Bringing household items/furniture and car into Canada

[emma7]

hello again Everyone,

As I am waiting to receive the COPR I am trying to figure out what all needs to happen next for me to bring my household items and furniture from the US into Canada as well as my car. Right now all my household items/furniture are in Buffalo in storage and I have my car here in Canada with me (and want to keep it).

I have a few questions:
1) My understanding is that once I get the COPR I will have to leave Canada (will go to US--I am a US citizen) and re-enter to be considered 'landed' -- is this correct?
2) Also my understanding is that in order to not pay any duty on my belongings I must either have my 'stuff' (household items/furniture and car) with me at the time of entry or have a detailed list of all of it and let the officer at the boarder know when it will be arriving--is this correct?
3) Are there any costs/fees involved in this part of the process that you are aware of?

My plan, which I would like to check with this awesome group : ) is to drive across the border into the US as soon as I receive the COPR, spend a few days, go over my storage, itemize all the items, reload them into a Uhaul truck and with my husband re-enter Canada with both the Uhaul truck and my car.

Please let me know if I am missing something, if there is anything that you see I am missing or if there are any recommendations you may have for me : ) all of it is MUCH appreciated. Thank you in advance

 

[katester]

I can not answer your questions as I am in the same situation. Just wondering if you were from buffalo or is that just where you rented a storage unit? I grew up in ROC

 

[Awesomeg]

hello again Everyone,

As I am waiting to receive the COPR I am trying to figure out what all needs to happen next for me to bring my household items and furniture from the US into Canada as well as my car. Right now all my household items/furniture are in Buffalo in storage and I have my car here in Canada with me (and want to keep it).

I have a few questions:
1) My understanding is that once I get the COPR I will have to leave Canada (will go to US--I am a US citizen) and re-enter to be considered 'landed' -- is this correct?
2) Also my understanding is that in order to not pay any duty on my belongings I must either have my 'stuff' (household items/furniture and car) with me at the time of entry or have a detailed list of all of it and let the officer at the boarder know when it will be arriving--is this correct?
3) Are there any costs/fees involved in this part of the process that you are aware of?

My plan, which I would like to check with this awesome group : ) is to drive across the border into the US as soon as I receive the COPR, spend a few days, go over my storage, itemize all the items, reload them into a Uhaul truck and with my husband re-enter Canada with both the Uhaul truck and my car.

Please let me know if I am missing something, if there is anything that you see I am missing or if there are any recommendations you may have for me : ) all of it is MUCH appreciated. Thank you in advance

Yes, you can do that, you can bring a car from the USA, and furniture, but they will see how much is the value and may use your tax exceptions,
you need to take a look to the website, I post the link for your information,

you will find all the answers there, http://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs/bringing-to-canada

Good luck and have a save trip, 8)

 

[emma7]

Hello katester -- buffalo is just where I rented a storage place
Best of luck for you! I will post here again after going through he experience (hopefully within the month!)

 

[Rob_TO]

You need to complete the B4/B4A forms in advance, so when you land they have a complete list of all belongings you will have with you at landing, and what is coming later. You can get the forms here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-border.asp
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/help-aide/topic-sujet/10-eng.html

Regarding your car, that is a whole other issue. There are numerous steps to importing a US car into Canada, so that it can be properly registered here with license plates, and be insured. Main thing you have to do is get all the safety features on the car updated to Canadian standards (i.e. getting daytime running headlights installed).

Info on importing cars is here:
http://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs/bringing-to-canada/importing-vehicle
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-importation-usa-index-445.htm
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.pdf