bloodyguitars
Star Member
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« Reply #10080 on: February 24, 2012, 12:55:15 pm » |
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One other note on obtaining a driver's licence in Canada: get your driving record from your US state BEFORE you try.
In British Columbia, they required evidence that I'd had my US license for at least two years - but I'd renewed it within the past two years, so it wasn't obvious from the license itself. My license was issued by New Hampshire and THEY wouldn't issue a letter to ICBC (the licencing agency in BC) when it was requested. To get a letter stating that I'd had a NH license since 1995 I had to go IN PERSON to the state capitol and apply for it (I recall it was $15 to obtain.)
With that letter and my existing US license, getting my BC licence was a breeze. In fact, I just renewed my BC licence - good for five years this time around (two years the first time). And they required evidence of status (in my case a work permit still) to renew it.
Thanks for the tip! |
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bloodyguitars
Star Member
Posts: 74
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« Reply #10081 on: February 24, 2012, 12:59:46 pm » |
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Yes, I had a pretty easy time of it in Ontario. They didn't require any additional documents other than my California DL but it had been (and was still) valid for more than 2 years. I did have to surrender the California license though. And they did allow me to put my married name on the Ontario DL because I had my marriage cert with me even though my CA DL still had my maiden name.
Sigh! since I am going to be in Ontario too, I guess it should be pretty easy too:). Did you need to wait to get PR card before getting the license or the stamp in a passport was sufficient? I heard it takes about a month at least to get the PR card and I cannot afford to wait that long to get the license. thanks! |
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bloodyguitars
Star Member
Posts: 74
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« Reply #10082 on: February 24, 2012, 01:08:16 pm » |
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Just to add to the insuring a driver/car dialogue:
My husband (canadian) was actually able to get drivers insurance for both of us and the insurance company insured me based on my US driving record which I had to get from the DMV and my previous insurer. I did not have an Ontario DL at the time but got one shortly after.
and on the car export process:
If you have the documents ahead of time, you do not leave your car in the US for 3 days but do double, triple, quadruple check this with the US border patrol!
We had (apparently) failed to export our canadian car (it had been the states for some time but never imported due to a student visa loophole) even though he had brought it back into Canada without issue and when we crossed the border from Canada to the US, they threatened to impound the car or charge us $500 fine unless we kept the car in the states for 72 hours to go through the export process. They would hear nothing of the student visa rule that allows a canadian student in California to bring in their vehicle without importing it (per CA DMV). It was not possible for us to stay in the US for 72 hours at that time so we ignored them and went back into Canada (again, no problem). Now we just rent a car if we need to cross the border.
Thanks for the insurance tip, but I am little bit confused here regarding the "loophole in student visa rule". I am on work visa in US and wondering if there are any restrictions on importing the car to Canada (My spouse is Canadian)? Wasnt your car originally in USA/ or didnt you export it legally from USA at the border? Why would they threaten to impound your car...  If you can shed some light on it, that would be great. |
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bloodyguitars
Star Member
Posts: 74
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« Reply #10083 on: February 24, 2012, 01:09:16 pm » |
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Congrats mumbles!!!That's a great news!
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astegenga
Full Member
Posts: 21
Ratings: +2
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo / New York
App. Filed.......: 07-09-2011
AOR Received.: 09-01-2012
File Transfer...: 23-02-2012
Med's Done....: 01-04-2011
Passport Req..: 22-03-2012
VISA ISSUED...: 
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« Reply #10084 on: February 24, 2012, 02:23:46 pm » |
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Sigh! since I am going to be in Ontario too, I guess it should be pretty easy too:). Did you need to wait to get PR card before getting the license or the stamp in a passport was sufficient? I heard it takes about a month at least to get the PR card and I cannot afford to wait that long to get the license.
thanks!
