returning Canadian - can i send some of our belongings before we arrive?

[missmini]

hey everyone
i was outside Canada for the past 5 years and finally my spouse has the visa and i can return ;D
i know that for him, a new landed immigrant, he will have the things with him and the rest which follow up but is it the same for me too or can i already start sending some boxes before we go? will it b tax free like for the new residents or is it a limit?

most of the things i send r old, used, etc some were bought here some in Canada; for the ones here i might b able to find some receipts but for the ones from Canada for sure no; how will they know which is which? will it matter?

thank u so much good luck for all!!!

 

[parker24]

hey everyone
i was outside Canada for the past 5 years and finally my spouse has the visa and i can return ;D
i know that for him, a new landed immigrant, he will have the things with him and the rest which follow up but is it the same for me too or can i already start sending some boxes before we go? will it b tax free like for the new residents or is it a limit?

most of the things i send r old, used, etc some were bought here some in Canada; for the ones here i might b able to find some receipts but for the ones from Canada for sure no; how will they know which is which? will it matter?

thank u so much good luck for all!!!

From what I understand, it has to be WITH you or AFTER you. Someone might correct me, but that's just from my understanding from my experience.

 

[Reflectoman]

this link might help, it applies to "a resident of Canada who is returning to resume residence after an absence of at least one year"

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5087-eng.html

 

[Sweden]

you can send things, and most likely they will stay in the warehouse until you go and collect them - and before doing that, you will have to clear duty.

So what you could do is: pack everything under your partner's name, and send it. When he lands with the B4, he gets a 'duty free" stamp as a new PR. with that, he can then go to the warehouse, clear customs, and then they will release the boxes.

You can do the same as a returning Canadian, as long as what you sent is not exceeding what CBSA website lists. My partner did that - he sent 6 moving boxes and even if the moving company told us that they will clear customs, in practice, they can't. so the boxes were held into the warehouse until he cleared customs - went with the packing list to a CBSA office, got it stamped. Then CBSA sends the information to the warehouse, and then the moving company can take the boxes again and deliver them to you. So you can send things in advance, I don't think it will be a problem.

My experience is that CBSA was not very strict - but it might be because we only had 6 boxes in total - after being out for 3 years. It was mostly books and clothes, and they believe us when we showed the packing list - I don't think they actually checked. Don't know how it works if you are sending a bigger amount of things.

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[missmini]

thaaaank u everyone Sweden especially for such detailed info actually we don't have a lot and definately the more valuable items like electronics will b under his name
for me just clothes, books, etc; my parents r there so they could have received the boxes but if they would stay in a warehouse until i arrive and clear customs it's not really worth it
i'll study the CBSA website more carefully thanks for the link; will come back if i have more questions