I performed my soft landing through land border via Ambassador bridge from Detroit. CBSA officer didn’t accept my Canadian address so I am in the same boat as you. I am in US now. I have a couple of questions, will appreciate your assistance.
What online link you used to update your Canadian address to receive the PR card? The link provided by appy22 in the post above you didn’t work for me either.
Can you please advise if you received an update from IRCC on processing of your card?
Hello @guru01
I had similar situation when i did soft landing at Windsor. I guess if you are not moving permanently they do not want to process PR card.
You can look at below post, It has information how i have updated the address.
Hi @guru01, sorry for the late reply, completely missed your message and didn’t get an email notification. Yes, the Windsor officer did not take my address for the PR card and said I should get a PR card only when I permanently move to Canada.
The only sure shot way is to call the IRCC in Ottawa and update your address. I used the online address update form but IRCC gave me a confirmation of the address change a full 10 days after submitting the form. In the meantime I just called the IRCC call center in Ottawa and updated the address. It took 5 attempts after which someone answered my call at the call center.
The call center lady was very nice and cordial. My contact person in Canada got my PR card mailed to them in exactly 14 days as the PR card timeframe tracker showed. It was very smooth sailing.
First point about not taking down the PR card address is correct and I faced the same situation. I called the call center in Ottawa and updated the address on the call.
Second point about GTF not accepted is bizarre. I did not have this problem and my large GTF list (including my car that will be imported) was accepted easily and signed off. I do not think you get a second chance to submit a GTF list unless the officer tell you that is possible.
The officer did mention that they’ll accept my GTF when I actually move to Canada. But again that’s probably true only if I stop by at the CBSA office at the border and process my PR cards then.
I’m planning to complete soft landing into canada at detroit border through Ambassador bridge on Saturday. I have couple of questions which are mentioned below.
Can we complete soft landing on saturday or sunday? If yes what are the timings( ambassador bridge)? I am not able to find enough threads on people completing soft landing on Saturdays.
Right now i am on F1 visa and will be on h1 from 1st of October. So, what documents do I need to carry to re enter to USA?
Congrats on your PR! I’m currently on H1B too. My status was changed from F1 to H1B in the US years ago, and my F1 visa expired already. So technically I’m not allowed to re-enter US if I leave. In this case, may I return to the US on the same day after softlanding?
Hey All
When I went for soft landing thru ambassador bridge, the Canadian address I provided was not accepted since I wasn’t really moving to Canada at that time.They did give me an option of updating my address online. When I tried doing that, I got this message. Anybody in the same boat? any ideas?
"We were not able to identify you using the information you provided. There could be three possible reasons:
Please be sure the information you entered is correct and thentry again.
This service is only available to clients with applications in process. We may have received your application but not begun processing it yet. The following link may help you determine if your application is being processed: Application Processing Times
At this time, you may use this on-line service if you have:
sponsored a member of the family class;
applied for permanent residence from within or outside Canada;
applied for a permanent resident card (replacement or renewal);
applied for Canadian citizenship (grant of citizenship);
applied for Canadian citizenship for a person adopted by a Canadian citizen (on or after January 1, 1947);
applied for a citizenship certificate (proof of Canadian citizenship);
Hello @chsravi
I did my landing on a Friday, reason being I wanted to get my SIN number as that is open only M-F. otherwise, you can do landing even on saturday or sunday 24*7 at windsor/detroit.
Once you are on H1b , make sure you carry I797 with i94 as you will not have valid stmap, CBP uses this for AVR at the border.
Refer to my post that i linked below about my landing experience.
Hello @atacama,
Yes, You can comeback on same day using AVR, but make sure you carry your valid current i797 with AVR and all additional documentation related to your previous H1B.
Refer to the below link, if you need more information on how i did mine.
@mrandmrs, @avj, @usa2can, @akel Please suggest the bridges/borders which process the PR card application during soft landing? I read a post by someone who crossed thru the Peace Bridge and their PR card application was not processed as it was not their permanent move to Canada.
I went through peace bridge on 19Sep2019, everything went well. They accepted our UPS mailbox address for all of us to ship our PR cards. I think it is matter of luck. Even if the officer does not accept your address during landing you can always call IRCC or raise a request via webform to get it processed. So travel as per the most convenient way, it doesnt really matter.