I still don't have PR card so you definitely don't need one to get a drivers license. I brought my US passport as a second form of ID but I don't think they even checked for a stamp. So no worries  Thanks for the insurance tip, but I am little bit confused here regarding the "loophole in student visa rule". I am on work visa in US and wondering if there are any restrictions on importing the car to Canada (My spouse is Canadian)? Wasnt your car originally in USA/ or didnt you export it legally from USA at the border? Why would they threaten to impound your car... If you can shed some light on it, that would be great. It was my husband's car that he bought in Ontario years ago. He then did a PhD in California and according to the DMV there, people on student visas in CA do not need to import their car in order to register it in the state (I guess they figure you will be leaving in 4-ish years anyway?). So he brought his Canadian car into California (no exporting/importing done at that point) and registered it at the CA DMV under this rule. When we moved back to Ontario last year, we drove the car back into Canada and it was "imported" by the canadian border patrol with a note saying that it was a canadian car returning to canada. So not a full import. The problem was when we took the same car back across the border into the US just for the day. At the US border, US Border Patrol asked why the car had never been exported from the US since it had been registered with the CA DMV. We tried to explain that it had never been imported into the US, just registered under this DMV law. I guess they didn't believe us so they started threatening to impound it or make us pay the fine unless we went through the export process. Canada couldn't have cared less about our car's export status from the US. All this to say - if you have your export paperwork in order beforehand, you will avoid this. Just make sure you check everything with the US side. |
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astegenga
Full Member
Posts: 21
Ratings: +2
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo / New York
App. Filed.......: 07-09-2011
AOR Received.: 09-01-2012
File Transfer...: 23-02-2012
Med's Done....: 01-04-2011
Passport Req..: 22-03-2012
VISA ISSUED...:
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« Reply #10085 on: February 24, 2012, 02:31:58 pm » |
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Your PR card will come under the name that is on your passport, so no. You'll need to get a new passport and send CIC a copy.
Thanks awor, I thought so. Its quite expensive to get a new US passport just to change the name so I think I'll just stick with it until I need to renew it next year. Does anyone foresee my maiden name on my PR card causing problems in Canada? I would venture to guess that I can have the name on the PR card changed after the fact? |
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mumbles
Star Member
Posts: 159
Ratings: +4
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo
App. Filed.......: 14-09-2011
AOR Received.: 06-01-2012
File Transfer...: 16-11-2011
Med's Done....: 10-05-11
Interview........: waived
Passport Req..: 16-03-12
LANDED..........: 05-05-12
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« Reply #10086 on: February 24, 2012, 02:49:40 pm » |
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First of all, thank you so much for taking pains to write out such a detailed reply! Just couple of quick questions, please correct me if I am wrong. It sounds like Export process will happen before I enter Canada ,on American side of POE and Import(RIV) process will take place on other side of POE (i.e . in Canada). Looks like its safe to pay the RIV fee at the border as the online payment requires the code from the Customs Stamp on Form 1. After I get Form 1 and Form 2 , I go to Canadian Tire anywhere in my Province and get the inspection done. How much time I have to complete this step? 30/45 days? Once I am done with Canadian Tire, I can go for Province Registration, which should give me the permanent number plate? I am really thankful to you again for such a great reply Yes.... the export takes place on the US side...also...the export office isnt open 24/7 like all the other crossings...so you need to contact them and find out when they are open...When we crossed with ours and were looking for the info it was a recorded msg on the phone with hours and days available for export....We crossed into BC....just make sure you fax or email all the documents you need to send them 72 hours before hand.... The RIV fee....we were told we would need to pay this at the border but once we got to the border they did not want us to pay it...the canadian border officer asked us to go online to pay this and they stamped our form ...we then used the code they stamped on it to pay the fees online. ....you may , however, have to pay a A/c excise tax....not sure...we had to but we were not settled in canada yet so this may be different for you. the A/C tax was $100. I