Landing at Peace Arch , Vancouver
Landed at Peace Arch , ( BLAINE post , Vancouver, BC ) on May 6th
No major issues. 40 minute long line of cars being Saturday.
My current status is H1B and have a valid US Visa in my passport. Family on H4 .Took my own SUV ( registered in my name but not titled ). Landing papers were sitting with me since Jan 06 with the expiry date of May 12th
2.15 PM - Canadian Border on I-5 N
Questions by border entry agent :
Q : Purpose of visit to canada ?
A: Landing with 2 more family members - ( I hand over passports )
Takes out a printed yellow form ( means you 'll be sent to immigartion ) and starts scribbling starting with vehichle # plate.
Q: OK , So all of you 3 landing together.
A : Yes
Q : Are you carrying any money with you ?
A : Yes , $8000 USD in cashiers checks
Q : Are you going to stay here for minimum 12 months or going back after landing ?
A : Going back asap , our destination is Toronto - and we will shift later this year
Q: Any dutiable items , cigarettes , tobacco ...
A : No
Q : OK , take this form , park you car and go & meet the immigration officer inside ( points to the glass door office)
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Immigration officer ( young lady , looks east indian by appearance )
Repeats similar questions and gets the same answers
Takes COPR and starts making enteries on her computer and on our papers. Notes down funds. Did not bother to see the cashiers' check.
Did not accept my relatives Toronto address for sending PR Card and tells she cannot mail it to unknown address and suggest when you land finally , you can apply by mail or by fax by giving permanent address. ( hands over the form )
Before taking signatures inside the green box on COPR asks questions on : conviction of crime , barred from entry into any country , any charges ? all answers were "NO"
I questioned her - How do I enter Canada again without the card ?
Reply : You 'll show on the border this last copy of COPR and they 'll let you in. ( she staples 3rd copy of COPR next to IM-I Visa ) - stamps passports with date, crosses IM-1 visa with pen.
I do not question her back - even though I have my doubts - because the COPR Copy says " Not valid for travel " - but on the other hand I feel - may be they 'll allow us if entering from US only.
Also she hands over 4-5 photocoied pages which are standard reading literatures for new PR's , hands over canadian flag to my son and asks us to meet Customs on the opposite side.
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CUSTOMS
I have already filled in B4A Forms "Goods to follow" in multiple copies. Neatly typed and valued each item with the gross total of $8k
Agent takes out blank "B4" form and starts filling it up . Notes down my cars details on B4 ( in the space for automobiles ) , VIN # , value which I give him thru copies of Registration certificates.
Q : I am going to need you address
A : I dont have address in Canada ,
Q : OK , you can write your US address
I give him my US address and he fills it in B4 form. Ticks Right bottom box for "Settler". Now staples 2 forms together ( B4 + B4A ) . Makes a hand entry in his register and assigns a no. Hands over one set to me.
I question to him : What if I decide to sell one of my cars before coming ?
Agents : Its OK , You can do that - we 'll strike out anything which is in the list but not with you at that time however , any thing apart from the list may attract custom duties. Also explains , if you bring in the cars duty free and sell them with in 1 year you 'll have to pay duties.
So practically , I cannot buy any stuff till I enter Canada and also cannot sell any stuff after I enter for atleast 1 yr
He explains again : Before you import cars - you 'll have to export them thru US Customs with a clear title.
That's it . Total time approx ( 20 + 15) minutes
We collect all the papers , passports and get in our car and drive down Hwy 99 to Surrey ( 5 miles ) . Eat nice Punjabi lunch , shop around a bit and back on border in about 2 hours.
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US Border : 5.15 pm
Surprisingly , There are no cars at all , no wait - straight pulled up the car to the US agent and hand him our passports.
Looks thru passports and usual questions
Purpose
Where do you stay
Where you work
What do you do
Why were you in Canada : He has no issues at all when I tell him that we were here for landing at Candadian Immigration post ( which is just behind him ) and returning back now.
Agent : I can see you have valid visas but pretty old I 94s - He then takes out an ornage slip , scribbles "renew I 94" and sticks to my wind shield and tells me to park and meet Immigration officer inside.
Inside Immigration office . No line at all Same drill , goes thru passport, visas , I797 s and starts preparing new I 94 on his computer . Takes pictures , fingerprints us and prints out new I 94 and charges $18.00 ( $6 a piece) - This was the first time I paid for I 94 . looks like they have started collecting after implementing US-VISIT.
We collected all documents and hit I-5 S for Seattle for the same day return.
Thanks to all of you guys for contributing your detailed experiences at each and every stage - In case you have any question , please post and I 'll try to reply asap.
