Hi,
I completed my landing today at Windsor POE, so I thought of sharing with you as this could be helpful to future immigrants...
I work near Detroit. So, I took a rental car and drove to Windsor. I did not see any USA officer asking me to surrender my I-94. I was surprised. I went straight to Canada border after crossing Ambassador bridge. The lady at the Canada border asked my passport and asked me few general questions like how long do I intend to stay in Canada, whether am I importing my car the same day. She asked me why I rented a car when I had my own car near Detroit. I told her that I was not sure of using my own car in Canada without getting it imported, and hence went for rental car. I told her that I would be moving in shortly into Canada and that time, would be importing my car. She handed me a yellow slip, and pointed me to immigration.
I went inside and was asked to wait there till I get my turn. It took about 10-15 minutes for my turn. I was asked regular questions like how much cash you are bringing, where I want the PR card to be mailed etc. Then he put a stamp on Goods list and yellow slip (only on the To-follow ones, he did not even look at the Goods accompanying list probably because he knew that I was planning to return to US the same day). He also did not ask me bank statements. After finishing his little bit of documentation work, he asked me to sign in his presence, and said that I could expect PR card in a few weeks.
While I came out and was about to start my car, two CBSA officers came and asked me to have the car parked and not start. They seemed to ask a little many questions about various forms initially. When I told them that I came to land as a permanent resident, they took it easy and asked me to open the car trunk. After checking the stuff, they said that I could not keep that yellow slip with me which was stamped. I told them that I was not aware of it. Then they welcomed me into Canada.
I just went for a drive on a few roads in Windsor. By the time, I was able to find Service Canada office, it was past 4 PM, and the office was closed. So, decided to apply for SIN sometime in the new future.
Then while heading back to USA, I was asked quite a few questions by US border & customs about when I left USA in the past two years, what visa status that I was in, why rental car and not my own car etc. He took my passport, examined something and gave it back. He asked me where i was working, who i was working for, explained me a little bit about AVR (that I cannot use this from India) and welcomed me in....
After paying toll, there were 3 more security officers. They asked a few other people besides me to be waited, and while we were waiting, they scanned our cars. It took about 10 minutes and they let us into USA.
Good luck to all of you
Finally a question about SIN:
Does this really matter how soon that I should be applying SIN? Is there any deadline like that SIN should be applied within so and so days after landing? All I did today is just landing. I hope to complete SIN application, health card and driving license soon. Again, is there any 'deadline' for health card or driving license to be applied with in n number of days after landing?
Thank you again to all who were sharing their knowledge.
I completed my landing today at Windsor POE, so I thought of sharing with you as this could be helpful to future immigrants...
I work near Detroit. So, I took a rental car and drove to Windsor. I did not see any USA officer asking me to surrender my I-94. I was surprised. I went straight to Canada border after crossing Ambassador bridge. The lady at the Canada border asked my passport and asked me few general questions like how long do I intend to stay in Canada, whether am I importing my car the same day. She asked me why I rented a car when I had my own car near Detroit. I told her that I was not sure of using my own car in Canada without getting it imported, and hence went for rental car. I told her that I would be moving in shortly into Canada and that time, would be importing my car. She handed me a yellow slip, and pointed me to immigration.
I went inside and was asked to wait there till I get my turn. It took about 10-15 minutes for my turn. I was asked regular questions like how much cash you are bringing, where I want the PR card to be mailed etc. Then he put a stamp on Goods list and yellow slip (only on the To-follow ones, he did not even look at the Goods accompanying list probably because he knew that I was planning to return to US the same day). He also did not ask me bank statements. After finishing his little bit of documentation work, he asked me to sign in his presence, and said that I could expect PR card in a few weeks.
While I came out and was about to start my car, two CBSA officers came and asked me to have the car parked and not start. They seemed to ask a little many questions about various forms initially. When I told them that I came to land as a permanent resident, they took it easy and asked me to open the car trunk. After checking the stuff, they said that I could not keep that yellow slip with me which was stamped. I told them that I was not aware of it. Then they welcomed me into Canada.
I just went for a drive on a few roads in Windsor. By the time, I was able to find Service Canada office, it was past 4 PM, and the office was closed. So, decided to apply for SIN sometime in the new future.
Then while heading back to USA, I was asked quite a few questions by US border & customs about when I left USA in the past two years, what visa status that I was in, why rental car and not my own car etc. He took my passport, examined something and gave it back. He asked me where i was working, who i was working for, explained me a little bit about AVR (that I cannot use this from India) and welcomed me in....
After paying toll, there were 3 more security officers. They asked a few other people besides me to be waited, and while we were waiting, they scanned our cars. It took about 10 minutes and they let us into USA.
Good luck to all of you
Finally a question about SIN:
Does this really matter how soon that I should be applying SIN? Is there any deadline like that SIN should be applied within so and so days after landing? All I did today is just landing. I hope to complete SIN application, health card and driving license soon. Again, is there any 'deadline' for health card or driving license to be applied with in n number of days after landing?
Thank you again to all who were sharing their knowledge.