seem to remember that once you paid the RIV fee online they allowed you to print the form you needed to go to Canadian Tire... as for the time to get the inspection done...i think you have 30 days....they will tell you for sure at the border. Keep in mind you will also have to get a provincial inspection done as well which was $115. Canadian tire will do this all at once. If your car fails the RIV inspection ...they give 30 days to correct the problem and you can go back to the same technician and he will re-inspect for free within that time period. Same for the provincial inspection. You will also have to pay a tire levy on each tire ...not much... When you go to register abnd insure your car you will obviously need all this paperwork with you. Hope this info helps |
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bloodyguitars
Star Member
Posts: 74
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« Reply #10087 on: February 24, 2012, 02:50:36 pm » |
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I still don't have PR card so you definitely don't need one to get a drivers license. I brought my US passport as a second form of ID but I don't think they even checked for a stamp. So no worries It was my husband's car that he bought in Ontario years ago. He then did a PhD in California and according to the DMV there, people on student visas in CA do not need to import their car in order to register it in the state (I guess they figure you will be leaving in 4-ish years anyway?). So he brought his Canadian car into California (no exporting/importing done at that point) and registered it at the CA DMV under this rule. When we moved back to Ontario last year, we drove the car back into Canada and it was "imported" by the canadian border patrol with a note saying that it was a canadian car returning to canada. So not a full import. The problem was when we took the same car back across the border into the US just for the day. At the US border, US Border Patrol asked why the car had never been exported from the US since it had been registered with the CA DMV. We tried to explain that it had never been imported into the US, just registered under this DMV law. I guess they didn't believe us so they started threatening to impound it or make us pay the fine unless we went through the export process. Canada couldn't have cared less about our car's export status from the US. All this to say - if you have your export paperwork in order beforehand, you will avoid this. Just make sure you check everything with the US side. Really sorry to know that you guys have to go through such a pain. Really pathetic and inefficient on their part,I must say. I bought my car here in US and never been imported/exported before. I guess I will fax them everything one week in advance just to be on the safer side. Good to know that I don't have to wait for PR card to get my drivers license in Ontario. Thank you for the info |
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mumbles
Star Member
Posts: 159
Ratings: +4
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo
App. Filed.......: 14-09-2011
AOR Received.: 06-01-2012
File Transfer...: 16-11-2011
Med's Done....: 10-05-11
Interview........: waived
Passport Req..: 16-03-12
LANDED..........: 05-05-12
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« Reply #10088 on: February 24, 2012, 02:51:47 pm » |
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One other note on obtaining a driver's licence in Canada: get your driving record from your US state BEFORE you try.
In British Columbia, they required evidence that I'd had my US license for at least two years - but I'd renewed it within the past two years, so it wasn't obvious from the license itself. My license was issued by New Hampshire and THEY wouldn't issue a letter to ICBC (the licencing agency in BC) when it was requested. To get a letter stating that I'd had a NH license since 1995 I had to go IN PERSON to the state capitol and apply for it (I recall it was $15 to obtain.)
With that letter and my existing US license, getting my BC licence was a breeze. In fact, I just renewed my BC licence - good for five years this time around (two years the first time). And they required evidence of status (in my case a work permit still) to renew it.
When i went into a local Drivers Service Center(BC) they informed me that it would be best if my husband had 10 years of Driving records...This would insure that they would not make him go through the new driver program.... |
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mumbles
Star Member
Posts: 159
Ratings: +4
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo
App. Filed.......: 14-09-2011
AOR Received.: 06-01-2012
File Transfer...: 16-11-2011
Med's Done....: 10-05-11
Interview........: waived
Passport Req..: 16-03-12
LANDED..........: 05-05-12
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« Reply #10089 on: February 24, 2012, 02:53:13 pm » |
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Congrats mumbles!!!That's a great news!
