US outland applicants' thread :)

[Jli]

Anyone who is a US applicant who went to Ottawa in May still waiting for DM?

My husband is an April applicant, his file got transfered to Ottawa on July 12th 2016. No sign from CIC since then.

 

[Pontianak]

This might seem a silly question, but here goes.

Myself, the hubby is a US Citizen. I'm the "paperwork" guy that does most of the document based... anything. My wife and son are Canadian citizens (he's one years old! He was born in Taiwan with me right there beside my wife. ) and he has a canadian passport and everything already. My wife is still staying in Taiwan until my PR is approved, then we move together to the BC region. I've got all the paperwork except one thing I'm waiting from my wife for her signature for. We are doing the Outland bit.

According to the site here: cicwebsitegoeshere/english/information/applications/guides/3999Etoc.asp#3999E5 it says to submit MY documents to her Canadian address. She has her Canadian mail going to her sister in Canada but... she is in Taiwan. Does this mean I need to submit the entire package (we are talking the total package is around 500ish pages, that ain't fitting in no envelope) to her in Taiwan, and then she submit the entire thing to the Canadian processing center, or can I just submit the entire package from the United States? Shipping 500 pages worth of stuff in a box to Taiwan, then to Canada seems like unnecessary risk... we have enough personal information in there that if this package was stolen, somebody could utterly ruin us with the amount of identity theft it would allow the thief to do on our family.

 

[CDNPR2014]

This might seem a silly question, but here goes.

Myself, the hubby is a US Citizen. I'm the "paperwork" guy that does most of the document based... anything. My wife and son are Canadian citizens (he's one years old! He was born in Taiwan with me right there beside my wife. ) and he has a canadian passport and everything already. My wife is still staying in Taiwan until my PR is approved, then we move together to the BC region. I've got all the paperwork except one thing I'm waiting from my wife for her signature for. We are doing the Outland bit.

According to thing here: cicwebsitehere/english/information/applications/guides/3999Etoc.asp#3999E5 it says to submit MY documents to her Canadian address. She has her Canadian mail going to her sister in Canada but... she is in Taiwan. Does this mean I need to submit the entire package (we are talking the total package is around 500ish pages, that ain't fitting in no envelope) to her in Taiwan, and then she submit the entire thing to the Canadian processing center, or can I just submit the entire package from the United States? Shipping 500 pages worth of stuff in a box to Taiwan, then to Canada seems like unnecessary risk... we have enough personal information in there that if this package was stolen, somebody could utterly ruin us with the amount of identity theft it would allow the thief to do on our family.

there's no reason to send her the package in Taiwan just for her to resend it to canada. you can send everything from where you are.

The application guide is assuming the applicant and the sponsor are living separately, so it's suggesting the applicant needs send their part of the application to their sponsor so the applications can be sent together to CIC. This is just standard language and doesn't take into account how people actually fill out, compile and mail their application. It doesn't matter where it's being mailed from or who mails it. All that matters is that it is sent to the correct address and is complete.

 

[Pontianak]

there's no reason to send her the package in Taiwan just for her to resend it to canada. you can send everything from where you are.

The application guide is assuming the applicant and the sponsor are living separately, so it's suggesting the applicant needs send their part of the application to their sponsor so the applications can be sent together to CIC. This is just standard language and doesn't take into account how people actually fill out, compile and mail their application. It doesn't matter where it's being mailed from or who mails it. All that matters is that it is sent to the correct address and is complete.

I kinda figured it wouldn't be a big deal, but I guess I'm just used to government pickiness on stuff and learned to be careful. Probably makes me more paranoid than I need to be.

Sponsorship: Spousal - Outland
Case Processing Centre ─ Mississauga
P.O. Box 3000, Station A
Mississauga, Ontario
L5A 4N6

This is correct?

 

[CDNPR2014]

I kinda figured it would be a big deal, but I guess I'm just used to government pickiness on stuff and learned to be careful. probably makes me more paranoid than I need to be.

Sponsorship: Spousal - Outland
Case Processing Centre ─ Mississauga
P.O. Box 3000, Station A
Mississauga, Ontario
L5A 4N6

This is correct?

others will confirm. i used the address listed in the guide for non-courier applications, if that's it, then that's correct.

 

[Omegabyte]

I would STRONGLY suggest you send the application in via courier, such as FedEx or UPS.

Sponsorship: Spousal Outland
Case Processing Centre – Mississauga
2 Robert Speck Parkway
Suite 300
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8

 

[itsasyn17]

I apologize in advance...I need to vent a bit.

I'm currently in Canada with my husband, of which I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend this time with him. A decision has been made and approved for PR. While I am waiting for the COPR to come in the mail, I have been doing further research on exporting and importing my vehicle which I am currently driving around BC. According to the export rules in the USA, the vehicle must remain in the US for at least 72 hours after sending your documents to the border office in which you plan to do the exporting.

For me, this means that I will have to drive down to Washington state and get a hotel room, email my documents to the border office and wait three business days before I can export my vehicle.

I don't know why I can't do the proper paperwork from here and cross the border for my landing, gather my belongings out of storage and turn around and export my car. It seems ludicrous.

I am now wondering if it would be cheaper to sell my car in the US and then purchase a car after I land.

Ok, rant over. Thank you for reading.

 

[Jli]

While I am waiting for the COPR to come in the mail, I have been doing further research on exporting and importing my vehicle which I am currently driving around BC. According to the export rules in the USA, the vehicle must remain in the US for at least 72 hours after sending your documents to the border office in which you plan to do the exporting.

For me, this means that I will have to drive down to Washington state and get a hotel room, email my documents to the border office and wait three business days before I can export my vehicle.

