so I’m currently an Australia citizen & Canadian permanent resident. I currently do not hold my PR for Canada and on the advise of my lawyer will be entering Canada through the United States at a port of entry. When I arrive in the US, I am visiting friends in Phoenix for 1 month before I head to the Canadian border. I am entering the US on an ESTA from Australia through the VWP on a one way ticket. Will I be okay in this case since I have proof I am permanently leaving the US to Canada since I don’t have a return flight? It’s justtt too late for me to get a B2 visa since I leave in a week. Thank you!
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Officially one of the requirements to enter the US using the Visa Waiver Program is that you are "in possession of a round-trip transportation ticket". This previous answer includes links to the specific legislation that covers this requirements and includes further details on the exact requirements.
Given your specific circumstances it's likely that US immigration would allow your entry, however your issue will not be with US immigration, but with your airline.
Enforcement of the "return ticket" requirement is carried out by the airline that carries you to the US. They have a legal obligation to confirm that you meet certain criteria before they are allowed let you board the flight - and a return ticket is one of those conditions.
Realistically I don't believe anyone other than possibly the airline will be able to give you a definitive answer as to whether they will allow you board the flight to the US. By the letter of the law, it's a clear-cut 'no', however it's possible they will make an exception based on your Canadian PR - but officially doing so leaves them open to being fined by the US Government for allowing you board a flight without meeting the VWP requirements.
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