Landing at Pearson

[Applicant7]

Hi all,

I have a couple of questions that I would love to have answered before land in Pearson in late August.

1. I have seen conflicting answers to this question, but would my partner be able to get his SIN number at the airport?

2. I am completely aware of the 3 month rule for OHIP, but as I have to go and resume my OHIP, can we register my partner at the same time and just have it kick in 3 months later? Or do we need to wait for his official 3 months to be up before registering?

3. We are shipping our stuff within the next week and then going traveling for a month, so our goods will definitely land before us. Do we still need some kind of Goods to Follow form?

4. Besides the COPR, is there anything else we should ensure we have on us at the time? At this time will we have all our luggage with us?

5. In terms of traveling before he gets his PR card, what are we restricted to?

Thanks for your help!

 

[rhcohen2014]

question: aren't you subject to paying duty on the items you plan to ship prior to landing? I thought the whole point of claiming them on landing and goods to follow forms was to be exempt from paying duty/taxes? How can they be considered "to follow" if they arrive BEFORE landing?

 

[nada3]

Hi all,

I have a couple of questions that I would love to have answered before land in Pearson in late August.

1. I have seen conflicting answers to this question, but would my partner be able to get his SIN number at the airport?

2. I am completely aware of the 3 month rule for OHIP, but as I have to go and resume my OHIP, can we register my partner at the same time and just have it kick in 3 months later? Or do we need to wait for his official 3 months to be up before registering?

3. We are shipping our stuff within the next week and then going traveling for a month, so our goods will definitely land before us. Do we still need some kind of Goods to Follow form?

4. Besides the COPR, is there anything else we should ensure we have on us at the time? At this time will we have all our luggage with us?

5. In terms of traveling before he gets his PR card, what are we restricted to?

Thanks for your help!

1. Yes, you can get a SIN at the airport
2. to apply for OHIP you will need 3 documents, one to prove who you are (passport), to prove your status (COPR) and to prove your address (bank statement or drivers license with Canadian address). This last one is tricky as you probably don't have either one of those. So, yes you could apply early, but only if you had all 3 requested documents.
3. Not sure about this one....

 

[Applicant7]

question: aren't you subject to paying duty on the items you plan to ship prior to landing? I thought the whole point of claiming them on landing and goods to follow forms was to be exempt from paying duty/taxes? How can they be considered "to follow" if they arrive BEFORE landing?

Agreed, but we are without choice as we leave our apartment to go backpacking for a month (before we land) and cannot have it shipped after we leave.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Agreed, but we are without choice as we leave our apartment to go backpacking for a month (before we land) and cannot have it shipped after we leave.

ok oh. i thought i was missing something. good luck!

 

[Ponga]

I definitely think that having the applicant's goods arrive, before he actually completes the landing process, could be an issue.

 

[Applicant7]

I definitely think that having the applicant's goods arrive, before he actually completes the landing process, could be an issue.

Even if we explained the situation? We don't really have another option.

 

[Eowyn]

Even if we explained the situation? We don't really have another option.

Being brutally honest, I don't think they care. I doubt a holiday would be seen as critical in their eyes.
Can your shipping company not store the items for you until you are ready to receive them? Have you got family or friends who can help you out and arrange to have them shipped at a later date? If you are having your things sent on a container ship, it will likely take 6-8 weeks for them to arrive. This is assuming you aren't just sending a few boxes, of course.

 

[Alurra71]

Hi all,

I have a couple of questions that I would love to have answered before land in Pearson in late August.

1. I have seen conflicting answers to this question, but would my partner be able to get his SIN number at the airport?

2. I am completely aware of the 3 month rule for OHIP, but as I have to go and resume my OHIP, can we register my partner at the same time and just have it kick in 3 months later? Or do we need to wait for his official 3 months to be up before registering?

3. We are shipping our stuff within the next week and then going traveling for a month, so our goods will definitely land before us. Do we still need some kind of Goods to Follow form?

4. Besides the COPR, is there anything else we should ensure we have on us at the time? At this time will we have all our luggage with us?

5. In terms of traveling before he gets his PR card, what are we restricted to?

Thanks for your help!

I am unsure about SIN at the airport. I have never been there and will defer an answer to those who have landed there. You can apply for your husbands OHIP so long as you have the necessary documents they require. He will still wait his standard 3 months though, which you obviously know.

