Mexico

[ElleElle74]

New meds and repayment of removal fees sent 27 March and received at Embassy on 30 March.
PGR certificate and translation sent on 28 March and received at Embassy on 30 March.

Let the waiting game begin!

 

[CANzanillo]

New meds and repayment of removal fees sent 27 March and received at Embassy on 30 March.
PGR certificate and translation sent on 28 March and received at Embassy on 30 March.

Let the waiting game begin!

...and surely a PPR very soon!

 

[CANzanillo]

Does anyone here have any experience with landing in Canada at a land border? i.e. drive up from Mexico? This would allow us to bring a few more personal belongings and return with vehicle.

I read sometime back that perhaps you have to schedule your landing at the border crossing?? Is this true? I have tried to search the topic on the forum but did not get any relevant results back...

TIA

 

[OhCanadiana]

Does anyone here have any experience with landing in Canada at a land border?

This part is very simple as long as you go to a border with immigration services - take a look at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/imm-eng.html to see the border posts and the hours they have immigration services open (not necessarily the same as the border service hours since an immigration officer needs to be on duty).

i.e. drive up from Mexico? This would allow us to bring a few more personal belongings and return with vehicle.

This part is the nut you need to crack to make this work (whether you're thinking of driving it temporarily or importing it).

If you're thinking of driving the car up temporarily, your challenge will be that Canadian residents may not (legally) drive foreign plated cars. So, to make it work out you'd have to either drive the car straight home and then straight back out (an exception allows Canadian residents to drive a foreign car that is carrying personal effects in a direct path in and then take the car back out similarly with no point-to-point travel within Canada unless it's an emergency situation).

If you're thinking of driving the car up and importing it, you may be able to do so if the car is "designed, manufactured, tested and certified to meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards". Take a look at the document - and especially the exceptions - at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.html:

Exceptions

[b]You can import a vehicle into Canada on the condition that the vehicle is designed, manufactured, tested and certified to meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, bears a statement of compliance label affixed by the original manufacturer, has not been altered, and the certification from the original manufacturer is still on the vehicle in any of the following situations:
[/b]
For a used or second-hand vehicle less than 15 years old or a bus manufactured on or after January 1, 1971

    You are importing a vehicle that was manufactured in the current calendar year.
    You are importing a vehicle for your personal use and you are the person who bought it new. The CBSA does not consider demonstration vehicles or used vehicles that you purchased from a car rental agency to be new.
    You are importing a vehicle after its year of manufacture that you received as a gift from a friend or a relative abroad. The CBSA will require a signed document between both parties certifying that it was a gift (i.e. no money changed hands and no other valuable considerations were involved).
    You are importing a replacement vehicle if your privately owned vehicle was damaged beyond repair while you were travelling abroad. To prove the extent of the damage, you will have to submit a statement from the insurance company and a copy of the police report.
    [b]You are a resident of Canada who is returning to resume residence after an absence of at least one year, or you are a former resident of Canada who has been a resident of another country for at least a year. Refer also to the publication called Moving Back to Canada.
    You are a first-time settler to Canada and you owned, possessed and used your vehicle before your arrival in Canada. Refer also to our publication called Settling in Canada."[/b]

While vehicles are designed for the specific market they are sold in, looking at riv.ca may give you an initial sense (based on the similar US model) of the modifications you may need to make (e.g., daytime running lights) after importing and before registering it too. If you decide to take the plunge, you'll need to check with the various regulatory agencies about what you'll need to do for your specific vehicle.

If it is importable to Canada, then you'll have to look at what you need to enter and cross the US (from a customs perspective, insurance for starters) and into Canada (insurance both while it's still on Mexican plates and then after to get Canadian license plates). Two posts I wrote a while back on importing a car from the US may help:

Process to importing your car
Items to consider as you decide when to import your car

Also, I'd encourage you to think about how well the car will handle the different climates (hotter and colder).

I read sometime back that perhaps you have to schedule your landing at the border crossing?? Is this true? I have tried to search the topic on the forum but did not get any relevant results back...

TIA

You don't need to schedule an appointment to land at a land border crossing. You may be thinking of CIC inland offices, which do require appointments.

 

[Abuelita]

You don't need to schedule an appointment to land at a land border crossing. You may be thinking of CIC inland offices, which do require appointments.

Are CIC inland offices for inland applicants? Do you know if one arrives to a Canadian airport, it would be somewhat similar than a land crossing, in the sense that appointments are not needed? Thanks!

