Getting Across the Border with Stuff

[ebohn24]

Hi,

I am a US citizen, my husband is a Canadian citizen and he will be sponsoring me for a PR. We got married 3 weeks ago in the US, and we want to move in together in Canada and apply for an Outland visa shortly afterwards.

I will be moving out of my apartment in the US. He is planning to pick me up and drive us across the border at Buffalo. Our car will be full of my moving boxes.

Do I need to obtain a document from the border agent showing my visitor status as part of the PR application?

Is it risky to try to cross on a visitor visa with a car full of moving boxes? Would it be best for me to walk across separately and have him take the car and stuff alone?

I have our marriage certificate, a U.S. employment letter (my work lets me be remote full time) and bank statements showing sufficient funds. Should I also have a return ticket to the US ready? Is there any forms that i need to complete to avoid being denied due to duty issues? I will mostly be bringing clothing and small house hold items with me. I have 5 moving boxes that will fill up our SUV.

 

[ihatetrump]

mmm well, let's say he picks you up and you go to the border with all your stuff. This is the one I recommend. You can explain the officer you are planning to stay and show him proof of the app and your job. There are still high chances you get denied entry. I cross the border pretty often and I took my stuff little by little.

Taking 5 boxes in a trip before having COPR it's pretty much asking to be denied entry. But since you have a job letter, IDK, Ill just say this will depend in the officer.

Case 2: The officers will ask your husband what is he bringing with him and usually they don't check cars but if they check him and find your stuff then he might get in trouble.

If you can split it into 3 trips or just take 1 big luggage of your stuff, would be a lot better.

if you had COPR? sure you could take 100 boxes haha.

 

[spousalsponsee]

Hi,

I am a US citizen, my husband is a Canadian citizen and he will be sponsoring me for a PR. We got married 3 weeks ago in the US, and we want to move in together in Canada and apply for an Outland visa shortly afterwards.

I will be moving out of my apartment in the US. He is planning to pick me up and drive us across the border at Buffalo. Our car will be full of my moving boxes.

Already married. Not yet applied for PR. Presenting as not a visitor (because all your worldly stuff with you).

Mata vs Canada http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/item/218891/index.do?r=AAAAAQAHVmlzaXRvcgE outlines what can happen to you (nb, not what will, there's no guarantee of this - but being issued an exclusion order is within the realm of reasonable outcomes according to the court).

You can make your trip safer by applying for PR first, and then arriving without all your stuff

 

[jeff198901]

I'm not going to even attempt this until after my wife gets PR. The risk is not worth it IMO

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I will be moving out of my apartment in the US. He is planning to pick me up and drive us across the border at Buffalo. Our car will be full of my moving boxes.

Do I need to obtain a document from the border agent showing my visitor status as part of the PR application?

Is it risky to try to cross on a visitor visa with a car full of moving boxes? Would it be best for me to walk across separately and have him take the car and stuff alone?

I have our marriage certificate, a U.S. employment letter (my work lets me be remote full time) and bank statements showing sufficient funds. Should I also have a return ticket to the US ready? Is there any forms that i need to complete to avoid being denied due to duty issues? I will mostly be bringing clothing and small house hold items with me. I have 5 moving boxes that will fill up our SUV.

Very bad idea. You are just asking to be refused entry and possibly issued an Exclusion Order. You do not yet have the right to live in Canada. Real visitors only carry one or two bags of clothing/toiletries and that is all you should have.

You also do not have the right to import your items for free; on the very off chance that you are allowed entry, you would be required to pay duties on all of your belongings. Leave the boxes in the US and have them shipped up or go pick them up after you become a PR.

I also suggest that if you aren't submitting your PR app before you come to Canada, you at least pay the full PR fees and have that receipt on hand when entering. This shows that you know the rules to live in Canada legally.

 

[viva-c]

Hey, I'm in the exact same situation as you (married a Canadian, was living in Buffalo) and I can assure you this is a TERRIBLE idea. Do not do this.

