B4 help please!

[djinna]

i check on the CIC website and this is it???

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/help-aide/topic-sujet/10-fra.html

thank you again!!!

 

[canadiangirl78]

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf

 

[OhCanadiana]

Im a canadian citizen and i lived all my life here. It will be his first time!!! yes landing!! so if he fills the thing they give in the plane thats enough??

thank you for responding!!!

You must be very excited! There's specific forms you have to fill out (the cover page with all your info and first few items is called a B4, the continuation is called a B4A).

As a returning Canadian, you can fill out one B4/B4A set that will allow you to import goods duty free as long as you've been out of Canada for at least one year and have owned, used, and possessed the items for at least 6 months (6 month req't waived if you've been out of Canada for five years). If you are importing any item over 10,000 Canadian you will have to pay duties on the amount over 10k. The government gives you one opportunity to tell them what you are bringing in so you need to fill out all the forms upfront and then you can bring it in over time but be sure to include everything upfront.

Similarly, your husband, as an immigrant can fill out one B4/B4A set which he has to turn in on his first visit where he intends to live in Canada more than 12 months. He does not have the 10k limit per item.

As for filling out the forms, you can group like items together - eg clothes $xxxx if the value isn't huge or you can break it down a bit to say suits $xxxx, formal gowns $xxx, casual clothes $xxx. Same for lower value items like household goods, toiletries, etc. If you eat importing thing over several trips (or on plane vs shipment), try to separate line items per trip so that you don't run into issues when they cross items off as you import them.

For jewelry and electronics, you need to list them one per line item and include: for jewelry a photo and for electronics model and serial number. You may also want to take photos of furniture or any higher value item if you aren't importing it immediately. You can complete multiple B4A forms and just number them. Folks have also reported using other formats (Excel, packing lists) successfully.

If you can take an extra copy, it will make life easier for you and the CBSA agent since they keep one and give one (once stamped) back to you.

The B4 is available at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/b4-eng.pdf
And the B4A is at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pbg/cf/b4a/

Detailed instructions are at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html

If you're importing a car, there's a few more steps involved (I'm assuming not from the UK, though )

A few more thoughts:
- Regarding your trip this time around - if you are going in to re-establish residency (at least vis-a-vis immigration), then turn in the B4 when you arrive and take anything and everything you want in your luggage and leave it with friends, family, or in a storage container. You'll get a copy of the B4 and can use it to import your goods when you actually move (or if your husband isn't joining you, you can add any stragglers to his list)
- Careful with the timing of turning in your B4 if you are doing multiple trips. Technically, if you have exhibited an intent to move (house hunted, procured housing, etc) in a prior trip and didn't turn in your B4 then you could be precluded from turning it in on a later trip. For immigrants, for example, it's best to turn it in at landing vs. waiting. If you have questions on specifics of your situation, I have found CBSA's second line officers on their call center to be very helpful in giving you guidance and referring you to the exact rules that cover your situation.
- You don't have to import everything in the trip when you turn in the B4. They will give you a stamped copy back (they keep one too - that's why they appreciate if you take two copies when you cross the border) that you can show in the future when you import the rest of your goods.
- B4s are in individuals names - so you and your husband can either turn in one for both of you or two separate ones (either at the same time or different times) to cover all your items.
- Given that you have been living outside of Canada for over 5 years, you are exempt from having to have owned your items a minimum of 6 months (new immigrants don't have this constraint)

Hope this helps - don't hesitate to ask if you have additional questions!

 

[djinna]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!!

Im 23 and im not a returning Canadian. I live here so that means i dont need to fill out anything. Only my husband from Morroco!
If i understood well this B4, he has to write his name and address under importer names and adress? right ?
country of origin well his country but country of export, it means Canada?? He will only bring 2 luggages of 23 kg each full of clothes, kitchen stuff and the usually plus his handbag of 10kg. there is no car and nothing expensive except his laptop. He will have it in his hands and his ring. I think in your previous post or somebody else that we need to take a picture. I remember when i can back from my second trip in morocco, they stopped me at the customs to check my stuff. they saw i had food and i told them about my rings. they asked for the price. i forgot what she said but she let me go with no problem!!

do they check our spouse more at the customs since its their first time cuz i want my husband to bring food. Ok, i know its bad but i made 11 trips in my life and i never a problem. thank God! like spices and stuff which here is expensive.
i know the logic and i dont want problem for my husband but do you have any ideas??

Also, he has to fill this plus the one they usually give in the plane??? or he only need this to fill since he will be a new immigrant...?

and again Thank you so much OhCanadiana!!!

Good luck and may God be with you and your family!

 

[OhCanadiana]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!!

You're welcome

Im 23 and im not a returning Canadian. I live here so that means i dont need to fill out anything. Only my husband from Morroco!
If i understood well this B4, he has to write his name and address under importer names and adress? right ?

