Julie

I'm a U.S. citizen and here's my timeline/story:

1999 - Got employment authorization to work in Ottawa and have renewed my
authorization several times; therefore, I have remained in Canada the entire
time;
February, 2002 - Applied to Buffalo as a skilled worker;
December, 2002 - Married a Canadian citizen; Buffalo then switched my
application to family class;
September, 2003 (or thereabouts) - was notified that Buffalo still hadn't
received my medicals or RCMP clearance (it turns out Buffalo had spelled my
name 'Mc Tavish' with an extra space rather than 'McTavish' as I spell it,
so my medicals had been replaced and the RCMP had a huge pile of clearances
to get through so it was taking longer than originally anticipated);
December, 2003 - Request for passport received;
February 1, 2004 - Got passport back in the mail from Buffalo.

Affixed to one of the pages in my passport is my Permanent Resident Visa.
The envelope also contains a document called the Confirmation of Permanent
Residence (CPR). My instructions are to "personally appear at a Canadian
port of entry before the expiration date shown on your visa [June 6, 2004]
...you must present your passport and CDR to the immigration officer at the
port of entry...The immigration officer will then check your visa and travel
documents and ask you questions. If there are no difficulties, he/she will
authorize your admission to Canada as a permanent resident...The immigration
officer will also begin the application for your permanent resident card."

My questions are (and forgive me if this has already been addressed in
previous posts; I did a Google groups search but couldn't find the info I'm
looking for):

--Since I'm already in Canada, can I go to a Canadian port of entry without
leaving Canada or do I have to enter the U.S. and come back in?
--Is there a list of Canadian ports of entry somewhere? Can I just drive
down to Vermont from Montreal, spend the day there and drive back in? If so,
is there a particular port of entry I should go to that's near Montreal?
--Can I go to an airport and meet with an immigration officer without having
to fly out and come back?
--Is there an advantage to flying somewhere and talking to an immigration
officer when I go through customs when I get back or is it just as good to
do it by car?
--Finally, besides my passport and CPR, should I bring any other
documentation with me when I meet with the immigration officer?

Thanks!

Julie

Pmm

Hi Julie

"Julie" <> wrote in message
news:CMDTb.5913$...
    > I'm a U.S. citizen and here's my timeline/story:
    > 1999 - Got employment authorization to work in Ottawa and have renewed my
    > authorization several times; therefore, I have remained in Canada the
entire
    > time;
    > February, 2002 - Applied to Buffalo as a skilled worker;
    > December, 2002 - Married a Canadian citizen; Buffalo then switched my
    > application to family class;
    > September, 2003 (or thereabouts) - was notified that Buffalo still hadn't
    > received my medicals or RCMP clearance (it turns out Buffalo had spelled
my
    > name 'Mc Tavish' with an extra space rather than 'McTavish' as I spell it,
    > so my medicals had been replaced and the RCMP had a huge pile of
clearances
    > to get through so it was taking longer than originally anticipated);
    > December, 2003 - Request for passport received;
    > February 1, 2004 - Got passport back in the mail from Buffalo.
    > Affixed to one of the pages in my passport is my Permanent Resident Visa.
    > The envelope also contains a document called the Confirmation of Permanent
    > Residence (CPR). My instructions are to "personally appear at a Canadian
    > port of entry before the expiration date shown on your visa [June 6, 2004]
    > ...you must present your passport and CDR to the immigration officer at
the
    > port of entry...The immigration officer will then check your visa and
travel
    > documents and ask you questions. If there are no difficulties, he/she will
    > authorize your admission to Canada as a permanent resident...The
immigration
    > officer will also begin the application for your permanent resident card."
    > My questions are (and forgive me if this has already been addressed in
    > previous posts; I did a Google groups search but couldn't find the info
I'm
    > looking for):
    > --Since I'm already in Canada, can I go to a Canadian port of entry
without
    > leaving Canada or do I have to enter the U.S. and come back in?

Just drive through the POE and then take the road that says "back to Canada"
it is usually before the US Customs.

    > --Is there a list of Canadian ports of entry somewhere? Can I just drive
    > down to Vermont from Montreal, spend the day there and drive back in? If
so,
    > is there a particular port of entry I should go to that's near Montreal?

Any of the larger ones will have Immigration there.

    > --Can I go to an airport and meet with an immigration officer without
having
    > to fly out and come back?

No.
    > --Is there an advantage to flying somewhere and talking to an immigration
    > officer when I go through customs when I get back or is it just as good to
    > do it by car?

No advantage.

    > --Finally, besides my passport and CPR, should I bring any other
    > documentation with me when I meet with the immigration officer?

List of goods to follow for Customs. That is if you intend to import your
possession that are in the US.