 

[Jalex23]

Are CIC inland offices for inland applicants?

No, they are for people for whom it is more convenient. Some people receive their approvals while in Canada, they live far away from the border and can't get easily to one.

Do you know if one arrives to a Canadian airport, it would be somewhat similar than a land crossing, in the sense that appointments are not needed? Thanks!

You arrive and you will be sent to the border immigration area. In there you finalize the process.

 

[CANzanillo]

This part is very simple as long as you go to a border with immigration services - take a look at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/imm-eng.html to see the border posts and the hours they have immigration services open (not necessarily the same as the border service hours since an immigration officer needs to be on duty).

This part is the nut you need to crack to make this work (whether you're thinking of driving it temporarily or importing it).

If you're thinking of driving the car up temporarily, your challenge will be that Canadian residents may not (legally) drive foreign plated cars. So, to make it work out you'd have to either drive the car straight home and then straight back out (an exception allows Canadian residents to drive a foreign car that is carrying personal effects in a direct path in and then take the car back out similarly with no point-to-point travel within Canada unless it's an emergency situation).

If you're thinking of driving the car up and importing it, you may be able to do so if the car is "designed, manufactured, tested and certified to meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards". Take a look at the document - and especially the exceptions - at http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.html:

Exceptions

[b]You can import a vehicle into Canada on the condition that the vehicle is designed, manufactured, tested and certified to meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, bears a statement of compliance label affixed by the original manufacturer, has not been altered, and the certification from the original manufacturer is still on the vehicle in any of the following situations:
[/b]
For a used or second-hand vehicle less than 15 years old or a bus manufactured on or after January 1, 1971

    You are importing a vehicle that was manufactured in the current calendar year.
    You are importing a vehicle for your personal use and you are the person who bought it new. The CBSA does not consider demonstration vehicles or used vehicles that you purchased from a car rental agency to be new.
    You are importing a vehicle after its year of manufacture that you received as a gift from a friend or a relative abroad. The CBSA will require a signed document between both parties certifying that it was a gift (i.e. no money changed hands and no other valuable considerations were involved).
    You are importing a replacement vehicle if your privately owned vehicle was damaged beyond repair while you were travelling abroad. To prove the extent of the damage, you will have to submit a statement from the insurance company and a copy of the police report.
    [b]You are a resident of Canada who is returning to resume residence after an absence of at least one year, or you are a former resident of Canada who has been a resident of another country for at least a year. Refer also to the publication called Moving Back to Canada.
    You are a first-time settler to Canada and you owned, possessed and used your vehicle before your arrival in Canada. Refer also to our publication called Settling in Canada."[/b]

While vehicles are designed for the specific market they are sold in, looking at riv.ca may give you an initial sense (based on the similar US model) of the modifications you may need to make (e.g., daytime running lights) after importing and before registering it too. If you decide to take the plunge, you'll need to check with the various regulatory agencies about what you'll need to do for your specific vehicle.

If it is importable to Canada, then you'll have to look at what you need to enter and cross the US (from a customs perspective, insurance for starters) and into Canada (insurance both while it's still on Mexican plates and then after to get Canadian license plates). Two posts I wrote a while back on importing a car from the US may help:

Process to importing your car
Items to consider as you decide when to import your car

Also, I'd encourage you to think about how well the car will handle the different climates (hotter and colder).

You don't need to schedule an appointment to land at a land border crossing. You may be thinking of CIC inland offices, which do require appointments.

Thanks very much for the detailed response OhCanadiana and to Jalex23 for your confirmation!!

So, I'll have a look at the links. In theory then, there should be no problem arriving at a land border assuming there are immigration officers on duty. GREAT!

As for the vehicle, here's the twist. 2 and a half years ago I purchased our car in Canada, insured it and registered it in Alberta, then drove it to Mexico, where, at the Mexican border I legalized (permanently imported) my Canadian car into Mexico. It is currently registered, plated and insured in the state of Colima, Mexico - though I must say every step of importing a Canadian vehicle into Mexico was very challenging!! (US titled vehicles are MUUUUUUCH easier - I have done that also). So, the challenge is this, would I be able to drive to Canada, and enter Canada with my Can/Mex vehicle, then reregister the car in Canada, without too much difficulty : Would I be required to reimport the car back into Canada??

I think a call to CBSA is in order...

 

[Jalex23]

So, the challenge is this, would I be able to drive to Canada, and enter Canada with my Can/Mex vehicle, then reregister the car in Canada, without too much difficulty : Would I be required to reimport the car back into Canada??

