What is a COPR?

[Saffy]

What is it, and does it ever arrive by email?

also, we updated the applicants mailing address by sending them an email, they confirmed that they got the update, however in ecas it still says the old address...so we are worried if they send anything by mail that they will send it to the old address...have they just not updated it on ecas but in their file its up to date?

thanks

also, we must wait for this COPR to arrive before we buy the applicants tickets to canada?

 

[Farfelu]

COPR = Confirmation of Permanent Resident is the paper document showing your entitlement to live in Canada permanently subject to certain conditions. See this page for some more info: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply-after.asp#confirmation

Notice that you cannot land in Canada without the COPR attached to your passport, so it's recommended to wait until you receive it (in the regular mail, not electronic mail) before you purchase your plane tickets.

As for mailing address updates, they advise to allow at least fifteen days from submission for the change to get updated on E-Cas.

 

[marcopolocan]

Just curious

There are people on the forum that have arrived in Canada ahead of receiving their COPR without any issues. Therefore, I'm assuming that having your COPR is not a mandatory requirement?

I have read that you need your PR card rather than your COPR (or a travel document) to travel once you have arrived in Canada?

Any thoughts?

 

[frege]

Just curious

There are people on the forum that have arrived in Canada ahead of receiving their COPR without any issues. Therefore, I'm assuming that having your COPR is not a mandatory requirement?

I have read that you need your PR card rather than your COPR (or a travel document) to travel once you have arrived in Canada?

Any thoughts?

These are people who either have a visitor's visa or don't need a visa to enter Canada as a visitor. You can stay six months if you're from a visa-exempt country, and you can apply to extend your stay. But you can't work or go to school.

If you receive your COPR while you're a visitor in Canada, you can become a permanent resident by crossing into the U.S. and back.

 

[Saffy]

Yes but weve changed the mailing aaddress in august and it hasnt updated At all on ecas till now. But they did send an email confirming that they got the changes....so is it updated but just not on the ecas then?

 

[Sweden]

Yes but weve changed the mailing aaddress in august and it hasnt updated At all on ecas till now. But they did send an email confirming that they got the changes....so is it updated but just not on the ecas then?

yes that's probably the case... When I changed my address (because I came to Canada to wait for the COPR, being visa-exempt - so it's definitely a possibility!), I go a reply from the VO saying that they had received my request, and they will update my file, but ecas will not necessarily change right away, as it takes time (and ecas update is not done by the VO, it's done somewhere in Canada). So if you got a reply from the VO that they have received it, you should be fine.

To answer your other question : if you are from a visa-exempt country, you can buy your ticket and come to Canada and wait out the PR here. The only thing that you can not do is the custom clearance ( and working etc in Canada!) - so if you are bringing a lot of things into Canada when moving, you might have to wait until the COPR is issued.

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[marcopolocan]

Thanks Frege and Sweden

@ Sweden: What proof did you have to show at the border when you landed? Was it your Stage 1 and 2 approval letter, sufficient funds for return fare, did you tell them that you have sold your house or no longer renting etc?

Do you have to cross the US Border after you have your COPR to land or can you do it at an international airport?

Cheers

 

[Sweden]

Thanks Frege and Sweden

@ Sweden: What proof did you have to show at the border when you landed? Was it your Stage 1 and 2 approval letter, sufficient funds for return fare, did you tell them that you have sold your house or no longer renting etc?

Do you have to cross the US Border after you have your COPR to land or can you do it at an international airport?

Cheers

Hey,

at the border, I had brought with me a print of the sponsorship approval email, and a bank extract to show that I had enough money to purchase a return ticket if needed.
I was not asked to show any of these documents. When asked by the border office how long I intend to stay, I said at least 6 months and explained that I had started a PR application, spousal sponsorship. I told the officer that the first stage had been approved, and I would like to stay in Canada with my partner until the PR is approved. She asked if I still had a job at home (no), and that was it - didn't ask to see any of the documents that I had brought ( I also didn't volunteer them). I got a stamp valid for 6 months.

To land - information is contradictory. 2 ways for sure that you can do is crossing a US Border, or calling a CIC office to ask for an appointment. Crossing the border is the easiest as you don't need to wait for anything - and you don't need a US visa either, you can tell the Canadian Border Officer that you are here to land, and you don't want to go to the US, and they will direct you to a separate office to complete the landing procedure.
Calling a CIC office really depends on where you are - some office are really busy and they might not be able to give you an appointment before 2 or 3 months.
At an international airport: most airports don't do it, but some do - best is to call ahead and ask the question. I know for a fact that Vancouver doesn't ( but maybe because there is 2 border crossings into the US very nearby).

Cheers,
Sweden

 

[marcopolocan]

Hi Sweden

Thats great, thanks for the information. We are visa exempt and plan to land before the COPR is issued unless there is a miracle in the short term. Hopefully, we will have a similar experience to yours.

Cheers again.