Complicated Visit.....

[mmshock]

Hi everyone!

I'm trying to work out the logistics of getting to Canada in August and need some advice. Hoping some of you can help!

My husband and I live together in the British Virgin Islands and are planning our move back. He is going back to school in Niagara starting in September. We are leaving our island in July to travel around, see family, and hope to get him moved in to the area mid August. I'll be visiting as long as I can. My papers just went in in March, sponsorship letter has arrived and I'm pretty sure (fingers crossed) that I will have my AOR and IA prior to our going there in August. ALL fees have been paid.

We have tons of furniture in my parents house in the states which we will be taking to Niagara with us and BJ (hubs) will be claiming. We will be driving it over in my Jeep, which I will export/import when I get my PR and land. We thought about signing it over to him and doing it in August, but its a lot more complicated and expensive for a few reasons unnecessary to this thread.

So here lies the rub! How do we cross the border with a U-Haul trailer with our furniture and dog? As the car is titled/insured in my name, I need to be the one driving. I have evidence of my paperwork in progress and also that I am not staying in Canada (Best friends wedding in September, I own a home, bank account) but I don't have a job to go back to. I've been planning a sabbatical for a bit and looking forward to it.....

We are crossing the border at Detroit/Windsor. We have talked about BJ's brother perhaps meeting us in Detroit and putting the U-Haul on HIS car and the two of them crossing and then me driving myself in alone a few hours later. Would this even be practical or necessary? Am I not even allowed to help my husband move? Even if i have a plane ticket back to Omaha and other proof?

Whats our best plan of attack?!?!?

 

[canadianwoman]

I would get the brother to come over and drive the U-Haul back over the border with your husband. No problem for a Canadian to move back home - as long as he has been living out of Canada for a while and can legitimately bring back household belongings. I think it is a year?

 

[mmshock]

Hes been away for nearly 12 years.

Would I then cross on my own shortly after? I'm not worried about him getting back, but me getting in.

 

[canadianwoman]

You could cross over by yourself, or he could come back and get you.
But if you try to cross over the border with a U-Haul full of household items, the border official is not going to believe you are just visiting.
Some people have reported no trouble in crossing over with household goods, especially with proof a PR application is in progress, but just to increase the odds of no hassle, I suggest you cross separately from your items and say you are just coming to visit. Have the PR proof ready, if they ask, though.

 

[mmshock]

Yeah everyone is right. Just trying to take the easiest way possible. And not have to be in Detroit on my own!

His brother lives in Windsor so it really won't be complicated at all for him to drive in, pick up my husband and the belongings, and then i can take myself out to lunch and cross on my own. It was the original plan anyway.

Thanks all! x