U- Turn availability at Peace Bridge

[Sunny_tor]

Hello Guys,

Sorry if i am repeating this topic again, but if anybody used the U-turn facility that was available at the Peace Bridge for landing purposes?

Is this U-turn still open to public and if someone can provide some details on the directions that would be great.

Thanks and good luck!!

 

[ZT]

I took the U-turn on December 16 to do my landing at Peace Bridge, so I can tell you that it's definitely open.

Here are some directions to do the U-turn:
- After passing the last Canadian highway exit, there will be a sign that says TO BUFFALO. The road speed will have signs to reduce speed from 90 km/hr to 50 km/hr. At this point, SWITCH OR REMAIN ON THE LEFT LANE
- You will see the Canadian Border Services building on your left hand side (a white building with a dome)
- BEFORE entering the Peace Bridge, there will be a small sign on your left that says RETURN TO CANADA (in English and French). The sign is quite small (about 4x3 feet). Follow this sign and make a U-turn to re-enter the Canadian side of the highway.

Here is what to expect after making the U-turn:
Your first point of contact is the border officer in the booth who will ask you why you're there. My friend who was driving explained that he was taking me to do my landing. The officer looked through our passports, asked how we knew each other, gave us a piece of yellow paper where she had written "landing" on it and and directed us to park our car and go inside the building. There was no question around whether I had gone to the US.

In the building, go to the Immigration counter where you'll deal with another border officer. I was asked what permanent residency stream I was landing for and for proof of funds (some have said that CEC applicants don't have to show this, but bring bank statements with you to be safe!). I also had to explain a little bit about my current status in Canada as I had recently lost my work permit and applied for restoration of status as a worker. Oh and I was also asked for a piece of ID or a document that shows my current address (this is the address to which they'll send your PR card). Good thing I had a pay stub with me.

After that the officer asked me to initial and sign the CoPR, explained to me that I have to be in Canada for 2 years out of 5 to retain my status, mentioned that I will receive the PR card in 4-6 weeks and congratulated me as a permanent resident.

The only odd thing about the whole thing was around customs. The officer asked me if I had any goods to follow. I answered no, because I've been living in Canada for the past 13 years. He then told me to go to the Customs counter to tell them that I don't have any goods to follow so they could stamp something. So I did exactly that: went to the Customs counter and told the officer that I just landed with no goods to follow. The customs officer looked at me like I had two heads and basically said that he didn't need to do anything for me. Weird.

This is a long reply, but I sure hope it helps. Good luck!

 

[Golnaz]

I took the U-turn on December 16 to do my landing at Peace Bridge, so I can tell you that it's definitely open.

Here are some directions to do the U-turn:
- After passing the last Canadian highway exit, there will be a sign that says TO BUFFALO. The road speed will have signs to reduce speed from 90 km/hr to 50 km/hr. At this point, SWITCH OR REMAIN ON THE LEFT LANE
- You will see the Canadian Border Services building on your left hand side (a white building with a dome)
- BEFORE entering the Peace Bridge, there will be a small sign on your left that says RETURN TO CANADA (in English and French). The sign is quite small (about 4x3 feet). Follow this sign and make a U-turn to re-enter the Canadian side of the highway.

Here is what to expect after making the U-turn:
Your first point of contact is the border officer in the booth who will ask you why you're there. My friend who was driving explained that he was taking me to do my landing. The officer looked through our passports, asked how we knew each other, gave us a piece of yellow paper where she had written "landing" on it and and directed us to park our car and go inside the building. There was no question around whether I had gone to the US.

In the building, go to the Immigration counter where you'll deal with another border officer. I was asked what permanent residency stream I was landing for and for proof of funds (some have said that CEC applicants don't have to show this, but bring bank statements with you to be safe!). I also had to explain a little bit about my current status in Canada as I had recently lost my work permit and applied for restoration of status as a worker. Oh and I was also asked for a piece of ID or a document that shows my current address (this is the address to which they'll send your PR card). Good thing I had a pay stub with me.

After that the officer asked me to initial and sign the CoPR, explained to me that I have to be in Canada for 2 years out of 5 to retain my status, mentioned that I will receive the PR card in 4-6 weeks and congratulated me as a permanent resident.

The only odd thing about the whole thing was around customs. The officer asked me if I had any goods to follow. I answered no, because I've been living in Canada for the past 13 years. He then told me to go to the Customs counter to tell them that I don't have any goods to follow so they could stamp something. So I did exactly that: went to the Customs counter and told the officer that I just landed with no goods to follow. The customs officer looked at me like I had two heads and basically said that he didn't need to do anything for me. Weird.

This is a long reply, but I sure hope it helps. Good luck!

It's awesome information, thanks for sharing it! and congrats on your PR

 

[Sunny_tor]

Thanks a lot ZT for your kind reply!!