    > Thanks!
    > Julie

PMM

Gus

Hi Julie,
Congratulations on your PR. Unfortunately, you may not land at an
airport if you are not flying in. Theoretically, you must enter from
the US. Therefore, you have to drive across the border, and then
return.
Border crossings will let you park in their lot on the Canadian
side, and simply "walk around the flag pole (US)" and return. It is
not necessary to spend more than 30 seconds in the US if you don't
want to. The one I went to on the BC/Washington state border didn't
really care if I took a walk or not. I simply parked in their lot,
walked in, and went to the immigration desk. No visit across the
border necessary (although I probably should have gone and bought
gas). I had previously tried both the airport and the ferry terminal,
and both turned me down.
One other thing to remember is that not all border crossings have
immigration facilities, and those that do may or may not be open all
the time, so pick your crossing and call ahead. I know there are a
couple of crossings in Vermont at Derby Line and Highgate, but I don't
know if they have immigration.
The only documentation I brought was the passport and associated
paperwork, as well as other ID. I also had a goods to follow list for
customs for stuff still in the states I wanted to bring in, in the
future. Have a nice drive.
gus

Julie

Thanks, Gus - just a quick question. Exactly who do I call to find out which
border crossings have immigration facilities?

Thanks!


"gus" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > Hi Julie,
    > Congratulations on your PR. Unfortunately, you may not land at an
    > airport if you are not flying in. Theoretically, you must enter from
    > the US. Therefore, you have to drive across the border, and then
    > return.
    > Border crossings will let you park in their lot on the Canadian
    > side, and simply "walk around the flag pole (US)" and return. It is
    > not necessary to spend more than 30 seconds in the US if you don't
    > want to. The one I went to on the BC/Washington state border didn't
    > really care if I took a walk or not. I simply parked in their lot,
    > walked in, and went to the immigration desk. No visit across the
    > border necessary (although I probably should have gone and bought
    > gas). I had previously tried both the airport and the ferry terminal,
    > and both turned me down.
    > One other thing to remember is that not all border crossings have
    > immigration facilities, and those that do may or may not be open all
    > the time, so pick your crossing and call ahead. I know there are a
    > couple of crossings in Vermont at Derby Line and Highgate, but I don't
    > know if they have immigration.
    > The only documentation I brought was the passport and associated
    > paperwork, as well as other ID. I also had a goods to follow list for
    > customs for stuff still in the states I wanted to bring in, in the
    > future. Have a nice drive.
    > gus

Pmm

Hi

"Julie" <> wrote in message
news:XoYTb.4492$...
    > Thanks, Gus - just a quick question. Exactly who do I call to find out
which
    > border crossings have immigration facilities?
    > Thanks!
    > "gus" <> wrote in message
    > news:...
    > > Hi Julie,
    > > Congratulations on your PR. Unfortunately, you may not land at an
    > > airport if you are not flying in. Theoretically, you must enter from
    > > the US. Therefore, you have to drive across the border, and then
    > > return.
    > > Border crossings will let you park in their lot on the Canadian
    > > side, and simply "walk around the flag pole (US)" and return. It is
    > > not necessary to spend more than 30 seconds in the US if you don't
    > > want to. The one I went to on the BC/Washington state border didn't
    > > really care if I took a walk or not. I simply parked in their lot,
    > > walked in, and went to the immigration desk. No visit across the
    > > border necessary (although I probably should have gone and bought
    > > gas). I had previously tried both the airport and the ferry terminal,
    > > and both turned me down.
    > > One other thing to remember is that not all border crossings have
    > > immigration facilities, and those that do may or may not be open all
    > > the time, so pick your crossing and call ahead. I know there are a
    > > couple of crossings in Vermont at Derby Line and Highgate, but I don't
    > > know if they have immigration.
    > > The only documentation I brought was the passport and associated
    > > paperwork, as well as other ID. I also had a goods to follow list for
    > > customs for stuff still in the states I wanted to bring in, in the
    > > future. Have a nice drive.
    > > gus

Phone the call centre for the locations in your area.

PMM

Francis Ds

Hi,

I hope this question does not invite any flames.

My family and I are considering emigrating to either Canada
or Australia. Both have pros and cons (our impressions : Canada has
more jobs [not just right now, though], but is too cold; Australia is
close to Asia, but fewer jobs, both have good public education).

Perhaps some of you have weighed these two countries,
and I would appreciate to learn some of the thinking you
went through before deciding on Canada.

Thanks

Francis

Robert

"Francis DS" <francisds@hotmail._com> wrote in message
news:c00go5$koe$...
    > Hi,
    > I hope this question does not invite any flames.
    > My family and I are considering emigrating to either Canada
    > or Australia. Both have pros and cons (our impressions : Canada has
    > more jobs [not just right now, though], but is too cold; Australia is
    > close to Asia, but fewer jobs, both have good public education).
    > Perhaps some of you have weighed these two countries,
    > and I would appreciate to learn some of the thinking you
    > went through before deciding on Canada.
    > Thanks
    > Francis
Ok Canada is too cold if you want to live up north!

