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Landing experience by car at Peace Bridge POE at Buffalo, NY

D

dsr236

Full Member
Jul 24, 2020
28
2
incomingAbg said:
Here is our landing experience:
When the H1-B executive order came in June my wife traveled for her COPR processing. I stayed back in US.

My wife landing experience:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-immigration-at-toronto-pearson-airport-what-to-expect-need-some-advice.691678/#post-8720532

Here is my landing experience. This time my wife stayed back in US.

Travel Date - 7/30/2020.
POE - Peace Bridge, Buffalo
Drove my car.
COPR issued before March 18.

Canada:

First Officer scanned my PR visa. Asked if I will quarantine or not. I said if possible I would like to go back. Gave me a yellow slip. Did all formalities on the computer and sent me to CBSA building.

At CBSA building, officer asked my COPR, Passport and yellow slip. Asked if this was a permanent move. I said no. Then came quarantine question. I said if you are fine then I want to go back to US. They said ok. No cross question asked.

Took my Canada address for PR card delivery. I gave my friend's address. Signed the COPR. Took one and gave one copy of COPR to me.

Then comes the import form. I mentioned all the goods to follow. Signed it and submitted at the cashier counter. At the counter, cashier gave me a print out of the receipt and told me to bring the receipt when I come to Canada permanently.

That was all.
Entire process took around 1 hour 30 minutes.

US:
I have a valid visa from previous employer. Question asked: What is your citizenship, what is your professional ?
As soon as I entered US, I cancelled my Airbnb. For cancellation, I had to pay 50% of the total cost of reservation.

My takeaway:

1. CIC website updates are very confusing so please don't wait for extension. God knows what rule comes tomorrow.
2. While deciding the POE, decide which one has most number of PR landing experience, that way you interact with more educated officers. Don't take any unusual airport or land border. Your job may be done but the officers might give you a hard time.
3. It all depends on officer. I've read few threads where officers were not nice but we got lucky here. Yes, we were nervous but at the same time we prepared for all the scenarios and outcomes.

Thank you for all the help this forum has provided. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I was also curious about your Canadian Permanent Resident Visa Stamping in your passport. If you attempt a landing via car, do they invalidate your visa stamping?

Wondering in case you get super unlucky with the officer you meet and they refuse to process your PR without proof of permanently settling. In that case, if you are forced to turn around, is your stamping already cancelled or do you get another shot to try again?
 
S Kennedy

S Kennedy

Hero Member
Oct 1, 2016
215
102
Banff, Alberta.
Visa Office......
CIO Ottawa
incomingAbg said:
Here is our landing experience:
When the H1-B executive order came in June my wife traveled for her COPR processing. I stayed back in US.

My wife landing experience:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-immigration-at-toronto-pearson-airport-what-to-expect-need-some-advice.691678/#post-8720532

Here is my landing experience. This time my wife stayed back in US.

Travel Date - 7/30/2020.
POE - Peace Bridge, Buffalo
Drove my car.
COPR issued before March 18.

Canada:

First Officer scanned my PR visa. Asked if I will quarantine or not. I said if possible I would like to go back. Gave me a yellow slip. Did all formalities on the computer and sent me to CBSA building.

At CBSA building, officer asked my COPR, Passport and yellow slip. Asked if this was a permanent move. I said no. Then came quarantine question. I said if you are fine then I want to go back to US. They said ok. No cross question asked.

Took my Canada address for PR card delivery. I gave my friend's address. Signed the COPR. Took one and gave one copy of COPR to me.

Then comes the import form. I mentioned all the goods to follow. Signed it and submitted at the cashier counter. At the counter, cashier gave me a print out of the receipt and told me to bring the receipt when I come to Canada permanently.

That was all.
Entire process took around 1 hour 30 minutes.

US:
I have a valid visa from previous employer. Question asked: What is your citizenship, what is your professional ?
As soon as I entered US, I cancelled my Airbnb. For cancellation, I had to pay 50% of the total cost of reservation.

My takeaway:

1. CIC website updates are very confusing so please don't wait for extension. God knows what rule comes tomorrow.
2. While deciding the POE, decide which one has most number of PR landing experience, that way you interact with more educated officers. Don't take any unusual airport or land border. Your job may be done but the officers might give you a hard time.
3. It all depends on officer. I've read few threads where officers were not nice but we got lucky here. Yes, we were nervous but at the same time we prepared for all the scenarios and outcomes.

