US outland applicants' thread :)

[Joyce_tosf]

I used my address here in Canada, he is still in Texas. It was easier this way. I guess I will find out if I get back an empty envelope. They just received it on Friday.

Haha I don't think they'll send an empty envelope back! But you're right, I'm sure it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Omegabyte]

If the Annex A is a way of verifying the address then I'm hesitant in putting down my own address in Canada instead of my husband's in the US. I wanted to ensure that his COPR will be delivered safely and I can guarantee that if it's sent to me in Canada. Does anyone have any experience in putting down an address on their Annex A form that did not match their address listed on their application package?

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. I changed my address in ECAS early on to the apartment my wife and I rented in AB.

I didn't necessarily mention verification of address in the context of CIC checking up on you, but verifying the best address to mail the CoPR. The US is close, and I'm sure CIC acknowledge many US PR applicants are already spending time up in Canada.

 

[michicanuck]

Hi Everyone. My background check went to "In Progress" today. My application was submitted in late November. Thought some other folks who submitted around that time might like to know.

 

[michicanuck]

What does everyone think about the new bill c23?

I just looked at it. As Americans, it probably wouldn't affect my wife and I very much. As someone who cares about civil liberties, it seems pretty troubling. I'm amazed that either country is ok with giving up their sovereignty on this issue.

 

[Joyce_tosf]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. I changed my address in ECAS early on to the apartment my wife and I rented in AB.

I didn't necessarily mention verification of address in the context of CIC checking up on you, but verifying the best address to mail the CoPR. The US is close, and I'm sure CIC acknowledge many US PR applicants are already spending time up in Canada.

Yeah, you're right. Makes sense. Now if I could just be patient in waiting for this e-mail!!

 

[danawhitaker]

Yeah, you're right. Makes sense. Now if I could just be patient in waiting for this e-mail!!

Patience is highly overrated.

 

[CDNPR2014]

If the Annex A is a way of verifying the address then I'm hesitant in putting down my own address in Canada instead of my husband's in the US. I wanted to ensure that his COPR will be delivered safely and I can guarantee that if it's sent to me in Canada. Does anyone have any experience in putting down an address on their Annex A form that did not match their address listed on their application package?

it's a non issue, so i wouldn't worry about it. the form is confirming the current address of the applicant, so they know where to sent the COPR. there is nothing wrong with the applicant being in canada. the information sent should be where you want the approval paper sent to. that is all this information is being used for. before the annex a, there were plenty of people who had the COPR sent to a different address than listed in the application. i can't imagine this form changes anything about that.

 

[Staunts2015]

Hi Everyone. My background check went to "In Progress" today. My application was submitted in late November. Thought some other folks who submitted around that time might like to know.

Thanks for the update and congrats! My application was received on November 21st, so hopefully I see something soon! I'm not in any rush to leave the US, but I'd like to start applying to jobs, and I'm sure once an employer sees that I'm not legally allowed to work in Canada yet, they throw away my application.

 

[Aquakitty]

Thanks for the update and congrats! My application was received on November 21st, so hopefully I see something soon! I'm not in any rush to leave the US, but I'd like to start applying to jobs, and I'm sure once an employer sees that I'm not legally allowed to work in Canada yet, they throw away my application.

Well, I wouldn't put that on the application... since you would have the PR by the time you take the job.

 

[Staunts2015]

Well, I wouldn't put that on the application... since you would have the PR by the time you take the job.

Typically job applications will directly ask "Are you legally allowed to work in Canada" and I don't want to lie. Since I can't be sure when I'll get approved, I worry that I'll get an interview or even job offer, and I won't be able to show proof that I can work in Canada, so they'll disqualify me from the job. It's not worth it, so I figured I'll just wait. Based on the average timeline, I should get a DM by the end of March.

 

[michicanuck]

Thanks for the update and congrats! My application was received on November 21st, so hopefully I see something soon! I'm not in any rush to leave the US, but I'd like to start applying to jobs, and I'm sure once an employer sees that I'm not legally allowed to work in Canada yet, they throw away my application.

