Birth Certificate from Indian Consulate, Chicago, IL, USA

Fill the Miscellaneous services form – Download here
Provide all the details required and sign it.
Attach a recent photograph.
Notarised photocopy of first three and last three pages of the current Passport.
If you choose to apply in person, notarization is not required.
Copy of Permanent Resident Card or work authorization card or copy of F1/ H1/B1 etc
Proof of residence [ One of the following ]
- notarized copy of utility bill
- Driver’s License
- Lease Deed in the name of the applicant (notarization not required if applying in person).
Passport(if applying in person) – Consular officer may demand passport for verification
Fee – $ 20

Processing time

In Person: Submitted on the counter by 12.30 pm : same day

By mail: 15 to 20 working days from the date of receipt in Consulate (not from the date of mailing by applicant)

For more details visit Indian Consulate in Chicago

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Rental Car coverage when driving to US – Coverage by CAA

If you are a resident of Canada and have Car Insurance with CAA, you will be in for a surprise when you plan to drive your car or rental car to the US.

If you hold only liability coverage with CAA, they do not cover for your liability when you drive to the U.S. That means when you cross the border with your rental car to US from Canada, you are liable for any accidents/incidents that happens. So Canadababa advises fellow subscribers to please get the comprehensive coverage provided by the Rental Car Agency.

Filed under: Post-Landing

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Car Insurance in Ontario

If you are moving from US (United States) to Canada and are trying to get Car Insurance in Ontario you are in for a big shock.

The premiums are much higher when compared to the U.S. For example, one of Canadababa’ regular subscriber was paying $300 per year in California for liability coverage and when he moved to Toronto, Ontario his premium charged was $1500 per year.

You will think that is five times higher, but here is the thing. He had all documentation to prove his driving history in the U.S which provided him with the $1500 discount rate.

So if you do not have such history, get ready for a higher Car Insurance rate.

Here are some tips to save money.

Bring your driving record history, if you are moving in from US or the UK, you can get your driving history from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The more the number of years the better it is.
Get history of your car Insurance. It should also be uninterrupted aka, you should have a continous coverage of car Insurance from the country you are moving in from. This record you can get it from your current Car Insurnace company. Some States and countries will provide this information from their Department of Motor Vehicles.
Get CAA club membership, this will significantly reduce your premiums with CAA.
Get additional discounts for Renters and Home Insurance when you go with the same company, for ex: if you get Renters and Car Insurance from CAA, they will give you additional discount.

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Service Canada Locations in GTA

Brampton Service Canada Centre
18 Corporation Drive
Brampton, ON

Malton Service Canada Centre
6877 Goreway Drive , Unit 5
Malton, ON

Mississauga East Service Canada Centre
2525 Dixie Road
Mississauga, ON

Mississauga West Service Canada Centre
3085 Glen Erin Drive
Mississauga, ON

Richmond Hill Service Canada Centre
35 Beresford Drive
Richmond Hill, ON

Toronto – Willowdale Service Canada Centre
Joseph Shepard Building, Floor 1
4900 Yonge Street
North York, ON

Toronto – Canada Quay Service Canada Centre
235 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON

Toronto – Centre Service Canada Centre
Arthur Meighen Building, Floor 1
25 St. Clair Avenue East
Toronto, ON

Toronto – Gerrard Square Service Canada Centre
1000 Gerrard Street East , Floor 2, Unit DD10/11
Toronto, ON

Toronto – Lawrence Square Service Canada Centre
Lawrence Square, Suite 103-105
700 Lawrence Ave West
North York, ON

Toronto – Malvern Service Canada Centre
31 Tapscott Road
Toronto, ON

Toronto – Scarborough Service Canada Centre
Canada Centre, Floor 1
200 Town Centre Court
Scarborough, ON

Toronto City Hall Service Canada Centre
City Hall, Floor 1
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON

Toronto Dufferin Mall Service Canada Centre
Dufferin Mall, Suite 0001
900 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON

Toronto Etobicoke Service Canada Centre
5343 Dundas Street West
Etobicoke, ON

Toronto North Service Canada Centre
3737 Chesswood Drive
Downsview, ON

For Service Canada Locations in GTA

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Service Canada Locations in Ontario

Ajax Service Canada Centre
320 Harwood Avenue
Ajax, ON

Arnprior Service Canada Centre
Heritage Square, Suite 1 & 2
75 Elgin Street West
Arnprior, ON

Bancroft Service Canada Centre
Fairway Plaza
5 Fairway Boulevard
Bancroft, ON

Barrie Service Canada Centre
48 Owen Street , Floor 01
Barrie, ON

Belleville Service Canada Centre
Business Building, Floor 2
1 North Front Street
Belleville, ON

