(This is my wife's account, she is the sponsor, I am the PR)
We got down to Buffalo yesterday evening a bit before dark with plans to scope it out (make sure we know where it is, survey parking, etc). Got that done, found a place to stay but obviously did not sleep very well at all last night. We made it to the Tim Horton's below the lobby around 715 and there was already a fair amount of people waiting. The man from the consulate came and rounded everyone up a bit after 7:30, checked us all in gave us visitor passes, and had us take the elevators to the Canadian flag floor between 29 and 31. (30 for those without deductive reasoning skills) They had everyone who had business with the consulate....student visas, entry permits, PR's who needed travel documents , interviews, and whatever else have you all grouped together, so word for the wise when your time comes DO NOT be alarmed by the sheer mass of people that are up there. I had about 15 people in front of me in line for the window and I could overhear everyone of them tell the lady why they were there without really trying to. I think maybe 2 of them were there for PR. Going on....they sporadically called numbers for various things until a bit after 10 then the lady came out and called out a whole pack of PR's all at once. I happened to be standing fairly close to the window talking to the security guard because I was a tad claustrophobic in the very back of the almost standing room only waiting room. I'd say they had barely over half enough chairs for the crowd they had, but I digress......I was standing pretty close to the window anyhow so I was the very first to get my visa. I was out to the car by 10:30. When you go I highly recommend bringing something other than a cell phone to occupy your mind. The security guard there was pretty hard assed about turning the cell phones off and giving them to him.
Afterwards, we went about town did some looking around stores before crossing the Peace Bridge. I drove up to the guard , got asked the standard how long we were in the US, and where we lived. I told him and also told him I needed to land. After that he didn't ask any more questions, not even about did we bring back anything. He just sent me right on inside.
The immigration officer inside was very nice, and all that she asked was.....
Did you check all your info? - referring to the COPR
Have you ever been convicted of a crime?........nope
Have you ever been deported from Canada?.....nope
Do you plan to travel in the next 2 months?.....just to the states by land
Do you have any goods to follow?....Yup, got a list right here. Came prepared.
She did explain getting a SIN card, health card and all that good stuff I already know, but I just let her go on. Initial here and here signature here and here. That was it I was done. I was landed. No "Welcome to Canada." She did say congratulations though, so I'll take it.
Then, it was over to the customs fellow to do my list of goods. He just took my own handwritten list hit it a couple times with his stamp photocopied it and called it good. He didn't use a form or anything. "There is a form but we're not gonna go that route." (his words not mine) Over to the cashier to print out a receipt for 0 dollars and 0 cents to staple onto my goods list so I could use it later as I didn't have any of my goods with me, and I was on my merry way.
In and out of immigration in 5 minutes.....10 at the very worst, and not only that they were actually nice to me this time. Funny how their attitudes change when you're now one of them I suppose.
Oh....and by the way E-cas says in process medicals received.
I guess the purpose would be to not take images of confidential stuff you might have a chance to see?? The only other place I've had that happen was going into a courthouse to get a marriage certificate.
