My Landing Experience: I reached Canada border @ Peace Bridge on the 1st of March 2018.
There was a blizzard that day, so a 3.5 hr. journey turned out to be a 9 hr. drive. I told the lady at the booth that I am here to do my landing for the PR. She jokingly said "And you decided to do it in this storm"
I told her that I had it planned 2 months ahead and had applied for leaves. She asked if I am importing my car. To which I answered no, it’s a rental. She was skeptical about this and her opinion was that I cannot take a car. She directed me to the office and gave me a slip which said “Rental Car??". When I entered the building there was very few officers and one of the lady officer said that we cannot do the landing today since there is no one to do that. I told her, where I should go now. Then she called up someone and said that we will try. Since she was new at this, she was okay to do whatever I was asking for. She processed everything and then I asked her about the GTF list.
She took that list and I showed her the pictures of gold. The officer sitting next to her took a look at the pictures and said that, they are a lot of pictures and the gold should be evaluated. He said that he is impressed with the documentation but since the gold is not evaluated, they will just take the value and when I bring the gold with the estimation done; I should be good and won’t have to pay any tax on that list of items.
I had written some items on the form and for some I had created an excel.eg: I had written $30000 gold, details in excel and photos. In the excel I had mentioned each item.
For small electronics, I had written "Small Electronics" $3000 CAD. I feel that I should have created an excel with all the small electronics and kitchen appliances, like Routers, Kitchen Aid Mixer, Instant Pot etc. I feel that I should have created another excel with the details of all the items which I missed and would suggest others to do so.
The officer was new and even though I told her that I am returning back to US, she still took my Canadian address for PR. I have heard cases where they say that they will send the PR when we move for good.
I also received a receipt with the total value of items and tax which was 0 dollars. She also stamped my excel with the list of gold items.
My AVR experience: I have an expired Visa (Expired in July 2017) and my wife also has an expired Visa (Sept 2013). We have renewed passports. Mine does have a stamp and my wife’s doesn’t, both are on H1B.
I reached the booth around 7:30PM and the officer said that the VISA is not valid. I told him that I have a renewed petition. He said that since there is no stamp on the new passport and the new passport had never been stamped with a US entry, I should go in and get the passport with an entry stamp. He took my passport and directed me to the secondary. The passport was later brought in by one of their officers.
When I was called, the officer told me that I cannot enter since I do not have a valid Visa. I told him that I will be using AVR today. He said that your wife’s Visa expired 5 yrs. ago, not sure if you can enter. He went to his supervisor and came back and called me again. He said your wife can enter but he was not sure how I was still on H1B after 7 yrs. in US. I told him that I have an approved I140 (my green card is in process). My extension is based on the approved I140. He said, “Okay, that makes sense”. Then he said that the officer at the booth should have let us in since we have valid I94’s and we didn’t have to come for secondary, but since we came in, he asked, if we need new I94’s. I told him that he can do whatever he thinks is best, I was good with any option. I just wanted to be out of that building (I didn’t say this to himJ). Although I believe that with AVR, you don’t need a new I94. (My personal opinion)
He then issued new I94’s and we were out in 30-35mins.
I have my passport stamped with the entry date in US, the new I94 and the I94 is available online as well. The new I94 was available the same night. I also tried to link the PR card with my application the same night within a couple of hours and it worked after a couple of times. The place of birth being entered should be exactly same as the application; else it’s hard to link.
My suggestion for the landing:
Prepare you GTF form with some details, like electronics and value and then in an excel, mention all the electronics. I did prepare a list of gold items but now I feel that I should have prepared a list of all the electronics as well. The officer himself suggested that put the values on the higher side so that I do not have to pay any tax later on when I am bringing them in.
Edit 1:
During Landing: The lady officer asked me, how much Cash I am carrying. I had less than $1500 CAD so she asked for Proof of Funds. I showed her my bank statement and she was okay.
She also asked me, why was I doing my landing now and not when I am permanently moving. I told her that the visa issued to me expires on April 3rd, 2018 and I wont be able to pack up and move from US by that time.
Edit 2:
In my opinion, if the officer at the booth allows you to enter without issuing you a new I94, then please do not request for a new I94, else you will be send to secondary and there will be tons of questions. the I-94 on the extension is totally valid so no need for a new I94. Also if you later on feel that there is a need for a new I-94 then you can go to a local Border Protection office(they are usually located near airports) and they will issue you a new I-94