Able to drive it yes, enter Canada yes, reregister the car.... most likely yes....

I think a call to CBSA is in order...

And to Alberta Services, as the CBSA officer might not be savvy on how the car procedure should go. CBSA may tell you that you can drive it in for at most 6 months with no problems (the car is a visitor) but how to change its "status" would be more a concern of Alberta Services IMO....

 

[Abuelita]

No, they are for people for whom it is more convenient. Some people receive their approvals while in Canada, they live far away from the border and can't get easily to one.

You arrive and you will be sent to the border immigration area. In there you finalize the process.

Thank you very much for your responses. This information is very useful!

 

[OhCanadiana]

Thanks very much for the detailed response OhCanadiana and to Jalex23 for your confirmation!!

So, I'll have a look at the links. In theory then, there should be no problem arriving at a land border assuming there are immigration officers on duty. GREAT!

My pleasure

Yup. Just tell the first officer that you are reimporting your vehicle, that your spouse is landing, and you have goods to declare. They will send you in to secondary inspection. Depending on the border, once inside you'll see an immigration officer and then a customs officer (for the goods). The first will complete the landing and then the second will review and stamp each of your Personal Effect Accounting Documents (where you declare all the goods you will be returning to Canada and he declares all the goods he has owned, used, and possessed he will be importing to Canada at that time or in the future).

To simplify this, take two copies of your Personal Effects Accounting Documents filled in - take a look at http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/b4-help-please-t100666.0.html;msg1465354#msg1465354 for some background I wrote on another couple that was a returning Canadian and immigrant. The updated link for the CBSA instructions are at Take a look at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html.

As for the vehicle, here's the twist. 2 and a half years ago I purchased our car in Canada, insured it and registered it in Alberta, then drove it to Mexico, where, at the Mexican border I legalized (permanently imported) my Canadian car into Mexico. It is currently registered, plated and insured in the state of Colima, Mexico - though I must say every step of importing a Canadian vehicle into Mexico was very challenging!! (US titled vehicles are MUUUUUUCH easier - I have done that also). So, the challenge is this, would I be able to drive to Canada, and enter Canada with my Can/Mex vehicle, then reregister the car in Canada, without too much difficulty : Would I be required to reimport the car back into Canada??

I think a call to CBSA is in order...

I'm pretty certain you'll need to (re)import the car into Canada. The import documents will allow you to then register the car in Canada.

These additional details make the situation much simpler as you'll qualify for the second-to-last exception I bolded in my quote above and for the intro text. Thus, since you bought it in Canada it would have been manufactured for the Canadian market and either you or your wife should be able to take it back. Transport Canada would be able to guide you in the process.

BTW, I know cars imported through the RIV program can't have any recalls on them so that's a puzzle piece likely worth looking into early (depending on the manufacturer, it can be as easy as hopping onto a website and inputting the VIN or require a bit more steps over the course of a few weeks/months if you need to mail in a formal request to HQ). If there's any outstanding recalls, you'll want to arrange to have it fixed before importing which I could see require some logistical coordination to have it covered by the manufacturer in Mexico or on your way.

I think a call to CBSA is in order...

Transport Canada regulates vehicle importation so they'd be the ones to guide you. Give them a call - 1-613-998-8616

There's some info at http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-importation-index-443.htm.

It may be worth exploring with them whether you can piggy back onto the RIV program (it's quite simple) although the car is registered in Mexico, it was made for sale in Canada and you'll be crossing through a US land border. If so, then the process is simple: you just fill in one form at the border and then take the car to be inspected at Canadian Tire (that's an import inspection, though they may also be able to do the provincial inspection at the same time).

ETA: The US has specific export requirements. I don't know if Mexico does too so that may be something to look into as well...

 

[CANzanillo]

My pleasure

Much Appreciated!

Yup. Just tell the first officer that you are reimporting your vehicle, that your spouse is landing, and you have goods to declare. They will send you in to secondary inspection. Depending on the border, once inside you'll see an immigration officer and then a customs officer (for the goods). The first will complete the landing and then the second will review and stamp each of your Personal Effect Accounting Documents (where you declare all the goods you will be returning to Canada and he declares all the goods he has owned, used, and possessed he will be importing to Canada at that time or in the future).

To simplify this, take two copies of your Personal Effects Accounting Documents filled in - take a look at http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/b4-help-please-t100666.0.html;msg1465354#msg1465354 for some background I wrote on another couple that was a returning Canadian and immigrant. The updated link for the CBSA instructions are at Take a look at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html.

