landing experience

[jkvaisnavi]

we have been thinking a lot about what to do with both US-GC (received 2010) and C-PR(received 2006). Finally decided to follow the proper process to Relimquish the C-PR, here are our experience.

We (wife, me, son and daughter) are from Minneapolis, went to Grand Portage POE to surrender our CPR

We reached on 3/19/2011 night and stayed at Grand Marais. 3/20/2011 morning we had nice breakfast and left the hotel at 9 am and reached the POE at 10.30 am.

• 10.30 we crossed the Pigeon Bridge.
• At the Gate, we gave our kids US passports and our green cards. the officer asked the following questions;
o Purpose of the trip? we are here to surrender our CPR
o How many people in the car? Four including me
o Is this your own car? Yes
o When was your last trip to Canada? 2006.
• She asked us to go to immigration section in the same building.

We parked our car and went inside,;
• Told the IO “we are here to relinquish our CPR”
• He was not sure; he said “show me what you got”. Gave him the CPR, kids US Passports.
• He asked us to wait and went inside. Came back after an hour and asked the following Qs
o When was your last trip to Canada? 2006
o How long you are living in USA? 12 years
o Did you live in Canada before that? No we have never lived in Canada.
o Since you have never lived in Canada, only landed, you didn’t meet the residence requirement, there is nothing to relinquish because you don’t have a status, I can take back the cards. Once I do it you have to start over again if you need to be PR.
 I said” yes I am aware that process”, since both my kids are USC and we have GC, we would like to surrender C-PR by following the proper process.
o He said it is not illegal to have both, since you will meet only one country residence requirement anyway you can keep both. Only diplomat or other people which is required to do it, only those will be usually doing it.
o Then he took 30-40 mins to complete the form 5538B. We three signed it (because we appllied before my daughter was born) and got the copy drove back to US side.

USA
We gave the kids US Passports and GC, then he started asking the following questions;
• When did you get your GC? Last year
• Which category? Employment.
• Where do you live? Minneapolis.
• Then I gave our passports which had expired I-94.
o He said park the car and collect everything inside.
• Went inside, IO asked
o Where do you live? Minneapolis
o Give me the address, wrote it in a paper.
o She said we need to take finger prints, pic, for both of us, will take few mins
o Took I-94, said, you don’t need it anymore.
o Gave back all the passports/GC.

Drove back home

Hello friends, it is my turn to post my landing experience. Thanks to this forum and all who are helping everyone.

We (wife, me and son) are from Minneapolis and initially thought of going to Detroit but last minute I changed my mind to go to Port Huron/ Sarnia border after reading about Detroit landing postings.

We reached on 5/26/2006 night and stayed at Port Huron. 5/27/2006 morning we had nice breakfast and left the hotel at 9 am

Canada
• 9.15 we crossed the blue water bridge after paying the 1.50$ toll
• At the Gate, we gave our passports and the officer asked the following questions;
o Purpose of the trip? we are here for landing
o How many people in the car? Three including me
o Is this your own car? No, it is rental
o What is your status in USA? H1
o When was your last trip to Canada? This is our first trip
• She noted all the info on the yellow slip and asked us to go to immigration building
We parked our car and went inside, We gave our passports and landing papers. We didn’t give the I-94. Then she started asking the following questions;
• Where is the white slip? I-94? I gave her, that was expired one,
• So, you completed in USA? I said we completed 6 yrs and my company extended my H1. She was not happy.
• What! Extended? I said yes, but I am going to go back and come back in few months and move permanently.
• Where is the H1 Extn? I gave her my H1 extn. That is valid till 2008 Dec.
• So you are going back? Not moving till 2008? How many days you are going to stay here? For a week? I said we are going to stay here for few days and go back and move permanently in few months.
• Funds? I had 2 cashiers check (5K) one on my name other one on my wife's name
• She was not happy and said there is an issue for you. Do you know the Canada permanent residence rule? The days you are out of Canada that won’t be counted towards permanent residency when you apply for a citizenship? I said yes, I know, my wife is on H4 she can’t work, I will wind up everything in few months and will move permanently.
She didn’t say anything, just nodding her head and started typing on the computer. After few minutes, she asked the address where I am going to stay, I memorized the address and told her without seeing anywhere, and then she asked me C/O. I told my friends name. She filled out the form, she checked the box PERMANENT RESIDENT and wrote moving as of today.

Then she asked us to go and see the customs. There they didn’t ask much, she was I think trainee. Asked the following;
• Yellow slip?
• List of items you are taking in today? We don’t have any but we were carrying Camcorder, portable DVD player, Digital camera, she noted everything.
• Are you driving your own car? I said no, we will be get it later. She asked the model, VIN #. I told her the model only, didn’t give her the VIN #
• Goods to follow list? I gave her the one which I prepared. She was looking for the car and value.
• Then she stamped and gave me a copy.

That’s it we gave the yellow slip to the officer waiting at the parking area, then we proceeded to Canada.

USA
After paying toll 2.50$ we were at the US side, we gave the passport with I-94, then he started asking the following questions;
• How long you were in Canada? I said we went in the morning to complete the landing process, we are going back now.
• Where are you going? Going to MN
• I-94 was expired and I gave the H1 extn

He looked at the I-94 & H1, gave us the yellow slip then asked us to go to immigration building. Went inside and she gave us the new i-94 after taking pic and index finger print.

Good Luck to every one.. Please let me know if you have any specific questions.

[amberrehman]

Hi.
Thanks in advance for helping me.
I live in USA working on H1b. I have a valid I797 but only an F1 visa stamp on my passport. I never got the H1b stamp as didnt want to risk being stuck in my home country and loose my job. Currently waiting for EB3 to get current so I can apply for adjustment of status.

Our lawyer just applied for the Quebec immigration. He said we might be called for an interview in Montreal or Buffalo. I want to come back to USA asap after the interview and landing. I dont want to have to go to my home country for the H1 stamp.

Is there a way for me to come back without the stamp?

Please help. Really concerned about this problem.