moving belongings from the US to Canada..

[maura11]

Hi,
I am American and my husband is Canadian. We have applied for PR for me and I was going to start moving up while we wait. Does anyone know if my Canadian husband can drive the u-haul with my belongings across the border into Canada and if so does he need any paperwork? Thank you!

 

[scylla]

You cannot import your belongings into Canada tax/duty free until you actually have PR status. If you start before you have PR, you should expect taxes/duties will be levied against your belongings.

 

[jordo]

My wife (applicant) and I (sponsor) are planning on driving a U-Haul to the border and landing to become PR at the same time. We plan on leaving the U-Haul at our Canadian destination

 

[maura11]

You cannot import your belongings into Canada tax/duty free until you actually have PR status. If you start before you have PR, you should expect taxes/duties will be levied against your belongings.

Thank you. Even if my husband who is Canadian is driving and I am not there?

 

[maura11]

My wife (applicant) and I (sponsor) are planning on driving a U-Haul to the border and landing to become PR at the same time. We plan on leaving the U-Haul at our Canadian destination

Thanks. We wanted to do the same. Do you know if it is allowed for us to do that? Paperwork?

 

[scylla]

Thanks. We wanted to do the same. Do you know if it is allowed for us to do that? Paperwork?

What you're asking about is not at all the same thing - it's completely different. This poster's spouse has been approved for PR and wants to bring the belongings when they 'land' (cross the border to officially become a PR). This is fine and allowed. You are still waiting for PR approval. Again, completely different situation.

 

[scylla]

Thank you. Even if my husband who is Canadian is driving and I am not there?

Yes - even if your husband is driving. The belongings are yours and you are not allowed to import your belongings tax / duty free at this time.

Unless you're asking what would happen if your husband brought your belongings over the boarder and claimed they were his to avoid duties / taxes. If that's what you're asking - I would absolutely not recommend this. It's lying to CBSA officials (technically a crime). If caught, your husband will have to pay penalties in addition to the taxes / duties - and will then also be forever flagged in CBSAs systems - meaning he can expect to be pulled into secondary inspection every time he comes into Canada either by plane or car. I had a boss who did something like this 15 years ago and he still gets pulled into secondary every time. He calls it the worst decision of his life - it's made travel outside of Canada painful.

 

[maura11]

What you're asking about is not at all the same thing - it's completely different. This poster's spouse has been approved for PR and wants to bring the belongings when they 'land' (cross the border to officially become a PR). This is fine and allowed. You are still waiting for PR approval. Again, completely different situation.

Thank you for clarifying!