Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[minna]

I believe the letter you receive for the PPR will specify exactly where to send the passport. I'm pretty sure you can mail it back and forth - some people choose to go to Buffalo to avoid the wait times that the mail would entail.

 

[jmni1]

The other visa offices like detroit and seattle are just in case you need an interview that is where it would be. All the visas are issued through Buffalo. You can mail your passport to Buffalo or bring it in person. I hope this helps clear up any confusion.

 

[journeyman]

You beat me to it Minna ;D. That is my understanding as well. In my case, my husband will be landing through Buffalo, so that it makes sense for him to personally pick it up rather than adding the mailing time to send the passport to the VO and wait for the Visa and Passport to be sent back.

I would just add one note to kerianne. The form where you chose Seattle, means it is your first choice of location for an interview, if required. Alot of interviews seem to be waived though. Buffalo would still do the processing. However, there have been a couple of people recently who have recieved notice that Buffalo has transferred their file to their interview location. It seems that Buffalo may have a huge volume and is transferring some of the workload to these satellite sites. In any event, you will get a PPR letter confirming what you need to do regarding your passport.

 

[kerianne]

Thank you. I figured as much. Especially since the application states in case of interview to choose a location. I just wasn't sure about the PPR. I hear that most people get their visas same day when they travel to Buffalo. Is that true?

What does the time frame look like if mailed back/forth? A couple days/weeks?

 

[journeyman]

We haven't actually had the pleasure yet 8) but it is my understanding from reading previous posts, that yes you get it on the same day if you go to Buffalo and about 3 weeks if you go the mail route. I stand to be corrected by others who have done one or other successfully already .

However, since you are on the west coast and heading to the west coast in Canada, coming to Buffalo doesn't make alot of sense in your case :-\

 

[kerianne]

Yeah it would be a hard decision to make. I guess it will depend on what happens when the time comes and if I can stand waiting any longer

 

[minna]

yeah, we figure we'll wait and see depending on our budget at that point in the process - and how close to our baby's delivery we are. Most likely (assuming 5 months processing time in B'lo) I'll be pretty close to popping the kid out, so, in that case, mail would be preferable than my partner being unable to return in time for the birth...

 

[alisa]

I've offically landed. Everything went very smoothly meeting with the IO. I went through the Edmonton airport en route to Ft St John, BC. The IO asked why I was there and I showed her the papers I got from Buffalo, then she sent me to a room where another IO pulled up a file on the computer and asked me to sign the paper in 3 places, stamped a page in my passport and told me the PR card will be in the mail in a month and good luck on my new life in Canada. My timeline only took 4 months.

I picked up my visa in Buffalo. Some advice to those that are going: get in line at the consulate before 7:30. The paper I was sent said they start at 8 but when i got there at 7:30am there was already quite a few people there and the people said they started processing at 7:30. I would suggest going in at 7. I got through at around 8:30 then waited an hour to get the visa.

Congratulations!!!!

 

[Lilac6]

I've offically landed. Everything went very smoothly meeting with the IO. I went through the Edmonton airport en route to Ft St John, BC. The IO asked why I was there and I showed her the papers I got from Buffalo, then she sent me to a room where another IO pulled up a file on the computer and asked me to sign the paper in 3 places, stamped a page in my passport and told me the PR card will be in the mail in a month and good luck on my new life in Canada. My timeline only took 4 months.

Congrats Nej!

 

[OnTheMove]

Hey guys,
I have a question about moving my belongings. I plan to get into Canada by car, but I am not sure I can fit everything in the car to make a one single trip. Can my husband move some of my stuff accross the border now while I am in the US waiting for my PR? Any problems at the border that we should anticipate?
It's about 7-8 hr drive so we were thinking of taking advantage of the fact that he will be here over Labor day and is able to take some stuff back.

 

[minna]

well the main problem with that scenario - your husband taking things for you, is it depends on how much time he'll be visiting you. Canadian residents have a certain dollar amount that they are allowed to bring back with them after a trip abroad before having to pay duty. If he brings back, say, old sheets and towels or a box of books, that's unlikely to be a problem, but he will have to claim them at the border. If you're having him bring back, say, valuable jewellery or new tvs or whatever, then, depending on the amount of time he's been out of the country, he may have to pay duty on those items.

You, as a new PR can bring as much stuff as you need to duty free (provided it is properly accounted for in a B4 list) - and it doesn't all have to be accompanying you - you can ship things to arrive after you, and they will also be duty-free.

Check the border inspection agency/canada customs for more details.

 

[OnTheMove]

Thanks minna. I looked into exemptions and restrictions, but I still have some questions about this.
I've just emailed Canada customs in hopes that they'll respond. The goods in question are used clothing, shoes, household items, and such. Nothing particularly valuable, although to me, my clothes and shoes are priceless!!

 

[minna]

CLothes should be fine - after all, he'll have brought clothes with him, and border agents won't care about a box or two, or a few suitcases - but they might have questions if you totally load up his car, you know what I mean?? I think he'll have to declare the value of everything coming back with him if you *do* load up his car, and depending on how long he'll have been visiting you, he might have a limit on how much he can bring back without paying duty.

 

[OnTheMove]

There are a few people here who have received their PPRs and Visas, so I have a question for you guys. I couldn't find this info on the CIC sites.

How much time do you have to submit your passport after you receive PPR?

How much time do you have to land when you receive your visa?

 

[minna]

I think the PPR states the amount of time you have.

But generally, I think most people submit ASAP.

Also generally speaking, you have, for both PPR and landing, the time until your visa expires, which is the date of the expiry of your medical exam or the expiry of your current passport, whichever comes first. Medical exams are good for one year.