US outland applicants' thread :)

[proco]

He drove my car in last time and we had no problem but I was in the car...if you have proof or insurance and the title (registration to the car) i don't see how there would be a problem maybe have your wife right a letter stating that she authorizes her car to leave the US and come back in 24 hours just like we do when bringing minors into the US without their parents...again i would double check...call border patrol or something because I know we are not allowed to drive and american plated car here...

Yeah I'm usually the one driving as well when we cross in her car with her in it and never had problems. I will have registration and insurance with me and get a letter written by her as well. Good idea! Thanks!

 

[OhCanadiana]

I am also insured as an occasional driver through my wife's insurance. Just curious if I'll get any trouble from either US or Canadian border patrol if I'm by myself in her car? I'd like to go into the US for just a few hours really and then drive right back.

You shouldn't have trouble as a US citizen (who is just visiting Canada) driving a Canadian plated car into Canada. You may want to check with US CBP what the US rules are on a US citizen driving a foreign plated car in the US (and double check that you have US coverage on your wife's insurance).

 

[cgagnon]

Yeah I'm usually the one driving as well when we cross in her car with her in it and never had problems. I will have registration and insurance with me and get a letter written by her as well. Good idea! Thanks!

No problem excuse my spelling mistakes...doing too many things at once and my brain switched from french to english all the time

 

[parker24]

No problem excuse my spelling mistakes...doing too many things at once and my brain switched from french to english all the time

Ahh the excuses of a bilingual person.

Though I will admit, I do the same with Sign Language and English haha. (Which does nothing to my online skills )

Hubby drives my parents cars once in a while, but as I found out, we Canadians cannot drive his car. Kinda dumb lol.

 

[scottandlisag]

Ahh the excuses of a bilingual person.

Though I will admit, I do the same with Sign Language and English haha. (Which does nothing to my online skills )

Hubby drives my parents cars once in a while, but as I found out, we Canadians cannot drive his car. Kinda dumb lol.

Really???? I drive my husbands truck, just keep the fluids moving while he's away... Hmmmmmmm guess I better not speed Kinda hard to blend in with all the other vehicles as his like a monster truck!! LOL

 

[cgagnon]

Really???? I drive my husbands truck, just keep the fluids moving while he's away... Hmmmmmmm guess I better not speed Kinda hard to blend in with all the other vehicles as his like a monster truck!! LOL

Ya us canadians cannot drive American plated cars....

 

[cgagnon]

Ahh the excuses of a bilingual person.

Though I will admit, I do the same with Sign Language and English haha. (Which does nothing to my online skills )

Hubby drives my parents cars once in a while, but as I found out, we Canadians cannot drive his car. Kinda dumb lol.

Hahahahaha it's true i'm writting in english and french all the time switching back and forth I end up putting right (instead of write) plus and instead of AN...anyways you guys get the main things lol plus not talking would be like i have a potatoe in my mouth just got back from dentist!!!!!

 

[Midwest]

Ya us canadians cannot drive American plated cars....

Really? My hubby, (he is Canadian), drives his car with American plates to Canada every 2-3 months. Only once he was asked at the border if he owns the car (yes).. That's it. They never give us hard time at the border. *knock on wood*

 

[epilobium]

Are we who are applying to CPP-O being tracked in the Buffalo spreadsheet?

If so, it doesn't look like any PR decisions have been made in the CPP-O office yet...is that right?

 

[computergeek]

I am an American in the process of obtaining my permanent residency through family class sponsorship. My wife is Québécois and we are in stage 2 of the process. I'm curious if I would have any trouble driving her car while I'm on a visit in Canada across the border to the US for a day trip without her? I've read elsewhere that she would not be able to drive a car plated in the US back across into Canada but is it the same for US citizens driving Canadian plated cars?

It's not an issue at all. The US is not concerned about people sneaking into Canada and illegally importing Canadian cars into the US - because cars are cheaper in the US than they are in Canada. Thus, there is no US law prohibiting it.

Canada, on the other hand, is concerned about Canadians illegally importing cheaper cars that do not meet Canadian safety standards from the US. Thus, there is a Canadian law prohibiting it.

 

[cgagnon]

It's not an issue at all. The US is not concerned about people sneaking into Canada and illegally importing Canadian cars into the US - because cars are cheaper in the US than they are in Canada. Thus, there is no US law prohibiting it.

Canada, on the other hand, is concerned about Canadians illegally importing cheaper cars that do not meet Canadian safety standards from the US. Thus, there is a Canadian law prohibiting it.

Well said!!!

 

[computergeek]

I first learned about the prohibition against Canadian licenced drivers taking US plated vehicles over the border from reading the Zipcar website:

http://www.zipcar.com/how/faqs/faq?subject=drive_away_us

If I reserve a Zipcar in the US, can I drive out of state or in Canada?

