Hello PR contendents,
As you may notice from my timeline, I landed on Thursday 2012-06-07 at the Douglas point of entry, which is located on the Peace Arch Provincial Park, Whiterock, BC (i.e. near Vancouver).
First off some background: My application stream was the BC PNP International Post-graduate Pilot Program. I got a Master's degree in BC and that's why I was qualified to go for that stream. It lasted less than 6 months from the time I submitted my CIC application, for a total of less than 10 months.
To complete the landing, I corralled the following documents:
1) Passport + COPR (2 copies, one without a photo)
2) Study and work permits (just in case)
3) Original BC PNP Letter of Acceptance (just in case)
4) BCID card with my current address on it as well as two envelopes mailed directly to me within the last two weeks to prove my current residence address
5) A folder with photocopies of all the applications I ever did for my PR under the aforementioned stream.
Note that number 1 and 4 above turned out to be necessary. The rest served as backups.
To land, I took bus 351 from Bridgeport station down to Whiterock (17th Ave and 152 St. bus stop, to be precise). Then, I called a cab (Pacific cabs at 604-596-6666) to go right to the Canadian Customs building. The cab driver knew exactly where to go -- he parked by the lot in front of the Canadian border point. The fare for this short ride was $15.
I got out of the cab and ran into a couple of Canadian border agents. I asked them what I should actually to do flag-pole. They said I should walk towards the U.S. border control by going through the Peace Arch Park sidewalk. Yes, they now have a pedestrian walkway. On the Canadian side it's located on the east; then, as you cross the International Border Milestone, located parallel to the Peace Arch, you turn right to get on the U.S. sidewalk. Follow the cars, but stick to the sidewalk!
After that, a U.S. agent will most certainly ask what you're walking for. Just mention the keyword, flag-pole, and they'll direct you to get into their building. When you get inside, an officer will ask you whether you've got your orange sheet of paper with you. If you're walking, then you won't have an orange paper; rather, you'll just wait in some line and get the letter of "refusal" from the US agent. This line is pretty fast, since very few do the crossing on foot.
Within 10 minutes and in full kindness on the American side, I got the flag-pole letter and was instructed to go back to Canada from the walkway I entered. On the Canadian side, you usually follow the sidewalk to the first border control point. The agent will look at the flag-pole letter and your passport and immigration visa, will ask you whether you've got $10K or more in your pocket (and you'll probably say no), will issue you a yellow sheet of paper, and will finally instruct you to get into the Canadian customs building. Note that you'll read a letter (A, B, or C) handwritten on your yellow sheet. That letter will instruct you to wait in the appropriate line-up inside the building.
Inside the building, you'll wait in line until called up to the next available agent to have your document reviewed. They'll collect whatever they need to see (in my case, they asked for documents (1) and (4) above). Then, they'll ask you to sit and wait. Within 15 minutes they'll call you with the COPR attached on the opposite page as the immigration visa, unless you'll need to be interviewed. In my case, the agent called me, congratulated me, and asked if I had any questions.
I asked her "When are you going to say it?" Stunned, she replied, "Say what?" I go, "Welcome to Canada!" She smiles in some impression of relief and says the same...
Good luck to all! Let me know if you have any questions.
