Personal Effects forms B4, B4A, B4E

[polixenes]

Hello,

I will shortly be arriving in Canada as a visitor while my PR app is in progress, intending to stay here until my PR is resolved one way or the other. Arriving with Canadian wife and Canadian children. Our possessions will all be arriving with us, nothing in transit either now or 'to follow'.

I have been reading about forms B4 and B4A, but when I try to download them I keep getting form B4 E (14). Can anyone confirm B4E is the form I need?

Next question, my wife can tick the Former Resident box, our Canadian children will be Settlers, and I think the only possible box for me to tick would also be as a Settler, even though I don't have the right to Settle until my PR is approved. Any thoughts on where I should tick and should I do one form for each family member. or one form for my wife and one form for me plus the kids together?

 

[OhCanadiana]

Hello,

I will shortly be arriving in Canada as a visitor while my PR app is in progress, intending to stay here until my PR is resolved one way or the other. Arriving with Canadian wife and Canadian children. Our possessions will all be arriving with us, nothing in transit either now or 'to follow'.

I have been reading about forms B4 and B4A, but when I try to download them I keep getting form B4 E (14). Can anyone confirm B4E is the form I need?

Next question, my wife can tick the Former Resident box, our Canadian children will be Settlers, and I think the only possible box for me to tick would also be as a Settler, even though I don't have the right to Settle until my PR is approved. Any thoughts on where I should tick and should I do one form for each family member. or one form for my wife and one form for me plus the kids together?

The B4s can be found at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/menu-eng.html. Search for B4 in the search box and it will pull up the two links. As of now they are http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf and http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4a.pdf.

The instructions at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html can help you and your wife ascertain who can declare what. Similarly, http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html can help.

Generally speaking:
As a returning Canadian, your wife would be a former resident and may declare her goods and presumably your children's goods (I'm assuming she co-owns them) on her B4.

As a visitor, you may only temporarily import items (i.e., you don't have the right to submit a B4 yet). Once you land and have the intention to move to Canada for at least 12 months immediately, you will be a settler for CBSA and will be able to permanently import your goods.

 

[polixenes]

Much obliged.

 

[nmclean]

Most forms have this format -- type of form followed by version and language. For example IMM0008 has "IMM 0008 (04-2015) E" or "IMM 0008 (04-2015) F" because it was updated April 2015 and E/F for English/French. B4 E (14) is the English translation of the B4 form, version 14 (presumably meaning 2014).

 

[New.CandianIm]

Hello, Please could you help me, what should I do as the first step to apply for immigration to Canada?