Landing Questions - Already IN Canada (VISA Exempt)

[kooka7]

Hi All,
hope you are all well...

I am hoping to get some clarification. I've entered many different search strings and received some useful information across family class and a few other headings within the forum, however still have some questions.... so hope someone can advise / clarify / instruct?

We are already residing in Canada, hubby is a Canadian Citizen (we went through the family class route). We are originally from Australia (well me and our kids were born there, so we are VISA Exempt)...


For the purpose of landing:

1. I received my COPR email last month - how long does it take once you receive the "COPR" letter from CIC to actually receiving a letter on Instructions about Landing? I'm assuming the letter will come from Ottawa to Alberta?

2. With the legislation change in Apr 2009, our two older kids have the right to Canadian Citizenship, where as myself and our 3 younger kids needed to go via the Family Sponsorship route. Given that the COPR relates to me and the younger three... does my Husband who is the approved Sponsor need to go through the border crossing with me? His thought was he could stay back with the older two while I went through with the younger three!

3. If all 7 of us decide to cross the border into the USA, will the older x2 kids (who have right to Canadian citizenship and who are Australian)... do we need to produce any passports/birth certificates for them? I'm a little confused on that one...

4. Given that we have been IN Canada for 8 months or so now, bought our vehicle IN Canada, renting, kids in school, hubby working etc... what's the quickest way to do the border crossing? We are in Alberta and would be driving.

5. Is it quicker to do a border crossing landing during the week OR on a weekend?

I really appreciate the help, most of the threads I have read relate to countries where VISAs are required or folk flying in.

:-D

Thanks,

 

[spyfy]

I am from a Visa-free country too (both for Canada and US), hence I can answer some of your questions. Since I got PR through FSW and not Family Class, I'm not informed on all the issues, though.

1. I received my COPR email last month - how long does it take once you receive the "COPR" letter from CIC to actually receiving a letter on Instructions about Landing? I'm assuming the letter will come from Ottawa to Alberta?

That I don't know since I used the new Express Entry process which is online.

2. With the legislation change in Apr 2009, our two older kids have the right to Canadian Citizenship, where as myself and our 3 younger kids needed to go via the Family Sponsorship route. Given that the COPR relates to me and the younger three... does my Husband who is the approved Sponsor need to go through the border crossing with me? His thought was he could stay back with the older two while I went through with the younger three!

You might want to check with someone who has Family Class experience to confirm if it is a requirement that the sponsor crosses the border with you. I don't think that makes sense though, after all in most cases, the sponsor is in Canada and the sponsored travels to Canada to join him/her. However, Family Class and PR requirements aside, keep in mind that both the US and Canada are quite vigilant at border crossings if children are not traveling with both parents. If you take your children with you and your husband is not there, it is highly recommended to carry a so called "consent letter" that confirms that your husband is OK with you leaving the country with the kids (and that's what you do, even if it is just for hours or minutes), see here:

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter

3. If all 7 of us decide to cross the border into the USA, will the older x2 kids (who have right to Canadian citizenship and who are Australian)... do we need to produce any passports/birth certificates for them? I'm a little confused on that one...

First, you would go from Canada to the US.
The United States accept any of the following:
- an Australian Passport (using the Visa Waiver program)
- a Canadian Passport (using the WHTI)
- for kids under 16: a proof of Canadian citizenship, i.e. a Canadian birth certificate or Naturalization certificate. Since your kids are born in Australia, they do not possess any of these documents. An Australian birth certificate won't work since the American authorities can not use it to confirm their citizenship, which is complicated for children born abroad (I guess that's no news for you)
- there are some other options, like Enhanced Drivers Licence (unrealistic ) and NEXUS cards etc. which your kids won't have
If your kids use Australian passports, you will have to pay a $6 border crossing fee per person (not sure if that is waved for younger kids) and fill out some forms, take a photo etc (takes maybe like 10 minutes max).

Then, you would go from the US to Canada.
For those kids who are about to become Permanent Residents, consult with the information attached to your CoPR regarding document requirements.
Those kids of yours who are Canadian citizens need either
- a Canadian passport
- an Enhanced Drivers Licence (again, unrealistic )
- a proof of Canadian citizenship. See above for the problems. While the Canadian border officers might be a little bit more lenient and maybe accept the Australian birth certificates in combination with your husbands passport as proof of citizenship, it might cause problems.

4. Given that we have been IN Canada for 8 months or so now, bought our vehicle IN Canada, renting, kids in school, hubby working etc... what's the quickest way to do the border crossing? We are in Alberta and would be driving.

I'm from Toronto, so I can't help you out a lot on that one. Over here, by far the easiest option is to drive to Niagara Falls and then actually WALK across the border, then back. I'm not sure if such an option exists at the Alberta-US border.

5. Is it quicker to do a border crossing landing during the week OR on a weekend?

In the middle of the day during the week is your best bet. Mornings, evenings and weekends are busier. Obvious bad options are Friday nights and Sunday nights.