Landing - Point Roberts crossing

[s_w_u]

Got my CoPR yesterday.

Anyone had experience landing @ Point Roberts?

And just curious: are there any ports of entry that do not allow landing? Sounds stupid I know but I am planning to go to a less crowd port for landing but I am not sure if they do provide "full service" as other big ports do.

Thanks in advance.

 

[2_of_5]

I had thought of doing just that, since a good friend of mine lives nearby. But it appears from this link that there are no immigration services at the Boundary Bay/Point Roberts crossing:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/offices/office401-e.html

Check this link for a listing of where you CAN do a landing:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/indextype38-e.html

 

[s_w_u]

I had thought of doing just that, since a good friend of mine lives nearby. But it appears from this link that there are no immigration services at the Boundary Bay/Point Roberts crossing:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/offices/office401-e.html

Check this link for a listing of where you CAN do a landing:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/indextype38-e.html

Thanks 2of5.

You are right...the Boundary Bay crossing doesn't indicate "IMM" services are available. Did a bit search online and from various websites the most recent successful landing at Boundary Bay was occurred in Sep-Nov 2012. Here is the link http://www.trackitt.com/usa-discussion-forums/canadian-experience-class/1075959863/landing-by-flag-poling-in-bc

Does it make any difference if I am holding a valid US Visa?

 

[2_of_5]

Hi s_w_u,

Looks like they may have discontinued immigration services there?

No, if you are flagpoling and getting an "administrative refusal" you would not need a US visa. My wife doesn't have one, and we're planning on flagpoling at Niagara Falls.

 

[on-hold]

You can land at the Sidney Ferry dock from the international ferry from Anacortes or San Juan -- I did! also maintaining the ancient tradition of coming to Canada by boat . . . The immigration officer told me I was the first in many months.

 

[s_w_u]

Hi s_w_u,

Looks like they may have discontinued immigration services there?

No, if you are flagpoling and getting an "administrative refusal" you would not need a US visa. My wife doesn't have one, and we're planning on flagpoling at Niagara Falls.

I assume so...not gonna take this risk.

So if I am holding the US visa I don't really have to tell the US officer I am exiting/flag poling just because I want to do landing right? Might just tell the US side I am going to get gas and grocery...and come back to Canada couple hours later and do the landing as well...

 

[s_w_u]

Landed last night. Took only like 10 mins at the Pacific Hwy border office.
Officer was quite nice and the process went smoothly. Got a Canada flag and pin from the officer too.

Asked the officer if I need the PR with me if I'm to travel outside Canada. Answer is that if I'm travelling to the states in my vehicle OR taking a flight to overseas I need only my passport. Given I am from a visa exempt country.

Next steps for me: withdraw the BOWP app and try to get back the $150 app fee, get the new SIN card, get a new BC MSP card.

Good luck to all of you.

Thanks.

 

[asbereth]

Did you flag-pole, or did you do gas and groceries before landing? All the same, congratulations

 

[s_w_u]

Did you flag-pole, or did you do gas and groceries before landing? All the same, congratulations

Thanks asbereth.

Didn't do the flag pole thing.

Decided to go to get some cheap[er] gas and went to Target for groceries and came back to the Canadian border 2 hours later. Should've brought back more dutiable stuff as this is the landing entry LOL

 

[2_of_5]

Congratulations!

 

[celle17]

Got my CoPR yesterday.

Anyone had experience landing @ Point Roberts?

And just curious: are there any ports of entry that do not allow landing? Sounds stupid I know but I am planning to go to a less crowd port for landing but I am not sure if they do provide "full service" as other big ports do.

Thanks in advance.

Hey,

sorry this reply is late but in case anyone else is thinking of Point Roberts in the future.

On the website it does say no Immigration services offered, and if you call up the border services they will tell you the same thing, I enquired about this when I need to renew my latest work permit last May 2012, but I had heard through someone else that you could do it there so I went, and they did it!
I'm not sure why it says they don't do immigration services on the website. Not sure if they do any landings.....would be interested to hear from anyone who does try landing here as I may try this when my application gets approved.

 

[george007]

Thanks asbereth.

Didn't do the flag pole thing.

Decided to go to get some cheap[er] gas and went to Target for groceries and came back to the Canadian border 2 hours later. Should've brought back more dutiable stuff as this is the landing entry LOL


hey congrats man..i got PPR request today..a qn for u...do i have to fill in the from address portion of the envelope that i have to send to cic.

 

[s_w_u]

Hey,

sorry this reply is late but in case anyone else is thinking of Point Roberts in the future.

On the website it does say no Immigration services offered, and if you call up the border services they will tell you the same thing, I enquired about this when I need to renew my latest work permit last May 2012, but I had heard through someone else that you could do it there so I went, and they did it!
I'm not sure why it says they don't do immigration services on the website. Not sure if they do any landings.....would be interested to hear from anyone who does try landing here as I may try this when my application gets approved.

Thanks for your response Celle.
Well I think they are claiming that they don't provide IMM services because they really have limited resources compared to other bigger borders...plus its not so resource-effective if they provide full IMM services at a small port...but I think if you are actually there with your CoPR I bet they will still do the landing for you [with some hard words] of course. Their bottom line is: try to minimize the burden of particular ports but if they refuse to do the landing for you they might be facing even more troubles and work load...they always wanna do less so I didnt even see a case of landing refusal at Point Roberts. I meant only from my forum searching experience.

Similar experience happened to me when I was trying to renew my study permit in Seattle CIC long long time ago.

My study permit was like 5-6 days then expires and I went down to Seattle, line up outside the CIC office at like 0600 with all the necessary forms/payment prepared. The VO at the booth gave me some hard time saying that I should NOT go there with a soon expiring WP and I should've applied this in Vancouver couple weeks ago blah blah blah...He even said I am wasting their time and resources as their office is not intend to serve cases like mine LOL...I got my new WP after all these though.

***I am just saying my case and I am not encouraging anything***

Celle even there are plenty of the successful landing cases in Point Roberts [Boundary Bay crossing] I think you better go to the pac hwy or the peace arch for landing because you don't wanna crew up in this final stage...just go there on a week day at night and the wait should not more than 45 mins

Good luck.

 

[APOLS]

Hi,

I will appreciate all advises and informations and comments with regards to my problem.

I have almost 3 months left to stay in Canada as a tourist (been in Canada for 14 months now), however, I received an an LMO from my employer under the Live-in Caregiver Program which is still valid for 5 more months(I am qualified for the program). My questions are,

1. Does anyone knows if I can go flagpole to apply for a work permit (I am coming from Philippines)?
2. Chances or approval?

Thank you all for helping me understand.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi,

I will appreciate all advises and informations and comments with regards to my problem.

I have almost 3 months left to stay in Canada as a tourist (been in Canada for 14 months now), however, I received an an LMO from my employer under the Live-in Caregiver Program which is still valid for 5 more months(I am qualified for the program). My questions are,

1. Does anyone knows if I can go flagpole to apply for a work permit (I am coming from Philippines)?
2. Chances or approval?

Thank you all for helping me understand.

No, all LCP applicants must apply to a visa office outside Canada. From www.cic.gc


Determine your eligibility – Live-in caregivers

You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for the Live‑in Caregiver Program in Canada.

You will need:
A positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from an employer in Canada A written contract with your future employer, signed by you and the employer Successful completion of the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school education At least six months’ training or at least one year of full-time paid work experience as a caregiver or in a related field or occupation (including six months with one employer) in the past three years Good knowledge of English or French A work permit before you enter Canada