Landing formalities help please

[vijay_sam]

Hi

I am landing in Canada sometime end of this month or beginning of
next month and coming back to US after a day. Was wondering what all the formalities I need to complete before I return. any help or any advise will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
Vijay

 

[computergeek]

I am landing in Canada sometime end of this month or beginning of
next month and coming back to US after a day. Was wondering what all the formalities I need to complete before I return. any help or any advise will be highly appreciated.

Everything is done at the border. So you have to present your passport, COPR, B4/B4A forms, make sure you have evidence of funds (for economic class) although they may not ask you for it at all. The BSO will go over everything with you - B4/B4A forms, address for the PR card, ensure that everyone has been declared on your PR application, that you don't have any criminal charges or convictions. Then you sign off, they stamp your passport, write the COPR number into it, staple one copy of your COPR into the passport, keep the other - which goes to Sydney, NS for production of your first PR card - and you're done. When I did this last weekend (no B4/B4A forms - those can take time to process, and I was family class, not economic so no proof of funds) it took 5-10 minutes.

Once that's done you can go wherever you want - into Canada or return back to the US.

 

[vijay_sam]

Thanks a lot for replying. I have one more doubt, do I need to take any official appointment with consulate or direct walk in would work?

 

[computergeek]

Thanks a lot for replying. I have one more doubt, do I need to take any official appointment with consulate or direct walk in would work?

If you do it inland, you have to make an appointment (a CIC office inside Canada). If you do it at the border (POE) you just do it when you arrive.

Check with the call centre to see if (as a skilled worker) you are allowed to land inland - I'm not sure.

 

[w3soul]

Dear computergeek,

This is Shahbaz from Pakistan. I received by passport stamped yesterday and I am planning for November i-e 16th November.

I have few queries.

1. From where should i download the b4/b4a forms, will you please provide me the link.
2. What if i dont have any address at POE for PR card as i dont have any relatives/friends there.
3. Suggest something for me for the initial days where should i stay and what about your first week at Canada

 

[computergeek]

1. From where should i download the b4/b4a forms, will you please provide me the link.

I found them on the CBSA website (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/fr-fd/traveller-voyageur-eng.html)

B4: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf
B4A: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4a.pdf

2. What if i dont have any address at POE for PR card as i dont have any relatives/friends there.

You have 180 days to provide CIC with your address. The PR card will not be sent outside Canada by CIC. If you don't intend on being in Canada in the first six months and do not have someone in Canada to receive your card, I would suggest hiring a commercial mail forwarder, such as is offered by The UPS Store outlets. They do charge a fee, but they will forward mail to you anywhere in the world.

3. Suggest something for me for the initial days where should i stay and what about your first week at Canada

Well advice in this area would depend very much upon where you are planning on going, but I'd suggest that you check craigslist.ca as you will find it a source for both short term and longer term accommodations. If Hopefully others on the forum will be able to provide you with greater insight here.

 

[w3soul]

Thank you for your reply.
I intend to live in Canada. But i dont have ready to deliver address at POE. I will provide that address after 2 to 3 weeks ....is it OK ?

Secondly i like to stay at Toronto.........and search kijiji and found many rooms there. I just want to know that.......either they are reliable or not ?

I found them on the CBSA website (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/fr-fd/traveller-voyageur-eng.html)

B4: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf
B4A: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4a.pdf

You have 180 days to provide CIC with your address. The PR card will not be sent outside Canada by CIC. If you don't intend on being in Canada in the first six months and do not have someone in Canada to receive your card, I would suggest hiring a commercial mail forwarder, such as is offered by The UPS Store outlets. They do charge a fee, but they will forward mail to you anywhere in the world.

Well advice in this area would depend very much upon where you are planning on going, but I'd suggest that you check craigslist.ca as you will find it a source for both short term and longer term accommodations. If Hopefully others on the forum will be able to provide you with greater insight here.

 

[computergeek]

Thank you for your reply.
I intend to live in Canada. But i dont have ready to deliver address at POE. I will provide that address after 2 to 3 weeks ....is it OK ?

