Landing in Canada from USA via Rental Car ?

[madee4u]

I would like to finish my Canada PR landing procedure by road and would like to return US after two days as I intend to move to Canada after 1 or 2 years. I am currently holding H1b visa in USA and would be travelling to Toronto via Niagara Falls.

Questions:

1) Can I use rental car to drive in ? Is there any risk ?

2) Can I tell them that I would be coming for landing procedure but would return back to USA in two days ?

3) If I avoid telling them that i would return in two days then taking flight is better option as I can't defend saying I would stay in Canada using a rental car ?

 

[computergeek]

1) Can I use rental car to drive in ? Is there any risk ?

Are you on a Canadian licence? If you are, you may be asked additional questions about a US plated car. Otherwise, if you aren't importing the car and you still have a non-Canadian licence they shouldn't give you too much trouble. Their concern are people importing cars without doing the proper paperwork.

2) Can I tell them that I would be coming for landing procedure but would return back to USA in two days ?

Sure. I'd suggest having something else to corroborate your story. Like your rental contract showing return to the original location in the US.

3) If I avoid telling them that i would return in two days then taking flight is better option as I can't defend saying I would stay in Canada using a rental car ?

Flying works as well, and then there won't be any questions.

 

[madee4u]

Are you on a Canadian licence? If you are, you may be asked additional questions about a US plated car. Otherwise, if you aren't importing the car and you still have a non-Canadian licence they shouldn't give you too much trouble. Their concern are people importing cars without doing the proper paperwork.

Sure. I'd suggest having something else to corroborate your story. Like your rental contract showing return to the original location in the US.

Flying works as well, and then there won't be any questions.

No, I have US license and would be using US rental car service. The reason I am looking for rental car is cheaper and would be flexible to complete SIN, banking and return at flexible timings. The flight is very expensive but if rental car is going to create any problems to the immigration as I read some articles saying "The applicant has been sent back saying come back whenever you are to ready to move to Canada permanently and not for 2 days kind of stuff"


From your post you would suggest "Going by flight". Thanks for you response. Please let me know if have any more inputs.

 

[USH1B]

Hello madee-4u,

I have also been on H1B in the US. I did my landing with my family in Peacelie bridge, Fort Erie, ON in Sept'11. I flew till Buffalo and then took a rental car in the morning, completed my landing process, visited Niagara falls for about 3 hours and then retuned back to Buffalo, returned the rental car at Buffalo airport and flew back to Houston. Absolutely no issues. While landing, I told them that I will come back to settle in Canada with one year and I moved to Edmonton last week.

I had given my friend's address in Vancouver while completing the landing process. You should make a list of all goods that will follow you when you decide to move and get the list stamped in form B4 so that you dont pay duty when you finally move. If you plan to bring your US car, then make sure there is no lien or mortgage on it as you will not be allowed to import your car with any lien. If possible, sell your car in the US and buy a car after you move to canada.

If you have more questions, please PM me.

Good luck

USH1B

 

[naturalcub]

I have fininced car and i will make landing next month.

My wife and kids are already moved and we import one car my plan is to land there and comeback sell house car and my wife will come and pickme up.

You think they will give me hard time even i am not importing the car.

Please advice.

 

[computergeek]

You think they will give me hard time even i am not importing the car.

No. The law allows a Canadian licenced driver to drive a rental car into Canada with US plates with restrictions, so I'd be really surprised if they even ASKED you about it, let alone gave you a hard time.

 

[Amandeepkalra86]

Hi All,
Me and my wife have received COPR bad we are planning to make first landing via land border Detroit Windsor.
I am planning to drive my personal car. And I plan to stay for three days and come back as I am working in US right now.

1. Is it allowed to drive to Canada in personal US car
2. Is it allowed to have first landing as new immigration done at land border or I have to fly to Toronto.
3. If I can drive my personal vehicle do I have to declare it in customs form.