Bracebridge Service Canada Centre
Federal Building, Floor 2
98 Manitoba Street
Bracebridge, ON

Brantford Service Canada Centre
58 Dalhousie Street , Floor 2
Brantford, ON

Brockville Service Canada Centre
The Fuller Building, Floor 1
14 Court House Ave.
Brockville, ON

Burlington Service Canada Centre
Burlington Resources Centre
440 Elizabeth Street
Burlington, ON

Cambridge Service Canada Centre
350 Conestoga Blvd , Unit C2
Cambridge, ON

Carleton Place Service Canada Centre
46 Lansdowne Avenue
Carleton Place, ON

Chatham-Kent Service Canada Centre
Federal Building
120 Wellington Street West
Chatham, ON

Cobourg Service Canada Centre
Fleming Building, Suite 103
1005 Elgin Street West
Cobourg, ON

Collingwood Service Canada Centre
44 Hurontario Street
Collingwood, ON

Cornwall Service Canada Centre
111 Water Street East , Suite 100
Cornwall, ON

Dryden Service Canada Centre
41C Duke Street
Dryden, ON

Elliot Lake Service Canada Centre
Algo Centre, Floor 1
151 Ontario Avenue
Elliot Lake, ON

Espanola Service Canada Centre
721 Centre Street , Suite 2 & 3
Espanola, ON

Fort Frances Service Canada Centre
301 Scott Street
Fort Frances, ON

Gananoque Service Canada Centre
5 Charles Street South
Gananoque, ON

Georgetown Service Canada Centre
232 Guelph Street , Floor 1
Georgetown, ON

Geraldton Service Canada Centre
208 Beamish Avenue W.
Geraldton, ON

Goderich Service Canada Centre
52 East Street
Goderich, ON

Guelph Service Canada Centre
259 Woodlawn Road West , Suite C
Guelph, ON

Hamilton East Service Canada Centre
2255 Barton Street East
Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Service Canada Centre
1550 Upper James Street , Floor 1
Hamilton, ON

Hawkesbury Service Canada Centre
134 Main Street East
Hawkesbury, ON

Kapuskasing Service Canada Centre
8 Queen Street
Kapuskasing, ON

Kenora Service Canada Centre
Kenora Market Square, Floor 2
308 Second Street South
Kenora, ON

Kingston Service Canada Centre
299 Concession Street
Kingston, ON

Kirkland Lake Service Canada Centre
Ontario Northlands Telecommunications
10 Government Road East
Kirkland Lake, ON

Kitchener Service Canada Centre
409 Weber Street West
Kitchener, ON

Leamington Service Canada Centre
Leamington Mall
215 Talbot Street East
Leamington, ON

Lindsay Service Canada Centre
65 Kent Street West
Lindsay, ON

Listowel Service Canada Centre
Federal Building
210 Main Street East
Listowel, ON

London Service Canada Centre
Dominion Public Building
457 Richmond St.
London, ON

Marathon Service Canada Centre
52 Peninsula Road , Suite 105
Marathon, ON

Midland Service Canada Centre
Huronia Mall
9225 Hwy 93
Midland, ON

Milton Service Canada Centre
Trafalgar Square
310 Main Street East
Milton, ON

Napanee Service Canada Centre
Murphy’s Plaza
2 Dairy Avenue
Napanee, ON

New Liskeard Service Canada Centre
290 Armstrong Street North
New Liskeard, ON

Newmarket Service Canada Centre
The Tannery Mall – East Entrance (access from Parking lot only), Suite 100
465 Davis Drive
Newmarket, ON

Niagara Falls Service Canada Centre
Customs Building
5853 Peer Street
Niagara Falls, ON

North Bay Service Canada Centre
Canada Place, Suite 102
107 Shirreff Avenue
North Bay, ON

Oakville Service Canada Centre
117 Cross Avenue, Unit B5
Oakville, ON

Orangeville Service Canada Centre
102-210 Broadway Avenue
Orangeville, ON

Orillia Service Canada Centre
50 Andrew Street South , Suite 101
Orillia, ON

Oshawa Service Canada Centre
78 Richmond Street West
Oshawa, ON

Ottawa Centre Service Canada Centre
L’Esplanade Laurier, Floor 2
300 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON

Ottawa East Service Canada Centre
Beacon Hill Shopping Centre
2339 Ogilvie Road
Gloucester, ON

Ottawa Government Service Centre
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON

Ottawa West Service Canada Centre
Lincoln Fields Galleria, Floor 1
2525 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, On

Owen Sound Service Canada Centre
Parkway Professional Building, Suite 1
1450 1st Avenue West
Owen Sound, ON