Yes, you have 180 days as I understand it. They do understand people might not have an address at the time they are landing.

Secondly i like to stay at Toronto.........and search kijiji and found many rooms there. I just want to know that.......either they are reliable or not ?

Well, you need to be cautious, since there are unreliable people everywhere, but overall I've had good luck with services like kijiji and craigslist.

 

[canadaonly]

I found them on the CBSA website (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/fr-fd/traveller-voyageur-eng.html)

B4: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf
B4A: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4a.pdf

You have 180 days to provide CIC with your address. The PR card will not be sent outside Canada by CIC. If you don't intend on being in Canada in the first six months and do not have someone in Canada to receive your card, I would suggest hiring a commercial mail forwarder, such as is offered by The UPS Store outlets. They do charge a fee, but they will forward mail to you anywhere in the world.

Well advice in this area would depend very much upon where you are planning on going, but I'd suggest that you check craigslist.ca as you will find it a source for both short term and longer term accommodations. If Hopefully others on the forum will be able to provide you with greater insight here.

Hi computergeek

I didn't submit B4 & B4A on landing (22.09.2012), (I don't have something significant to declare it at landing) and I returned back to my country after one week from landing. Now I am planning to return Canada on May 2013, so can I fill and submit this forms (B4 & B4A) on my next visit.

 

[computergeek]

I didn't submit B4 & B4A on landing (22.09.2012), (I don't have something significant to declare it at landing) and I returned back to my country after one week from landing. Now I am planning to return Canada on May 2013, so can I fill and submit this forms (B4 & B4A) on my next visit.

No. If you have "goods to follow" you are supposed to declare them at the time you land.

Sorry.

 

[Kanamen]

Dear computergeek,

This is Shahbaz from Pakistan. I received by passport stamped yesterday and I am planning for November i-e 16th November.

I have few queries.

1. From where should i download the b4/b4a forms, will you please provide me the link.
2. What if i dont have any address at POE for PR card as i dont have any relatives/friends there.
3. Suggest something for me for the initial days where should i stay and what about your first week at Canada

Bro ,dont worry abt accommodation ,its been arranged as I promised you earlier ,just email me your ETA

 

[art2012]

Thank you for your reply.
I intend to live in Canada. But i dont have ready to deliver address at POE. I will provide that address after 2 to 3 weeks ....is it OK ?

Secondly i like to stay at Toronto.........and search kijiji and found many rooms there. I just want to know that.......either they are reliable or not ?

When we landed in toronto,we only had hotel address n immigration officer didnt accept this.he gave us form n asked us to fill n fax,he also said we can update online at cic site.we updated online n also called cic pr service line n given address. we got our pr card in 65 calender days.

 

[abedi555]

Everything is done at the border. So you have to present your passport, COPR, B4/B4A forms, make sure you have evidence of funds (for economic class) although they may not ask you for it at all. The BSO will go over everything with you - B4/B4A forms, address for the PR card, ensure that everyone has been declared on your PR application, that you don't have any criminal charges or convictions. Then you sign off, they stamp your passport, write the COPR number into it, staple one copy of your COPR into the passport, keep the other - which goes to Sydney, NS for production of your first PR card - and you're done. When I did this last weekend (no B4/B4A forms - those can take time to process, and I was family class, not economic so no proof of funds) it took 5-10 minutes.

Once that's done you can go wherever you want - into Canada or return back to the US.

need to clarify something" whats the difference between "economic class" and "family class"?and how is it related to proof of funds?

 

[computergeek]

need to clarify something" whats the difference between "economic class" and "family class"?and how is it related to proof of funds?

Economic class = "skilled worker, investor, entrepreneur, self-employed"
Family class = "sponsored by family member: spouse, child, parent, grandparent, etc"

Economic class requires "proof of funds" - the rules set out the amount of money someone landing in the economic class must show (generally, not needed for arranged employment cases). A BSO doesn't have to see that evidence, it's their discretion, but they can ask you to demonstrate you have the required landing funds.

No need for "landing funds" in family class because someone has sponsored you.