Hello everyone
I will share my landing experience with you all especially for those who are planning to go to Carway.
So finally I am all done with PR processing, became Permanent Resident on 20July at Carway (AB).
fyi: I sent my PP on 4July, delivered on 8th July, return tracker activated on 18July and PP received by me on 19July.
Carway border is around 2.5-3 hrs (250km) from Calgary, drive south on Deerfoot Highway 2 straight. The last city on the route would be Cardston and you continue driving on the highway 2 towards further south. Carway border is further down from Cardston I think 20-25km and all the way from cardston to carway is desert, not even a single shop nor any sign board (continue driving till it says welcome to US).
At border you will see two small offices one in Canada and another is US. Take your car to the US office drive thru and tell the US officer that you are here to complete your Canadian Immigration landing. And he will take your passport (NOTE: if someone else is also there with you in the car then make sure he/she also takes their passport (with valid Canadian visa) and valid work/study permit, I will explain you why). The US officer then will ask you to park your car and come in the office. I went inside and probably after waiting for 5 minutes he called my name and handover me document saying that US entry is refused for me (also he said that its nothing to do with any future US visa application and if in future you were asked whether you were refused entry into US in the past say NO).
Then I took that document and drive the car to Canadian office drive thru where I told IM the same thing "I am here to complete my Canadian immigration landing". Hand over your passport and he will ask you to park your car and come inside. Inside there was lady officer who already had my PP and asked me for US refusal letter which US officer gave me, my CoPR and my work permit (asked me to write my mailing address on the back of US letter where my PR card will arrive) also asked where am I coming from where do I work, that's it. Then told me to wait in Waiting room for a sometime and after 10-15 minutes called me back. Asked about any criminal checks, any time spent in jail and similar things and then latter asked me to sign my COPR in front of her, and handed over my PP and COpr(signed) back to me saying that this will be your new status in Canada but she took my work permit and cancelled it.
And I am all done with the immigration process. She said that PR card will reach my mailing address within 4-8 weeks. I asked her if there is any way to expedite PR card process, as I already took my Itinerary with me, but she said NO. She said I can try calling cic and request them but I dont think they entertains these request for first PR card. Anyways enough time for me as I have plans for Vacation in October and hopefully will receive my PR card by then.
Rememebr if someone is accompanying you for this process (went with you to the border) any your friend make sure he/she carries their PP with valid canadian visa and valid canadian work/study permit. My friend was with me just for giving me company and luckily she had her PP and work permit with her. US officer said even she is not making her Immigration landing but they want to see her PP (only PP no other ID) and said that we already left Canadain border and are in US. . but there were no signs saying this thin line is the border lol. But that is fine they need it to see the personal details nothing else. When returning back to Canadian side IM officer again asked for her PP with valid visa for her, and luckily she had her visa renewed just last week with multiple entries. Again thank God she had everything in place else they would have gave us really hard time to enter her back in Canada. Or there is one more option if your friend doesnt have his/her PP then you can drop them outside the Duty free shop before Canadian border and then you can alone do all your landing formalities. But dont take them across the border if they dont have valid Canadian visa and work/study permit.
Anyways so this was my landing experience and hope it helps someone in need.
Best of luck to everyone here and God bless you all.
Cheers.!
WellWisher
