H1B-Landing Canada by Air-I94-Return to US by Air

G

Gumnam

Registered Users (C)
I have been reading different comments from different friends for going to LAND in Canada from US by Air and return by air to US from Canada and I-94 issue and for those who are on Valid H1b and want to return to US after completing the Landing formalities in Canada.
Here are some points for help to others and still some questions I hope others can cler them
1. When you are going to Canada by Air, Normally at the time of departure from US Airlines do not take I-94, if they try to take one should inform them that you wish to return before 30 days.( there is Law that you do not need to surrender I-94 if your Visit is less than 30 days to Canada or Mexico.
      2 When you reach Canadian Airport you will face Canadian Immigration, you will complete the landing formalities, at this time in Toronto Airport Canada immigration has taken the I-94 of my friend, some have reported that they May NOT take it.
 I hope they take it because you are going to LAND in Canada.
  I hope one can inform them that after landing you are going to take your Stuff from USA, Some time they ask did you resign from your H1b Job in US? Answer to that can be honest tell them that you have not resigned as you have to get your balance payment from US employer and once you receive you will Permanently settle in Canada, better to say that I will search for Apartment and then I want to move my stuff from US to Canada. If some other friend has better suggestion please let us know for the benefit of others, If any good answer comes to your mind which can satisfy the Canada immigration officer please post
3 Better to take big suitcase with you when you land, but I see a Problem that one you return to US from Canada you have to Face INS at Canadian Airport, If you have your I-94 they will ask you what for you came to Canada? How many days you stayed in Canada, Have you bought anything from Canada, Where do you work in US, I hope if one has Pay Stubs or Letter from Employer I do not see any problem to come to US If you have Valid H1B visa in your Passport or Approval notice and I-94, If your I-94 was taken by Canadian Immigration in Canada then you can get new I-94 from INS before you take a flight to US, I do not know if they will care about BIG suitcase which you carried to Canada. If other friends have better info please post
4 As one of the friend Posted that when you are landing as Canada PR and you have H1B stamp, Canadian Immigration gets tough, I have not read any case that just because one has H1B visa in Passport they have denied entry to Canada or Stopped someone from Landing in Canada. According to current Canada immigration one can stay out of Canada for 183 days to settle the affairs.
5 One of my friend Had taken out I-94 from his Passport and kept in his pocket Canada immigration asked him where is I-94 he replied it is with him he took it out because he thought that he has to give it to Airlines in US but they never asked, then he took out I-94 from his pocket to show them, then immigration officer at Canada did not took his I-94.
6. When you return from Canadian airport you will be asked by INS officer at Canada airport for what you came to Canada? I hope you should tell the Truth, better let them know that you came for Landing purpose. I do not see any reason that they will not allow you to enter US with existing I94 or will give you new I-94 (If Canada immigration has taken it) You should have the Current US H1B visa in your passport and tell them that you are working in US better keep the proof like Employer letter or Current Pay stubs. I know a Person who never showed Landing paper when he came back it was 7 months back but now I think INS shares the data with Canada immigration.

 If I missed any important point other friends can post their views, some of friends do not post complete information if they had experiences by landing in Canada by Air from US who are on H1b and how they returned to US after landing. If we write in detail th
 
No Title

I hope what you wrote is perfect but we need more input from others regarding points 2&3

2 what to tell Canada immigration at the time of Landing if you are on H1B and want to return to US for working on H1B.
3 more input is needed for this point
 
Good work Gumnum!

 You did an excellent job in explaining the landing process. I recently gone through the landing process via air to Toronto. I know before, if you are travelliing to Canada, Mexico and Carribean you dont need to give your i-94. AFter landing in Toronto,I gave my landing documents along with my Bank(Citi) statement (Not Travelors checks or Cashier Checks). The immigration officals were so courteous and very warmly recieved us. We were the only family that time becauseI came from US flight. The Immigration Officer was also former immigrant(Eastern European). She looked at my Bank statement and stamped our passports and attached immigartion docs in Passports. Then I went to customs with goods to follow list, he did look at the list and asked the value and entered in the system and gave me one copy. (Please remember you neeed 2 Copies of Goods to follow lists).
The whole process took me about 40 minutes. In between Immigration and customs they gave some useful docs on living in Canada, SIN applications etc. REMEMBER the staff in Toronto are very co-operative and friendly.
  When we came back to US the process was very smooth. The officer was very friendly and even gave new I94 for my wife, since she renewed her H1B.
On the Final note Canadian are very welcoming and looks very divorce society. I guess US also used to be like that. When I spoke to people working in Canada, they seems to be happy living in Canada but raised many concerns on high taxes. Only thing I did not like is quite a few people standing in lines for unemployment benifits at SIN office( Is it Negative side of Socialism???, ha ha just kidding! Please dont attack!, we see that in US also). In the end I heartly commend the Buffalo immigration staff for their quick responses and for the warm welcome at Toronto Airport.
 
