2.0 Starting an Immigrant Life

2.1 Completing the Landing Process (1)

In the summer of 2000, I received the immigration visa and Record of Landing mailed from the Consulate General of Canada in Buffalo. Since I was studying in Montreal, I decided to complete the landing process at the US/Canadian border.

It was a Monday, a day like any other day to other people; however, to me, it was a milestone on my life journey. In the early morning, I arrived in Montreal Greyhound Bus Terminal located next to Berri-Uqam Metro station and purchased a one-way bus ticket from Montreal, Canada to Champlain, the USA. I was asked to show my passport and visa when I boarded the bus. After the bus driver knew my travel purpose, he asked me to sit just behind him. He congratulated me on my status and he said he would let me know when the bus was arriving at the border.

One hour later, I got off the bus and stood right at the door of the Canadian Border Service Agency. I was surprised to see so many people waiting there. Most of them were women, children and elderly people. “Oh my God,” I said to myself:”They come earlier than me.” While through further careful observation, I was aware that those people with sad and depressed faces were probably illegal refugees who were detained in the border or sent back by the American side.

An officer approached me and asked me:”what can I do for you, sir?” I showed my passport and landing document to him and explained:”I am a new immigrant, I want to complete my landing process today.” He smiled: “You need to go over to the American side, fill out a form, get a seal and come back.” I suddenly realized that was right. How could I complete a landing process if I had never left the country?

I had no choice so I walked across the border. Ten minutes later, I stopped at the American Border Inspection Station. I told one American officer if he could help accelerate the process. The officer with a poker face didn’t say any word. He took a glance at the picture and identity page on my passport and had a quick verification for the immigration visa and landing document. Then he asked me to sign a form and then he stamped a seal on the form. He guided me to the other door and said:”Take this form back to the Canadian side. “That’s it?” I questioned. “Yes sir.” He suddenly replied in a high sweet voice. Awesome! The whole process took only three minutes.

When I walked back to the Canadian side, I was very excited. It was so easy to walk to the USA and back to Canada within twenty minutes. It was just like visiting my next door neighbor. I never imagined this day would come. Just like a magic! What a wonderful experience! Thank Canada for giving me this opportunity. At that moment I felt myself so lucky that I could become one part of 32 million Canadian people.

-- To be continued