You should be fine to ship the things as they likely will not arrive before you. Just to make a point, I once sent a box of chocolate to a friend in the UK. It took 12 weeks to get there. Never ship a box of candy 'ground' even if it save a fortune in shipping costs. LOL Even if they do arrive before you, I think they will just sit until someone claims them, which you SHOULD be able to do once you land. I don't see it as a problem or an issue, but you could contact CBSA and they can give you a definitive answer as they are who you will be dealing with in this case. Make sure he has his COPR and his passport for landing purposes. These are the only 2 documents you MUST have to officially land. If he has a british passport, then TECHNICALLY speaking, you aren't restricted to anything before his PR card arrives. He can board a flight for Canada as a 'visitor' even have he has officially become a PR. He would just let the airline assume he is a visitor and then once landed at the airport, get in the proper line for returning residents. They can find him in the system without a problem. One thing they did when I landed was attached my COPR to my passport page that they stamped. I left it in there until I received my physical PR card then put it up for safe keeping. I assume they do that for all newly landed immigrants. If they do not, then do it yourself, then you have it ever it is requested.

Best of luck to you on your new journey.

 

[Ponga]

Even if we explained the situation? We don't really have another option.

As Alurra71 suggested, you should call CBSA and find out from them.

You definitely need a straight answer from them ASAP...to prevent a big surprise when your goods do arrive at the Canadian border.

Good luck!

 

[Rob_TO]

1. I have seen conflicting answers to this question, but would my partner be able to get his SIN number at the airport?

2. I am completely aware of the 3 month rule for OHIP, but as I have to go and resume my OHIP, can we register my partner at the same time and just have it kick in 3 months later? Or do we need to wait for his official 3 months to be up before registering?

3. We are shipping our stuff within the next week and then going traveling for a month, so our goods will definitely land before us. Do we still need some kind of Goods to Follow form?

4. Besides the COPR, is there anything else we should ensure we have on us at the time? At this time will we have all our luggage with us?

5. In terms of traveling before he gets his PR card, what are we restricted to?

1 - Yes, but depends on what terminal and what time you land. Check or call Pearson for details.

2 - He can register ONLY if he has 1 of the specific documents from List 2 here: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/014-9998E-82~1/$File/9998-82E.pdf . If he doesn't have one of those exact docs, he won't be able to apply. Anyways he has 3 months to register for OHIP, really no advantage to doing it early.

3 - As mentioned, call CBSA and ask. Stuff in your name will be exempt as a returning Canadian. Stuff in your partners name will be exempt ONLY AFTER he lands as a PR. Who knows how they will treat stuff they receive prior to him becoming a PR.

4 - Just COPR and passport.

5 - A new PR can travel without physical PR card, as long as they hold a visa-exempt passport. When back in Canada, CBSA will be able to determine PR status just from passport and COPR.
Keep in mind sometimes airlines in others countries give travelers a hard time when they are travelling to Canada on a 1-way ticket, even if they're visa exempt.

 

[keesio]

My wife got her SIN at Pearson after she landed. The SIN kiosk was right across the counter with the officer who did her landing. It was Terminal 1.

 

[Applicant7]

Being brutally honest, I don't think they care. I doubt a holiday would be seen as critical in their eyes.
Can your shipping company not store the items for you until you are ready to receive them? Have you got family or friends who can help you out and arrange to have them shipped at a later date? If you are having your things sent on a container ship, it will likely take 6-8 weeks for them to arrive. This is assuming you aren't just sending a few boxes, of course.

We are literally "shipping" 2 boxes (both about 50 pounds). We are simply sending them through DHL. I am getting quite worried here!

Edit: It should also be noted that most of the items being shipped are my stuff (I am a Canadian citizen)! Should I even declare it at all?

 

[jomz]

We are literally "shipping" 2 boxes (both about 50 pounds). We are simply sending them through DHL. I am getting quite worried here!

Edit: It should also be noted that most of the items being shipped are my stuff (I am a Canadian citizen)! Should I even declare it at all?

Of course you should declare it. And unless you have proof that you are relocating back to Canada you may have to pay duties/import taxes. As a Canadian you are not exempt from duties/import taxes when you enter Canada (other than the $750 allowed limit). After being away for a few months with my husband in his country I came back after our engagement ceremony, got stopped by CBSA at YUL and had to pay duties/import taxes on my wedding dresses, engagement ring, other clothing and jewelery given to me as gifts on my engagement.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

We are literally "shipping" 2 boxes (both about 50 pounds). We are simply sending them through DHL. I am getting quite worried here!

Edit: It should also be noted that most of the items being shipped are my stuff (I am a Canadian citizen)! Should I even declare it at all?

I don't know why people seem to think it will affect your PR landing. It will have ZERO effect, so don't even worry about that. And I am speaking from personal experience here, as my partner and I shipped a box prior to returning to Canada.

The only issue will be possible taxes/duties.