 

[sunbun]

Hi ZT,
Is this landing process same for both people who are taking the U-turn and people who enter USA and come back ? In future, will there be any questions on this ?
What do you suggest for people who have USA visa's .. better they enter and come back OR take a U-turn ?

 

[ZT]

Hi ZT,
Is this landing process same for both people who are taking the U-turn and people who enter USA and come back ? In future, will there be any questions on this ?
What do you suggest for people who have USA visa's .. better they enter and come back OR take a U-turn ?

I only know what I know based on my personal experience. I think the landing process should be mostly the same for people who make the U-turn and for those who return from the US. However, if you do go the US, I'd imagine that you'd be getting questions around what you did in the US, whether you're bringing anything from the US, etc. Obviously, there will also be extra steps you'll have to take and questions you'll have to address at the US border.

I can't advice on whether it's better to enter or not enter the US. If I had a US visa, I probably would've gone for a mini shopping trip to Buffalo or NYC before doing my landing. It's a matter of personal preference, really. And I also don't know whether there will be any questions about making the U-turn later on. I can't predict the future, but what I know is that the Canada border officer didn't have any issue with it when I landed.

Hope that answers your questions.

And your'e welcome Sunny_tor and Golnaz.

 

[Sunny_tor]

Hey Folks,

I did my landing on the peace bridge last week and it was pretty smooth.
I preferred peace bridge because of the option of making a U-turn.

Best of Luck to all !

 

[Ben.alan1234]

Hello Guys,

I got my passport requested couple of days ago and sent it to CPP-Ottawa. Now, I am trying to figure out which location is the best for me to do my landing from within Canada. BTW, I am living in Ottawa. Reading several posts here (Thank you all for those ), I figured out apparently the best way to do the landing is to go to the peace bridge and taking the U-turn as I do not have US visa. But that does not work very well for me as it costs me a lot since I do not have a car.
I am thinking to go to Prescott Bridge and do it there. According to the procedure at Prescott Bridge like many other places, I have to be rejected by US border and return and land in Canada. As I am planning to go to US later, I was wondering how that rejection will affect my later requests for US visa. I know there is question in US visa documents (i.e. DS-160) saying: "Have you ever been refused a U.S visa, been refused to admission to the USA or withdrawn your application for admission at the point of entry?"

Overall, I want to know is it better for me to pay the money and go to the peace bridge or should I go to Prescott or another place?

I appreciate it if you guys share your opinions.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[InfoSeeker12]

Hello Guys,

I got my passport requested couple of days ago and sent it to CPP-Ottawa. Now, I am trying to figure out which location is the best for me to do my landing from within Canada. BTW, I am living in Ottawa. Reading several posts here (Thank you all for those ), I figured out apparently the best way to do the landing is to go to the peace bridge and taking the U-turn as I do not have US visa. But that does not work very well for me as it costs me a lot since I do not have a car.
I am thinking to go to Prescott Bridge and do it there. According to the procedure at Prescott Bridge like many other places, I have to be rejected by US border and return and land in Canada. As I am planning to go to US later, I was wondering how that rejection will affect my later requests for US visa. I know there is question in US visa documents (i.e. DS-160) saying: "Have you ever been refused a U.S visa, been refused to admission to the USA or withdrawn your application for admission at the point of entry?"

Overall, I want to know is it better for me to pay the money and go to the peace bridge or should I go to Prescott or another place?

I appreciate it if you guys share your opinions.

Thanks,
Ben

Hi Ben,

Though I'm not an expert on the US border administrative refusal issue - but as far as i've read on this forum, it doesn't seem to affect your future entry into US.

But speaking of peace bridge - I'm not sure if its an expensive option but i guess you can travel to Toronto on a bus and then rent a car for $10-$12 a day. Perhaps reach Toronto on a friday afternoon - rent a car, do the landing and then return back. Wont cost you much, even if you stay a night in a motel too - every thing including your greyhound bus ticket - around 250.

cheap car rentals:
http://www.hotwire.com/car/index.jsp
http://www.priceline.com/l/home.htm?&rdr=p2seti&sv3=Y

All the best.

 

[Ben.alan1234]

Hi InfoSeeker12,

Thank you for your comment. Yes, my estimate is about the same number but I am out of work now and 250 is a bit high for me at the moment
I just called CIC call center and they said that the waiting time in Ottawa is around 6 weeks and I need to have my document number to book an appointment, which makes that option not to be very appealing as it takes too long. I think I am gonna try the peace bridge. Is there any chance you think that I go there and they do not let me do the U-turn? I haven't read anything like that in the forum, have you?

Thanks,

 

[mayank762]

Hi Ben,
Administrative refusal is not a real refusal. It just says that you went through their immigration booth and they returned you to Canadian side
Won't affect anything, so my advice to you would be to go to Prescott as that is much closer.
You will be done in 2-3 hrs as compared to 2-3 days to travel and come back.
Also Prescott is relatively empty