The line up is horrendous! Can we activate pr at the same time as getting our i94? Thanks

Someone please? I'm standing in a horrendous queue with three peed off kids do I get pr activated now as well as getting i94 or do we have to wait till we've been into states and do it on the way back!? Anyone any ideas?

Ok, saw another thread from you.

So looks like you're going from CA, into USA, going to a mall, then coming back into Canada to activate your PR.

In which case, Yes, you will need to fill out the I94 as you are entering USA on I presume a UK passport. You CANNOT do PR at the same time at that border as it's the US border and NOT the Canadian border. You will need to still go into the US and then leave the US and enter Canada at the border and then activate PR.

Activation is upon entry to Canada not departure. Unless I are activating a US PR but I suspect u would be on the US forum if so ?

Thanks guys, what a complete mare!
Half hour queue to get to the office, three hours in line! Packed in like sheep! (Autistics hate being touched btw and noise and lines..!) anyway we finally made it into USA and then had lunch and a two hour line up to come back tics nada and finally finally get PR!
Now in rubbish hotel right next to a train track in Langley cos *somebody* didn't check the trip advisor report! Groan!

That must have been a nightmare!

However.. congrats on the PR and welcome to Canada eh!

Welcome back Permanently Residential family

Oh, I don't know. Sounds like another bunch of screw up immigrants to me.

Dont ya just love flag pole-ing!

Did you go through Aldergrove/Lynden? Ice cream at Edaleen usually makes it all better (although I suppose it was a bit cold for that yesterday!)

We went thru pacific crossing cos the website said there was only a 30 min wait. They mean a 30 min wait in your car before you go in for paperwork, then you'll be there 2:30 hrs! Other side coming back queued in car for about an hour, then about two people in front of us to come back in!
Thank god it's all over, can't believe these places know they will have bored kids in them for hours and do nothing to entertain them! We had toys for smallest but 13yo was already anxious and upset after flying (which apparently he hates) and facing a similar wait to come back across the border again he was understandably stressed.
Anyway we managed it! A vending machine wouldn't have killed them, or more than one loo- 25 min queue for that too! With a toddler!! Ugh just horrible experience.

If you're in a car, Peace Arch usually has a shorter line up but secondary takes just as long.

That's nothing, CBP are not allowed by regulation to even put signs up anymore to say "wait to be called" or stuff like that. So apparently you are supposed to know this using your psychic abilities. They did finally concede to putting TVs in, then they got complaints about the channel so now you have to talk to a supervisor if you want your kids to watch a kids channel.

All I can say is, if you think Pacific Highway is bad, try San Ysidro, it's ten times the size I reckon. Always take a book and some food with you.