I don't know why I can't do the proper paperwork from here and cross the border for my landing, gather my belongings out of storage and turn around and export my car. It seems ludicrous.

I am now wondering if it would be cheaper to sell my car in the US and then purchase a car after I land.

It's funny you are talking about this because my husband and I just went through all this thought processing.

His car as been in my parking lot in Canada for the last 9 months while he is in his hometown in the US. At first he wanted to keep it so we started reading and gathering the information about how to import a car in Canada. We got surprised how complicated and kinda expensive it was. In the end, he decided that it would just be a lot easier to sell it in the US and get a new car later in Canada. So last Friday, for the amount of 1450$ I shipped his car back in the US on a van, he just got his car today.

 

[itsasyn17]

It's funny you are talking about this because my husband and I just went through all this thought processing.

His car as been in my parking lot in Canada for the last 9 months while he is in his hometown in the US. At first he wanted to keep it so we started reading and gathering the information about how to import a car in Canada. We got surprised how complicated and kinda expensive it was. In the end, he decided that it would just be a lot easier to sell it in the US and get a new car later in Canada. So last Friday, for the amount of 1450$ I shipped his car back in the US on a van, he just got his car today.

We've been trying to discuss our options...selling it in the states...parking it somewhere for three days in the US while we go camping on the Canadian coast...We even considered looking up the laws regarding selling it to a native friend of his. lol

 

[Jli]

We've been trying to discuss our options...selling it in the states...parking it somewhere for three days in the US while we go camping on the Canadian coast...We even considered looking up the laws regarding selling it to a native friend of his. lol

From what I read, usually people are hiring a broker ($$). Also, if you wanna keep your car in Canada, after getting the inspection, you are going to have to modify the lights on the car to have day lights. Which is something all cars in Canada need by law. Wishing you the best on whatever the decision you guys will make !

 

[CDNPR2014]

We've been trying to discuss our options...selling it in the states...parking it somewhere for three days in the US while we go camping on the Canadian coast...We even considered looking up the laws regarding selling it to a native friend of his. lol

I exported/imported my car, and while there are many many steps to the process it's relatively easy and it wasn't very expensive. luckily i did not have to make a ton of modifications to my car, so i only had to pay for the daytime running lights to get installed/turned on.

you don't have to import it the same day you land, and it can be listed on your goods to follow form as a conveyance. i would recommend splitting it up, because both are stressful enough on their own. i imported my car on my way back to canada when i went to the states for thanksgiving. that way i didn't have to worry about the 72 hour restriction. if you have something planned in the future, then it's good to consider doing it then.

there are some threads in the settlement issues board on this forum that practically give a step by step guide to how to get it done. again, lots of little steps. since my car is old and not worth much, it was significantly cheaper and easier to import my car.

From what I read, usually people are hiring a broker ($$). Also, if you wanna keep your car in Canada, after getting the inspection, you are going to have to modify the lights on the car to have day lights. Which is something all cars in Canada need by law. Wishing you the best on whatever the decision you guys will make !

people need to use a broker to initiate the export on the US side because the documentation system requires a person to be certified to use it. it's much easier to pay someone already certified to enter the information and create the documentation than going through the process of doing it yourself. all other steps to the process are done by the person importing the car, the broker can't do this for you (unless you pay $$$ money).

The car modifications aren't dealt with until AFTER the export is done and the import is initiated in canada. When the car is taken to the designated mechanic for the inspection (usually a canadian tire), the modifications will be done then. other mechanics won't have a clue about what you're talking about, and will most likely refer you to canadian tire anyway. if there's more than one designated mechanic in your area, it's best to shop around because there are some horror stories out there about having to pay $$$ for repairs. i was lucky and only paid $150 + tax.

 

[Pontianak]

I would STRONGLY suggest you send the application in via courier, such as FedEx or UPS.

Sponsorship: Spousal Outland
Case Processing Centre – Mississauga
2 Robert Speck Parkway
Suite 300
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8

Assuming DHL as well? I had been thinking of sending via USPS "Registered Mail" for the security. Your suggesting private. Why would you choose private vs usps registered mail?

 

[CDNPR2014]

Assuming DHL as well? I had been thinking of sending via USPS "Registered Mail" for the security. Your suggesting private. Why would you choose private vs usps registered mail?

with USPS, you are relying on the canada post to track the package on delivery. if you don't have a "return receipt", then more than likely your tracking will stop at the border. the USPS can't track the package in canada, canada post will be doing that. there have been stories posted about people not knowing if the package was delivered for days as it normally takes canada post time to update tracking info, if they do at all. Also, the recent strike talks made delivery unreliable. Now that's over, it will probably go back to "normal". I sent my package canada post while i was in canada, and i had no issue with it (i used one of those prepaid document envelopes). i was able to see the name of the person who signed for my package, so i knew it was delivered.

most people will use the courier services like DHL because it's more reliable with tracking.

 

[Pontianak]

with USPS, you are relying on the canada post to track the package on delivery. if you don't have a "return receipt", then more than likely your tracking will stop at the border. the USPS can't track the package in canada, canada post will be doing that. there have been stories posted about people not knowing if the package was delivered for days as it normally takes canada post time to update tracking info, if they do at all. Also, the recent strike talks made delivery unreliable. Now that's over, it will probably go back to "normal". I sent my package canada post while i was in canada, and i had no issue with it (i used one of those prepaid document envelopes). i was able to see the name of the person who signed for my package, so i knew it was delivered.

most people will use the courier services like DHL because it's more reliable with tracking.

Can't argue that, tracking tends to be better. Also have had good luck with DHL sending stuff to Taiwan.

 

[Omegabyte]

Can't argue that, tracking tends to be better. Also have had good luck with DHL sending stuff to Taiwan.

Yes, DHL would be ok.