my landing experience..

A

araj_98

Registered Users (C)
Dear all:

It was July 4th..all of my friends(specially Americans) laughed at me when I said I was gonna go to Canada for July 4th..to celebrate my independence. In a way Americans know importance of independence but yet they know but dont understand what we visa holder 'slaves' go thru in our daily life. Their thing was, Canadians dont know about independence because they never fought for it like Americans did..my answer is Canadians know it better than Americans do because they approve individual credentials rather than having successful (and tax paying) professionals depend on some uneithical, unprofessional employers who just have either US green card or citizenship as an authority to sponsor outstanding individuals from rest of the world..just doesnt make sense. US lawmakers really need to take a look at it. If you are truly an immigrating country then you need to appreciate brain power thats coming in..that is your future. I agree with a part of it that I read in one of the posts on this board.

I like US for numerous reasons but when deciding time comes its gonna be Canada who would accept me so I owe one to her and may be that is why I will work towards making it a great nation that helps families around the world live together..live a better life.

My salute to the great Canadain nation!!

I stoped at the border post at Amb. bridge on Detroit river.
Lady officer asked me about my citizenship.

I said, "I am landing"

she asked me if I have anything to decleare.

I said, "No"

She asked me if I was drving my own car.

I said, "No"

I had rented a car with Canadain plates..which is not easy to find in Detroit. I was educated on it from this board, which cautioned from drivng with your own car especially if you are not moving for good. You would have to pay taxes and stuff. Its up to indivudual but I would resolve issues one by one.

She put some yellow slip and asked me to go to immigration.

I didnt have good experience as I had expected..officer at immigration wasnt friendly..she sounded like she was either sick of streams of people landing in or not happy with the system that allowed PRs to live out side of country for 3 years.

She asked me if I have a truck full of stuff.

I said, "No"

She asked me what is a proof that I am really moving to Canada.

I said, "I have a cashiers check that I was gonna deposit in Canadain bank"

(if you are wondering how much to take..I recommend to take 10 grands USD or equivalent to 6 months of your expenses where ever you'd live in Canada)
She goes..whats that gonna do for me? I am not happy with letting you in and signing any of these papers.

I said that I am gonna move but let me get SIN card, PR card so I can look for job.

She goes you dont need a SIN card or PR card to look for a job.

I go. Well you dont need it to look for a job but how do you get in the country in first place. I have spoken to some companies and they are asking me to appear in person interview.

You could apply for a visitors visa and take an interview and then land offcially as an immigrant.

I asked her if that wouldnt be a conflict..becaue my intension is to immigrate to Canada but I am visiting it (for what?)

She also said I could look for a job and tell my employer to wait till I get SIN card (which by the way takes 4-5 weeks..depending on province) I was like what king of world are you living in..why would someone wait for me for that long when they could hire someone already in Canada..I didnt say it but bit my toungue.

She went on like people who come in here, have jobs and have apartments..I dont know how many of them told the truth.

After all she asked me to take a seat untill she reviews my papers.

I took a seat..meanwhile a middle eastern family was waiting for papers thet offered me a piece of pizza..I didnt want dishonor their offer and took it. It was around 2 pm and hadnt had a bite...

She calls out my name and tells me that she didnt want to argue with me and she has signed it but she has entered a comment against my name that I should re appear in Canada withing 6 months with all of my belongings otherwise..whatever it meant.
Only after that I could get a PR card and SIN card. I said I do have an address in Toronto. She said that no you dont. Just come back with all of you belongings and then apply for all the paperwork. She actully talked me into it. I was gonna stay there for couple of weeks and look for apartment, job etc and come back to the US to settle down my things. I am anyway a light traveler..do not travel with everything..because you dont know whats gonna happen. I was hoping to sell off my stuff in the US..but its not as easy as I thought...after the landing experience I am thinking about it ..how do I go about it??

I entered Canada after a "rough" landing. I already had directions to Human Resources Development office in Windsor
here is the link to its website to find a nearest one..

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/common/home.shtml

I looked for this info on this board but couldnt find it anywhere..

I applied for it. My address is in Toronto but the lady at the HRDC just asked to confirm if I would like to have it mailed to my Toronto address. I said, "yes". She said it would take about 5 weeks.

After that I called PR card 800 number. I gave them my address. They said I didnt have to do anything. I am all set to receive a PR card in mail in about 9 weeks.

I am curious to see what going to happen with my PR card, would be stoped untill I 'really' move in.
I drove around Windsor, Hwy 401.. tasted the 'true' INDEPENDENCE..I liked it. I said to myself that I am ready to move in this beautiful country. It reminds me my days in France and Europe...same grocery stores..same higways..fields and even French speaking people around you..

I did not open a bank account, I dont know what are implications of it..!!????

