Sponsoring my Korean wife for permanent residency

[Rob_TO]

Maybe Rob_TO can give some insight into this question. I've posted it as well over on the Finance/Tax Issues forum.

Am I correct in assuming (I've read it elsewhere on the board) that a PR landing for the first time can bring all their belongings, household items, etc, into the country tax/duty free?

If that's correct, what happens if you enter Canada as visitor with those same goods, while waiting out your PR application?

Over the 8 years we've been married we've acquired the usual household stuff; fridge, stove , furniture etc. Some of it we'll sell but some of it we're shipping home. Those goods will no doubt arrive in Canada before her PR is approved. I understand that I will need to fill out the B4 forms listing all the goods we shipped, but will I have to pay anything when they arrive?

I'm no expert in this area... but here are my interpretations of importing stuff.

If your wife tries to import goods into Canada before she becomes a PR and officially "lands" in Canada, then her goods would be subject to full customs duties/taxes. Every product out there has different duty rates, so what you would pay depends on the product and what it's valued at. Until she gets official PR, she is treated strictly as a visitor to Canada. Remember, you have to ask why would a visitor be importing so much furniture into Canada?? If immigration or border services suspected your wife intends to LIVE here and is not really a visitor, that could be problematic in trying to get a visitor visa!

Now if you wait until she gets PR, then when you do the official landing you can submit the B4 forms listing all the goods. Only at this time or after, can you then import all the goods from the B4 list with no duties/customs.

I believe as a non-resident Canadian citizen returning to Canada, you are allowed to import your belongings to Canada also free of charge as a general rule. So perhaps if you were to put ALL the furniture and goods in YOUR NAME ONLY and completely leave your wife's name off any documents relating to the goods... then you could get the stuff here without paying customs/duties also. However I'm really not sure of the specifics here... so please check the rules out yourself, or perhaps start a separate thread on this topic as i'm sure there are lots on this site who could answer (but don't read this Korea thread).

 

[DGT]

I believe as a non-resident Canadian citizen returning to Canada, you are allowed to import your belongings to Canada also free of charge as a general rule. So perhaps if you were to put ALL the furniture and goods in YOUR NAME ONLY and completely leave your wife's name off any documents relating to the goods... then you could get the stuff here without paying customs/duties also. However I'm really not sure of the specifics here... so please check the rules out yourself, or perhaps start a separate thread on this topic as i'm sure there are lots on this site who could answer (but don't read this Korea thread).

Plus 1 to this. I can confirm that you won't have any trouble importing your things in this fashion. We did that with all of our stuff from the UK with no problems.

 

[Korea2Canada]

Do I need a specific letter from my employer or will contracts be ok?

 

[bartjones]

Thanks Rob_TO and DGT. You're right. I just took a look at the CBSA website and it seems I can put it all in my name and pay no duty. I may have some difficulty explaining why I own twenty five pairs of high heels,

 

[bartjones]

Do I need a specific letter from my employer or will contracts be ok?

If you mean Document 18 on the checklist, then yes. It must be an original letter from your employer. In my case I wrote it for them and asked them to sign it.

 

[Korea2Canada]

Passport Photocopies: Just the information page or every page to show entry and exits?

 

[bartjones]

Passport Photocopies: Just the information page or every page to show entry and exits?

Just information page.

 

[Korea2Canada]

Landing: I was doing some reading about landing procedures. Here is the thread link:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t36735.0.html

 

[Korea2Canada]

Photocopying the entire application package (for our own records): Is there any reason to do so?

 

[Rob_TO]

Landing: I was doing some reading about landing procedures. Here is the thread link:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t36735.0.html

Note that is a very general landing guide including people coming on work visas and other kinds, so lots of it is not needed for family class. i.e. you WON'T need to bring proof of funds, additional photos or PR card application form.

Photocopying the entire application package (for our own records): Is there any reason to do so?

We never did this. For the PDF forms filled out on the computer we already had copies saved, and same thing for the proofs we already had electronic copies. I guess you could photocopy the original docs and translations, just in case CIC loses them somewhere along the way.

 

[costaudjoe]

Photocopying the entire application package (for our own records): Is there any reason to do so?

As we had a scanner for some of the documents for the proof of the relationship, so I just scanned everything to have a electronic backup.

 

[Korea2Canada]

As we had a scanner for some of the documents for the proof of the relationship, so I just scanned everything to have a electronic backup.

Okay, I'll do that.

 

[costaudjoe]

Okay, I'll do that.

It has been very useful. I totally forgot when we had our medical. But since we scanned it, I was able to pull it up again.

 

[DGT]

Thanks Rob_TO and DGT. You're right. I just took a look at the CBSA website and it seems I can put it all in my name and pay no duty. I may have some difficulty explaining why I own twenty five pairs of high heels,

Hehe. That one crossed my wife's mind too. Importing 150 video games, and 4 consoles. She thought they'd think she was a dork!

 

[bartjones]

Okay, now I'm worried. I sent our application to CIC by courier and it arrived Mar. 8. I double, triple and quadruple checked the package to be sure all the forms were complete, we signed everywhere we needed to sign and all the required documents were included. I included an email address so that all correspondence would be by email. A week later they sent me an AOR by email.

So this week I'm expecting a decision on my sponsorship application. Nothing arrives, so today I check my status online. It says "Decision Made" and "We sent you a letter April 4 regarding your application."

What does that mean? And why are they sending me a letter when they are supposed to be corresponding by email? Makes me suspect that they are sending the whole package back to me. Anyone have any ideas?