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 California and I got my PR through the Federal Skilled Worker Programme. I got my passport with visa stamped from the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles,CA.

I chose to drive from Buffalo and cross into Canada for my Landing. The reason why I chose driving from Buffalo,NY was because of the following reasons:

1. Tickets from California to Buffalo was much cheaper compared to direct flights from California to Toronto,ON
2. I had friends in Toronto and they advised me it would take only a couple of hours to drive from Buffalo,NY to Toronto,ON
3. I have never seen Niagara Falls in my life so I thought I could see it on the way back.

So I looked up a few experience on landing on the internet and chose Peace Bridge because

1. I heard traditionally traffic on Peace Bridge is much smaller compared to Rainbow Bridge or the Queenston Lewiston bridge.
2. It was also a much shorter route to where my friends lived in Greater Toronto Area.
3. I wanted to drive back through Rainbow bridge so didn’t want to take the same route again
4. Heard the Canadian Customs officials in Peace Bridge are much nicer
5. Queenston Lewiston bridge is used by all folks importing cars into Canada, so folks who try to land here are usually dealt in a much formal way here.

I reached Buffalo,NY on a late Wednesday night and slept in the airport for a few hours. Picked up my rental car from Buffalo-Niagara International airport (BUF) at around 6 in the morning and started driving. Within 15-20 minutes I reached Peace Bridge. There was a security gate and I informed the Canadian Border Services officer that I intend to do a landing in Canada. She took my passport and verified that I had an immigrant visa stamped on it. She gave me a customs form with something written on it and asked me to go inside the office building near by to complete my formalities. I also had to pay the toll for crossing the bridge. I carried some coins in change that really helped for the toll.

Once I entered in to the building, I noticed that there was a huge hall separated in the middle. The officer on the right asked me to stand in a line. Interestingly there was a bus load of passengers who had just landed and the last few people were standing before me. The officer was asking one of the passenger why he wanted to immigrate to Canada and when he would do it. The passenger I believe was an American citizen and was giving answers all around. The officer allowed him to land but told him that he would receive his PR card only when he decides to finally move to Canada and have a residential address.

After the last few passengers, my turn came. He asked me pretty much the same questions. I told him that I have been living in the US for a long time and that I was on a visa. I told him that I was tired working for a visa and needed to settle. I told him that Canadian PR would give me the opportunity to do things beyond what I am doing today. The officer then asked me when I would move to Canada. My intention was to move within 10 days or so and I informed him of the same. He asked me if I have an address in Canada. I gave him my friend’s address where I was planning to stay. He asked me if that will be my permanent address or if the address will be temporary. I understood the intent behind his question. Usually folks in USA when they immigrate to Canada, they wait until they finish three years and then move finally when they are legally required. This really defeats giving PR to a person. I was planning to rent a part of my friend’s home for the first few months and hence I told the officer that my address is permanent and that I am going to move there in a few days.

The Canadian Immigration Officer cancelled my visa stamping on my passport and asked me to sign my CPR ( Confirmation of Permanent Residence ) paper.Once that is done, he asked me to go to the customs officer on the opposite side ( aka left ). I had already prepared my Personal Effects Accounting Document and Goods to follow Document and I provided it to the customs officer. She looked at all the papers and asked if I had any Car or valuable items to import. I had a car to import, but it was the goods to follow document. She noted down the VIN number of the car and asked me to go to the Cashier’s counter in the room to get a stamping on the Personal Effects Accounting and Goods to follow document.

The Cashier stapled both of them together and gave it back to me. Then I walked out of the building and realized I had indeed become a Canadian Permanent Resident.

Note: Readers, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them below. I will try to get the answers as soon as possible.