Just received my VISA, what now ?

[newliweds 0]

Hello everybody, I am a Canadian and she's American. After two years of waiting, I finally received my passport with the visa !! Hooray !!

The passport came with a sealed package which has a note on top says"DO NOT OPEN !", it came with a few pages of instruction sheet, I went through it and am still clear as mud

Here's a few questions / confusions that I will need help with:

1. The instruction sheet says I will have to hand over the package to the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) at POE (Port of entry), and it says that process may take up to a few hours.

My question is, what is this process at the DHS gonna be ? and since I am flying down there, and I know for sure the airlines only begin their check-in 1.5 hrs prior to boarding, does that mean if the DHS takes more than a few hrs, I will be missing my flight ?

2. I live in a small Canadian town that's very close to the US boarder, quite often I just drove down there to buy gas and cheap groceries, now, with this CR1 stamp on my passport, can I still drive across the boarder without activating the visa ?

3. I have been living with my parents this whole time, I rather leave most of my personal stuff in Canada(driver's license, tax tub, bank info, etc), and start fresh in the US, what official documents must I bring with me (passport is the only one i can think of atm) ?

4. I am not sure if this is the proper forum to ask this question, (if not i will re post it appropriately), but do I need to inform the Canadian government that I will be living and working in a forigen country ? And what about Canadian TAX filing ?

Thank you whoever's gonna take the time to read and answer them.

[canuckbos 10]

Hello everybody, I am a Canadian and she's American. After two years of waiting, I finally received my passport with the visa !! Hooray !!

The passport came with a sealed package which has a note on top says"DO NOT OPEN !", it came with a few pages of instruction sheet, I went through it and am still clear as mud

Here's a few questions / confusions that I will need help with:

1. The instruction sheet says I will have to hand over the package to the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) at POE (Port of entry), and it says that process may take up to a few hours.

My question is, what is this process at the DHS gonna be ? and since I am flying down there, and I know for sure the airlines only begin their check-in 1.5 hrs prior to boarding, does that mean if the DHS takes more than a few hrs, I will be missing my flight ?

``You hand in your package and an officer will process it. They take your fingerprints. My processìng took place in 45 minute. I've read that the normal course is an hour. So make sure you have that hour to do the processing.``

2. I live in a small Canadian town that's very close to the US boarder, quite often I just drove down there to buy gas and cheap groceries, now, with this CR1 stamp on my passport, can I still drive across the boarder without activating the visa ?

``No, the first time you cross, you hand over your package and get processed, however you can go back to Canada to finish up your job or prepare for the move. I stayed a weekend and am now back in Canada until the end of September.

3. I have been living with my parents this whole time, I rather leave most of my personal stuff in Canada(driver's license, tax tub, bank info, etc), and start fresh in the US, what official documents must I bring with me (passport is the only one i can think of atm) ?

Only your passport is needed. Good Luck!

4. I am not sure if this is the proper forum to ask this question, (if not i will re post it appropriately), but do I need to inform the Canadian government that I will be living and working in a forigen country ? And what about Canadian TAX filing ?

Not sure of the correct answer but I assume when you file your 2011 Canadian and American taxes they will know. I haven't come across any documents regarding this. I have property so there is a requirement here when selling it, but otherwise I do not think so. Someone else may correct me.

Thank you whoever's gonna take the time to read and answer them.

[OBX 51]

Hello everybody, I am a Canadian and she's American. After two years of waiting, I finally received my passport with the visa !! Hooray !!

The passport came with a sealed package which has a note on top says"DO NOT OPEN !", it came with a few pages of instruction sheet, I went through it and am still clear as mud

Here's a few questions / confusions that I will need help with:

1. The instruction sheet says I will have to hand over the package to the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) at POE (Port of entry), and it says that process may take up to a few hours.

My question is, what is this process at the DHS gonna be ? and since I am flying down there, and I know for sure the airlines only begin their check-in 1.5 hrs prior to boarding, does that mean if the DHS takes more than a few hrs, I will be missing my flight ?

