Entering to Canada for PR card

[Delta Jay]

Hello,

I just got my permanent residency approval. I live in Edmonton, Alberta. I am thinking to cross the boarder by road and re-enter. Only problem is that I have US visitor visa but I don't wanna visit US. I just want to cross Canadian boarder and come back. Is it possible or I have to do my stamping at US boarder?

Please advise me asap. Thanks in advance.

 

[rhcohen2014]

no you don't have to cross into the us. you have to drive to the us border and ask to "flagpole". the border agents will then direct you what to do. it is very common at land borders. you don't actually enter the us, you basically get approval to turn back around to enter canada.

ps... you don't actually get your pr card at this time. what you are doing is "landing", and the border agents will then send in the application for your card. it can take 2-3 months to receive the actual card in the mail. until then, you will be able to use your COPR (the paper you received as your approval) and passport to prove your status.

 

[Delta Jay]

Thank you so much for your help. My only worry is that I got US visitor visa in 2012, as I was planning to visit but it never worked out well. Are they going to ask any question about it? I don't want my US visa to get cancelled.

Let me know

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thank you so much for your help. My only worry is that I got US visitor visa in 2012, as I was planning to visit but it never worked out well. Are they going to ask any question about it? I don't want my US visa to get cancelled.

Let me know

no you are not attempting to enter the us. you are simply asking for permission to turn around and flagpole to land as a pr in canada.

 

[Delta Jay]

Got it. Thank you so much

 

[Rob_TO]

Technically yes, you must leave Canada to actually flagpole, so you do need to attempt to enter US.

However for people that are not admissible to US, just tell the US officer you want to do a flagpole PR landing and they will give you something called an "administrative refusal". This shows you attempted to enter, and this is what the Canadian CBSA officer will need to see before they can do your PR landing.