Parry Sound Service Canada Centre
74 James Street
Parry Sound, ON

Pembroke Service Canada Centre
141 Lake Street
Pembroke, ON

Perth Service Canada Centre
Federal Building
13 Herriott Street
Perth, ON

Peterborough Service Canada Centre
Jackson Square, Suite 101
185 King Street
Peterborough, ON

Picton Service Canada Centre
229 Main Street,
Picton, ON

Prescott Service Canada Centre
292 Centre Street
Prescott, ON

Renfrew Service Canada Centre
39 Renfrew Avenue West
Renfrew, ON

Sarnia Service Canada Centre
Lambton Shared Services Centre at the Bayside Mall
150 Christina Street North
Sarnia, ON

Sault Ste. Marie Service Canada Centre
22 Bay Street , Floor 1
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Simcoe Service Canada Centre
5 Queensway East
Simcoe, ON

Smiths Falls Service Canada Centre
91 Cornelia Street West , Suite 115
Smiths Falls, ON

St. Catharines Service Canada Centre
Landmark Building
43 Church Street
St. Catharines, ON

St. Thomas Service Canada Centre
408 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON

Stratford Service Canada Centre
61 Lorne Ave , Floor Ground, Unit 2
Stratford, ON

Sturgeon Falls Service Canada Centre
186 Main Street , Floor 2
Sturgeon Falls, ON

Sudbury Service Canada Centre
Federal Building, Floor Main
19 Lisgar Street
Sudbury, ON

Thunder Bay Service Canada Centre
975 Alloy Drive
Thunder Bay, ON

Tillsonburg Service Canada Centre
Livingston Centre
96 Tillson Avenue
Tillsonburg, ON

Timmins Service Canada Centre
120 Cedar Street S , Floor 1
Timmins, ON

Trenton Service Canada Centre
50 Dundas Street West
Trenton, On

Walkerton Service Canada Centre
200 McNab Street
Walkerton, ON

Wallaceburg Service Canada Centre
Municipal Service Centre, Floor 2
786 Dufferin Avenue
Wallaceburg, ON

Welland Service Canada Centre
250 Thorold Road W.
Welland, ON

Windsor Service Canada Centre
400 City Hall Square East
Windsor, ON

Woodstock Service Canada Centre
959 Dundas St. , Office 101
Woodstock, ON

For Service Canada Locations in GTA

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Visa required for Mexican Nationals from July 14, 2009

Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Mexican citizens will require a visa to travel to Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. For the first 48 hours, Mexican citizens may apply for entry on arrival in Canada. After 11:59 p.m. EDT July 15, 2009, a visa will be required.

The reason behind introducing visa for Mexican citizens is the increase in the number of refugee claims from the country. It is said that number of Mexican citizens who sought refugee status in Canada have almost tripled since 2005. It also made Mexico the number one source country for refugee claims.

In 2008, more than 9,400 claims filed in Canada came from Mexican citizens, representing 25 per cent of all claims received. And only 11 per cent were accepted after reviewing the claims by the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent administrative tribunal.

This is what the Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenny had to say on this subject.

Filed under: Countries, Latest News, Visitor

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Police clearance Certificate in India – Criminal Record Check

Local Requests
Applicants should contact the local Senior Superintendent of Police/Commissioner of Police. Police clearance certificates from the regional passport office (RPO) are also acceptable.

Non-Resident Requests
Applicants should contact the local Indian embassy or consulate.

Filed under: Countries, Post-Paperwork

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Landing FAQs – All your questions answered

Q: Can I drive into Canada for my landing?

A: Yes you can.

Q: Do I need to bring in all the money required for immigration when I do my landing?

A: No. You need to show proof / have documentation that you possess that money and you should be able to show that you can transfer the money into Canada once you land.

Q: My relationship status has changed after I got my PR application approved, can I still land without informing CIC?

A: NO. CIC strongly advises against this and you should contact CIC immediatly if there is a change in any relationship status between you and your dependents/spouse.

Q: How much does it cost to do landing when driving into Canada?

A: You will be mostly driving through one of the bridges that connect USA and Canada, so please have enough change/cash for the toll bridges. Other than that you need to carry all your documentation.

Q: Do I need to carry all the goods that I am importing into Canada during my landing?

A: NO. You can create a goods to follow list and you should present it while you are landing. The items in the goods to follow can be imported later on.

Q: I am importing my car into Canada, can I drive through any of the border crossings?

A: Unfortunately No. You should contact the border agency at the particular crossing. You will have to contact US customs to inform them that you are exporting the car and you will have to contact Canadian Customs to find about importing your car in Canada. It is usually required you contact both of them 72 hours before your expected border crossing.

Q: CIC just returned my passport with a landing visa, How long can I wait before landing?

