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Problems with import of personal items as perm resident

J

j_granny

Newbie
Apr 11, 2017
1
0
I am having trouble with getting my items into Canada as a permanent resident of Canada. I have been married to my husband for 2 years and I have become a pr for a year and a half. I filed my pr from within Canada on a visitor visa but when I officially got my pr papers signed no boarder guard or anyone in that matter mentioned to us that we had to file a b4 form. When went through the boarder a little while later and asked the guy what to do and he basically told us we were screwed. Anyone know if we have any options? We booked a flight to my home town and rented a u-haul to drive up and I guess if we don't have any options we will just have to pay duty on all my items
 
I think you should go to the nearest CBSA office for a second opinion about this.
 
I agree. Canada border services would be a good place to start.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

I have found them very helpful over the phone also. Call them.
 
j_granny said:
I am having trouble with getting my items into Canada as a permanent resident of Canada. I have been married to my husband for 2 years and I have become a pr for a year and a half. I filed my pr from within Canada on a visitor visa but when I officially got my pr papers signed no boarder guard or anyone in that matter mentioned to us that we had to file a b4 form. When went through the boarder a little while later and asked the guy what to do and he basically told us we were screwed. Anyone know if we have any options? We booked a flight to my home town and rented a u-haul to drive up and I guess if we don't have any options we will just have to pay duty on all my items
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Call up CBSA to confirm but from my experience, B4 form (now known as BSF186) is not required during landing. I was not asked for it during my landing. I moved in to settle a few months after the landing and had no issues with submitting BSF186 then.
 
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html

I found this site very useful.

I 'landed' last year and was all set to submit the BSF186 forms to customs. But I asked the customs officer, that as i was planning to move permanently in the following year, can I add to my list of items. He informed me that since I was permanently settling the following year, to submit the forms then.

This corroborates the definition of settler in the BSF form, as someone that enters Canada to establish a residence, for the first time, in excess of 12 months.

Since OP is not establishing residence in Canada for the first time, I don't think she will be able to use this clause.

You could always try and prove that you owned your items at the time that you became a PR.

@smtele (and others): The customs officer will not ask for the BSF186 forms. Its in your interest to provide them and get them stamped.
 
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