I came back to the US port..they asked me about my citizenship. I said I am Indian..Officer asked me what I was doing in Canada..I said I had to comple the paperwork..he goes, what kinda? I said its the ID card I need to get it because I am a Canadian PR. no questions after that..my i94 was expired so I had to get a new one and paid 6 bucks for it but no questions after that..

It was smooth compaired to Canadian Landing..I thought it would be opposite..

If any of you new people on the block have question about landing please ask..it would help you.

good luck!!
 
Congratulations on landing. Sorry that your experience was not that pleasant.

All of us need to understand that the person "welcoming" immigrants is there because he/she needs a job and works there not out of a real enthusiasm in welcoming folks but just to make ends meet. Definitely that must not be her dream career !

You say you are from India. Who in your country works at the immigration desks at the airports/ports ? Would you expect to be treated with enthusiasm ? Probably you don't care a damn if the guy smiles or not, each time you pass through. If you had been born in Canada, would you be working there ? Probably not.

I am not trying to portray such jobs as bad, but just asking you to look at it from a different perspective.

You should be happy since your objective has been met.

Congrats once again.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Need help with landing ....

araj_98,
Thanks a bunch for a very informative post.

Why did you rent a car with CANADIAN plates. Does it matter? I was planning to rent a car (probably with US plates). Any problems?

What docs do I need apart from pp, CPR, cashier's check( in USD ok?), marriage cert., bank statement, h1b papers?

Also, is it possible to apply for the SIN and health card online/by mail? Since I plan to land on a weekend, the hr offices are closed.

At what point does the info for PR get collected? Is it at customs?

One last thing, how did you account for the goods in the goods to follow list. Did you include serial numbers for electronics, pc's? How about clothes and kitchen items?

Thanks in advance for your response.
 
I cross the border 5 times a week twice a day. While 99% of the officers are extremely nice to interact with, there are some who work with the intent to demonstrate "who is in charge". Araj_98 experienced probably one of them.

From the posting, it seems to me that the officer went on a saber-rattling bulls**t that has nothing to do with the law.

The "notation" the officer claimed to have made regarding Araj requiring to return in 6 months sounds like a crock of crap, unless, of course the officer handed something official in writing to that effect to Araj 98. The law clearly states allowability of outside stay for certain number of years wthout losing the PR status.

When encountering such officers, the best strategy is to ignore rather than considering it as a "bad experience" or "rude officers". When I landed, the officer preached about how one "cannot enjoy the best of both worlds" - meaning live in Canada and work in the US - and asked me when I was gonna give up my job in the US. Of course, I wanted to say that I would give up my job when the officer would pay my bills...you know how that would have played out...!! And yet, when I go home every evening, I have mentioned quite a few times, that I was at work all day in the US and the officers in the booth don't give a damn (or at least they haven't until now!).

As far as renting a Cdn plate car, I do not see why that would be necessary. You can always rent (or drive your car) US plate car. They certainly cannot force you to import the vehicle right there. I drove my wife's company car (US plate) during my landing. There were no questions.
 
Originally posted by dimple2001
I cross the border 5 times a week twice a day. While 99% of the officers are extremely nice to interact with, there are some who work with the intent to demonstrate "who is in charge". Araj_98 experienced probably one of them.

From the posting, it seems to me that the officer went on a saber-rattling bulls**t that has nothing to do with the law.

The "notation" the officer claimed to have made regarding Araj requiring to return in 6 months sounds like a crock of crap, unless, of course the officer handed something official in writing to that effect to Araj 98. The law clearly states allowability of outside stay for certain number of years wthout losing the PR status.

When encountering such officers, the best strategy is to ignore rather than considering it as a "bad experience" or "rude officers". When I landed, the officer preached about how one "cannot enjoy the best of both worlds" - meaning live in Canada and work in the US - and asked me when I was gonna give up my job in the US. Of course, I wanted to say that I would give up my job when the officer would pay my bills...you know how that would have played out...!! And yet, when I go home every evening, I have mentioned quite a few times, that I was at work all day in the US and the officers in the booth don't give a damn (or at least they haven't until now!).

As far as renting a Cdn plate car, I do not see why that would be necessary. You can always rent (or drive your car) US plate car. They certainly cannot force you to import the vehicle right there. I drove my wife's company car (US plate) during my landing. There were no questions.
Click to expand...


Hi Dimple2001 or Anyone,

I do remember that I have discussed in this forum with Dimple2001 on a different topic ..sometime ago..

And It's been a while I have been to this forum again.

I am currently on a project and have to be on it for atleast
until end of this year.

I am planning to complete my Landing Process in next couple
of weeks.

I was just wondering.. If I could pay canadian taxes while working for a US employer(H1 holder/Landed Immg.) on US project.

Is this possible ? If so, Is there any fallout in this approach.