Don't forget parts of Canada are further south than some US states (and not
just Alaska !!!)

and crops like grapes, apples, tobacco and many others don't like too much
cold.

No disrespect but do a little more geographical re-search before you make
such a wide ranging statement.

Canada for me has a more defined set of seasons unlike the UK or AU.

Either of your choices are pretty good for emigration.

Mine was a family choice and the job prospects were / ARE" good esp. for
skilled trades !!

Pundit

All come down to what you want. Can you name any country that does not
and pro and cons? At the end, you alone have to make the choice my
friend. Get a two pieces of paper and write down all good things about
Canada in the other all about Australia. This is not a new topic for
this group. But I can tell you this for sure the biggest influencing
factor is that where you coming from and what is your exaction.

Member456

Dear Francis,

I have lived in Australia, then Hong Kong and now Canada.

Canada and Australia are excellent choices, however it all depends on
what you are expecting. Both Canada and Australia have high rates of
taxation so you hard earned dollars get burned away through federal
and provincial taxes. Jobs are available in both countries, but it all
depends upon where you are going in Canada and Australia & what sector
your desired job will fall under.

Canada is not entirely cold, Vancouver is warm in comparison to the
rest of the country, but then again the job you desire will depend as
to whether that industry is significant in this region.

Salary wise you may be shocked to note that in comparison to Hong Kong
you might feel a bit let down initially, but it will gradually
increase with more experience in this country. However if you are
looking for immediate results salarywise, then either country does not
score good points.

When you refer to public education, do you have expectations with
regards to educating yourself or your kids ? For your kids if you have
any, yes I would give a good score for both nations.

Deciding on which country to immigrate to will depend on what you are
willing to give up where you are and being able to adjust to the new
conditions in Canada/Australia. Immigrating is an exciting process,
but once you get to your new home, there are alot of things or
activities you miss from your home country. If you can adjust it will
be a pleasant process, however if you keep comparing thats when the
problem starts. To decide which country you want to go to, I would say
what are you willing to do "Think Canadian" or "Think Australian" if
neither, you will know what to do.

Having lived in the two countries, I have to say that Canada
appreciates immigrants. In Australia I did not feel that welcomed in
comparison. Canadians on the whole are very accommodating and helpful
& must say extremely polite, I guess that comes from me living in the
US for a while. So for all you Canadians reading this, Long Live
Canada !! Not that Aussies are not kind, but Australia has a
significant aging population with people of the old order and did not
seem to be hospitable to the Asian community in particular. So until
they die out, the right wingers are getting their way through their
anti-immigration prime minister John Howard. Hate to be harsh to my
beloved Aussie friends, but Mr.Howard is not making it any easier, in
fact more restrictive. In Canada, the government or rather the
Immigration Minister tried to raise the bar for new immigrants, but
with our strong believers in Human Rights, that action was short
lived. Well done to the people of Canada.

In terms of renting or buying a house, Canadian properties are much
much better. Our utilities and telecom services are far more superior
than Australia. For these basic services, Australia is terribly
expensive, in comparison to Canada. Canada with its proximity to the
US has caught on to the capitalist, competitive bug so prices are
competitive.

Foodwise, Australia has the edge with natural foods, Canada is not too
bad either, but on a personal note, i just thought Australia had the
edge.

Australia recreation wise, they are a happy go lucky bunch and always
involved in exciting activities, partly because their climate allows
for it. Not that Canadians dont have fun, but we have different
activities.

In terms of banking services, banks in both Australia and Canada have
a lot of irritating charges which were absent in the banking sector in
Hong Kong. With the exception of CIBC and HSBC who keep their
services, without many of those service charges. On a financial note,
for both countries, Hong Kong still offers better investment
opportunties and more competitive rates on currency conversion.
However once you get to Canada your world income becomes taxable but
in Australia from my understanding they may not tax your global
income. Please check it out not sure about this one.

Public transport if you wont have a car initially, Sydney and
Melbourne have decent bus and train services, except on Sundays, it
would be faster to walk (just a joke here) In Canada it depends which
city you come to. I can only speak for Vancouver, which has a fairly
decent public transportation system.

With regard to shopping, Australia gets no brownie points from me.
Canada definitely rocks for product variety. However both Canada and
Australia have the dreaded GST !!!! (General Sales Tax) So you think
something costs a 100 dollars then think again add the GST !!!!!!!

In general both Canada and Australia have decent medical services, of
course thats what those high taxes pay for.

Now if you can't find all the info from the NET or from other sources
just visit Canada and Australia & see for yourself, because the worst
thing you could do is get here and then regret it. Good luck with
regard to your decision.

Member456

Compiler

You may have chosen the Australia, however. Next, it's your turn to
make the comments. Is there anyone there?