My experience with CBSA-
Entered Canada through peace bridge, lady officer at booth asked me why I am coming to Canada and gave me yellow slip marked as immigration. She asked me to park my car and go inside the building.
Inside the building one of the officer asked me to handover the yellow slip, passports for all of us and asked us to take a seat. After 15 minutes one lady officer was calling my name. She asked me if I am moving here permanently ? I said yes, but I have to go back to US within next week to wrap my job, clear apartments and other duties in US. She said why didn’t you complete it before? I said since I received my CoPR in Sep and it was expiring in October I didn’t get enough time. She was bit cranky with me and asked for my address in Canada. I gave my UPS address and she started to ask me regarding whose address it was and stuff, I said friends address. Then she asked me for proof of funds, I gave her bank statements. After checking everything she asked me to sign CoPR and said congratulations you are now PR in Canada, please retain them. Then she asked me to go to another counter and questioned about goods to accompany and goods to follow. Another officer asked me same question regarding my car, why are not moving permanently? Where is your title? Why you didn’t export your car. I said I didn’t get enough time to clear off loan and get title from bank,
blah blah… He then asked my car make and model, opened some red book and put $17000 on my GTF form, stamped it and asked me to go another counter to get $0 tax receipt, stapled it to GTF list and I left.
Overall, it took 40 minutes of time but everything was ok. It was like going to DMV to get your license and registering your car. I would say peace bridge is ok if it’s near to you.
Thanks @akel. So they accepted the US address? We are planning to drive from NY to Canada! Which bridge/border to use? Rainbow or Peace?Do the office ask if you are planning to stay permanently or will return to US?
Not US address, UPS address (Canadian UPS mailbox). Please don’t give your US address .
Yes, they always know if you are moving permanently or not, by talking to you. Just be truthful.
Even if you don’t get Canada PR card issued at Canadian port of entry, you can do it online through webform or calling IRCC.
Just be very clear to them that I will be staying in Canada for next week or two, look for an apartment and will go back to US to wrap up my job, apartment and will coming to Canada next month or so.
Don’t forget to get your GTF list stamped with your car (VIN number) on it. Get that $0 receipt. Don’t get attached to PR card straight away, you will get it someday.
My suggestion would be peace bridge if it’s near to you, just enjoy your trip. Make sure you clean your car , lady officer asked me if I am carrying any tobacco or alcohol products.
Thanks a lot @akel We are taking a rental instead of personal vehicle. Someone here suggested it is better because of less hassle… Else the officers ask for Title or why are we not transferring the car today etc. Which bank account to open and how to get CAD from the US? I am planning to carry some cash incase needed! Car is added to the GTF along with other stuff, we have also added any jewellery which we wear on daily basis! E.g ring etc. That has not been appraised, but their values in CAD have been mentioned in GTF. Hope it is good. Any other points to consider for GTA or GTF list? How detailed should it be? Any thing to keep in mind?
Rental vehicle is ok, doesnt matter though. Officer will still ask you for title and everything when they look at your GTF, but its not that cumbersome as much as everyone has described online on other web forums. Just be straight with CBSA officers in answering. Smaller items like everyday jewelry and other household items can be skipped from GTF, dont add unnecessary items.
Bank account- I preferred TD bank, make sure you book an appointment before you go. Ask them for credit card unsecured. When you book an appointment online you will get details of person whom you are going to see, just call him before hand and explain your banking needs.
Moreover just have a good trip, dont stress out. GTA area has lot of good restaurants like desi Indian ones, most of them you will see on uber eats, skip dishes, doordash and other apps. If you are staying in a hotel you can get all the desi food at your room. Make sure you download all the apps and link your US credit card if you are comfortable. You will get amazing desi food at your room
For Canadian dollars, carry your US cash and get exchanged at any currency exchange. I used continental currency exchange which gave me better rates over the counter. Check for continental currency exchange near your stay.
Has anyone (or someone you know) tried soft landing via land from Seattle recently? I am planning to go via car from Seattle in 10 days and trying to find out which border crossing to go through (if there are any restrictions on some of the crossings or not). Any advice would be very very helpful regarding how did you narrow down on which crossing to use.
Also, it is unclear if they are approving the PR for folks who intend to return back these days due to every changing travel restrictions during Covid (the website says that we should be coming with the intend to settle). Anyone who traveled recently, please share the experience or advice. Thanks a lot!
peace bridge is ok if it’s near to you.