Importing vehicle as settler before PR

[Aquakitty]

Update on this: Just got the letter in the mail yesterday that my wife is approved for NB Medicare. We exported the car in September, installed daytime lights, got the inspection and registration done in October, then applied for health care with passport, B4 and registration as supporting documents. The letter shows the effective date as August 22, which was the official settlement date as written on the B4. PR is still in process.

Wow, you are lucky! My husband couldn't even get his license without the actual PR card. They actually let you import the car without the COPR? No taxes/duty? That's amazing.

While I'm at it, is it really true about the "Canadian citizen driving a US plated car"? That makes no sense at all to me. I imported a car from California to Canada a few years ago. How was I supposed to drive it home if that was true.

 

[nmclean]

Wow, you are lucky! My husband couldn't even get his license without the actual PR card. They actually let you import the car without the COPR? No taxes/duty? That's amazing.

While I'm at it, is it really true about the "Canadian citizen driving a US plated car"? That makes no sense at all to me. I imported a car from California to Canada a few years ago. How was I supposed to drive it home if that was true.

Well you have 45 days to finish the import process (inspection and registration) from when you start it at the border, and during that time the Canadian is allowed to drive it.

Yeah, not only did they let us, it was their idea. No tax, just the RIV fee of $195 + HST. We also filled out the rest of the settler's effects list at that time with everything else from the US we plan to bring across later.

 

[mpottier]

ya they really give healthcare on a case by case basis. In Nova Scotia they just evaluate your immigration docs (whatever those may be) and approve based on those. If they are satisfied that you will be a resident then they will give you healthcare. Does anyone remember a few years ago when Michael Moore had that documentary on American healthcare (Sicko) and an American woman in Detroit got an Ontario health card by simply stating that her Canadian friend was her common law partner? They didn't even have a PR application or even a genuine spousal relationship. Obviously fraud, but I don't think the provinces are digging deep in people's background with regards to healthcare cards, and why should they it is comparatively rare. I think if it ever became a noticeable problem getting a healthcare card could turn into a second PR application (which would be a nightmare).

 

[Aquakitty]

Well you have 45 days to finish the import process (inspection and registration) from when you start it at the border, and during that time the Canadian is allowed to drive it.

Yeah, not only did they let us, it was their idea. No tax, just the RIV fee of $195 + HST. We also filled out the rest of the settler's effects list at that time with everything else from the US we plan to bring across later.

Yea I forget all the nuances as it's been a couple years but that makes more sense.