CoPR received - looking for advice on landing process and next steps in Canada

[Marrigold]

Hi,

We've received our CoPR while vacationing in US (applicant's home country) and are looking for advice on how to cross back into Canada. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere with all the steps carefully detailed but I can't find it.

Specifically:

The car we will cross the border in is the applicant's (a US car) but can we wait to import it for a few months, i.e. put in on the list of belongings to come later?

Is there a limit to the number of times or a timespan (eg within one year) we can cross the border and import things on the 'personal effects' list?

Typically what happens at the border crossing?

We will be crossing at a relatively small border (en rte to a wedding), Calais ME. Is this inadvisable?

Once we have crossed, what are the next steps once in Canada - for SIN, Health Care, drivers license etc.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[tink23]

If your driving the car across he border, why would you wait to import it?
I don't think there is a limit for the number of times you can bring your items across the border. As long as it's listed on the B4 form, you can import it without paying a duty on it.

As for sin, health insurance, and drivers license, you can do this at the service Canada and Service Ontario locations. SIN you will get your number immediately and can begin working. There is a place at the airport that new PRs can register, but I don't know if the same is offered for land crossings, especially if you are crossing at a small border. But you can go to Service Canada with your COPR and passport and get the sin number.

If you are living in Ontario your spouse won't be eligible for OHIP until 3 months after landing. You can't existed for it before hand, but you won't be able to use it until after 3 months. To register for this your spouse will need the COPR (or PR card if it arrives quickly), proof of address (mailed bank statement, Etc... There is a list online of what exactly can be used for proof of address), and I think my spouse brought his passport since we used his COPR...

Drivers license he can get changed over to a Canadian one at Service Ontario (if living in Ontario) or the other provincial equivalents.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hi,

We've received our CoPR while vacationing in US (applicant's home country) and are looking for advice on how to cross back into Canada. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere with all the steps carefully detailed but I can't find it.

Specifically:

The car we will cross the border in is the applicant's (a US car) but can we wait to import it for a few months, i.e. put in on the list of belongings to come later?

yes, i've been told this is possible to do, as it is also my plan. put the car on the "goods to follow list". I plan to make sure my vin # is included in the description. what i am not clear about is whether the car needs to be added to the B4 form under "conveyance", or if that is just for cars being imported upon landing.

Is there a limit to the number of times or a timespan (eg within one year) we can cross the border and import things on the 'personal effects' list?

no, no limit. i believe the PR has 10 years to bring everything over that is on the "goods to follow" list.

Typically what happens at the border crossing?

apparently it's pretty quick. the officer will ask the questions that are written on the copr, sign the documents, have the applicant sign the document, approve the B4 list and that's it!

We will be crossing at a relatively small border (en rte to a wedding), Calais ME. Is this inadvisable?

just make sure that border is open 24/7, as it's been mentioned smaller borders actually close. the only issues i would see are that the officers give the person a hard time (seems to be common for smaller borders), and their system doesn't recognize the copr document (though, that seems to be mainly at one of the toronto borders). There is protocol if the computer issue does come up, so the officers should still "land" the pr.

Once we have crossed, what are the next steps once in Canada - for SIN, Health Care, drivers license etc.

the pr will have to go to the local service canada office to get the sin#. For the healthcare, the pr needs some proof of residence to apply. The copr will be enough to get these things started. I've read it's SUPER important that the immigration officer writes the COPR number in the passport upon landing. MAke sure this is done when they stamp the passport for entry.

To exchange her license, she will need to get official driving abstracts from her home state. not doing so will not allow her to get a license as an experienced driver, and she will be restricted. each state has a different system for this, and it must be a certified copy mailed to the driver. check the state's DMV site to know how to do this for her state.

 

[Rob_TO]

If your driving the car across he border, why would you wait to import it?

There are many more steps involved to importing a car (like getting safety upgrades, paying off any loans against it, informing CBSA in advance, and extra paperwork). Many people aren't quite ready to officially import the car at time of landing, so can do it later.

However until it's imported the car can't be registered or insured by a Canadian company, so will need to continue insurance from a US insurer. So make sure to tell them the car will be in Canada for an extended time. While you are now a PR, the car will still be a "visitor" until imported.

 

[rhcohen2014]

There are many more steps involved to importing a car (like getting safety upgrades, paying off any loans against it, informing CBSA in advance, and extra paperwork). Many people aren't quite ready to officially import the car at time of landing, so can do it later.

exactly! do you know if the car needs to be listed under "conveyance" on the B4 form as well as the goods to follow form, or does it only need to be on the goods to follow form?

 

[Alurra71]

exactly! do you know if the car needs to be listed under "conveyance" on the B4 form as well as the goods to follow form, or does it only need to be on the goods to follow form?

I only listed mine on goods to follow ... *shrugs* ... but then mine was parked in the garage and I was an INLAND applicant, so not quite exactly the same procedure.

 

[Zarilenth]

Be very careful with the license change over too. My hubby is from Arkansas and they printed out his abstract for him because they said they would never mail out a copy. The DMV in Ontario refused to change over his license until he shows them a mailed copy, so now he's been arguing with the DMV in Arkansas for the past two weeks.
So really push for the mailed copies (mailed on official letterhead paper, not a mailed copy of what they printed out, lol) or you might run into some issues!

 

[Marrigold]

Thank you all for the super helpful info re landing, importing etc.

Now I'm confused about the 'proof of address' for OHIP. My US husband has no proof of address in Canada as he lives in US. Is proof of my (i.e. the sponsor) address adequate? Is his COPR letter from CIC adequate? Is his photo ID from US adequate?

Cheers ... again !

 

[tink23]

Thank you all for the super helpful info re landing, importing etc.

Now I'm confused about the 'proof of address' for OHIP. My US husband has no proof of address in Canada as he lives in US. Is proof of my (i.e. the sponsor) address adequate? Is his COPR letter from CIC adequate? Is his photo ID from US adequate?

Cheers ... again !

No that isn't sufficient. He won't have proof of address until he moves to Canada. You will have to review the acceptable documents on the Service Ontario page. My husband used a mailed bank statement as proof, after I added him to my bank account. There are other things as well that you can find out on the Service Ontario document for applying for health care.
He won't qualify for OHIP until living for 3 months in Ontario, so it won't matter if it takes a month or 2 to get the proof of address.

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you all for the super helpful info re landing, importing etc.

Now I'm confused about the 'proof of address' for OHIP. My US husband has no proof of address in Canada as he lives in US. Is proof of my (i.e. the sponsor) address adequate? Is his COPR letter from CIC adequate? Is his photo ID from US adequate?

Cheers ... again !

To prove his Canadian residency, he must show one of the specific documents, that has his name on it, from "List 2" of this file: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/014-9998E-82~1/$File/9998-82E.pdf

It must be exactly one of those documents, as in general OHIP will not accept anything else. it makes zero difference if you apply for OHIP on day 1 of landing or after 2 months and 30 days... OHIP will not becoming effective until 3 months after landing. Be sure to have private emergency medical coverage during those 3 months. You can compare some companies/prices here: https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada