Landing as PR and Moving At Same Time (Driving from US)

[ck42]

Hi,

My husband is an american and we believe we are days away from getting his COPR (got approval on Aug 31 - the return envelope was mailed this morning).

We were planning on driving across the border with all of his belongings he wants to take (electronics, clothes, mementos) - no more than a car full.

Our questions
1) What should we prepare to declare when we cross the border? He's making a list of the approximate value of everything he's bringing and hes going to have bank statements of how his funds.
Belongings should be less than 10,000 CND, but bankable funds will be more than this.He will not be carrying significant amounts of cash in US or Canadian currency (he already has a canadian bank account)
2) His car is american, and we have plans to import it. Will we need to declare this at the border? The car is over 10 years old but its still in good shape. He'll have his Oregon registration for it and bill of sale. Should we have this ready for the border?
3) We're not sure if we should cross on a weekday or during the weekend. We're planning on moving some time around the Canadian thanksgiving weekend and make sure we use a crossing that will be open. But if the crossing might be better during the weekday - we can adjust for that as well.

We'd appreciate any other advice or recommendations!

Cheers,
Cara

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi,

My husband is an american and we believe we are days away from getting his COPR (got approval on Aug 31 - the return envelope was mailed this morning).

We were planning on driving across the border with all of his belongings he wants to take (electronics, clothes, mementos) - no more than a car full.

Our questions
1) What should we prepare to declare when we cross the border? He's making a list of the approximate value of everything he's bringing and hes going to have bank statements of how his funds.
Belongings should be less than 10,000 CND, but bankable funds will be more than this.He will not be carrying significant amounts of cash in US or Canadian currency (he already has a canadian bank account)
2) His car is american, and we have plans to import it. Will we need to declare this at the border? The car is over 10 years old but its still in good shape. He'll have his Oregon registration for it and bill of sale. Should we have this ready for the border?
3) We're not sure if we should cross on a weekday or during the weekend. We're planning on moving some time around the Canadian thanksgiving weekend and make sure we use a crossing that will be open. But if the crossing might be better during the weekday - we can adjust for that as well.

We'd appreciate any other advice or recommendations!

Cheers,
Cara

I assume this is spousal sponsorship? If so, no proof of funds required.

Take his valid passport and CoPR, then at the border when asked the purpose of your visit, tell them 'we are landing as settlers and my husband wishes to declare permanent residence using his CoPR'.

They will get you to park up then process your PR and your 'goods accompanying' lists.

Write out a list of stuff you are bringing in, including car with estimated resale value of each item listed and have two identical copies. Fine to bulk some items up 'mens clothes' as one item, others need to be listed separately (eg tech, list serial numbers with each item and jewellery etc).

As regards importing a car from the US, check out other threads on this forum for how to do this.

No need to list money or investments left in the US as you do tgat in your first full year tax retun in Canada if any still remain overseas.

Where are you crossing? The busy Niagara crossing should land you but you may be waiting a while.

 

[ck42]

We're going to be crossing in BC. probably the Abbotsford Crossing.

edit: We're not 100% sure we're going to import his vehicle since it is 10 years old. If we're just using it to move, but don't intend to import it - how would the process change? Do we still have to pay the $200 RIV fee?

 

[Hurlabrick]

We're going to be crossing in BC. probably the Abbotsford Crossing.

edit: We're not 100% sure we're going to import his vehicle since it is 10 years old. If we're just using it to move, but don't intend to import it - how would the process change? Do we still have to pay the $200 RIV fee?

Not my area of expertise, but you might be best to sell it in the US and hire a u haul

 

[Jnicole45]

We're going to be crossing in BC. probably the Abbotsford Crossing.

edit: We're not 100% sure we're going to import his vehicle since it is 10 years old. If we're just using it to move, but don't intend to import it - how would the process change? Do we still have to pay the $200 RIV fee?

I think you should just be able to let them know at the border that you're not importing the vehicle, you'll be taking it back to the US. You could also contact CBSA to ask in advance so you can decide if it's a good idea or not.

 

[canuck78]

Would really avoid long weekends if possible.