Moving to Canada - Using upack service

[gprasad.n]

Dear People,
I am moving to ON in mid of January 2017 from USA. I have decided to use U-pack service to move my items. Is there any special requirement for packing items for an International move (US - Canada). I already have declared the items in the goods to follow when I landed last year. Do I have to provide the goods to follow papers to the truck company. Given I will be carrying some valuables with me personally which I declared earlier during landing, can I make a copy of the papers (Goods to follow) and take it along with me or give a copy to the truck company and keep the original with myself? I really don't know how this works. Little confused and tensed as well. Appreciate your valuable input in this regard. Thank You.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Is there any special requirement for packing items for an International move (US - Canada).

No. Just make sure that you go through CBSA website to find out if any of the items you are carrying are not allowed in Canada. One poor guy got $50 fine and passport entry for carrying an apple across.

Do I have to provide the goods to follow papers to the truck company.

I did USA to Canada move in Jan 2015 and Canada to USA move in Feb 2016 using Upack and can't remember a thing :-\

As far as I can recall , I had kept Original lists with me and Upack/ABF people had xeroxed my lists. Just call ABF/Upack and ask them what documentation they need.

I really don't know how this works. Little confused and tensed as well.

I wouldn't worry about documentation part. If I was in your situation then I would worry about - "How to protect my valuables in ABF truck." Please do expect some wear, tear and breakage.

 

[gprasad.n]

No. Just make sure that you go through CBSA website to find out if any of the items you are carrying are not allowed in Canada. One poor guy got $50 fine and passport entry for carrying an apple across.

What about the left over groceries at home like pulses, coffee, tea, sugar and etc, Am I allowed to take them?

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

What about the left over groceries at home like pulses, coffee, tea, sugar and etc, Am I allowed to take them?

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/rpg-mrp-eng.html

Pulses , Coffee , Tea and Sugar should be OK. I carried Pulses and Tea across border twice.

 

[smtele]

I already have declared the items in the goods to follow when I landed last year. Do I have to provide the goods to follow papers to the truck company.

Keep the original of goods and goods to follow list with yourself. UPack will ask you for a copy of these documents when you load your stuff.

I assume you already have the goods documents stamped? Carry those with yourself when you cross the border, and let CBSA know what you have already declared the goods. CBSA will give you a casual goods accounting document - BSF715-1 that has the sum total of all the items you are importing, and it mentions no tax or duty on those because you are moving in as a settler.

After your goods reach Canada, UPack will send you a shipping manifest that you need to get cleared from the customs in Canada. You will need to present the stamped goods papers + BSF715-1 + UPack's shipping manifest + ID docs (PR Card, PP, etc) to the customs to get your stuff cleared. After that, you can take your stuff from UPack whenever convenient. Keep in mind that they charge USD $150/month to store your goods.

Here is a guide from UPack describing the process: http://www.upack.com/moving-resources/moving-to-canada-from-the-us
Also, since you had Qs permitted items, look at this do not ship list: http://www.upack.com/moving-resources/moving-list.asp

 

[gprasad.n]

I assume you already have the goods documents stamped? Carry those with yourself when you cross the border, and let CBSA know what you have already declared the goods. CBSA will give you a casual goods accounting document - BSF715-1 that has the sum total of all the items you are importing, and it mentions no tax or duty on those because you are moving in as a settler.

Thank you for your detailed response. When I landed last year at the Toronto Airport, I already got the Casual Goods Accounting Document (Blue form) from the customs with a total value of goods I am bringing in to the country based on the inventory I provided along with the goods to follow documentation.

I guess this doesn't mean that I already imported the items - please clarify

 

[smtele]

No, I don't think it means that. Carry all the docs when you cross the border. CBSA might have a look at them, and you'll need them for shipment clearance later on.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Excellent answer smtele. +1 for that.

 

[simpsonjos]

Thank you for your detailed response. When I landed last year at the Toronto Airport, I already got the Casual Goods Accounting Document (Blue form) from the customs with a total value of goods I am bringing in to the country based on the inventory I provided along with the goods to follow documentation.

I guess this doesn't mean that I already imported the items - please clarify

I too have the Casual goods accounting document. Since we first landed in May 2014 and are moving only now Apr 2017, we have accumulated a few more goods than what was documented on the Goods to follow list. Would that be a problem? If yes, what's your suggestion?

Thanks
Simpson

 

[gprasad.n]

I think I vaguely remember, when landing, the officer at the airport told me to show this papers when you bring your stuff. However, I will be knowing that for sure when I move in next couple of weeks. I will update my experience in this forum on all the threads that I initiated when everything is done. Keep watching my posts

 

[gprasad.n]

I have sent my stuff with UPACK and gave copies of all the papers to upack guys. Three days later, upack guys from Buffalo, NY office called me and asked me to resend the copies of my passport and PR card to them , also the upack guy told me that I might have to go to the customs to clear my items, because per my goods to follow document it is dated Nov 2015 and customs MAY not allow them. I am not sure what they meant by "Customs may not allow them" I am little worried now. Do you guys have any such experiences with upack? Do I have to go to customs, if so, should I go to the border again or where?

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

I have sent my stuff with UPACK and gave copies of all the papers to upack guys. Three days later, upack guys from Buffalo, NY office called me and asked me to resend the copies of my passport and PR card to them , also the upack guy told me that I might have to go to the customs to clear my items, because per my goods to follow document it is dated Nov 2015 and customs MAY not allow them. I am not sure what they meant by "Customs may not allow them" I am little worried now. Do you guys have any such experiences with upack? Do I have to go to customs, if so, should I go to the border again or where?

Most likely you will need to go to local CBSA office where your shipment is headed to ( London ?). Please ensure that ABF/Upack has your Canadian phone no. so that truck driver can reach out to you in case any issue comes up.

 

[gprasad.n]

Looks like I have to go to one at the Kitchener Airport. I was wondering if I have to make an appointment or show-up without one?

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Looks like I have to go to one at the Kitchener Airport. I was wondering if I have to make an appointment or show-up without one?

I went to CBSA office @ downtown Montreal without appointment.

 

[smtele]

Looks like I have to go to one at the Kitchener Airport. I was wondering if I have to make an appointment or show-up without one?

Is this the shipping manifest sent by UPack that you are trying to get cleared, or something else? Have your goods reached Canada already?