Hello CD members

I landed in Vancouver with my wife on 28th April 2007.



Here is our story:

I am currently working for a large Indian MNC (Software). I am posted for a project in the Bay Area, USA on a 6 month project.

On 28th April 2007, we boarded a flight to Vancouver from San Francisco.

We landed in Vancouver and went to customs with the customs form. Then we went to the Immigration folks. There was a special queue for new immigrants and we waited for 3.5 hours. Most of the immigration officers were taking care of the Business/Tourist/Work visa folks and hence there were only 2 officers to process the case of new immigrants.
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Representatives of an immigrant service organization provided us with information documents about how to apply for a SIN , health card, and such other formalities that new immigrants need to take care of.

We were given a token number and asked to wait in queue. The immigration officers were in their early 20s (unlike the elderly folks in US). Moreover, they were very polite and courteous (unlike the cold reception while entering USA). “It doesn’t hurt to smile” seems to be the theme everywhere.

We had taken the following:

-Education Certificates
-Birth Certificate
-Work exp letters
-Proof of funds (only 1000 US$ in travelers' checks and rest as a bank ATM slip in US$). I had prepared a statement showing the breakup and the account numbers.
-Address for PR card (A friends address)

The Immigration Officer asked us questions about our employment, how long we were going to be in Vancouver (since my destination was Toronto), and other details about marital status and whether we had comitted a crime.

The Immigration officer asked how much funds I was carrying. Then she specifically asked how much cash/draft/travelers' check I am carrying. I said that I have only 1000 US$ in travelers checks. She wrote it down on the COPR. Note that she did not ask to see the proof although I had carried it along with me.

I told her that once I find a job here, I will come and join. I explained to her that I am currently working in USA and I am looking for jobs in Canada. I explained that I have to have a clean exit from my current company.

The immigration officer stamped our passport and asked both of us some questions. Then she stamped another customs form which had a list of goods we had declared. And with that she said 'Welcome to Canada. All the best'. Which is when we became Canadian PR Holders!

Thats it! I had applied in 2001 and I received my COPR just 6 months back. It has taken me almost 6 years. And we landed in Vancouver this weekend. We returned to USA on Monday.

Lets us see how things work out and how soon I am able to get a job in Vancouver / Toronto.

Thanks CDs for all the guidance.

Regards
VL

Hello Dears ,

It is nice to see your experiance almost same with us last year in April , We Apply SIN from Surry BC & My Advise to you is Please Try to ask them after every 3 days Once 3 weeks Past Since Post System in BC is worst most of Post is Lost Specially Those Important We also lost Our SIN Cards . Dept. Records Show that it is Delivered but never Reched to us

Where you Sty in Vancouver ? BC is very Nice Place to Live & Work

Regards
Anwer

Hi Anwer,

I am now in the US. I returned to California after landing. I am now looking for jobs in my field in Vancouver. Once I find a job, I will move to Vancouver with all my stuff. Anyways my project in US is getting over in 4 months so I have to take a quick decision.

Thanks for your guidance about the SIN.

Regards
VL