My PPR-COPR-PR story!
I know reading these accounts has truly helped me on this forum (to be honest, an immigration lawyer at the beginning of this process AND being pretty savvy with government-ese were useless without the practical experiences of you here guiding me through this). Because of this, I want to now share my own time wading through the process from Passport Request to Confirmation of Permanent Residency to Permanent Resident, all in less than a week!
Background dates on the left... Story begins the day of my PPR...
It was a Monday, and I knew the Buffalo office was open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We contemplated mailing in the PPR, copy of passport pages, and photos (once I knew I went In Process, I'd gotten PR photos as London Drugs to be prepared to immediately submit my PPR package), but Buffalo never changed my address in their system despite multiple attempts. I checked flights from Western Washington state (my then home), and even from YVR in Vancouver BC (my new home). There were some that would work for me to get there Wednesday! I immediately called my US boss and explained what happened, and that I wanted to take the week off to take care of my COPR and landing. The only thing standing in my way was an enormous snowstorm system that was hammering the west coast. Everything was in our favour. We couldn't fail, eh?
After some nail-biting travel (3 planes, 3000 miles, no food all day, and running on empty through Vegas and Charlotte airports), I arrived late Wednesday night in Buffalo!!!
*Please be open tomorrow, CIC, and let me have prepared the correct documents!*
I arrived incredibly early at the HSBC building -- 6:30. No one was there, and Tim Horton's did not have any sweets. I needed coffe, calming down, and food!
I went up to the main floor where a security officer said to go to the Tim Horton's area, and someone would be down at 7:30 to bring us up in groups. I did just that, read, and saw not a soul else with any papers until just before 7:30. The plaza area filled to capacity. I was happy to have gotten a seat, orange juice, and a bagel.You cannot take food or drink with you, nor can you bring a bag bigger than a purse. You also are discouraged from bringing small kids.
At 7:30, an officer (different one), appeared by the elevator and asked for anyone that was visiting the Consulate to line up single file in front of him. A few people jumped ahead of me. I didn't care. We were all going to the same place!
We were taken up one flight on the escalator to the main floor where we queued up at the security table to be given a sticker pass for our chest. They instructed us down to where we threw the backing of the sticker! Very regulated! I was #5. We then were directed to the elevators, where we were to press the Canadian flag (30), and turn off all cell phones.
We arrived in the office with two bullet-proof glass windows and a podium at these velvet ropes. I got a ticket for my mobile phone, and sat down. We were called up by numbers to turn in our paperwork, then waited for our next task. I only had to go up and get my COPR after 2.5 hours. I was the first COPR issued of the group. There were 2 ahead of me who were seeking COPR, and multiple other types of visas, applications, and interviews happening for the 72 people I counted before I left.
They do have bathrooms there.
Onto landing!
I flew home protecting my prize like a hawk.
The weather was too bad for my wife and I to meet at the Pacific Highway Crossing on Friday, Jan 20. We planned to go the next day for safety.
I had already prepared my goods and goods to follow lists so as to be prepared. I signed NOTHING before going to the border. Not the COPR, not the B4s. They instructed me about the COPR, but I read about the importing forms somewhere. Also, you really have to put the VIN number on the forms for your car. They asked that at landing. I had, thankfully.
My wife and I were in succession at the border. I did not use the Nexus lane as I was not any longer the same status as that card showed (you have to update address and status if you change anything). I told the border agent why I was there, flashed my COPR in its folder (it was wet and cold and windy, and I was afraid it would blow away), and he asked about my goods to follow. He waived me in with my yellow tracking slip.
We entered the customs office to find no one there. Sparse at 12 pm on a Saturday! I was called up to the counter, notified the officer of my reason there (to land), and handed him my passport, COPR, and importation docs. He redid the goods accompanying me list by hand.
My COPR did not have an address listed for me, and he added that to my file as well. It actually took us a lot longer than the 15 minutes I've read. Our officer seemed a bit spent from dealing with some unruly folks before us, and there was some sort of camera crew moving around in and out of the border office.
After 45 minutes in the centre, he called us up and gave me my COPR-stapled passport, some sheets re maintaining my PR status, and settlement resources. Also, I got a Canada flag pin!
BUT
he forgot the most important part! He did not welcome me to Canada! Haha. My wife did that, gave me a huge hug right there, and we left smiling and taking pictures.
Tomorrow, I will go get my SIN# (card will come 10 business days later) in BC in person, and my wife will figure out how she applies for my MSP (she is already on MSP and can provide coverage through her own employer to pay my premiums).
That's it!