Thank you for all the help this forum has provided. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Great to hear! Congrats, My experience and read the stories online, Peace Bridge has the most pleasant landing experiences from any other, even way before COVID-19!
 
I

incomingAbg

Full Member
Aug 25, 2019
47
9
dsr236 said:
I was also curious about your Canadian Permanent Resident Visa Stamping in your passport. If you attempt a landing via car, do they invalidate your visa stamping?

Wondering in case you get super unlucky with the officer you meet and they refuse to process your PR without proof of permanently settling. In that case, if you are forced to turn around, is your stamping already cancelled or do you get another shot to try again?
Click to expand...
Yes, the first thing they did was invalidated my PR visa, put a stamp on my passport with arrival date, updated my records on their system. And as the PR visa is one time entry, you don't get another chance to enter on the same visa.
 
P

praveen07cse

Star Member
Feb 18, 2019
82
47
incomingAbg said:
Here is our landing experience:
When the H1-B executive order came in June my wife traveled for her COPR processing. I stayed back in US.

My wife landing experience:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-immigration-at-toronto-pearson-airport-what-to-expect-need-some-advice.691678/#post-8720532

Here is my landing experience. This time my wife stayed back in US.

Travel Date - 7/30/2020.
POE - Peace Bridge, Buffalo
Drove my car.
COPR issued before March 18.

Canada:

First Officer scanned my PR visa. Asked if I will quarantine or not. I said if possible I would like to go back. Gave me a yellow slip. Did all formalities on the computer and sent me to CBSA building.

At CBSA building, officer asked my COPR, Passport and yellow slip. Asked if this was a permanent move. I said no. Then came quarantine question. I said if you are fine then I want to go back to US. They said ok. No cross question asked.

Took my Canada address for PR card delivery. I gave my friend's address. Signed the COPR. Took one and gave one copy of COPR to me.

Then comes the import form. I mentioned all the goods to follow. Signed it and submitted at the cashier counter. At the counter, cashier gave me a print out of the receipt and told me to bring the receipt when I come to Canada permanently.

That was all.
Entire process took around 1 hour 30 minutes.

US:
I have a valid visa from previous employer. Question asked: What is your citizenship, what is your professional ?
As soon as I entered US, I cancelled my Airbnb. For cancellation, I had to pay 50% of the total cost of reservation.

My takeaway:

1. CIC website updates are very confusing so please don't wait for extension. God knows what rule comes tomorrow.
2. While deciding the POE, decide which one has most number of PR landing experience, that way you interact with more educated officers. Don't take any unusual airport or land border. Your job may be done but the officers might give you a hard time.
3. It all depends on officer. I've read few threads where officers were not nice but we got lucky here. Yes, we were nervous but at the same time we prepared for all the scenarios and outcomes.

Thank you for all the help this forum has provided. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thats great news! I am at Buffalo today and would be landing tomorrow :) Hope everything will go fine
 
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Reactions: S Kennedy
M

Maverick99

Full Member
Jul 21, 2020
27
6
Can someone please confirm if NY Peace Bridge border only allows PR processing on Tuesday, Wed & Thursday and closed on weekends?
 
G

guca

Star Member
Aug 24, 2018
105
31
Maverick99 said:
Thanks. Is there a timing window or it can be processed any time of the day?
Click to expand...
I called at border and checked about the days and timings for processing PR landing. I was told they are open 24/7 for landing purposes. I did mine on saturday 6pm.
 
M

Maverick99

Full Member
Jul 21, 2020
27
6
guca said:
I called at border and checked about the days and timings for processing PR landing. I was told they are open 24/7 for landing purposes. I did mine on saturday 6pm.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this valuable information. One last question regarding the documents for PR processing. Here is the list that I am planning to bring along. Let me know if there is anything missing
1) Passport
2) COPR
3) Proof of Funds
4) BSF Forms for Goods.
 
G

guca

Star Member
Aug 24, 2018
105
31
Maverick99 said:
Thank you so much for this valuable information. One last question regarding the documents for PR processing. Here is the list that I am planning to bring along. Let me know if there is anything missing
1) Passport
2) COPR
3) Proof of Funds
4) BSF Forms for Goods.
Click to expand...
5) Quarantine plan
 
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Reactions: Maverick99
D

dsr236

Full Member
Jul 24, 2020
28
2
guca said:
5) Quarantine plan
Click to expand...
In terms of the quarantine plan, is the following sufficient?

airbnb/hotel reservation
proof of health insurance

Did you carry anything in writing to prove how you will get groceries or essential services?
 
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