Driving through boarder with k-1 visa

[Dreamman 1]

Has anyone here drive their car accross the boarder with k-1 visa? I am planning on driving my car with my belongings to USA. My question is what will j need to do? I have a 2013 hyundai Élantra I am wondering what others did to get there car over. I believe I have to have it imported and certified that it's EPA and DOT approved.

Any insight greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

If I'm not mistaken, you can't bring your belongings with your car. When I cross I'm bringing a suitcase of clothes and my laptop, but that is it. You also need a us importer to give you a compliance standards letter as I don't think Hyundai does that. Also, since your car is so new you may have to pay duty on it, if not at the border then in your new home state.

[Rob & Monika 87]

For the car, check the stickers under the hood and on the side of the doors. Looks for an EPA compliance sticker, and either a FMV or CMV compliance sticker. Odds are you have a CMV sticker, and you will need a letter from Hyundai indicating that your vehicle is FMV compliant. From what I have read here, Hyundai is one of the companies people have trouble getting letters stating the vehicle is FMV compliant. Maybe that has since changed, not sure. Most issues with this process seem to occur at the DMV and not at the border.

There are 3 forms for importing a vehicle at the border, some border crossings will help you fill them out, others will expect you to do it. From there, you should be able to use these forms to register in you state of residence.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/documents/3520-1.pdf

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/cbp7501/ - Don't forget VIN on this one. You may have to fill this out at the border as half of it they gave me a template to complete it. Also look up the value of your vehicle on KBB.com.

You should also find your receipt for purchasing the vehicle, the Ontario registration papers weren't enough to get a title for the vehicle in NY, but that didnt stop us from registering it. Some states may care if their is a lien on the car, others may not because its not a US lien.

As far as floridaboundcanuks comments, you can bring your belongings with you, and with a K-1 you only have to pay duty/taxes on the vehicle if it is sold within 1 year of importing it.

You should also review the state laws in the state you plan to reside in for information on how long you have to register your vehicle and switch your drivers license from the time you cross the border

Edited January 4, 2014 by Rob & Monika

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

For the car, check the stickers under the hood and on the side of the doors. Looks for an EPA compliance sticker, and either a FMV or CMV compliance sticker. Odds are you have a CMV sticker, and you will need a letter from Hyundai indicating that your vehicle is FMV compliant. From what I have read here, Hyundai is one of the companies people have trouble getting letters stating the vehicle is FMV compliant. Maybe that has since changed, not sure. Most issues with this process seem to occur at the DMV and not at the border.

There are 3 forms for importing a vehicle at the border, some border crossings will help you fill them out, others will expect you to do it. From there, you should be able to use these forms to register in you state of residence.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/documents/3520-1.pdf

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/cbp7501/ - Don't forget VIN on this one. You may have to fill this out at the border as half of it they gave me a template to complete it. Also look up the value of your vehicle on KBB.com.

You should also find your receipt for purchasing the vehicle, the Ontario registration papers weren't enough to get a title for the vehicle in NY, but that didnt stop us from registering it. Some states may care if their is a lien on the car, others may not because its not a US lien.

As far as floridaboundcanuks comments, you can bring your belongings with you, and with a K-1 you only have to pay duty/taxes on the vehicle if it is sold within 1 year of importing it.

You should also review the state laws in the state you plan to reside in for information on how long you have to register your vehicle and switch your drivers license from the time you cross the border

Great info. I was just going by the "do not use your car as a shipping container" comment on one of the government websites.

[Dreamman 1]

Thank you for the great info!

I have called hyundai Canada and they are not able to issue me a EPA or DOT compliance letter for the USA just a Canadian compliance letter. I have been told that I will need to pay to have it imported in order to take it accross the boarder... Do you know this to be correct? Sounds like about $800 for someone to do paperwork! It's a brand new car. I do have my fiancée in the USA checking into the DMV to find out what they will need for me to register the car in Arizona. I am just confused and overwhelmed on how to get through The boarder.

Thanks again.

Tanya

[Flames9_RN 358]

Load up the car all you want-- Yes there are some things 1 can't bring into the USA............. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

The govn't site that mentions that probably means if you are shipping ur vehicle, ie going on a train or on back of a semi--it has to be empty...Personally driving it down is a different story

Ensure you have some kind of inventory list--doesn't have to be fancy--and majority of the time they don't even look!!

