My landing Experience:
I took a rental car and decided to use the Peace Bridge in Buffalo to make the landing.
- There were 2 or 3 cars ahead of me in the check-post and my heart was pounding as i was inching closer to the officer.
- I had separate folders for the passports, COPR, Proof of Funds, Supporting documents etc.
- The officer greeted me, and i told him i have come here to complete the PR landing formalities
- He asked for passports and the COPR. He checked them and gave a yellow sheet with something scribbled. He asked me if i will have goods to follow, if i have anything illegal with me or any guns. He then asked me to park the car and go into the building.
- Inside there was a small queue with one person ahead of me. The officer called me in less than 2 minutes
- I gave the officer passports and the COPR. Officer asked what class i got the nomination. I said Alberta PNP
- She smirked and asked a question if Alberta sponsored me, why i am landing in Buffalo. I told her i have friends in Toronto, so first landed there and then once i get a job in Alberta, i will move there. She was fine with my answer
- She asked me for my address in Canada. I gave one and she asked me if it will be my permanent residence. I said it is a temporary accommodation for a couple of months. She was fine with it.
- She told me that my goods list should be shown to the customs.
- She then asked me and my wife to sign on some papers and finally said the phrase i was waiting for 'Welcome to Canada! You now have all the rights of a Canadian Citizen except for voting in Federal Elections'
- Went to customs, they just stamped the forms
- Then went to SIN office in Niagara Falls, where it was a 10 minute job to get the SIN number
- Spent couple of days in Niagara falls over the weekend and in Toronto. On Monday opened a bank account and then traveled back to the US through Detroit
- US to Canada border crossing was very simple, no questions asked.. Just checked our passports.
Feels so great that i do not have an expiry date anymore on my forehead. Thanks a ton to everyone in this forum.. You all have helped a lot in my looong journey through this process.