No problem. I submitted my app Nov. 30, so a little after yours. My bet is there's just some natural variance based on who gets your file. My wife and I probably will be in the U.S. for a few months after getting approved as well. Good luck with the job search. I think it's wise to wait until you're a PR as well.

 

[julies879]

We received my PR approval last year but for various reasons, we haven't landed yet. My application expires 3/24 so we are going to be landing in the next week or two. We will not be moving immediately but know we have to land and declare what items we will be moving so as to not pay import fees when it happens. Can anyone give me a briefing of what to expect/what to make sure I remember? I am a US citizen, my husband is a Canadian citizen. We will be landing at a border in the state of Washington. We need to make an appointment and bring our paperwork as well as the sheet declaring our belongings to import. What am I forgetting?

Also, I can only imagine that it'll raise eyebrows that we waited so long to land and that we aren't moving immediately. There's nothing shady about it. Life got busy, my husbands work licenses need to transfer and that can take up to a year. Is there anything we need to make sure to say or to NOT say to make the landing appointment process go as smooth as possible?

We appreciate ANY help! Thank you, thank you!

 

[sirbill]

We received my PR approval last year but for various reasons, we haven't landed yet. My application expires 3/24 so we are going to be landing in the next week or two. We will not be moving immediately but know we have to land and declare what items we will be moving so as to not pay import fees when it happens. Can anyone give me a briefing of what to expect/what to make sure I remember? I am a US citizen, my husband is a Canadian citizen. We will be landing at a border in the state of Washington. We need to make an appointment and bring our paperwork as well as the sheet declaring our belongings to import. What am I forgetting?

Also, I can only imagine that it'll raise eyebrows that we waited so long to land and that we aren't moving immediately. There's nothing shady about it. Life got busy, my husbands work licenses need to transfer and that can take up to a year. Is there anything we need to make sure to say or to NOT say to make the landing appointment process go as smooth as possible?

We appreciate ANY help! Thank you, thank you!

I stumbled on this site and found it full of useful thoughts and information.:

http://www.kurucz.ca/expatrepat/#part3

(This is not an endorsement for any services offerred on that site)

 

[CDNPR2014]

We received my PR approval last year but for various reasons, we haven't landed yet. My application expires 3/24 so we are going to be landing in the next week or two. We will not be moving immediately but know we have to land and declare what items we will be moving so as to not pay import fees when it happens. Can anyone give me a briefing of what to expect/what to make sure I remember? I am a US citizen, my husband is a Canadian citizen. We will be landing at a border in the state of Washington. We need to make an appointment and bring our paperwork as well as the sheet declaring our belongings to import. What am I forgetting?

Also, I can only imagine that it'll raise eyebrows that we waited so long to land and that we aren't moving immediately. There's nothing shady about it. Life got busy, my husbands work licenses need to transfer and that can take up to a year. Is there anything we need to make sure to say or to NOT say to make the landing appointment process go as smooth as possible?

We appreciate ANY help! Thank you, thank you!

there is no need to make an appointment at the land border, i doubt they will even allow you to. You just show up at the border, hand them your COPR and tell them you are there to land. The primary officer will send you into secondary to complete the landing procedure. all you need to land is your COPR and Passport (and any declaration forms for declaring items). There is no rule that a person must land immediately upon approval, the only rule is that they must land by the expiry date on the COPR, so waiting until then is not suspicious. if it comes up, then be truthful. it's not a big deal and shouldn't have any effect on the landing.

 

[julies879]

there is no need to make an appointment at the land border, i doubt they will even allow you to. You just show up at the border, hand them your COPR and tell them you are there to land. The primary officer will send you into secondary to complete the landing procedure. all you need to land is your COPR and Passport (and any declaration forms for declaring items). There is no rule that a person must land immediately upon approval, the only rule is that they must land by the expiry date on the COPR, so waiting until then is not suspicious. if it comes up, then be truthful. it's not a big deal and shouldn't have any effect on the landing.

CDNPR2014, you have always been so helpful. I remember your input last year when we were in process. Thank you for your time, energy and effort. I know I can't be the only one benefitting!