[Dreamman 1]

I am planning on bringing my dog with me .... It says no pets??

I have the paperwork that shows she has her rabbies shot etc. she is a little shitz shu.

??

[NikLR 13,232]

You can bring your dog, make sure you have a letter from your vet with detailed information saying he's up to date on his shots.

Hyundai is pulling your leg. You do not have to pay to import your car as it's YOUR car and because you're immigrating to the USA you have up to 10 years to import your stuff. I would call them up again and tell them you are immigrating to the USA and need the compliance letter to bring your car over. If not go to your dealership and see if they can get the compliance letter.

The only catch to this that I can see might be because you haven't owned the car for a year?

[Dreamman 1]

Thank you!

It wasn't Hyundai who said I needed to export it. Hyundai have send me a letter saying my car was compliant with Canada and that there are no recalls. Will this be enough to get me through the boarder? I have had the car for over a year. Speaking to an importer in the USA they said I need proper compliance letters for USA at the boarder? I just want to make sure I need to spend that money first. You know you get different answer from a lot of people. So confusing and stressful.

Thank you very much for any information.

Tanya

[Flames9_RN 358]

I sold my car before I moved.....But there have been many Canadians here on VJ that brought their cars and did not use an Importer to do it. Many obtained the compliance letter, and others that could not--were able to use the stickers that are found in the engine bay or sometimes on the inside driver door

[Dreamman 1]

Ok... So what if my car don't have those stickers?:/ Hyundai said my car was made for Canadain roads. I will check under the good today but I didn't see any stickers on the doors. I do have the Canadain compliance letter.

Thanks again.!

[NikLR 13,232]

Reading through VJ it looks like Hyundai is the one company that won't do this for you. Even a google search turned up much of the same result. Someone even tried a conference call between Hyundai Canada and Hyundai USA with no results either. If you don't have the sticker mentioned by Flames, you may want to consider selling or trading your car in (or if it's really new,returning it) and getting one that will import easily.

Because of all these issues I'm seeing, I will never buy a Hyundai myself. What horrid customer service!

[Dreamman 1]

Oh no! I want to take my car ... I will have to look into this more and find out how it's possible.

Thank you all for the information.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Reading through VJ it looks like Hyundai is the one company that won't do this for you. Even a google search turned up much of the same result. Someone even tried a conference call between Hyundai Canada and Hyundai USA with no results either. If you don't have the sticker mentioned by Flames, you may want to consider selling or trading your car in (or if it's really new,returning it) and getting one that will import easily.

Because of all these issues I'm seeing, I will never buy a Hyundai myself. What horrid customer service!

Actually I would buy a Hyundia..almost bought a 2011 Tuscon before we left Virginia! Ended up buying our Honda CRV! I was quite surprised how great the Tuscon handled and felt like a solid vehicle--much different than the old Hyundia Pony's of the 1980's lol And I had an Elantra for a rental vehicle for a week when I was back in Saskatoon for a week and it was pretty nice! They say their quality is on par with Honda/ Toyota, but people still have the negative views, so you are paying less!! But that will change! The new Sante Fe's look sharp!!

I'm sure there is a way to bring it down on ur own! To be honest, I'm not certain what the decal/sticker/stamp thats found in the engine dept or driver side door looks like. And if you are unable to do it at your POE, you shoul dbe able to do it at another Border if you live close to another (mexico) or an International airport. And you could always contact the dealership where you bought it--they may be of some help--maybe not, but doesnt hurt to ask!

some info I found:

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/2518/general/x/importing-canadian-vehicles-to-the-u-s/p22

http://www.hyundai-forums.com/187-cm-2007-2012-santa-fe/129709-has-anyone-know-anyone-importing-2009-sante-fe-into-us.html

Edited January 5, 2014 by Flames9_RN

[Dreamman 1]

Isn't it true that we have up to one year to register our vechicle in the USA once we arrive? I have been doing more research and it seems I could potentially drive through boarder with my Canadain plates and insurance and get the car imported before one year? We do have 90 days on the k-1 visa to be married or return to Canada.

Any insight?