Delayed Landing/Importing Car Question

[USA2BCCANADA]

I have a landing question.

I'll be receiving my passport with my visa in it soon and I want to go up to BC to visit and house hunt prior to landing. Is that possible? Do I just tell the border crossing that I don't wish to officially land yet and that's it?

I have also thought of going through the landing procedures on the way up to "visit" but then I would need to bring my goods to follow list (which is no where near completion) but then I have an issue with importing my car. From other threads that I have read, a PR can not bring their car up (even for a short time) without importing it. correct? Here is my problem, I don't plan on bringing my car up to Canada once I officially move up so if I go up and land in the next few months, I would be stuck importing my car??? Anybody know how this all works?

Sorry if I'm not very clear in how I'm wording it, just let me know if you have any further questions. ;D

 

[matthewc]

Once you have the PR visa, you have to land when you enter Canada. I don't believe you would be able to enter as a visitor (i.e. tell them you don't wish to land yet). You can land on your visit though, that's not a problem, but you would need your goods to follow list. I think you can have your car on a goods to follow list and import it at a later date even though you're driving it. Best thing to do would be to call CBSA at the border crossing where you're entering to check about that.

 

[AllisonVSC]

I do not believe that is correct, matthewc. You do not have to land the next time you enter Canada. You can cross as a visitor and declare that you intend to land at a later date and want to go house hunting. You can also cross with your vehicle as a PR without importing it, esp if you cross at a time the export office is closed, but once you start the import/export process, you have a limited time to complete the process. I entered a s a visitor and imported my car several months after I landed even though my car was here. I'm not sure that I was legal for all those months but circumstances prevented me from completing the process earlier.

 

[elkan]

Just out of curiosity, what's the average cost of importing the vehicle? I didn't even realize this had to be done, but good to know so we both have funds to cover this??

 

[USA2BCCANADA]

I'm not sure what the overall costs to import are, but I think it's just a couple hundred dollars at the border but it then depends how many alterations must be made to your car to make it adhere to Canadian guidelines. We were planning to buy a new car within this year, so we just decided to leave my car in the states with family and buy a new car up there rather than going through the trouble of importing.

So back to the "delayed landing"....I've gotten two different replies....does anyone else know if I can just say that I am house hunting and I don't wish to land at this time? Anyone have any experiences that might help me? Thanks

 

[AllisonVSC]

Here is another thread that you might be interested in as the OP says my advice about visiting and not landing was confirmed by his lawyer.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/landing-to-canada-and-returning-to-us-after-3-days-questions-t50777.0.html;msg390649#msg390649

Elkan, I would be happy to repost or pm my comments on importing my vehicle. It includes the costs I incurred in the process.

Note: Actually, Elkan, my post is included in the link above.

 

[USA2BCCANADA]

Thanks Allison. That thread was really helpful.

 

[elkan]

Thanks Allison, very helpful!