Revin Kevin

Intending to move permanently to Canada this summer having previously "soft landed to activate PR" . At the time of our landing we were told I seem to remember, to bring the goods to follow list when we moved to Canada full time. With this in mind what will happen at the airport? I have produced a spread sheet which I will print out and take with us, do I just tell them at the kiosk that I have a list and they take it off me and say have a nice day or is it more complicated? I'm asking because our flight connection is 1hr 30mins so time will be pretty tight.

christmasoompa

Can you change your second flight? 1.5 hours would be tight even if you didn't have to do all of that faffing around and waiting at customs!

Former Lancastrian

As you did a soft landing with no intention of residing permanently at the time you should on arrival be telling CBSA that you did a soft landing (watch for officers look of bewilderment when you say that) and they should send you to secondary to have the B4A form completed and stamp your goods to follow list which should be 2 x copies.

Revin Kevin

We did have a longer connection but the airline changed the times, had a look on line and they would want more to change it than the ticket cost in the first place!

Revin Kevin

Sounds like it could be time consuming? could I maybe deal with the CBSA at my final destination instead.

christmasoompa

If they've changed the time significantly then you should be able to change it for free?

Revin Kevin

They have given more than 7 days notice and changed the time by less than 3 hours so apparently that's fine!

christmasoompa

Oh bum. I'd try phoning them and explaining the situation, tell them you can't accept the proposed new flight time as you are actually emigrating and it won't give you time to get through immigration/customs so you need a free flight change to a later connecting flight. Worth a try anyway, be super polite and appeal to their better nature.

Revin Kevin

Last time we flew with the same airline we paid extra for tickets that could be changed "free of charge" catch is whilst they don't charge you for carrying out the change they do charge you for the difference in fares which close to your time of travel is likely to be many times your original ticket cost.

Former Lancastrian

No because you would be on a domestic flight and won't clear Customs at your final destination.

Revin Kevin

Good Point!
Once in front of the secondary offer how long would it typically take to process a traveller's B4A?

Former Lancastrian

Depends where you are in the queue. If at Pearson it could be anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple of hours dependent on how many other large flights have arrived at the same time or just before you.

Revin Kevin

It doesn't look like we can guarantee catching the connecting flight as we would only have a maximum of say an hour (that's if the first flight is on time) so what about if we were to arrive normally and then do a "flagpole" trip to the US border to register the list the next day as it's only just over an hour away?

Former Lancastrian

Your choice if you want to do it that way. On arrival at USCBP either tell them you want to flagpole and take the Administrative refusal or go for lunch then come back. Make sure you have the e passport from the UK and you will need to pay the VWP fee if wishing to enter the US and make sure you have $6 USD in cash each person..