"First Landing" if you're already in Canada

[evanhindra]

Just a heads up; contrary to what I've been told… apparently you can do your "First Landing" if you're already in Canada without needing to leaving Canada and re-entering, as long as you have a valid temporary resident status.

You can contact CIC's Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

This is good news for those who are on dual-intent, still has a valid status (you can always extend yours TRV if you need to send your passport to the VO who's handing your case). So, instead of wasting time getting US Visa (closest to do a Visa-Run) or leaving Canada entirely, you can now check-in from Canada directly at the nearest Citizenship and Immigration Office.


We found out after my wife went through the trouble of going all the way to Singapore to grab her PR Visa. Wish we had known about this sooner ;P.

 

[Pummelchen]

Thats right. I'm a Outland guy but live in Alberta, so if all goes well I can "land" in Edmonton or Calgari even as originally I landed at Toronto Airport .. Why they dont use the word immigrate instead of landing ? lol ;D

 

[Timemachine]

Thats right. I'm a Outland guy but live in Alberta, so if all goes well I can "land" in Edmonton or Calgari even as originally I landed at Toronto Airport .. Why they dont use the word immigrate instead of landing ? lol ;D

Hi Pummelchen,

So from what i understand, you are living in Alberta right now on some sort of visa (Visitor, work, etc) and when you get your COPR you can just take it to the Edmonton airport to "land", and you don't have to actually step outside of canada and come back in? Where did you find this information?

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi Pummelchen,

So from what i understand, you are living in Alberta right now on some sort of visa (Visitor, work, etc) and when you get your COPR you can just take it to the Edmonton airport to "land", and you don't have to actually step outside of canada and come back in? Where did you find this information?

Wrong information. The OP can't go to the Edmonton airport. S/he has to make an appointment for Edmonton CIC, by calling the Call Centre 1-888-242-2100 is s/he wishing to "land" in Canada. Requires valid status in Canada.

 

[Timemachine]

Hi PMM,

Thanks for the reply! Is there usually a long wait period for this type of appointment?

Hi


Wrong information. The OP can't go to the Edmonton airport. S/he has to make an appointment for Edmonton CIC, by calling the Call Centre 1-888-242-2100 is s/he wishing to "land" in Canada. Requires valid status in Canada.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi PMM,

Thanks for the reply! Is there usually a long wait period for this type of appointment?

Depending on the office 2-6 weeks.

 

[friedbrains]

so, let me understand this: if i have a visitor's visa, i can be in canada, while waiting for the approval of my immigrant visa. once i got the "immigrant visa", i can then just ask for appointment with the nearest CIC for my so called "first landing" without even actually exiting out of canada and re-entering into canada? is this right?

 

[evanhindra]

Yes. There's no need for you to leave and re-enter Canada anymore, AS LONG AS: you have a valid Visa in Canada.

This appears to be a new development that my wife discovered after the Visa Office in Singapore handed her PR Visa. She went all the way to Singapore from Toronto (she went on a Dual-Intent), thinking she had to leave Canada/re-enter for First Landing, while it turns out she could do her First Landing within Canada without having to step foot outside!

 

[scylla]

Yes. There's no need for you to leave and re-enter Canada anymore, AS LONG AS: you have a valid Visa in Canada.

This appears to be a new development that my wife discovered after the Visa Office in Singapore handed her PR Visa. She went all the way to Singapore from Toronto (she went on a Dual-Intent), thinking she had to leave Canada/re-enter for First Landing, while it turns out she could do her First Landing within Canada without having to step foot outside!

Actually this isn't a new development. This option of landing has been around for years (at least since 2010 when my husband went through the process - likely earlier). It's just not well publicized/known. Also, sometimes it's not worth the wait depending on your situation. Waiting times for a local appointment were approximately six weeks when my husband went through the process. And no - we didn't chose land this way in the end.

 

[friedbrains]

thanks for the info. yes, i do have a valid multiple re-entry visa that is valid for another 3 years and had been in and out of canada for the past 2 years and my immigrant visa is probably just around the corner, but my wife and i had been thinking that i should just stay there now for the next 6 months or so...

 

[drdgmmrm]

For all those who are already in Canada and in need of a landed status you can do your "First Landing" if you're already in Canada without needing to leaving Canada and re-entering, as long as you have a valid temporary resident status.

You can contact CIC's Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

This is good news for those who are on dual-intent, still has a valid status (you can always extend yours TRV if you need to send your passport to the VO who's handing your case). So, instead of wasting time getting US Visa (closest to do a Visa-Run) or leaving Canada entirely, you can now check-in from Canada directly at the nearest Citizenship and Immigration Office.

 

[R151NG5UN]

Thats all great if you want to wait up to 6 weeks. Most people I assume would like to work. With this, great if you have a spare 6 weeks to sit about twiddling your thumbs. It is a great idea but not the most practical.

 

[Rob_TO]

So, instead of wasting time getting US Visa (closest to do a Visa-Run) or leaving Canada entirely, you can now check-in from Canada directly at the nearest Citizenship and Immigration Office.

You don't need to get a US visa. If you go to a US/Canada land border, you just tell the US people that you want to return directly to Canada so you can officially land. The US side will give you a denied or refused entry stamp... and turn you right back to the Canadian side to do your landing.

This is a great option for anyone to do an instant landing if you're only a couple hours drive from a border (like we did, Toronto to Niagara Falls). Only reason i would see to wait and delay everything by a month or more to "land" in your own city... is if you're too far or too much hassle to get to a US border.

 

[Pigey]

Thats all great if you want to wait up to 6 weeks. Most people I assume would like to work. With this, great if you have a spare 6 weeks to sit about twiddling your thumbs. It is a great idea but not the most practical.

I'm only 45 minutes from the US Boarder... I figure I can land, then stop at the registry on the way home to get my SIN. Hooray for job hunting! Kinda...

 

[Nigea]

If you do a flag pole run to the USA and they stamp your passport DENY ENTRY, does this not affect further entry into US at a later time