+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

"First Landing" if you're already in Canada

evanhindra

Star Member
Apr 7, 2011
75
1
somewhere in the universe
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
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

Star Member
Jun 24, 2011
86
2
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
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

Star Member
Sep 14, 2011
124
3
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo--->Seattle
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
13-12-2011
AOR Received.
23-02-2012
File Transfer...
03-02-2012
Med's Done....
17-10-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
05-04-2012
VISA ISSUED...
27-04-2012
LANDED..........
01-05-2012
Pummelchen said:
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

VIP Member
Jun 30, 2005
25,494
1,950
Hi


Timemachine said:
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

Star Member
Sep 14, 2011
124
3
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo--->Seattle
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
13-12-2011
AOR Received.
23-02-2012
File Transfer...
03-02-2012
Med's Done....
17-10-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
05-04-2012
VISA ISSUED...
27-04-2012
LANDED..........
01-05-2012
Hi PMM,

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


PMM said:
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.
 

friedbrains

Full Member
Apr 6, 2012
45
0
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

Star Member
Apr 7, 2011
75
1
somewhere in the universe
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
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

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,939
22,177
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
evanhindra said:
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

Full Member
Apr 6, 2012
45
0
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

Full Member
Aug 6, 2010
37
0
New Westminster
Category........
Visa Office......
New Delhi
NOC Code......
2121
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
July 8th 2011
Doc's Request.
none
AOR Received.
Oct 3rd 2011
IELTS Request
Submitted with application
File Transfer...
Nov 11th 2011
Med's Request
July 26th 2012
Med's Done....
Aug 20
Interview........
nil
Passport Req..
July 26 2012
VISA ISSUED...
20th Nov 2012
LANDED..........
Since 31st Dec, 2012 :)
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

Hero Member
Jun 28, 2012
634
18
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28 May 2012
AOR Received.
09 July 2012. 2nd stage AOR: 23 Oct 2012
Med's Done....
01 November 2011 (Expired)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
11/12/12
LANDED..........
12/12/12
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. :D
 

Rob_TO

VIP Member
Nov 7, 2012
11,427
1,551
Toronto
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Seoul, Korea
App. Filed.......
13-07-2012
AOR Received.
18-08-2012
File Transfer...
21-08-2012
Med's Done....
Sent with App
Passport Req..
N/R - Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
30-10-2012
LANDED..........
16-11-2012
drdgmmrm said:
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

Star Member
Nov 7, 2011
114
2
124
Alberta, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Case Processing Centre Ottowa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-05-2012
AOR Received.
16-07-2012
File Transfer...
23-07-2012
Med's Done....
23-02-2012
Interview........
Waived! WOOT!
Passport Req..
28-12-2012
VISA ISSUED...
08-01-2013
LANDED..........
19-01-2013
R151NG5UN said:
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. :D
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

Star Member
Jun 17, 2012
199
1
Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Vegreville
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
11/12/2012
AOR Received.
29/01/2013
File Transfer...
DM Oct. 31
Med's Done....
23/11/2012
LANDED..........
10/12/2013
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