Has anyone landed and postponed goods to follow

[USProgrammer]

As a US citizen/resident who doesn't plan to move as soon as I land/activate my PR, I don't want to do my goods to follow, since those goods will likely change drastically before moving, leaving me with a big tax bill.

This should be possible, legally speaking: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html

Variation Between Customs/Immigration Legislation
9. A person's status for customs purposes is not always the same as their status for immigration purposes.

10. As an example, a person can become a permanent resident without the intention of residing immediately in Canada. However, this person is not determined to be a settler as defined in the customs legislation, and be eligible for the provisions of tariff item No. 9807.00.00. In this case, since the person does not have any intention of remaining in Canada at that time, and will live outside Canada for an undetermined period of time, that person is considered a non-resident of Canada and not a settler, for the purpose of the Customs Tariff, and is eligible to temporarily import goods under tariff item No. 9803.00.00.​

However, I have read of countless stories of people saying that CBSA wouldn't listen. I don't see how this is possible, because if you look at the BSF186, at the bottom of the first page, they are forcing you to legally attest that you are a settler, affirming that you are moving there for the first time for a period of 12 months or more, which I would not be doing.

Has anyone managed to land, especially at YYZ, without doing a goods to follow (doing it later when you actually move). If so, could you please share your experience and any tips?

 

[Immigration_guru]

As a US citizen/resident who doesn't plan to move as soon as I land/activate my PR, I don't want to do my goods to follow, since those goods will likely change drastically before moving, leaving me with a big tax bill.

This should be possible, legally speaking: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html

Variation Between Customs/Immigration Legislation
9. A person's status for customs purposes is not always the same as their status for immigration purposes.

10. As an example, a person can become a permanent resident without the intention of residing immediately in Canada. However, this person is not determined to be a settler as defined in the customs legislation, and be eligible for the provisions of tariff item No. 9807.00.00. In this case, since the person does not have any intention of remaining in Canada at that time, and will live outside Canada for an undetermined period of time, that person is considered a non-resident of Canada and not a settler, for the purpose of the Customs Tariff, and is eligible to temporarily import goods under tariff item No. 9803.00.00.​

However, I have read of countless stories of people saying that CBSA wouldn't listen. I don't see how this is possible, because if you look at the BSF186, at the bottom of the first page, they are forcing you to legally attest that you are a settler, affirming that you are moving there for the first time for a period of 12 months or more, which I would not be doing.

Has anyone managed to land, especially at YYZ, without doing a goods to follow (doing it later when you actually move). If so, could you please share your experience and any tips?

Just to clarify.
You want to land, get your COPR stamped and go back. after that when you decide to come back you want to bring all your stuff?

 

[USProgrammer]

Just to clarify.
You want to land, get your COPR stamped and go back. after that when you decide to come back you want to bring all your stuff?

Yes. I need to activate PR before my CoPR expires, but I won't be permanently moving at that time. The legislation seems pretty clear that you do the goods to follow/goods accompanying when you are "establishing a first time residence in Canada for a period of 12 months or longer", which I won't be doing on the soft landing.

I'm just wondering if the customs officers are aware of that and if I will have any hassles and/or be forced to do a goods accompanying even if it's not really legally correct.

 

[USProgrammer]

Sorry to bother you @Immigration_guru but do you have any further feedback?

 

[Immigration_guru]

Sorry to bother you @Immigration_guru but do you have any further feedback?

Sorry, I was a little busy, so honestly telling as far I know you can get the goods to follow list signed by the customs officer at POE and get things whenever you come next.
I would suggest you to read the customs law for more clarity. In the mean while I will check with my sources and get back to you instead of giving you a wrong answer

 

[USProgrammer]

Sorry, I was a little busy, so honestly telling as far I know you can get the goods to follow list signed by the customs officer at POE and get things whenever you come next.
I would suggest you to read the customs law for more clarity. In the mean while I will check with my sources and get back to you instead of giving you a wrong answer

Thanks. Please see my initial post with its link and the quote about "Variation Between Customs/Immigration Legislation".

