Last minute panics in POE prep.

[ashenflowers 5]

Hi everyone... My POE is in less than a week, and with the holidays and still working and all, it's actually been a bit hard to prepare as much as I've wanted to to this point.

Anyways... long story short, one of my questions is in relation to how I'm bringing my stuff over. I'm driving across, at the Ambassdor Bridge. I've read a few reviews, and it doesn't seem like they search many people's cars, or ask for a packing list very much. So that's nice! lol However, my concern is that I am borrowing my sister in law's car to drive our stuff over (it's bigger than my own vehicle so will hold more stuff... i'm leaving my car in Canada). My parents will be flying out about 2 weeks later, to attend our wedding, then driving the car back to Canada. My sister in law is not in Canada, so I can't get any sort of letter of permission or anything though. Do you think they will give me any hassle at the border since the car is not in my name? We have the same last name, and it's not a common name at all, so I'm hoping that will help. Our addresses will of course be different though. Do they even ask for the ownership or anything? Since the car is just being used to bring the stuff over, i'm not actually importing the car or anything. Like I said, my parents will be driving it back anyways.

I dunno... it just popped into my head today, and I'm starting to wonder if that's a bad idea.

[Avery 0]

You could call the border and ask what you might need to bring if anything. That way you have time to get what ever it is they need if anything. I know we've called them a few times on what we could and could not do or what we had to bring. LOL Generally they were always helpful.

[ashenflowers 5]

You could call the border and ask what you might need to bring if anything. That way you have time to get what ever it is they need if anything. I know we've called them a few times on what we could and could not do or what we had to bring. LOL Generally they were always helpful.

Well, I guess my concern is that even if they need anything, I can't get it from her. lol But that's a good idea. I will give them a call. Thanks

[trailmix 77]

I've kind of had the opposite experience in calling the border for info - I always get the wrong info. Then again, sometimes what's in their 'book' and what they actually do, are two different things.

If you are nervous about it I see you have a couple of options. Take a letter from your parents with their contact information to confirm they will be travelling in a few weeks to come and pick up the car or get your SIL to email you a letter of permission.

[ashenflowers 5]

I've kind of had the opposite experience in calling the border for info - I always get the wrong info. Then again, sometimes what's in their 'book' and what they actually do, are two different things.

If you are nervous about it I see you have a couple of options. Take a letter from your parents with their contact information to confirm they will be travelling in a few weeks to come and pick up the car or get your SIL to email you a letter of permission.

Thanks trailmix Those are good ideas too. I'll feel better if I can at least have something with me.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I've always borrowed cars to cross the border, they asked a few times whose car it was, just said my parents and then I went on my way.

Just make sure you can prove it's insured and all of that and I'm sure you'll be fine!

[ashenflowers 5]

I've always borrowed cars to cross the border, they asked a few times whose car it was, just said my parents and then I went on my way.

Just make sure you can prove it's insured and all of that and I'm sure you'll be fine!

That's the other thing I'm worried about. It's insured, but not with me as a driver. Sigh. I wish she wasn't overseas. I don't know how hard it will be to get her to add me to her insurance.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

It seems like they usually don't even inquire about the car when you are "activating" your visa. This is just based on the experiences I've read here on VJ. When I crossed my husband and I were in his car and they never asked me if I had a car to import or who's car we were in. There have been many people who crossed in their own cars who didn't know they needed to import it or didn't want to import it and were never asked by the officer at the POE a thing about the vehicle they were in. In my opinion, I think you'll be just fine. They will be concerned with other things that day! But, I can definitely understand the pre-POE jitters!

[Tina&Roland 4]

They didn't ask me about my car when I was crossing. I mentioned additionally that I wanted to import my car, which is a whole other deal than activating the K1.

[SapphireDreams 71]

That's the other thing I'm worried about. It's insured, but not with me as a driver. Sigh. I wish she wasn't overseas. I don't know how hard it will be to get her to add me to her insurance.

I don't think that matters. As long as the car is insured, you should be okay. But, I would probably check to make sure that is true just in case something happens so you're not stuck with a huge bill or something.

Good luck on the POE!

[KnJ 0]

You don't have to own the UHaul you're renting if that's how you POE, so your sister's car should be fine. Even if I had additional drivers on my insurance, the pink slip wouldn't say those people's names.

US Customs and Border Protection has offices wherever goods are imported/exported. If you are close enough to a major Port then you can just have your parents bring the car down and you can import it once it's in your possession. I took my car to customs today, with compliance letter, bill of sale, registration, and passport (they'll want your alien number and proof of visa) -- I was given an "Informal Import" type form. It was no sweat. They really don't seem all ####### and strange about Canadian cars, even at a port like Boston that isn't a US-Canada land crossing.

I second the comment that often phoning the border will get you the "officialese" and not the actual procedure. When I called the CBP main number I got an answer that included filling out and bringing 2-3 different forms and making an appointment with border officials. In reality, it's way more simple.

[minnew 4]

I know this is a bit different, but when I was a college student in the U.S. I borrowed my parents car. I never had registration or insurance that was in my own name. (although I was still covered as a driver). My parents never gave me a permission letter to drive it and I was only asked once about who's car it was during the multiple border crossings over the span of 5 years, and they never questioned me when I said it was not my car. I have a feeling they will ask you if you are importing the car, but what others have suggested should be ok, a letter from the owner of the car.

[ashenflowers 5]

You don't have to own the UHaul you're renting if that's how you POE, so your sister's car should be fine. Even if I had additional drivers on my insurance, the pink slip wouldn't say those people's names.

US Customs and Border Protection has offices wherever goods are imported/exported. If you are close enough to a major Port then you can just have your parents bring the car down and you can import it once it's in your possession. I took my car to customs today, with compliance letter, bill of sale, registration, and passport (they'll want your alien number and proof of visa) -- I was given an "Informal Import" type form. It was no sweat. They really don't seem all ####### and strange about Canadian cars, even at a port like Boston that isn't a US-Canada land crossing.

I second the comment that often phoning the border will get you the "officialese" and not the actual procedure. When I called the CBP main number I got an answer that included filling out and bringing 2-3 different forms and making an appointment with border officials. In reality, it's way more simple.

True, but with a UHaul, you have a rental agreement, and proof of insurance. I'm not importing the car though. But still, it does sound like it's simpler than I think, so that's good.

re: the letter from the owner... as I've said my sister in law is overseas. Do you think they would accept an unsigned letter? I could easily forge an email, so it doesn't seem very official. lol

[TimandJoyce 1]

Sorry I have no advice for you Ashen, but I hope that everything goes smooth for you, and that your wedding will be all you dreamed

[trailmix 77]

They didn't ask me about my car when I was crossing. I mentioned additionally that I wanted to import my car, which is a whole other deal than activating the K1.

They did ask me about our car, he also told me - either import it right now - or you are not taking it in. This wasn't some young untrained officer either, this was the senior guy who was training someone on how to enter the IR visa info.

This is just like visiting - it's up to the Border person on the day.