Thanks Bloodyguitars1! we are excited things are moving in a forward direction lol...so its seems anyways |
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mumbles
Star Member
Posts: 159
Ratings: +4
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo
App. Filed.......: 14-09-2011
AOR Received.: 06-01-2012
File Transfer...: 16-11-2011
Med's Done....: 10-05-11
Interview........: waived
Passport Req..: 16-03-12
LANDED..........: 05-05-12
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« Reply #10090 on: February 24, 2012, 02:58:33 pm » |
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ALSO....just wanted to point out this fact again...The Canadian side DOES NOT care if you export the car before importing it into Canada.....BUT...if you DO NOT export the car and then try and drive the car from the Canadian side through to the US side....they could potentially fine you $5000. Its a very simple process to export and well worth the piece of mind....
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bloodyguitars
Star Member
Posts: 74
Ratings: +0
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« Reply #10091 on: February 24, 2012, 03:08:40 pm » |
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Yes.... the export takes place on the US side...also...the export office isnt open 24/7 like all the other crossings...so you need to contact them and find out when they are open...When we crossed with ours and were looking for the info it was a recorded msg on the phone with hours and days available for export....We crossed into BC....just make sure you fax or email all the documents you need to send them 72 hours before hand.... The RIV fee....we were told we would need to pay this at the border but once we got to the border they did not want us to pay it...the canadian border officer asked us to go online to pay this and they stamped our form ...we then used the code they stamped on it to pay the fees online. ....you may , however, have to pay a A/c excise tax....not sure...we had to but we were not settled in canada yet so this may be different for you. the A/C tax was $100. I seem to remember that once you paid the RIV fee online they allowed you to print the form you needed to go to Canadian Tire... as for the time to get the inspection done...i think you have 30 days....they will tell you for sure at the border. Keep in mind you will also have to get a provincial inspection done as well which was $115. Canadian tire will do this all at once. If your car fails the RIV inspection ...they give 30 days to correct the problem and you can go back to the same technician and he will re-inspect for free within that time period. Same for the provincial inspection. You will also have to pay a tire levy on each tire ...not much... When you go to register abnd insure your car you will obviously need all this paperwork with you. Hope this info helps Yes, that definitely makes things more clear. Thanks a lot for the clarification and taking time to respond, I really appreciate it . I must add, this forum has been fantastic in terms of sharing the knowledge and helping each other, keep up the good work guys |
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bloodyguitars
Star Member
Posts: 74
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« Reply #10092 on: February 24, 2012, 03:10:53 pm » |
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ALSO....just wanted to point out this fact again...The Canadian side DOES NOT care if you export the car before importing it into Canada.....BUT...if you DO NOT export the car and then try and drive the car from the Canadian side through to the US side....they could potentially fine you $5000. Its a very simple process to export and well worth the piece of mind....
Yes, I am definitely planning on exporting it first before importing. Can't afford to leave those required (read legal) boxes unchecked  Thanks for the tip! |
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Rouge
Star Member
Posts: 95
Ratings: +0
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo ---> NY Visa office 29/2/2012
File Transfer...: NY Visa office 29/2/2012
Passport Req..: 19-03-2012
VISA ISSUED...: 29-03-2012
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« Reply #10093 on: February 24, 2012, 03:42:40 pm » |
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 I feel down... It has been 6 months since I sent the application and I have not heard anything from Buffalo since my AOR almost 2 months ago. Even E-CAS still shows "application received" and hasn't changed since Nov. Guess I can't do much but wait....  sorry i'm just venting
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veronica.law
Star Member
Posts: 60
Ratings: +0
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Buffalo>>>Detroit
App. Filed.......: 09-08-2011
Doc's Request.: 08-03-2012 HK Police Check
AOR Received.: 05-01-2011
File Transfer...: 15-02-2012
Med's Done....: 01-08-2011>>> Detroit
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« Reply #10094 on: February 24, 2012, 03:51:52 pm » |
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I feel down... It has been 6 months since I sent the application and I have not heard anything from Buffalo since my AOR almost 2 months ago. Even E-CAS still shows "application received" and hasn't changed since Nov. Guess I can't do much but wait.... sorry i'm just venting same here haha |
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Immigration Forum
