Bazinga said:
Hello members,
Been lurking for a while. This is a great community with a lot of experience and information. I'd like some advice regarding the landing (Calgary) of 3 family members – my parents and sister. I am not part of it.
Here is some background information;
1. My parents (principal applicant) will be flying in to Calgary via Toronto from Pakistan. My sibling (dependent) is currently living and studying in Toronto. All 3 have been issued their visas and supporting landing documents
2. Parents will stay in Toronto for a couple of days and then the 3 of them will fly to Calgary together for the landing formality
3. Due to work and commitments back at home, my parents may not be able to stay in Canada for more than 15 to 20 days. Trip duration will be divided between Calgary and Toronto. This landing procedure is a formality as the visa will expire soon, so they will return to Canada after wrapping up affairs
Here are my questions. Kindly shed some light based on your experience and facts;
1. I have gathered that the PR application process needs to be done upon landing. But in their case, is this to be done in Toronto or Calgary? Since they land first in Toronto, is that where everything begins as opposed to in Calgary?
2. Will my sister be allowed to ‘land' the same way my parents will land? i.e. by air even though for her it will be a local flight from Toronto to Calgary?
3. If the parents land on a Sunday, will the SIN and PR booths/offices still be operational at the Airport?
4. I understand it takes an average of 6 weeks to have the PR card mailed. But the parents may not be able to stay that long in Canada. Will it be acceptable if the mailing address provided for the PR cards is that of my sister's as she will be in Canada (Toronto) for much longer? It may be quite difficult for the principal applicant to return just to collect the PR card. Do PR cards have to be collected in person?
5. Incase the above is not acceptable and they are unable to extend their stay, re-entering Canada is a normal visa application procedure right?
6. Since they will not be staying for long, they will only be carrying their essentials for the duration of the stay – so they will not have much to declare at all. In that case, the ‘goods to follow' form will be applicable and valid in the future when they plan the eventual permanent shift to Calgary, is this correct? Or is it a one-time opportunity to have duties and taxes waived?
I hope I have been able to explain the scenario effectively - I'm possibly confused about a few things. I am looking forward to help in any form.
Thank you for reading.
Hi Bazinga,
Your parents will land when they arrive by air. They can give your sister's address for PR Card mailing. There is no need to worry or to advise immigration that they'll be here temporarily.
Once your parents land (on day they arrive), they will be PR's once they come out of airport.
Once your parents land, your sister should go to Niagara Falls (rainbow bridge) with all her PR documents, and land there.
She cannot do it at airport as she is in-Canada.
At rainbow bridge, CBSA will ask her to go to USA side and get an "adminstrative refusal".....don't worry this is common, people call this "flag-poling", the USA side will give her refusal letter, and then she comes back to Canadian side, gives them the refusal letter (which is basically proof that she left Canada) and then they will process her landing.
I landed the same way back in 2007 at rainbow bridge (please dress for the weather!).
If parents land on weekend, the SIN booth may be closed at airport. But they can apply it next day at Service Canada office in Toronto.
Give her address for all PR Cards. Once cards are received, either courier them to Pak via reliable courier, and/or send it via someone who is going to Pakistan....
they should complete and bring the goods to follow list if there is stuff coming in later.
I have never heard of CIC asking a newcomer to pickup card in person. Usually that only happens in case of renewals. Pr Card will be mailed to Canadian address provided upon landing.
So let your parents land, and next day your sister should make a trip to Niagara Falls and do the landing. Don't bother calling CIC to make appointments as it takes too long and visa may expire. Let her go in daytime (10am, etc) so that she can land without delay, but only after principal applicant has landed.
Hope this is helpful. Congratulations on parents getting PR. I recently went through same welcoming of parents/siblings so it sure is a moment of great happiness and joy, in reuniting family.