A: Typically CIC gives you a date that is one year from your Medical examination. But CIC also attaches a letter along with the Passport and the date on that is considered the final date that you can do your landing process.

Q: What happens if I fail to do my landing before the date provided in the Approval letter?

A: You will have to restart all your immigration process and there is no guarentee that you will get your immigration petition approved. You will go through the same ( or different if the law has changed ) criteria and your petition will be approved or denied.

Q: Can the expiry date on my visa for landing be extended?

A: No. Unfortunately it cannot be extended. You are given ample time to prepare and do your landing.

Q: Can I land in Quebec if I get my PR through federal skilled worker programme?

A: You cannot. You should land in a province that has been provided along with your PR application. Landing in Quebec is not recommended and often you would be asked to return back and your PR processing will be in jeopardy.

Filed under: Medicals to Landing, MostPopular, faq

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Landing Experience – Windsor Tunnel – Driving from USA

P.S: The following post is a personal experience of one of our fellow immigrants. Please do not take this as an advice but rather note key points that can help you in your landing experience.
I was living in Detroit for over 4 years and was on H1B Visa. Most people advised me to take a rental car, but I chose to take one of my friend’s car to do the landing.

When I was about to enter the tunnel, I saw some security/police like folks. As soon as I drove close to them, a security officer ( she ) walked o my car. She was from US Customs.
I had an expired visa but had a valid I-94 and I explained that I would be back to the U.S very soon. I was asked to pay the toll of $4.00 and then I started driving to the tunnel.

As I crossed the border, and about to enter Canada, I saw security posts to the right and few cars were waiting on those lanes. It really looked like toll booth but there was a security officer sitting inside.

She told me that she is going to ask a few questions. Some of her questions that I recalled were:

Officer: Your Country of Citizenship?
My Answer: India

Officer: Why are you here for?
My Answer: I am here to do my landing for Immigration to Canada.

Officer: Can I see your passport?
Me: Took out my passports out of my bag, it took a few minutes and she was not really happy about it. I explained it to her that this is the first time I am crossing the border so did not realize that I need to take my passports out at the booth.

Officer: How many days are you going to stay here?
Me: 3 days

Officer: Do you have any firearms, food, alcohol?
Me: No

Officer: How much money are you bringing?
Me: Told her that it was less than $500 USD.

She handed over me a yellow colored slip and asked me to park on the parking lot to my right and told me to follow the instructions of the security officer at the parking lot.

As soon as I parked in the lot, one of the officers asked me for the slip and he then asked me to go inside the building for immigration.

The line in the building was huge and I had to wait a good 30 minutes before I was called in by an Immigration Officer.

Officer: Are you here for landing?
Me: Yes

Officer: Can I see your landing papers?
Me: Gave him my COPR and other documents

Officer: Do you have the address where will you be staying?
Me: I had already written down the address in a paper and I gave it to him.

The officer entered all the details in the computer and asked me to sign the COPR. He repeated twice that my signature should not go out of the white box.

After that he asked us to go the Customs and again there was a huge line for this.

The customs officer asked how much money I was bringing in. I provided her all the details.

I had also already filled the E677 Form and saved her some time. You can get the form here E667 download.
The customs officer was happy that I had done some homework and she asked what was I bringing with me. I provided her with both the B4 forms. One of the form was the goods I was landing with and the other one was the goods to follow

For the goods to follow I used the form B4A as addendum to B4. It is always suggested to make the entire list with prices in Canadian Dollars. I took wrote the whole thing in an excel for the goods to follow and printed it.

Fortuntely for me, the customs officer did not do an evaluation for the prices I had provided. The officer took my documents and entered all the information in the computer in front of her.

Make sure everyone’s name is on the forms during landing as I was asked to enter my wife’s name and my son’s name as well.

I also had gold ornaments of my wife and I took photos of them as what I was bringing now and what I would bring later. The customs officer asked me to show some details about the gold ornaments I was bringing and it helped me.

She then stamped on each sheet of the goods to follow and gave my papers. She then smiled and said – “Welcome to Canada”.

I cannot explain how happy I was. I walked out of the building and the security officer who was there in the parking lot checked my papers and off I was driving to Windsor.

On my return trip, I drove thro Ambassador bridge instead of the tunnel. The US Immigration officer asked me me why I was visiting Canada. I told him I was there to do my immigration landing.

He checked my passports, I-94 and I-797 and asked if I have any food, alcohol or meat with me. I said No. He then let me drive to the U.S.

All in all it was a smooth experience and I had prepared a good amount of time creating all the documents and I believe that confidence helps you for an easy landing and return back to the U.S

Good luck to you all.

Filed under: Medicals to Landing, MostPopular

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