Just wanted to update you guys. Officially done. Got the PR card in the mail today.
of course two days after I email CIC asking where it's at.
We're planning on importing our car from the US but we haven't looked into the details yet, since we're still waiting for the PR application to finish processing...could still be a few months away. We're hoping to move by late spring, but it all depends on PR for my husband so that he can begin working right away. It's funny - here I am obsessing about our application status all this time when really I should be putting that energy into finding a job, apartment, paperwork for the car and our two pets and all the other work involved in moving, haha. It's a catch 22 though - it's like we can't officially plan until we know we're officially approved.
as for importing.. Plan ahead.
if you OWN your car as in no lease or financed. it's FAR easier. DO NOT try and cross the border as a PR with an american plated car. you're going to be in for a treat.. I did it and only got to leave since I was legally in the country as a student, had proof my car was there legally, and also had proof on me I was actively going through the process of importing my car. The officer said that it would have been a much more dramatic scenario if I didn't happen to have that stuff with me (thank god I'm a freak and travel with extra stuff I wouldn't normally need.)
Anyways! either way. claim it when you land. claim the care as an item to follow..
here's what you have to do;
IF your car is leased/has a lean (financed) you need permission letter from the bank. The Canadian side will accept that, no idea about american.
that permission letters needs to clearly state that the bank acknowledges that this is a permanent move and they authorize the vehicle to leave the US and be registered in Canada.
IF you own your car outright here's what's next:
you take that and first EXPORT through the US side (by calling ahead of time, scheduling at a specific border crossing. usually three days prior, you have to give them all the paperwork before your arrival.
after you export, you import. I've read this is a super quick process.
after that you have X amount of time to take it and get it RIV approved and get the changes done you might need.
then they'll give you the approval to get it registered in your province!
MY experience:
-We traded in my car to a Canadian dealership and they accepted it (since they had ties to the US) and we bought a car off their lot. It was a chevy to a chevy dealership, so I assume that helped.
I didn't have to actually go through the import process and I'm ever so thankful for it.