Yup. Knock yourself out. Don't really knock yourself out. At least not while you're driving anyway.

If you'd like to drive to Canada, contact us at least 3 days in advance. We'll need to issue you a special insurance card to take with you, so make sure to plan ahead. (Exception: if you are a Canadian resident or a Canadian citizen residing in the US and have a Canadian driver's license, Canadian Customs prohibits you from driving a vehicle with US license plates from the US into Canada. Sorry, that includes Zipcars.)

However, in searching around for an actual reference on the CBSA website, I found this interesting link:

http://www.ezbordercrossing.com/the-inspection-experience/rental-cars/

Canadians Driving a U.S. Rental into Canada

Before June 1, 2012, it was very difficult for Canadians to bring a U.S. rental into Canada. As of 6/1/12 Canadians can drive a U.S. rental car across the border into Canada without paying GST, HST, or Green Levy taxes if they meet all of the following requirements:

You have been out of Canada for more than 48 hours
The vehicle is for non-commercial use
You return the vehicle to the U.S. in no more than 30 days

This is useful if a Canadian tourist fly’s into the U.S. and then decides to drive back home to Canada.

So according to this, the rules just changed. Sadly, they don't cite to any authoritative source.

Here's a quotation from the Budget Rental Cars website:

If you’re a Canadian resident, Canadian Customs regulations prohibit you from entering Canada with a U.S. car. So renters with a Canadian driver’s license and a U.S. license plate won’t be allowed to cross the border into Canada.

Source: http://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/customer/commonquestions/index.html

Aha! And it took some digging but here is an authoritative source, dated June 20, 2012.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-4-1-eng.pdf

Terms and Conditions of Importation of Conveyances
3. A conveyance may be imported if,
(a) the conveyance, while in Canada is to be used
solely for the transportation of a resident and
accompanying persons from the point of arrival in
Canada directly to a specified destination in Canada
Memorandum D2-4-1 June 20, 2012
2
and from the specified destination to a destination outside Canada;
(b) in the case of a commuter, the conveyance while in Canada is to be used for the personal transportation of the commuter and accompanying persons from the point of arrival in Canada to specified destinations in Canada and from a specified destination in Canada to a destination in the United States;
(c) in the case of a resident other than a commuter, the conveyance is to be imported only for the purpose of transporting his household or personal effects into or out of Canada, or for personal transportation as a result of an emergency or unforeseen contingency;
(d) in the case of a commuter, the conveyance is to be imported for the purpose of personal transportation of the commuter and accompanying persons between his place of residence in Canada and a point in the United States or for the purpose of visiting clients in Canada on behalf of his employer;
(e) the conveyance is not to be used in Canada for the purpose of
(i) touring or other leisure activity,
(ii) carrying passengers or goods for hire or reward,
(iii) transporting goods for sale, or
(iv) soliciting sales or subscriptions on behalf of an employer who operates a business in Canada;
(f) at the time of importation, the person importing the conveyance specifies to the customs officer the date on which that person intends to export the conveyance from Canada; and
(g) the conveyance is exported from Canada within the time limit specified in section 5.
4. Revoked (SOR/88-84) January 20, 1988.

So there you go - you can now bring a non-Canadian registered car into Canada, with a Canadian licence. But only since June 20, 2012.

Note that it also provides a citation to the previous law (SOR/88-84).

So all those previous sources are now incorrect.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Really? My hubby, (he is Canadian), drives his car with American plates to Canada every 2-3 months. Only once he was asked at the border if he owns the car (yes).. That's it. They never give us hard time at the border. *knock on wood*

I assume from your post that your husband is not a Canadian resident from a customs perspective (i.e., if he lives in the US and enters Canada as a visitor).

Check out my post below for the fuller story both for cars you own and commercially rented vehicles (there's a discussion both in that thread and at http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/driving-wives-us-car-into-us-and-back-to-canada-t106916.0.html). I have relevant sections of the laws at the end with relevant sections quoted.

Well, this is your lucky day because I think I can clear it up for you and save you some cash for a bit

1. Your husband can drive your car or your parents' car or his own car in Ontario. IIRC, he is visiting you, not on a work permit or something else that makes him a resident of Ontario. Therefore, get him an International Driving Permit and you're done. You should be able to do it via mail with AAA (instructions here) ($15 plus shipping fees).

"If you are a visitor to Ontario and want to drive while you are here, you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's licence from your own province, state or country. If you are from another country and visiting Ontario for more than three months, you need an International Driver's Permit from your own country."
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/handbook/section1.1.0.shtml

2. A Canadian resident should NOT drive a foreign-plated car (unless they rented a car from a commercial agency in the US, have permission from the rental agency, and rent it for max 30 days -> this exception is relatively new). So, if you are a resident of Ontario and not just visiting Ontario you shouldn't drive his car unless it's an emergency or you guys are taking goods in to Canada in his car in the most direct path from the border to your house. Ditto for your parents.