I'm in Canada, eh?
I know reading these accounts has truly helped me on this forum (to be honest, an immigration lawyer at the beginning of this process AND being pretty savvy with government-ese were useless without the practical experiences of you here guiding me through this). Because of this, I want to now share my own time wading through the process from Passport Request to Confirmation of Permanent Residency to Permanent Resident, all in less than a week!
Background dates on the left... Story begins the day of my PPR...
It was a Monday, and I knew the Buffalo office was open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We contemplated mailing in the PPR, copy of passport pages, and photos (once I knew I went In Process, I'd gotten PR photos as London Drugs to be prepared to immediately submit my PPR package), but Buffalo never changed my address in their system despite multiple attempts. I checked flights from Western Washington state (my then home), and even from YVR in Vancouver BC (my new home). There were some that would work for me to get there Wednesday! I immediately called my US boss and explained what happened, and that I wanted to take the week off to take care of my COPR and landing. The only thing standing in my way was an enormous snowstorm system that was hammering the west coast. Everything was in our favour. We couldn't fail, eh?
After some nail-biting travel (3 planes, 3000 miles, no food all day, and running on empty through Vegas and Charlotte airports), I arrived late Wednesday night in Buffalo!!!
*Please be open tomorrow, CIC, and let me have prepared the correct documents!*
I arrived incredibly early at the HSBC building -- 6:30. No one was there, and Tim Horton's did not have any sweets. I needed coffe, calming down, and food!
I went up to the main floor where a security officer said to go to the Tim Horton's area, and someone would be down at 7:30 to bring us up in groups. I did just that, read, and saw not a soul else with any papers until just before 7:30. The plaza area filled to capacity. I was happy to have gotten a seat, orange juice, and a bagel.You cannot take food or drink with you, nor can you bring a bag bigger than a purse. You also are discouraged from bringing small kids.
At 7:30, an officer (different one), appeared by the elevator and asked for anyone that was visiting the Consulate to line up single file in front of him. A few people jumped ahead of me. I didn't care. We were all going to the same place!
We were taken up one flight on the escalator to the main floor where we queued up at the security table to be given a sticker pass for our chest. They instructed us down to where we threw the backing of the sticker! Very regulated! I was #5. We then were directed to the elevators, where we were to press the Canadian flag (30), and turn off all cell phones.
We arrived in the office with two bullet-proof glass windows and a podium at these velvet ropes. I got a ticket for my mobile phone, and sat down. We were called up by numbers to turn in our paperwork, then waited for our next task. I only had to go up and get my COPR after 2.5 hours. I was the first COPR issued of the group. There were 2 ahead of me who were seeking COPR, and multiple other types of visas, applications, and interviews happening for the 72 people I counted before I left.
They do have bathrooms there.
Onto landing!
I flew home protecting my prize like a hawk.
The weather was too bad for my wife and I to meet at the Pacific Highway Crossing on Friday, Jan 20. We planned to go the next day for safety.
I had already prepared my goods and goods to follow lists so as to be prepared. I signed NOTHING before going to the border. Not the COPR, not the B4s. They instructed me about the COPR, but I read about the importing forms somewhere. Also, you really have to put the VIN number on the forms for your car. They asked that at landing. I had, thankfully.
My wife and I were in succession at the border. I did not use the Nexus lane as I was not any longer the same status as that card showed (you have to update address and status if you change anything). I told the border agent why I was there, flashed my COPR in its folder (it was wet and cold and windy, and I was afraid it would blow away), and he asked about my goods to follow. He waived me in with my yellow tracking slip.
We entered the customs office to find no one there. Sparse at 12 pm on a Saturday! I was called up to the counter, notified the officer of my reason there (to land), and handed him my passport, COPR, and importation docs. He redid the goods accompanying me list by hand.
My COPR did not have an address listed for me, and he added that to my file as well. It actually took us a lot longer than the 15 minutes I've read. Our officer seemed a bit spent from dealing with some unruly folks before us, and there was some sort of camera crew moving around in and out of the border office.
After 45 minutes in the centre, he called us up and gave me my COPR-stapled passport, some sheets re maintaining my PR status, and settlement resources. Also, I got a Canada flag pin!
BUT
he forgot the most important part! He did not welcome me to Canada! Haha. My wife did that, gave me a huge hug right there, and we left smiling and taking pictures.
Tomorrow, I will go get my SIN# (card will come 10 business days later) in BC in person, and my wife will figure out how she applies for my MSP (she is already on MSP and can provide coverage through her own employer to pay my premiums).
That's it!
I'm in Canada, eh?
