Hi All,
Last Friday I landed at Peace Arch border crossing and thought some of you might be interested in my experience. We had planned to travel from Vancouver to Bellingham for the day, and land upon returning to Canada that evening. I thought it best to explain our full plan to the US border agent, and upon hearing that I planned to land that evening insisted that I flagpole and land immediately. I explained that I had a valid work permit and health insurance in Canada (and have crossed the border there on several occasions with no problems), but he felt that there was no guarantee that I would be able to land (or reenter Canada) and for that reason insisted that we had to turn around right away. Having been formally denied entry to the USA (coded as a flagpole - this has no effect on future assessment at the border) we returned to the Canada border, and were told to park and enter their border office. We walked into an empty room and were seen immediately, and the whole process was complete in less than ten minutes. I was asked to initial several paragraphs of the COPR and the agent had us sit for five minutes while he processed paperwork, then congratulated me and wished us well! Questions asked only related to information on the COPR itself - it certainly didn't feel like an interview, more a kindly explanation of my new status.
Interestingly, both the US and Canadian guard informed me that my stamped confirmation of permanent residency was adequate for land border crossings, and that should I wish to cross via land before my PR card arrives I wouldn't have any problems (I didn't entering the USA or returning to Canada later that day). We decided to go down to Bellingham anyway, so crossed the US border again only to be told by a different guard that the first had ' completely wasted your time' and that he couldn't understand his decision to make us flagpole immediately (I echoed his sentiments). Returning to Canada later that day the Canadian guard said the same! Still, no harm done and I am now happily landed.
Last Friday I landed at Peace Arch border crossing and thought some of you might be interested in my experience. We had planned to travel from Vancouver to Bellingham for the day, and land upon returning to Canada that evening. I thought it best to explain our full plan to the US border agent, and upon hearing that I planned to land that evening insisted that I flagpole and land immediately. I explained that I had a valid work permit and health insurance in Canada (and have crossed the border there on several occasions with no problems), but he felt that there was no guarantee that I would be able to land (or reenter Canada) and for that reason insisted that we had to turn around right away. Having been formally denied entry to the USA (coded as a flagpole - this has no effect on future assessment at the border) we returned to the Canada border, and were told to park and enter their border office. We walked into an empty room and were seen immediately, and the whole process was complete in less than ten minutes. I was asked to initial several paragraphs of the COPR and the agent had us sit for five minutes while he processed paperwork, then congratulated me and wished us well! Questions asked only related to information on the COPR itself - it certainly didn't feel like an interview, more a kindly explanation of my new status.
Interestingly, both the US and Canadian guard informed me that my stamped confirmation of permanent residency was adequate for land border crossings, and that should I wish to cross via land before my PR card arrives I wouldn't have any problems (I didn't entering the USA or returning to Canada later that day). We decided to go down to Bellingham anyway, so crossed the US border again only to be told by a different guard that the first had ' completely wasted your time' and that he couldn't understand his decision to make us flagpole immediately (I echoed his sentiments). Returning to Canada later that day the Canadian guard said the same! Still, no harm done and I am now happily landed.
