Thread For applications Through SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) Office

[benjis_monikuss]

Wicked! Congratulations to you as well.

It was 86 days from sending the application to receiving the COPR in the mail for us. CIC website still says decision made.

You guys should post your timelines on this spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/a/postcity.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmVlTaJuxc5kdFlsVkRfVFVOTWtCYjVjdU9tR1o2aXc&richtext=true#gid=0

It's a good way for others to see what they're up against as far as timelines are concerned.

Thanks, landing in a few day then I'm done! Ahhhh!

Updated the spreadsheet, at least I can see it when I look? I'm not very good with spreadsheets haha. Someone in there got theirs in 41 days?! Insane.

 

[torvic]

Congratulations, no more waiting

Thanks!

Thanks, landing in a few day then I'm done! Ahhhh!

Updated the spreadsheet, at least I can see it when I look? I'm not very good with spreadsheets haha. Someone in there got theirs in 41 days?! Insane.

Ha, we're gonna try landing tomorrow. Where abouts are you going to do yours?

 

[benjis_monikuss]

Thanks!

Ha, we're gonna try landing tomorrow. Where abouts are you going to do yours?

That's awesome, good luck! I'm going to do it at the Sumas border on Monday. What about you?

 

[torvic]

That's awesome, good luck! I'm going to do it at the Sumas border on Monday. What about you?

Oh I think I read that already. We're in Toronto, so it'll be the Rainbow Bridge. Are you going to get an ESTA visa, or is it totally unnecessary if we're flagpolling?

 

[benjis_monikuss]

Oh I think I read that already. We're in Toronto, so it'll be the Rainbow Bridge. Are you going to get an ESTA visa, or is it totally unnecessary if we're flagpolling?

In my experience ESTA is a useless money grab. When I first came over I knew I would be travelling to the states a bunch so I got one. Went to the land border, had to pay another $6 and fill out another form anyway. Was exactly the same every time I crossed. I've never specifically been asked for one either. It'll be first thing Monday morning, I won't be holding anyone up if I have to fill out a form on the fly. I'm just gonna drive up and say I'm flag poling for PR and surely someone will know what to do with me hahahaha.

 

[torvic]

In my experience ESTA is a useless money grab. When I first came over I knew I would be travelling to the states a bunch so I got one. Went to the land border, had to pay another $6 and fill out another form anyway. Was exactly the same every time I crossed. I've never specifically been asked for one either. It'll be first thing Monday morning, I won't be holding anyone up if I have to fill out a form on the fly. I'm just gonna drive up and say I'm flag poling for PR and surely someone will know what to do with me hahahaha.

Oh, so you can just do it at the border if need be?

 

[benjis_monikuss]

Oh, so you can just do it at the border if need be?

Yeah, if you go through the land border they just point you over to a corner and tell you to fill that form out then when you go back you have to pay $6US in cash or credit. You get a green waiver richer that gives you status for 3 months. This is as an Australian passport holder.

 

[torvic]

Yeah, if you go through the land border they just point you over to a corner and tell you to fill that form out then when you go back you have to pay $6US in cash or credit. You get a green waiver richer that gives you status for 3 months. This is as an Australian passport holder.

That's good to know. I was always under the impression that you had to do it before you travel, but in that case, I'll go just with my passport and tell them we want to flagpoll and will hopefully just get charged whatever they make you pay for that.

 

[Thestylemaster]

That's awesome, good luck! I'm going to do it at the Sumas border on Monday. What about you?

Congrats!!! Let us know how you go at Sumas! I've validated a few work visas there so I'm sure it'll be no prob! We're not heading back to BC until Aug 1 so I guess we'll be doing it at YVR.

 

[Thestylemaster]

PS. So excited about our return we even paid our outstanding traffic tickets through ICBC haha

 

[benjis_monikuss]

I may go land tomorrow, I have the day off so I'd like to get it done and over with. All the sooner for the card to arrive! It's finally starting to sink in but I think it'll really hit me once I've landed.

I've always found the staff at YVR to be super nice and helpful... Unless you're a bad guy, they mess bad guys up pretty good hahahah.

 

[torvic]

Well everyone, we went down to the Rainbow Bridge this morning and landed within about an hour of crossing over the US border. I left home a temporary resident, and I return a permanent one! Feels great to not have to worry about applying for a new visa or waiting for the CIC to update us. Ahhhhhh. Time for a beer.

(One thing I will warn everyone about is to be prepared to answer "Who referred you to this crossing/Why are you crossing here?" It threw me off guard, that's for sure. They were asking it because there was quite a backlog of people, and with the option to book an appointment I guess they would prefer people do that. I just said that I didn't want to wait two months for an interview spot to open up, so the guy on the phone said I could cross at Niagara instead.)

Good luck tomorrow, Benji. We'll be thinking of ya.

 

[benjis_monikuss]

Well everyone, we went down to the Rainbow Bridge this morning and landed within about an hour of crossing over the US border. I left home a temporary resident, and I return a permanent one! Feels great to not have to worry about applying for a new visa or waiting for the CIC to update us. Ahhhhhh. Time for a beer.

(One thing I will warn everyone about is to be prepared to answer "Who referred you to this crossing/Why are you crossing here?" It threw me off guard, that's for sure. They were asking it because there was quite a backlog of people, and with the option to book an appointment I guess they would prefer people do that. I just said that I didn't want to wait two months for an interview spot to open up, so the guy on the phone said I could cross at Niagara instead.)

Good luck tomorrow, Benji. We'll be thinking of ya.

Congrats permanent resident Torvic! Hahaha. I'm hoping as Sumas is a tiny border I won't have too many problems. I'll update once I do it, all depends in the boy is going fishing tomorrow; I'll sneak away and land while he does! Haha

 

[Thestylemaster]

Well everyone, we went down to the Rainbow Bridge this morning and landed within about an hour of crossing over the US border. I left home a temporary resident, and I return a permanent one! Feels great to not have to worry about applying for a new visa or waiting for the CIC to update us. Ahhhhhh. Time for a beer.

(One thing I will warn everyone about is to be prepared to answer "Who referred you to this crossing/Why are you crossing here?" It threw me off guard, that's for sure. They were asking it because there was quite a backlog of people, and with the option to book an appointment I guess they would prefer people do that. I just said that I didn't want to wait two months for an interview spot to open up, so the guy on the phone said I could cross at Niagara instead.)

Good luck tomorrow, Benji. We'll be thinking of ya.

Thats awesome Torvic! 3 months start to finish. It's over!!!

 

[benjis_monikuss]

I did it! The boy went fishing so I took advantage of the spring forward and went down to Sumas first thing this morning. I'm a permanent resident! I got a little teary when my awesome border officer said these words. Took less than an hour; drove straight to a booth on US side, waited 25 min to get back into Canada (and that was with an officer cutting me back into the line up), 10 min on Canadian side and I was driving away a Canadian! So happy it's all over with, good luck to everyone waiting!