Kind of - his name and his Canadian address

country of origin well his country but country of export, it means Canada??

Country of origin is where stuff was made from, country of export is where he is coming from (Morocco)

He will only bring 2 luggages of 23 kg each full of clothes, kitchen stuff and the usually plus his handbag of 10kg. there is no car and nothing expensive except his laptop. He will have it in his hands and his ring. I think in your previous post or somebody else that we need to take a picture.

Yes, take a picture of his ring and attach it to the forms (easiest if you print it with your printer on regular paper). For the laptop, write manufacturer, model, and serial number on the B4 or B4A. If he's bringing everything with him now just say clothes ($xxx), kitchen stuff ($xxx). for that any you may be able to fit it all on one B4.
If you will have goods on a future trip, don't forget to include it too and mark the 'goods to follow' box

I remember when i can back from my second trip in morocco, they stopped me at the customs to check my stuff. they saw i had food and i told them about my rings. they asked for the price. i forgot what she said but she let me go with no problem!!

Yes, I think the numbers are you can bring up to $750 per trip of new goods if you've been out of Canada for over 48 hours, although sometimes they are nice

do they check our spouse more at the customs since its their first time cuz i want my husband to bring food. Ok, i know its bad but i made 11 trips in my life and i never a problem. thank God! like spices and stuff which here is expensive.
i know the logic and i dont want problem for my husband but do you have any ideas??

Here's the list of the food he can bring in http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/brirape.shtml#a2. Just make sure he declares any food on his form and when they ask him what he's bringing in. Spices for example ARE permitted

Also, he has to fill this plus the one they usually give in the plane??? or he only need this to fill since he will be a new immigrant...?

Have him fill out both, especially if he's bringing food so there's no questions on the fact that he declared it.

and again Thank you so much OhCanadiana!!!

My pleasure!

Good luck and may God be with you and your family!

 

[djinna]

Kind of - his name and his Canadian addressCountry of origin is where stuff was made from, country of export is where he is coming from (Morocco)
-LOL im so smart...

Yes, I think the numbers are you can bring up to $750 per trip of new goods if you've been out of Canada for over 48 hours, although sometimes they are nice
Yes there are and i always got lucky but i don't wanna mess anything for my husband!!
Here's the list of the food he can bring in http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/brirape.shtml#a2. Just make sure he declares any food on his form and when they ask him what he's bringing in. Spices for example ARE permitted
I didnt know about this and its my fault cuz i didnt make research so I Thank you for that!!! May God reward you cuz next time i will declare when i bring food haha

and again Thank you so much!!!

Good luck and may God be with you and your family!


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[FatimZahra]

What about if his laptop was bought in Canada? I gave my hubby a laptop as a wedding gift. And his ring...or toiletries...why would that have to be listed?

 

[OhCanadiana]

What about if his laptop was bought in Canada? I gave my hubby a laptop as a wedding gift. And his ring...or toiletries...why would that have to be listed?

Technically, they wouldn't need to be on the B4. However, I'd put them on there to minimize questions (and that way he doesn't have to have a receipt with him to show it was bought in Canada...)

The ring and his other goods needs to be on there because he's importing it ... otherwise you'd need to pay duties for the value of the ring.

 

[FatimZahra]

Technically, they wouldn't need to be on the B4. However, I'd put them on there to minimize questions (and that way he doesn't have to have a receipt with him to show it was bought in Canada...)

The ring and his other goods needs to be on there because he's importing it ... otherwise you'd need to pay duties for the value of the ring.

We don't even have a receipt for the ring

 

[OhCanadiana]

We don't even have a receipt for the ring

You don't need one for the B4 ... just estimate the value and write it in. Don't forget to attach a photo too!

 

[FatimZahra]

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[thisdj1]

hey everyone so just to make it clear am returning back to live from the UK after 20 years i can still complete the b4 form even if i am already a Canadian citzen or is this for new citzens only?thanks

 

[OhCanadiana]

hey everyone so just to make it clear am returning back to live from the UK after 20 years i can still complete the b4 form even if i am already a Canadian citzen or is this for new citzens only?thanks

You can fill out the B4/B4A as a returning Canadian citizen also. The only difference is that as a returning Canadian citizen you will have to pay duties on any individual item that is worth more than 10k - the duties are only for the amount over 10k.

(for any future returning Canadians - thisdj1 can import goods s/he has owned, used and possessed less than 6 months since he has been out of Canada for over 5 years ... if your situation is different, just watch for this)

 

[111]

Please somebody help me , It's about the B4.

In the B4 where it says 'additional lists of goods' next to where it says 'Form B4A' should I tick it? or not?

PLEASE REPLY

 

[111]

Please somebody help me , It's about the B4.

In the B4 where it says 'additional lists of goods' next to where it says 'Form B4A' should I tick it? or not?

PLEASE REPLY