Get rid of your apartment if you must (I actually kept mine so that I have proof of ties to the US until my application is done processing), but you need to put your stuff in a storage unit in the US until you land as a PR.

Bring only what you need for a "visit" - i.e. some clothes and personal items, but any household items/furniture/etc. should absolutely not come with you.

 

[Ponga]

Agreed. This is a very bad idea.

Even if your husband is the only person in the vehicle, it's safe to assume that the CBSA will search the vehicle, including the boxes that contain your belongings. When they find items that are clearly not his (and they will), he will be in a difficult position. When the truth comes out, you may also be in some hot water.

Worse case scenario: You are refused entry into Canada, AND issued an Exclusion Order banning you from entering Canada for 1 year (or more).



I suggest finding a storage unit as close to the border as possible.

 

[Snowisland]

Patience grasshopper.
Not worth the risk.
And never lie to the officer, in case you were thinking about it.
I mailed a few boxes to my husband before a long visit after he applied to sponsor me. I ended up in secondary at the airport.
Can you wait to move after you get PR? It only takes a few months. You can visit for nearly six months with just your passport.
Ever watch Border Patrol on tv? The officers are well trained at spotting people doing what you are planning.
I wish you the best and I know it's hard to wait.

 

[z28eater]

You also do not have the right to import your items for free; on the very off chance that you are allowed entry, you would be required to pay duties on all of your belongings. Leave the boxes in the US and have them shipped up or go pick them up after you become a PR.
[/quote]


Per Canada Customs at Trout River, Quebec - Commercial Port

You do have the right to bring all your belongings tax-free however, you can only do so once you have been granted permanent residency, and not before. At which case you will need to do a B4 form. It is a manifest listing all your possessions with make, model, serial numbers.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You also do not have the right to import your items for free; on the very off chance that you are allowed entry, you would be required to pay duties on all of your belongings. Leave the boxes in the US and have them shipped up or go pick them up after you become a PR.



Per Canada Customs at Trout River, Quebec - Commercial Port

You do have the right to bring all your belongings tax-free however, you can only do so once you have been granted permanent residency, and not before. At which case you will need to do a B4 form. It is a manifest listing all your possessions with make, model, serial numbers.

What are you attempting to say with your post?

 

[z28eater]

That coming in as an immigrant your belonging are tax-free. In your post you stated " You also do not have the right to import your items for free; on the very off chance that you are allowed entry, you would be required to pay duties on all of your belongings." Which is incorrect. The reason I know this is because I am a dual citizen Canadian/American. I recently returned to Canada after living in the US for 13 years. Canada Customs told me as a returning resident you are not allowed to bring more than any one item worth more than $10,000. While I was in the Customs shack they told my husband who is American only ( and applying for PR) " For you sir you don't have the same restrictions as your wife, you can bring everything in tax-free including your car as long as it is on your B4." I personally didn't think that was fair, but that is what I was told.

 

[viva-c]

That coming in as an immigrant your belonging are tax-free. In your post you stated " You also do not have the right to import your items for free; on the very off chance that you are allowed entry, you would be required to pay duties on all of your belongings." Which is incorrect. The reason I know this is because I am a dual citizen Canadian/American. I recently returned to Canada after living in the US for 13 years. Canada Customs told me as a returning resident you are not allowed to bring more than any one item worth more than $10,000. While I was in the Customs shack they told my husband who is American only ( and applying for PR) " For you sir you don't have the same restrictions as your wife, you can bring everything in tax-free including your car as long as it is on your B4." I personally didn't think that was fair, but that is what I was told.

Sure. You CAN bring in your items tax-free when you land as a PR. OP is not talking about landing as a PR, she wants to bring her items across before she has even applied and would have to pay tax. That's what canuck_in_uk was referring to.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

That coming in as an immigrant your belonging are tax-free. In your post you stated " You also do not have the right to import your items for free; on the very off chance that you are allowed entry, you would be required to pay duties on all of your belongings." Which is incorrect.

Not incorrect, as OP is discussing their options for entering as a visitor, not as a PR.