Hi All,
I just wanted to share my Canada PR Landing experience here to all the folks who have applied for their Canadian PR as a back-up plan.
Just to recap, i got my Canada PR visa stamped in Nov'2007 and was valid until 20 August'2008.
However i delayed my landing process due to the fear factor and due to my current status in the USA - Expired h1/approved AP.
On 16 August'2007 i finally decided that i should complete the landing process as i had spent lot of money and time for the CA PR and also that i wanted to have this previlage which i had planned as a back up.
So i left for Buffalo,NY on the 18 August'2008.Reached there in the night,cheked into a hotel and on 19 August'2008,i drove across the Rainbow Bridge.At the Canadian side the procedure was simple and smooth and the CA Immg officers were very friendly and cordial.
Immigration officer asked me only the following questions:
Q1:Why are u landing just one day before the expiry of the CA PR Visa? - explained him that i had some family emergencies that kept me away from landing until today and he was convinced.
Q2:Why is your current USA Visa is expired? - for this i showed him my 485 receipts and also my approved AP Documents and he was fine with that.
Q3: Financial Statement ? - I showed him the bank statements. Also i showed him a bank draft that i took.
Q4: Immigration officer asked me if i am aware that we cannot hold the permanant residency of 2 country's and i told him yes i am aware.
Finally he made me and my wife to sign the COPR Document and he stapled it to our passports and shook hands and welcomed us to Canada.
I had to sign for my daughter.
He then directed us to customs,there we gave the goods to follow and goods accompanying list and they stamped it and gave us the copies.
Once we were done with this we straight away went to the local HRDC Center,applied for our SIN and we got our SIN Nos right away and they informed that they would mail us the sin cards to the Canada address we provided.
Then we went to Basic's store ( similar to our Staples/Officemax) to fax the PR Card request application form and started our return journey back to USA. I did give my friends addresss for the PR card ad SIN application as well.
Could not apply for health card as i was told that we got to by physically residing in Canada for 3 months to be able to get the health card..( i did not put much effort into this issue )
USA SIDE PROCESS:
We were tensed as we had only the expired visas in our passport and we had our approved AP and photocopies of our 485 Receipts.
We had to wait on the rainbow bridge as there were many cars lined up.finally my turn came and i went to the booth and gave our passports and AP documents.The guy at the booth asked us how long we were in Canada and the purpose of my visit to Canada....I just explained him that i was there in Ca just for 1 day and that i had to complete some landing formalities ( I did not use any words like PR etc )......Then the guy gave me a white slip and asked us to park our car and go to the second floor.....He just winked and told me that i must be aware of the procedures...
I parked my car and went to the second floor as asked...........here there were several people.......and we had to wait for almost 45 scary minutes................finally the officer called my name.............i felt difficult to stand and walk the few steps........i went to the officer.........and to my surprise....he gave us our passports and the stamped AP documents.....the stamp on the AP says: Admitted under parole until August'2009....though our AP's expire on 4 jan'2009.
There were no personal meeting with the US immigration folks or anything.........just they simply handed us our stamped passport with the I-94 Stapled and the stamped AP documents.
So folks who are residing in the USA and who have applied for Canada PR as a back up plan,please donot loose your previlage and go ahead and complete your landing formalities.
I just wanted to share my Canada PR Landing experience here to all the folks who have applied for their Canadian PR as a back-up plan.
Just to recap, i got my Canada PR visa stamped in Nov'2007 and was valid until 20 August'2008.
However i delayed my landing process due to the fear factor and due to my current status in the USA - Expired h1/approved AP.
On 16 August'2007 i finally decided that i should complete the landing process as i had spent lot of money and time for the CA PR and also that i wanted to have this previlage which i had planned as a back up.
So i left for Buffalo,NY on the 18 August'2008.Reached there in the night,cheked into a hotel and on 19 August'2008,i drove across the Rainbow Bridge.At the Canadian side the procedure was simple and smooth and the CA Immg officers were very friendly and cordial.
Immigration officer asked me only the following questions:
Q1:Why are u landing just one day before the expiry of the CA PR Visa? - explained him that i had some family emergencies that kept me away from landing until today and he was convinced.
Q2:Why is your current USA Visa is expired? - for this i showed him my 485 receipts and also my approved AP Documents and he was fine with that.
Q3: Financial Statement ? - I showed him the bank statements. Also i showed him a bank draft that i took.
Q4: Immigration officer asked me if i am aware that we cannot hold the permanant residency of 2 country's and i told him yes i am aware.
Finally he made me and my wife to sign the COPR Document and he stapled it to our passports and shook hands and welcomed us to Canada.
I had to sign for my daughter.
He then directed us to customs,there we gave the goods to follow and goods accompanying list and they stamped it and gave us the copies.
Once we were done with this we straight away went to the local HRDC Center,applied for our SIN and we got our SIN Nos right away and they informed that they would mail us the sin cards to the Canada address we provided.
Then we went to Basic's store ( similar to our Staples/Officemax) to fax the PR Card request application form and started our return journey back to USA. I did give my friends addresss for the PR card ad SIN application as well.
Could not apply for health card as i was told that we got to by physically residing in Canada for 3 months to be able to get the health card..( i did not put much effort into this issue )
USA SIDE PROCESS:
We were tensed as we had only the expired visas in our passport and we had our approved AP and photocopies of our 485 Receipts.
We had to wait on the rainbow bridge as there were many cars lined up.finally my turn came and i went to the booth and gave our passports and AP documents.The guy at the booth asked us how long we were in Canada and the purpose of my visit to Canada....I just explained him that i was there in Ca just for 1 day and that i had to complete some landing formalities ( I did not use any words like PR etc )......Then the guy gave me a white slip and asked us to park our car and go to the second floor.....He just winked and told me that i must be aware of the procedures...
I parked my car and went to the second floor as asked...........here there were several people.......and we had to wait for almost 45 scary minutes................finally the officer called my name.............i felt difficult to stand and walk the few steps........i went to the officer.........and to my surprise....he gave us our passports and the stamped AP documents.....the stamp on the AP says: Admitted under parole until August'2009....though our AP's expire on 4 jan'2009.
There were no personal meeting with the US immigration folks or anything.........just they simply handed us our stamped passport with the I-94 Stapled and the stamped AP documents.
So folks who are residing in the USA and who have applied for Canada PR as a back up plan,please donot loose your previlage and go ahead and complete your landing formalities.