 

[Immigration_guru]

Thanks. Please see my initial post with its link and the quote about "Variation Between Customs/Immigration Legislation".

Yes, i did read a bit about it, but i will read it tonight and get back to you.

 

[legalfalcon]

As a US citizen/resident who doesn't plan to move as soon as I land/activate my PR, I don't want to do my goods to follow, since those goods will likely change drastically before moving, leaving me with a big tax bill.

This should be possible, legally speaking: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html

Variation Between Customs/Immigration Legislation
9. A person's status for customs purposes is not always the same as their status for immigration purposes.

10. As an example, a person can become a permanent resident without the intention of residing immediately in Canada. However, this person is not determined to be a settler as defined in the customs legislation, and be eligible for the provisions of tariff item No. 9807.00.00. In this case, since the person does not have any intention of remaining in Canada at that time, and will live outside Canada for an undetermined period of time, that person is considered a non-resident of Canada and not a settler, for the purpose of the Customs Tariff, and is eligible to temporarily import goods under tariff item No. 9803.00.00.​

However, I have read of countless stories of people saying that CBSA wouldn't listen. I don't see how this is possible, because if you look at the BSF186, at the bottom of the first page, they are forcing you to legally attest that you are a settler, affirming that you are moving there for the first time for a period of 12 months or more, which I would not be doing.

Has anyone managed to land, especially at YYZ, without doing a goods to follow (doing it later when you actually move). If so, could you please share your experience and any tips?

I moved from US to Canada, got my PR status and then moved back to the US, finally moving to Canada a few months down the line. Here there are two things that you have to keep in mind.

Whether you are a "settler";
and Whether you a returning resident, who has stayed abroad for a year or more.

• SETTLER - entering Canada with the intention of establishing, for the first time, a residence for one year or more (in the Customs Tariff, such a person is referred to as a "settler"); See https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html
• RETURNING RESIDENT - a former resident, moving back to Canada to resume residence after a continuous absence of one year or more, or after being a resident of another country for a period of one year or more. See https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-3-2-eng.html

If you fall in the above category, the procedure is simple. See https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/mrc-drc-eng.html

However, the problem is when you land only for a few days, or are returning after an absence of less than 1 year. If you intend to return to Canada within a few months of becoming a PR, you are still considered a "settler." So signing a declaration to that effect would not be an issue.

If you intend to stay outside Canada longer, then you need to be concerned about two things.


1. You will have to submit a goods to follow list. This list should clearly indicate the goods you intend to bring in later. If you do not bring in some goods, that is fine, but if something is not on the list, it will be taxed.

Since, there is no time limit for importing "goods to follow" that were declared on arrival and listed on the Form B4, you can bring them in anytime when you want to return. Any discrepancy between what was declared on the Form B4 and the goods to follow are subject to regular import assessments.


2. No issues with general use goods - When I moved to Canada, I never bothered submitting a B4. On my permanent move a few months later, I had a truck, that I was driving filled with household goods. I was stopped at the border, and sent to secondary. The officer examined my vehicle, and founds that there was nothing of value, that he could impose a duty on. Remember, people move in an out of Canada, with trailers all the time. However, he did suggest that I should have added there on a B4 and followed the procedure. Since my stuff for very minimal, I went through.

Re-importing goods

If you want to take anything out to Canada, with an intent to re-import it, you should stop at the CBSA office before leaving Canada and get a Re-import card. The officer will inspect the good you wish to re-import (bring back with you into Canada), and will issue you a card. When you return, just show this card, and no customs will be levied on the item listed in the card.

If you have any follow up questions, feel free to ask.

 

[USProgrammer]

I moved from US to Canada, got my PR status and then moved back to the US, finally moving to Canada a few months down the line. Here there are two things that you have to keep in mind.