Try posting which airport you will POE at and others with direct experience can give you an idea of how much time prior to departure you will need.

2. I live in a small Canadian town that's very close to the US boarder, quite often I just drove down there to buy gas and cheap groceries, now, with this CR1 stamp on my passport, can I still drive across the boarder without activating the visa ?

It is entirely up to the CBP officer that processes you whether or not they will let you enter without processing your visa. In most cases they do require you to do so at first entry, however, as posted above you can enter and return to Canada to tie up loose ends.

3. I have been living with my parents this whole time, I rather leave most of my personal stuff in Canada(driver's license, tax tub, bank info, etc), and start fresh in the US, what official documents must I bring with me (passport is the only one i can think of atm) ?

All you need is your passport.

4. I am not sure if this is the proper forum to ask this question, (if not i will re post it appropriately), but do I need to inform the Canadian government that I will be living and working in a forigen country ? And what about Canadian TAX filing ?

You only need to advise CRA of your departure on your exit tax return which you will file next year. There will be line where you note the date you ceased to be resident.

Thank you whoever's gonna take the time to read and answer them.

Good luck!

[newliweds 0]

Thank you for the quick reply, guys !!!

Try posting which airport you will POE at and others with direct experience can give you an idea of how much time prior to departure you will need.

Ok, the airport I will most likely flying out is gonna be YVR, Vancouver International Airport.

I haven't booked the ticket yet, but I think the airlines will most likely to be either United Airline, or Air Canada, or Alaska/Horizon.

If the processing at the POE takes about 1hr, how should I get pass the secuirty check before the airline begin its check-in ?

You only need to advise CRA of your departure on your exit tax return which you will file next year. There will be line where you note the date you ceased to be resident.

Will that terminate my Canadian citizenship ? I have no plan to become American citizen since my wife and I may want to move to Toronto in the future, or should I become American citizen and pay both American tax and Canadian tax ? I am really confused how this works !

[M in CA 9]

You have a 2 year visa to live in USA as a resident - with authorization to work. Don't forget to renew it 90 days before it expires!

It is NOT citizenship... although some end up taking that path later on after living in USA the required number of years.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

You have a 2 year visa to live in USA as a resident - with authorization to work. Don't forget to renew it 90 days before it expires!

It is NOT citizenship... although some end up taking that path later on after living in USA the required number of years.

This is incorrect. The Cr-1 visa is good for the entry. The I551 stamp is good until the green card arrives. The visa will probably be good for 6 months so don't worry about renewing anything 90 days before the visa expires

Do you plan on driving in the US before you are able to get your American DL? Then you might want to bring your Canadian one

Read the YVR reviews posted here

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Vancouver&dfilter=0

No, you will not terminate your Canadian citizenship. You will become an American permenant resident. If you decide to become and American, well that is your choice but you are still a few years away from having to make that decision

Good luck

[lyndsaycribbs 17]

you wont be handing your sealed envelope over until your plane lands in the USA and you go through the security checkpoint where they check your passport. You wont miss your flight out of Canada because you don't give the envelope to the check in desk.

[keysjangle 145]

You can check reviews of POEs for your airport. There's a link near the top of the page.

[Ryan H 3,790]

you wont be handing your sealed envelope over until your plane lands in the USA and you go through the security checkpoint where they check your passport. You wont miss your flight out of Canada because you don't give the envelope to the check in desk.

Most Canadian airports have customs preclearance facilities. When there is a preclearance facility, customs procedures will take place there.

[newliweds 0]

you wont be handing your sealed envelope over until your plane lands in the USA and you go through the security checkpoint where they check your passport. You wont miss your flight out of Canada because you don't give the envelope to the check in desk.

That is not true, I have flew down to the states via YVR once, and to my surprise, the US POE is right after the security check !!! (I know it's strange, since when has YVR became part of USA ?)

anyways, I will check out of that link reagarding POE YVR procedures.

Thanks every body !

[keysjangle 145]

Pearson in Ontario is the same way. Check in > straight to Customs & Border Patrol > Drop off bags > Security.