Thanks guys .....great info

I am planning to land soon and will provide complete details. A lot of the fears i had seem to have disappeared after reading your emails.

Just a few more questions

1. are all these experiences post 9/11 ?

2. Also, lets say i get my Canadian PR, on the way back to the US, should i take out the stapled landed immigrant document from the passport ?

3. When i send my passport for H1B extension revalidation, should i remove the landed immigrant document ?

Thanks !!
 
No Title

1. Yes, whatever posted is post 9/11
2 No need to take out Landing Document from Passport, INS does not care about it. But if they do not find it and check Canada immigration data then you have to reply why you taken out LP.
3 YES, when you send your Passport in US for Revalidation you should TakeOUT your Canada LP, because they do not need it and they can loose it.

Wull be waiting for yor landing experince please provide the full details.
Good Luck!!
 
No Title

I am concerned abt point number 2 in your reply

Another complication is that i have a new H1 approval notice (extension) and i will be also giving this notice to him so that my new I94 has the new extended date. I just did not want to add to the confusion by also displaying my Landing papers.

If they do not take my I94 on the way out of the US, should i still show them new approval notice on the way back to the US ?

Did you have your landing papers on the passport while coming back to the US ?

Would really appreciate your input.

Thanks,
 
No Title

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the great feedback.

Did you have the Landing papers on your passport on the way back into the US ? Why should we tell them that we came to land without being asked ?
 
Question to Daniel

Can you please tell me how long you stayed in canada?Did you had a big suitcase
 
No Title

Regarding point # 2, You should not take out your Landing Paper from your Passport because if you take out INS can see the Stamp on your Passport from Canada immigration and you will be in trouble or you have to explain why did you take out LP from the Passport.

If you have New H1B approval Notice you should Take out the New I-94 from approval and attach it to your passport. IF Canada immigration takes your I-94 you should give your All I-94
and while you retutn and face US INS just show them your New Approval notice and they are supposed to give you New I-94 till the new Approval date ( even if your old H1B visa has expiry date before that date) some time INS inspector by mistake gives you the new I-94 according to the H1b visa sticker in your Passport you should inform him about the LAW and get it corrected if He/She does not agree meet the INS superviser they know the new LAw and you will get new I-94 till your approval date.
But I hope Canada immigration may not take your I-94 but attach your new I-94 from Approval notice to your passport.

Yes my 2 friends had the landing papers attached to passport and they did not face any problem coming to US after landing and I-94 for both of them was not taken by Canada immigration and while they returned to US from Canada they showed the Passport with valid I-94, they were asked questions by INS:
How many days you were in Canada? What you do in US? Where you work? have you baught anything from Canada? that was all.
 
No Title

YES, I had my Landing paper attached to my Passport,
INS officer asked why I was in Canada and replied "for CANADA LANDING as PERMANENT RESIDENT" no other question was asked.
 
I94 issue is confusing

What do i gain by showing new I94 ? in fact my lawyer tells me to not evem show my new I94 ?????? man you bet i am confused !!
is there a law that i have to show new H1 approval notice ???
 
Thanks again Ray

Ray,

Do you have anything to say abt car importing...i plan to declare my car on a goods to follow list.....will they require a driving history record ? any feedback is welcome !!!
 
Car importing

Hi
I imported my car last year to Canada. You will be given some paperwork at the office where you are planning to declare all your goods. Then you have to pay some fees. I think it was $86 canadian. Next you have to get all kinds of tests done to your car in Canada so that you can apply for the canadian license plates. Driving license history will be needed only when you apply for the canadian drivers license. If you are not moving physically to Canada then my advise is not to import the car. It\'s a very long and horrible process.
 
Accident record

I will declare my car on goods to follow.
Was just concerned that they would ask me for all kinds of documents like the accident record (which i do not have at the moment).
I guess will take a shot, i just hope that my landing does not get jeopardized by a docuemnt like the accident record.
Thanks for your help
 
No Title

Thanks Yornes.
Like i menationed above, i just hope i do not get onto trouble for not having an accident record with me.
Thanks again !!
 
USA to Canada to USA

Hi!
I’m new here but must say thanks to all of you for maintaining this website.
Any way, I have a question.
I work in USA (H1B) and want to Land in Canada get PR and then come back to USA so my wife could give a birth in USA and then return to the Canada. You know in Toronto first 3 month you on your own with a health insurance and I don’t want to spend all my money on paying medical bills.
1. Is it possible to go to Canada get PR and get back to USA the same day or so? How will it affect our reentry?
2. Any good/bad experience with baby registration in Canada?

Thanks in advance.
OR
 
No Title

1. yes
2. do not know.

IF your wife gives birh to a child in USA then child be US Citizen and latter when you permanently settle in Canada you have to Sponser the chil for Canada,but child will be admited with you as visitor to canada. after child bith you should get him/her USA passport
 
No Title

Thanks a lot for the info.
Did you have the same experience? If so, where did you cross the USA border.

OR
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top