Hey guys, just did my landing yesterday (April 18th, 2018) at Sarnia, ON. Thought I should share my experience - give you guys a heads up.
My details:
Stream - FSW Inland
AOR - 14 Dec 2017
ADR (Travel Details) - 20 December
Meds Passed - 28 December
I was part of the Feb 27 mass IP2 change.
PPR - April 9, 2018
Passport sent - April 10
Passport received - April 11
Visa/COPR processed - April 12
Passport dispatched - April 13
Passport received - April 17
Landed [successfully] - April 18, 2018
I crossed over to the US side around 10.15 AM (Wednesday). Before I crossed over, I asked 2 officers in the immigration/customs area if PR landings are being processed. They said yes. I went over to the US.
Surprisingly, the US immigration took a lot of time. They seemed to be confused about how to treat me. They might have been new - I dont know. I had a US visitor visa, so they just couldnt refuse entry and send me back. i didnt know what the big deal was, since I could be just stamped and allowed to enter, but I guess they didnt see it that way. Eventually they called over to the Canadian side and asked how I should be treated. Overall, took me little more than a hour.
When I went back to the Canadian side, the immigration at the toll booth sort of structure was very angry. He asked me to read the 2nd option on COPR letter, which was said something like "if you are unable to get an inland landing appointment, go to the border". He asked me to produce evidence that I tried and failed. He gave me some more flak on top of that - said that I am essentially skipping line by not waiting for my inland appointment and coming to the border; if I want PR early for my travel purpose its my headache and not CICs; niagara is not processing landings for the same reasons etc etc. I behaved super nice and apologetic, and eventually he let me pass, asking me to go to the customs/immigration building. saying that if it was his shift inside the building, he wouldnt have let me land.
The building inside was empty. Not a lot of officers too. They were in no hurry to process me. After 20-30 min of waiting, a nice lady called me up. Asked which stream I was landing under. Asked for proof of funds. Didnt spend too much time going over them, maybe 20 secs tops. I also produced my current job offer letter. She spent 10 min doing something on the system and processed my landing! She did however say that I need not have hurried, I had another 6 months to do my landing. But she was nice too, congratulated me in the end and explained residency requirement and PRTD requirement for travel before PR card comes.
So heads up guys - Based on my anecdotal evidence, its basically upto your luck if your landing is going to be successful whichever land border you go to. I think borders are getting more and more wary of doing these landings, and I feel like in the not so distant future, they'll stop processing most landings for inland applicants.
My details:
Stream - FSW Inland
AOR - 14 Dec 2017
ADR (Travel Details) - 20 December
Meds Passed - 28 December
I was part of the Feb 27 mass IP2 change.
PPR - April 9, 2018
Passport sent - April 10
Passport received - April 11
Visa/COPR processed - April 12
Passport dispatched - April 13
Passport received - April 17
Landed [successfully] - April 18, 2018
I crossed over to the US side around 10.15 AM (Wednesday). Before I crossed over, I asked 2 officers in the immigration/customs area if PR landings are being processed. They said yes. I went over to the US.
Surprisingly, the US immigration took a lot of time. They seemed to be confused about how to treat me. They might have been new - I dont know. I had a US visitor visa, so they just couldnt refuse entry and send me back. i didnt know what the big deal was, since I could be just stamped and allowed to enter, but I guess they didnt see it that way. Eventually they called over to the Canadian side and asked how I should be treated. Overall, took me little more than a hour.
When I went back to the Canadian side, the immigration at the toll booth sort of structure was very angry. He asked me to read the 2nd option on COPR letter, which was said something like "if you are unable to get an inland landing appointment, go to the border". He asked me to produce evidence that I tried and failed. He gave me some more flak on top of that - said that I am essentially skipping line by not waiting for my inland appointment and coming to the border; if I want PR early for my travel purpose its my headache and not CICs; niagara is not processing landings for the same reasons etc etc. I behaved super nice and apologetic, and eventually he let me pass, asking me to go to the customs/immigration building. saying that if it was his shift inside the building, he wouldnt have let me land.
The building inside was empty. Not a lot of officers too. They were in no hurry to process me. After 20-30 min of waiting, a nice lady called me up. Asked which stream I was landing under. Asked for proof of funds. Didnt spend too much time going over them, maybe 20 secs tops. I also produced my current job offer letter. She spent 10 min doing something on the system and processed my landing! She did however say that I need not have hurried, I had another 6 months to do my landing. But she was nice too, congratulated me in the end and explained residency requirement and PRTD requirement for travel before PR card comes.
So heads up guys - Based on my anecdotal evidence, its basically upto your luck if your landing is going to be successful whichever land border you go to. I think borders are getting more and more wary of doing these landings, and I feel like in the not so distant future, they'll stop processing most landings for inland applicants.
