landed yesterday at rainbow bridge. pretty painless experience.
1. took a train from toronto to niagara falls. i recommend NOT taking train #97 VIA/Amtrak as these contain Americans so it's a different experience. it's crowded and you can see who the americans are. they look dirty and dingy.
and the train back in the evening is usually delayed by about 1 hour. this train (#98) comes from new york, and niagara falls, ontario, is where they have to go through Canadian customs. so, the train comes in around 4:45-5:15, and doesn't leave towards toronto until 6:30. it's supposed to leave at 5:45. f you have the option, take the GO train, or obviously, get a friend to drive you or drive by yourself.
2. got off the train station, took a cab towards the bridge--around $10, ~5-7 minutes.
3. the pedestrian entrance is a bit awkward as there no sidewalks going in (where the cars are turning onto the bridge). there is a duty free shop with a parking lot. i cut through the parking lot and went around the duty free until i saw the "pedestrian bridge" sign.
4. followed the sign, and about 10-20 feet after the sign is the entrance to the bridge. had some change. and put the 50 cents into the slot.
5. walked to the other side--i strolled slowly and it took under 10 minutes. so if you're walking fast, you can probably cross it in 5-7 minutes.
6. got to the US side. opened the first door. there were 3 or 4 people ahead of me. after they got their turn and the line moved forward, i stood behind another door that looked like the entrance to a cage. it's totally american. makes you feel like cattle about to be slaughtered.
7. the american VOs shout "NEEXTTTTTT" as there are no speakers or anything. so you have to pay attention when they call you.
8. got to the VO. he was really nice. told him right away i was just here to land. he sent me to the waiting area. i waited about 20 minutes. while waiting, they cleared about 50 chinese tourists (on two different buses). i felt bad for the tourists. the waiting area is small so fitting 30 tourists at once is kinda loud and messy. so it's hard to hear the VOs shout "NEXXTTTTT". so i saw a few of them look nervous.
8. the US VOs aren't rude, but they definitely take themselves seriously. they definitely have a certain personality as they think of themselves as the defender of AMEERRICAAAAAAAA. my suggestion would be to just be straight and simple. don't be angry or frustrated. but also don't try to be funny or warm. they don't give a sh8. and, they aren't loud and curt with just brown people. they are like that to old blonde ladies. my VO was actually pleasant.
9. anyway, after about 20 minutes of waiting, being stared at by people (i was the only one in the waiting area) who probably thought i was trying to sneak in, the VO came back and gave me a white paper with the refusal on it. he said "you're all set" and took me back through the door i came in. so you don't have to pay the toll on the US side ---but i don't know if that's regular. you MAY have to. so don't worry if your procedure is slightly different.
10. walked back. took a photo. you're literally walking next to cars for the duration of the bridge. i was walking next to a lady from texas who was recording the view through the passenger window. i said "am i in your shot?" and in her american drawl, she goes "oh noo, hon, you're perrrfect." i thought she was going to say something racist like "i hope you fall off the bridge you darkie." so, not everyone from texas is a raging racist.
11. got to the Canadian side, entered the door, told VO i was here to complete landing. showed him the paper from the US side. he gave me a yellow slip and told me to walk across the street to the other building. i entered and the building is the opposite of the american side. it's light. airy. there are trees. and it's big and open.
12. waited in line, and it looked like there was another couple waiting to land as i could see their CoPRs.
13. got called, told the VO i was here to land. gave him the yellow slip. he told me to check over for mistakes. and told me to wait. he was really nice as well. there's also this good looking lady VO there. but i didn't get to meet her. the american side is all a bunch of tough looking guys, probably guys who used to beat up nerds in school.
14. after about 10 minutes, he called me over again. told me to answer the two question on your CoPR (crime and something else i forgot). i had to write the answer on the CoPR.
15. told me to sign. and then told me i was officially a PR. described my residency obligations. and told me to walk over to another counter (right next to him on the other side of the long counter)
16. i think this was customs. but the people on this side of the counter didn't have any uniforms. they looked like a couple of grad students workign in the university information centre. asked me about any goods to follow. i said no and then she said "you're good to go."
17. i left the building. and walked over to the starbucks and had an $8 latte. from walking on to the bridge to go to the US side, to being done and over at starbucks, i'd say it took about an hour. i got in to town at 10:50-11ish. can't remember. and was done around noon. later, i had a $20 shwarma plate. just shwarma, with rice, some vegies, humus, and a pita bread. this would normally cost $8-10 in kitchener! it wasn't even that good.
18. my train back wasn't for another 5 hours. so i walked around. the tourists are non-stop. they're obviously everywhere and actually ruin the whole falls experience. it was pouring rain so i got soaked. but luckily, had an umbrella.
19. there isn't a lot to do there other than rides, haunted houses, etc. so, if you aren't into these things, you are NOT going to have a good time. i walked for hours.
20. that's it. i should get my PR card in about 8 weeks as the VO told me.
proud permanent residents of Canada!