Whether you are a "settler";
and Whether you a returning resident, who has stayed abroad for a year or more.

• SETTLER - entering Canada with the intention of establishing, for the first time, a residence for one year or more (in the Customs Tariff, such a person is referred to as a "settler"); See https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-2-1-eng.html
• RETURNING RESIDENT - a former resident, moving back to Canada to resume residence after a continuous absence of one year or more, or after being a resident of another country for a period of one year or more. See https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-3-2-eng.html

If you fall in the above category, the procedure is simple. See https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/mrc-drc-eng.html

However, the problem is when you land only for a few days, or are returning after an absence of less than 1 year. If you intend to return to Canada within a few months of becoming a PR, you are still considered a "settler." So signing a declaration to that effect would not be an issue.

If you intend to stay outside Canada longer, then you need to be concerned about two things.


1. You will have to submit a goods to follow list. This list should clearly indicate the goods you intend to bring in later. If you do not bring in some goods, that is fine, but if something is not on the list, it will be taxed.

Since, there is no time limit for importing "goods to follow" that were declared on arrival and listed on the Form B4, you can bring them in anytime when you want to return. Any discrepancy between what was declared on the Form B4 and the goods to follow are subject to regular import assessments.


2. No issues with general use goods - When I moved to Canada, I never bothered submitting a B4. On my permanent move a few months later, I had a truck, that I was driving filled with household goods. I was stopped at the border, and sent to secondary. The officer examined my vehicle, and founds that there was nothing of value, that he could impose a duty on. Remember, people move in an out of Canada, with trailers all the time. However, he did suggest that I should have added there on a B4 and followed the procedure. Since my stuff for very minimal, I went through.

Re-importing goods

If you want to take anything out to Canada, with an intent to re-import it, you should stop at the CBSA office before leaving Canada and get a Re-import card. The officer will inspect the good you wish to re-import (bring back with you into Canada), and will issue you a card. When you return, just show this card, and no customs will be levied on the item listed in the card.

If you have any follow up questions, feel free to ask.

My problem is that I will be moving inside the US, downsizing, after landing. As a result, a lot of my household goods will change (different furniture, different kitchen items, etc). Also, I might buy a new computer, TV, etc after selling old ones.

I'd like to do my goods to follow when I know the goods that will follow, not the goods that I have right now in my house that is much larger than any space I'd be living in inside Canada. It sounds like you're saying I'll be forced to do it anyway.

It will be more than a few months after landing before I move to Canada. It will likely be around a year. Is there any way I can do the goods to follow at the time I actually move?

 

[legalfalcon]

My problem is that I will be moving inside the US, downsizing, after landing. As a result, a lot of my household goods will change (different furniture, different kitchen items, etc). Also, I might buy a new computer, TV, etc after selling old ones.

I'd like to do my goods to follow when I know the goods that will follow, not the goods that I have right now in my house that is much larger than any space I'd be living in inside Canada. It sounds like you're saying I'll be forced to do it anyway.

It will be more than a few months after landing before I move to Canada. It will likely be around a year. Is there any way I can do the goods to follow at the time I actually move?

Unfortunately, no.

You will have to present the list when you land. However, you can bring the goods whenever you want. I would make a anticipated list and get it signed anyway. If you intend to buy new stuff, just write the Make and model, and get it signed.

 

[pxlxyp]

Hi there, I hope you can help me. I soft landed in Canada in Dec 2017 and did not present a BSF186 form as I was not entering as a settler at the time since I was doing my Masters overseas. Today, I landed in Vancouver for the first time as a settler and when I presented my forms, the officers said they couldn't help me since I did not present it within the first year of my landing. This doesn't make sense as I clearly an clearly "entering Canada with the intention of establishing, for the first time, a residence for one year or more (in the Customs Tariff, such a person is referred to as a "settler");"

Now I'm really worried as I have alot of personal items coming in and am worried that I have to pay import taxes for these.