Thank You!

I'm pretty certain you'll need to (re)import the car into Canada. The import documents will allow you to then register the car in Canada.

These additional details make the situation much simpler as you'll qualify for the second-to-last exception I bolded in my quote above and for the intro text. Thus, since you bought it in Canada it would have been manufactured for the Canadian market and either you or your wife should be able to take it back. Transport Canada would be able to guide you in the process.

I was hoping that I could just "reactivate" the previous lapsed Alberta registration (during a pre-landing trip to Calgary), then slap the old Alberta plate onto the car once inside the US, and avoid having to reimport the car back into Canada. I never "knowingly" exported the car out of Canada. I will inquire about this ahead of time with Alberta Transportation and Transport Canada.

BTW, I know cars imported through the RIV program can't have any recalls on them so that's a puzzle piece likely worth looking into early (depending on the manufacturer, it can be as easy as hopping onto a website and inputting the VIN or require a bit more steps over the course of a few weeks/months if you need to mail in a formal request to HQ). If there's any outstanding recalls, you'll want to arrange to have it fixed before importing which I could see require some logistical coordination to have it covered by the manufacturer in Mexico or on your way.

There is, in fact, an outstanding recall, that happened after I imported into Mexico. I tried having the recall done here in Mexico but it proved impossible, so that will definitely be a puzzle piece to figure out!! Thanks for the heads up!

Transport Canada regulates vehicle importation so they'd be the ones to guide you. Give them a call - 1-613-998-8616

Definitely will be calling them...

There's some info at http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-importation-index-443.htm.

It may be worth exploring with them whether you can piggy back onto the RIV program (it's quite simple) although the car is registered in Mexico, it was made for sale in Canada and you'll be crossing through a US land border. If so, then the process is simple: you just fill in one form at the border and then take the car to be inspected at Canadian Tire (that's an import inspection, though they may also be able to do the provincial inspection at the same time).



ETA: The US has specific export requirements. I don't know if Mexico does too so that may be something to look into as well...

More investigation required...

Thanks a million!

 

[OhCanadiana]

I was hoping that I could just "reactivate" the previous lapsed Alberta registration (during a pre-landing trip to Calgary), then slap the old Alberta plate onto the car once inside the US, and avoid having to reimport the car back into Canada. I never "knowingly" exported the car out of Canada. I will inquire about this ahead of time with Alberta Transportation and Transport Canada.

Do you still have an Alberta title?

There is, in fact, an outstanding recall, that happened after I imported into Mexico. I tried having the recall done here in Mexico but it proved impossible, so that will definitely be a puzzle piece to figure out!! Thanks for the heads up!

At least now you can plan...

FWIW, for cars that go through the RIV process, you could probably arrange to have it done after you import the car (it isn't required at the border to be let in) but before the RIV issues the import inspection documents (which are required for Canadian Tire to perform the inspection needed to get the forms to register the vehicle).

If you need to do it before, would it be possible for them to ship parts to you? Or to get it done enroute in the US?

More investigation required...

Thanks a million!

My pleasure. Look forward to hearing what path you decide on and about your success!

 

[CANzanillo]

Do you still have an Alberta title?

I do have the old Alberta Registration from 2012 and the license plate as well... I am going to enquire with Alberta Registries to see what they have to say.

At least now you can plan...

FWIW, for cars that go through the RIV process, you could probably arrange to have it done after you import the car (it isn't required at the border to be let in) but before the RIV issues the import inspection documents (which are required for Canadian Tire to perform the inspection needed to get the forms to register the vehicle).

Oh, that's good I could get it done inside Canada then upon arrival!!

If you need to do it before, would it be possible for them to ship parts to you? Or to get it done enroute in the US?

I would try for enroute Phoenix or Denver possibly...

My pleasure. Look forward to hearing what path you decide on and about your success!

Thanks again! ;D

 

[CANzanillo]

A quick follow up to the topic of whether I need to re-import my Mexi-Can car back into Canada. I reached Alberta registries by phone just now and explained my situation. The officer told me that I indeed have to import the car back into Canada and get the appropriate inspections done, bring the import documents, inspections, proof of ownership, proof of insurance to a registry office to be able to register the car in Alberta.

I tried calling Transport Canada and am waiting for a call back from them to confirm the procedure at the border.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[OhCanadiana]

Now you know with certainty. 8)

Hopefully they call you back soon and you learn it's just as simple as the RIV process!