process later right by adding the car to the GTF list. People do drive with US plates if they are visiting for sometime right.
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You can take your vehicle if you are visiting or for temporary purposes, but if you are moving permanently you need to import it. You may face serious consequences later if you dont import.
 
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