My PR Landing Experience ;D
Hi everyone, how is it going? I did my PR landing today (Feb 3, 2016) at the Emerson-US border (Emerson is one hour away from Winnipeg and is the closest one there is). I started from my place at 10:20am (A close friend gave me a ride and made the journey all the more enjoyable) and reached the border at around 11:30am. We drove straight to the US border first and stopped in front of the window. The lady officer was very pleasant and asked us how we are doing and the reason for entering the States to which we answered good and I told her that I was there for PR landing. Seeing my upbeat answers and smiling face, she even started smiling and said and I quote "someone is happy today". lol. She asked my friend to park the car and asked me to come inside the building. I did as instructed and when I entered inside the building and towards the counter, the male officer asked me in a gruff voice what I am here for? I explained that I am here for PR landing and he went inside to get my passport from the female officer. 2 minutes later, he came back and asked me to wait for 5 minutes while he prepared me the rejection letter. So i sat in one of the many chairs and noticed that the actual building is huge with a high raised ceiling. The floors were made of marble and polished. The entire office was grand, like really top notch and well-kept. So after 5-6 minutes later, the officer came out, called my name (and was smiling and much more communicative than before). He asked me to verify the document if everything was typed correctly and free from typos. I never thought I would say it but "My rejection letter was perfect". lol. Then he escorted me out of the building and opened the gates to go to the Canadian side of the border for the next step. While he was accompanying me out to the Car, we were chatting about the weather, greeted each other "Happy New Year" and he congratulated me for becoming a Canadian PR. So we waved him goodbye and drove to the Canadian side.
The Male officer at the window had a pout on his face and gave me an impression that he just attended a funeral. He asked my friend a bunch of questions about bringing firearms/furniture/goods into the country to which he has replied "NO". Then he asked me for my passport, the rejection letter that I have received from the US border officials, and gave them back to me along with a yellow sheet (rectangular shaped) on which he wrote something related to COPR. Anyway, my friend parked his car outside and waited in the car while I marched forward into the office. The office is just one floor, very depressing to look at, totally opposite to the US border office. Like literally. There were three male officers (one in his mid 50's, two in their mid 30's) and one female officer (late 30's). The guy called me forward and asked me why I was there to which I replied, PR landing. The next question he asked was "Why didn't your friend come inside?" to which I replied that the officer at the window said that he can stay in the car if he so desires and he said Ok. He then asked for my COPR, Passport, all previous Study/Work permits (to shred) and I politely gave them all to him. He asked me the couple of questions - Was I ever convicted before and if I have any dependents - to which I wrote NO next to each of the questions and signed my initials. Then he asked me to sign my COPR as well, which I did. He then gave me a sheet to read which has all the "rights of a new Canadian PR" and asked me to wait in the seating area (which had 5 chairs) and that he will call me as soon as he's ready for me. One other Asian family were waiting before me (and working with a different officer). I waited for like 10 minutes and then I was called. He stapled my letter to the passport, told me that it's important to keep the document safe (in case if I ever lose my PR card, this document is needed to re-apply), read my rights and responsibilities, told me that I had to wait for at least 8 Weeks for my PR card to arrive by mail and to update my SIN after I receive my card, gave me a Canadian flag and Congratulated me. He warmed up a little to me during the second part of our interaction. So I waved him goodbye and walked out feeling much happier that this "feeling of waiting forever" nightmare has finally come to an end.
We drove to a nice restaurant in that little town and I gave my friend a big treat for being there for me when I needed him. That was my way of saying thanks for his time and support. I asked the waitress (her name is Frances) if there are any nice thrift stores around (I am a big sucker for lost treasures) to which she drew me a map. lol. After lunch, we drove to the MCC thrift store (literally on the next parallel street) and I got a beautiful ceramic ladybug plate for $1.25. That was my treat for being a good man and waiting patiently for the past two years. Sometimes we just have to splurge you know? lol. Then we drove back home to Winnipeg and reached around 2:15pm.
It was a good experience and a great day, overall. At the Emerson border, I found out that the US officers were sweet and polite while the Canadian officers were a bit dead inside (I could imagine why, working in a depressing office like that) but I think they are entitled to display a tougher image to everyone. Since this was one of the most happier days of my life, my spirits were soaring high and I smoothly bypassed the attitude of the officers as if I was swatting a fly
.. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know..
Drinking to all our PR's.. :-*
Cheers
KB