[the sources are long so I'm putting them at the end of the post for clarity]

3. Once he gets his PR card, when he lands he should simultaneously import his car (on his B4). For this, you will need permission from the title-holder to export the car from the US. That way he won't be a Canadian resident driving a non-Canadian car.

4. He's going to need a Canadian driver's license (DL) to register the car, so you may want to get the DL shortly before landing so that you save that step. Depending on what US state his US DL is issued by, he may need a driving record.

Ta-da. Questions?



* * *

Sources for components of #2:

Tourists can temporarily import cars, per D19-12-1

"RIV Program Exemptions
49. Vehicles are exempt from complying with the CMVSS
at the point of entry into Canada if they are imported under
one of the following conditions:
(a) the vehicles are 15 years old or older, or are buses
manufactured before January 1, 1971; the importer
must be able to demonstrate the age of the vehicle;
(b) the vehicles are entering temporarily with:
(1) visitors, for a period not exceeding 12 months;
temporary residents such as students studying at an
institution of learning, for the duration of their
studies in Canada; or individuals with valid work
permits/authorizations for employment for a period
not exceeding 36 months;"

D2-4-1's covers residents of Canada's use of non-Canadian plated cars:

"GUIDELINES AND
GENERAL INFORMATION

Residents of Canada
1. Residents of Canada may operate conveyances on
which duties have not been paid in Canada only in
accordance with the terms and conditions of tariff item
No. 9802.00.00 and the regulations made pursuant thereto.
Purpose of Importation
2. Conveyances imported temporarily under these
Regulations are admissible for personal transportation only
from the point of arrival to a specified destination in Canada
and return within 30 days, when the purpose of importation
is to transport personally owned goods into or out of
Canada.
3. Similarly, customs inspectors may permit importation
in instances where a resident is required, due to unforeseen
circumstances or emergency reasons, to utilize a
conveyance on which duties have not been paid for personal
transportation to reach a specified destination in Canada and
return.
4. Under no circumstances are conveyances admissible
under these Regulations for touring purposes or for other
leisure activities in Canada, nor is any local use permitted
(e.g., point to point movement in Canada).
5. Customs inspectors will grant free importation of a
conveyance under these Regulations only when satisfied
that the applicable conditions have been met."

...unless it's a rental and certain conditions are met

"

Exception — temporary importation

(1.1) Sections 5 and 6 do not apply to a resident of Canada who imports a vehicle that is licensed in the United States if the vehicle is rented in the United States from a vehicle rental business and is being imported into Canada for non-commercial purposes.

Importer to remove vehicle from Canada

(1.2) A resident of Canada who imports a vehicle under subsection (1.1) shall remove the vehicle from Canada within a period of 30 days, or any other prescribed period, beginning on the day on which the vehicle is imported.

Rental business to remove vehicle from Canada

(1.3) If, within the period referred to in subsection (1.2), the resident of Canada delivers the vehicle to a vehicle rental business in Canada with the consent of the business, then the vehicle rental business shall remove the vehicle from Canada before the end of that period."
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/M-10.01/page-3.html

and

" Canadian residents may, as of June 1, 2012, bring U.S. rental vehicles into Canada for non-commercial use for 30 days or less. This will not affect the safety of Canadian road users, because Canadian and American vehicle standards are similar, and the vehicles will be in Canada for short periods of time.

While these changes to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) will allow one-way and two way trips, residents of Canada may only deliver a vehicle to a vehicle rental business for a one-way trip, with the consent of the business. 

Visitors to Canada may continue to bring rental vehicles from the United States into Canada. "
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-rental-usa-1302.htm

 

[OhCanadiana]

I first learned about the prohibition against Canadian licenced drivers taking US plated vehicles over the border from reading the Zipcar website:
....
Aha! And it took some digging but here is an authoritative source, dated June 20, 2012.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-4-1-eng.pdf

So there you go - you can now bring a non-Canadian registered car into Canada, with a Canadian licence. But only since June 20, 2012.

Note that it also provides a citation to the previous law (SOR/88-84).

So all those previous sources are now incorrect.

Check out the rules on usage of the vehicle in my post above; AFAIK the only thing they've changed is the ability to bring in a commercially rental car up to 30 days if you meet several conditions.

If you are thinking of using a rental car, and will be outside Canada less than 48 hours you may still have some tax liability - check out http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/releases-2012-h048e-6704.htm:

"A revision to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) will allow Canadian residents to temporarily import a U.S.-based rental vehicle for non-commercial purposes for a period up to 30 days. To facilitate access to Canadian tourism destinations and provide more flexibility for travellers, Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 will also eliminate taxes on these vehicles for Canadians who have been outside of Canada for at least 48 hours, effective June 1, 2012."

Would be really happy to be proven outdated on this one.

 

[Midwest]

OhCanadiana, thank you for info! Good to know.