Thanks,
Vjy
 
tarantula

Why did you rent a car with CANADIAN plates. Does it matter? I was planning to rent a car (probably with US plates). Any problems?
--> I was just being cautious because I had read it on this board somewhere that some one was sent back who had rental car with US plates at the time of landing. dimple2001 is more experienced than me. In dimple2001's openinon you dont need to have a car with Canadian plates.

What docs do I need apart from pp, CPR, cashier's check( in USD ok?), marriage cert., bank statement, h1b papers?
--> Make 2 sets of papers; one for the Canadian landing and other for the US port. Do take all the papers above apart from that have a list of things to follow. Its better to have serial numbers with you but its not necessary. Last few Pay stubs would useful while coming back to the US. Cashier's check in USD is good.

Also, is it possible to apply for the SIN and health card online/by mail? Since I plan to land on a weekend, the hr offices are closed.
--> I haven’t applied for health card. I think you need to reside (or produce a proof of it) in ON (if thats your destination) for 3 months before you can get it. Senior members can correct me if I am wrong.
SIN card can be applied by mail and I think certain provinces do take it over phone as well. I dont know if you can apply for it online. Check out the HRDC website (link is in my first post).

At what point does the info for PR get collected? Is it at customs?
--> Its at immigration. The process is initiated when you land. The immigration officer would take your address in Canada. If you dont have it you have to notify(call them) them within 180 days.
Apart from that you dont have to do anything for it.

One last thing, how did you account for the goods in the goods to follow list. Did you include serial numbers for electronics, pc's? How about clothes and kitchen items?
-->I listed out everything. I didnt have any serial numbers with me. Officer at customs was cool; she didnt ask for it either. She just asked me to bring the receipt when I import/ship those things in Canada.

-----
 
re: my experience

dimple2001:

I agree with you. There is no middle ground its either yes or no. If you have reqd papers for landing, immigration officer can not change 3 yrs law at the port.

I wasnt really bothered by her questionsand comments . I still went in and applied for SIN card and called PR card office to give them my address because 'she' hadnt accepted it.

She did not give me anything in writing that says I have to get back in Canada within 6 months or I will lose my PR. She did say that she has entered those comments against my name in their system, though..I doubt it. Also, she said in the comments that she had/would enter against my name that I am on the h1b status in the US and its good till 2006. I said its good till 2006 but that doesnt mean that I HAVE to stay in the US..Her answer was the same ..I dont want to argue with you anymore..
 
Congratulations on landing. Sorry that your experience was not that pleasant.
-->thanks CanI
All of us need to understand that the person "welcoming" immigrants is there because he/she needs a job and works there not out of a real enthusiasm in welcoming folks but just to make ends meet. Definitely that must not be her dream career !

You say you are from India. Who in your country works at the immigration desks at the airports/ports ? Would you expect to be treated with enthusiasm ? Probably you don't care a damn if the guy smiles or not, each time you pass through. If you had been born in Canada, would you be working there ? Probably not.
--It was not about treating with enthusiasm but treating normally. Indian officers sometimes smile, talk somtimes they dont.. thats individual personality. This Canadian officer was actually being pain in a**. She didnt take my address in Canada.
Her arguement was baseless..for example, she was trying to say that since I have valid work status in the US until 2006 I can not land in Canada. I had answers for all of her questions. She didnt have a single prime concern but she was just going in all the directions. Is it not good enough to convince her that I waited to get this thing for almost 2 years. I travel all the way to Canada to land with cashiers check, all the papers etc. It has costed me something in terms of money and time..I wouldnt do any of it if I wasnt gonna move afterall..

I am not gonna complaint against her or anything..but I thought it would be helpful to others if I post my experience.

I am not trying to portray such jobs as bad, but just asking you to look at it from a different perspective.
--> I dont disagree with you.. so I am taking it easy.

You should be happy since your objective has been met.

Congrats once again.
 
Thank you very much

araj_98 and dimple2001,
Thank you very much for your informative and timely responses.
 
Responding to VJY way up in this post !!! -

I am sure any Govt will be glad to take your money in taxes !!

However, your requirement to file (not necessarily pay) Cdn taxes depends on your residency.

If you live in Canada and work in the US, you will have to file both the US and the Canadian taxes. Whatever taxes you pay to the IRS can be taken as a credit while filing the Cdn taxes and your Cdn taxes will be reduced by the amount of the claimed credit. All the money you show and claim for Cdn taxes get converted into Cdn currency using the exchange rate established by Bank of Canada.

If you move in in the middle of the year, you file both taxes, but you will be in dual status with the IRS. Dual status indicates resident in US for part of the year and non-resident in US for the remainder of the year (since you become Cdn resident).

If you do not live in Canada, you do not have to file Cdn taxes.

"Resident" and "Non-resident" are for tax purposes and has nothing to do with your immigration status. A PR can be a non-resident of Canada (by not living in Canada) while a temporary worker (ex: H1B) is a resident in the US even though that person is not a PR of US.

Hope this helps.
 
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