CDN Citizen returning w/US Citizenship

[firhill]

After 30 years in Canada, I spent the majority of the last 10 years in US, during which time I obtained US citizenship.
I will be returning to, and making, Ontario my place of residence within the next six months.

I plan to rent a U-haul (w/car trailer) to transport personal belongings and a car back into Canada. The car is plated/insured in California.

I will use the car for a month or two while I get settled back in Ontario but then will be driving the car back to California and leaving it there.

Would I still have to declare the vehicle on the Form B4 if I don't plan on keeping it in Canada?

 

[computergeek]

You will have to convince them that you don't intend on leaving it in Canada (e.g., that you aren't really importing it) and in that case they could require that you post a bond to that effect, or they will let you back in. The biggest factor in your favour is that you could bring the vehicle into Canada without duties (just the various import fees) which shouldn't be all that much. They may not ask you about it at all, or if they do you can say you're just bringing it up for two months and then taking it back to California to dispose of it. Most likely they'll let you get away with it because you can't register it in Canada without going through importation.

But of course, it ultimately depends upon the CBSA officer you end up with. They cannot refuse to allow YOU into Canada (you are a Citizen and have a legal right of entry) but they can require you pay to bring in your stuff or post a bond.

Good luck!

 

[firhill]

Thanks cg.

I'll go with whatever CBSA says.

Another option would be to drop the car off in Port Huron and have my son in Sarnia drive me back over the border next day to pick it up.

Maybe I will call CBSA and ask if a permanent resident of Canada can drive his US plated car in and out of Canada at will.
If I can, then maybe the issue would then be with the US CBP and if I am allowed to even own a US plated/insured car if I only spend five months of the year in the US.

 

[computergeek]

The US has no residency requirements for car ownership or registration, so you can leave the car in the US.

There is an issue if you are a Canadian licenced driver bringing a US plated car into Canada - that's importation. If you are a US licensed driver you can bring a US plated car into Canada, or a Canadian plated car into the US - the US isn't concerned about people buying more expensive Canadian cars and smuggling them into the US. Canada is concerned about people buying cheaper US cars and smuggling them into Canada.

 

[firhill]

The car in question is a 1990 Jaguar, that on a good day, might be worth $1,000, so it may end up not even being an issue.

Thanks again for the reply, cg.

 

[computergeek]

The car in question is a 1990 Jaguar, that on a good day, might be worth $1,000, so it may end up not even being an issue.

Since it is more than 15 years old, you shouldn't have any problems in any case, but I'd check to make sure because if they decide you are importing the car and it doesn't qualify for importation you must export it (move it back to the US) or destroy it. See http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.html.

I seriously doubt you'll have any problems, but it never hurts to make sure...

 

[firhill]

Thanks again for all the helpful replies cg.

:-*

 

[links18]

You are a returning Canadian resident, so there shouldn't be any import duties or taxes. You might want to import it, in case you wanted to bring it to Canada later.

 

[firhill]

Thanks links

The US has no residency requirements for car ownership or registration, so you can leave the car in the US.

cg,

I searched the DMV but couldn't find an answer.
If I bought a 5th Wheel and parked it in an RV park, would that fall under the same deal, allowing me to leave it in the US, with US plates, after relocating to Ontario?

I'm also assuming that after I go through the process of relocating as a PR in Ontario that I won't be able to tow the trailer back into Canada, at least on a permanent basis anyway.

 

[computergeek]

If I bought a 5th Wheel and parked it in an RV park, would that fall under the same deal, allowing me to leave it in the US, with US plates, after relocating to Ontario?

A fifth wheel trailer would fall under the same provision - you can leave it in the US, with US plates.

I'm also assuming that after I go through the process of relocating as a PR in Ontario that I won't be able to tow the trailer back into Canada, at least on a permanent basis anyway.

That one I'm not sure about because I've never researched it. However, if you own the trailer, you can list it as goods to follow, and then if you do decide to move it into Canada you won't have taxes although you still would need to import it - but trailers are likely to be pretty easy to import.

 

[firhill]

Thanks cg, as always, your insight is much appreciated :-*