Crossing the US border to mail my belongings?

[mrskent 11]

I couldn't find another thread like this, so please if someone else has asked - point me to the right direction!

Basically, my husband and I agreed to sell of pretty much everything here in Canada. BUT, when I looked at shipping boxes (books, clothes, etc) through USPS it was pretty cheap! About $20 a box.

So my question is, has anyone moved some of their stuff via mail like this? What would I need when I cross the border just to ship my items with USPS?

We would like to ship out about 10 boxes before we officially move to the US. Will this cause confusion at the border when we tell them we'd l;ike to ship 10 boxes of my personal belongings, and then re-enter Canada?

[at long last 58]

If you haven't received your visa and approval you're not permitted to ship personal property. But if the petitioner owns the articles then they are allowed to ship their belongings.

That's the info I was given in 2011. There is a special form to fill if you use a moving company. If you mail your articles then you must write on the slip they give you what's in the box. Such as books, clothes etc.

[NikLR 13,227]

You cant move your things. You have 10 years to move them after you enter duty free.

[mrskent 11]

If you haven't received your visa and approval you're not permitted to ship personal property. But if the petitioner owns the articles then they are allowed to ship their belongings.

That's the info I was given in 2011. There is a special form to fill if you use a moving company. If you mail your articles then you must write on the slip they give you what's in the box. Such as books, clothes etc.

I was planning to do it after I got my visa, but I wanted to do it maybe 1-2 weeks before I officially move to the US.

Is there a form I can use when I cross the border if I ship them myself?

You cant move your things. You have 10 years to move them after you enter duty free.

Do I need to officially 'enter' the US and be moved there before I have the rights to bring things in and ship them USPS?

Or is it ok once I get my visa?

[NikLR 13,227]

I was planning to do it after I got my visa, but I wanted to do it maybe 1-2 weeks before I officially move to the US.

Is there a form I can use when I cross the border if I ship them myself?

Do I need to officially 'enter' the US and be moved there before I have the rights to bring things in and ship them USPS?

Or is it ok once I get my visa?

Once you have your visa, when you cross the border you will need your immigrant package and will have to POE at that point. You cannot move your items before then. Your usc spouse can move their items at any time.

[NikLR 13,227]

Once you poe you're officially an lpr. If you need to do a few things still you can obviously.

[mrskent 11]

Once you poe you're officially an lpr. If you need to do a few things still you can obviously.

So I can still that be my point of entry even if I am going back in a couple weeks to move officially?

[NikLR 13,227]

So I can still that be my point of entry even if I am going back in a couple weeks to move officially?

Yes. You have a CR1 visa. So you become an LPR when you enter but you don't need to be completely ready to move down. Just be aware you can't use provincial health care during that transition period.

[cdneh 3,112]

I sent 5 boxes to myself in the USA, via NZ Post, after getting the visa, and just before I left NZ.

I am from Canada, and when I moved to NZ I left a a few boxes with my son. I am in BC at the moment, headed South next week. I have a list ready if they want it. My ten years are up January 2017.

[mrskent 11]

I sent 5 boxes to myself in the USA, via NZ Post, after getting the visa, and just before I left NZ.

I am from Canada, and when I moved to NZ I left a a few boxes with my son. I am in BC at the moment, headed South next week. I have a list ready if they want it. My ten years are up January 2017.

I can ship them with Canada Post but it'll cost me 5-7 times more.

Hence why I was hoping to go into the US and use their postage service, it would cost me much less! I am only a 2 hour drive from the border.

[mrskent 11]

Yes. You have a CR1 visa. So you become an LPR when you enter but you don't need to be completely ready to move down. Just be aware you can't use provincial health care during that transition period.

Maybe my original question wasn't very clear so I'll try to explain a little better and add some examples.

As an example, I have my VISA (post interview, in hand), I intend to MOVE PERMANENTLY to the US on November 1st.

But I want to ship out my personal effects, 2 weeks before (mid-October). Meaning, I would ENTER the US for 2 hours, to simply use USPS and ship 10 boxes of my personal belongings, to my in-laws house and then RETURN to Canada, return to my job, etc.

So then I would be leaving AFTER this. I want to ship things out BEFORE I move so I simply have less to move and to save money.

Hope this clears this up a little ha ha

[Jojo92122 1,924]

This is getting ridiculous. Ignore all those saying you can't do this. You can do it.

Enter the US with your immigration visa to mail your belongings. At this point, you would be an LPR and will no longer be a Canadian resident. Your visa becomes a 1 year I-551 green card.

Go back to Canada to finish your move and come back to the US using your I-551 green card.

It's that simple.

P.S. Since you are returning to your job, you will need to report the income earned during your "transition period" on your US tax return. As a US LPR, you need to report worldwide income.

Edited September 8, 2016 by Jojo92122

[NikLR 13,227]

Maybe my original question wasn't very clear so I'll try to explain a little better and add some examples.

As an example, I have my VISA (post interview, in hand), I intend to MOVE PERMANENTLY to the US on November 1st.

But I want to ship out my personal effects, 2 weeks before (mid-October). Meaning, I would ENTER the US for 2 hours, to simply use USPS and ship 10 boxes of my personal belongings, to my in-laws house and then RETURN to Canada, return to my job, etc.

So then I would be leaving AFTER this. I want to ship things out BEFORE I move so I simply have less to move and to save money.

Hope this clears this up a little ha ha

Okay you're not understanding. Your question was clear but you're not understanding the process that MUST happen for you to ship your belongings.

You have your visa. You will enter the USA to ship your belongings. When you enter the USA you will activate your visa, hand over your immigration packet, and become an LPR. You can then ship all your belongings. You cannot enter the USA without activating your visa. You can then immediately turn around, and return to Canada for however long you need (as you stated November 1st.)

Just be aware that you will be a US LPR and not a Canadian resident at that point and cannot use provincial health care should there be a need for it. So you should obtain temporary health care until you do your permanent move.

What you cannot do is enter the USA, and ship your things without activating your visa. Because your visa immediately becomes a temporary green card valid for 1 year when you activate it, you can travel to and from the USA without issue.

[AstroCanada 206]

Okay you're not understanding. Your question was clear but you're not understanding the process that MUST happen for you to ship your belongings.

You have your visa. You will enter the USA to ship your belongings. When you enter the USA you will activate your visa, hand over your immigration packet, and become an LPR. You can then ship all your belongings. You cannot enter the USA without activating your visa. You can then immediately turn around, and return to Canada for however long you need (as you stated November 1st.)

Just be aware that you will be a US LPR and not a Canadian resident at that point and cannot use provincial health care should there be a need for it. So you should obtain temporary health care until you do your permanent move.

What you cannot do is enter the USA, and ship your things without activating your visa. Because your visa immediately becomes a temporary green card valid for 1 year when you activate it, you can travel to and from the USA without issue.

I'm not sure that's accurate. See OHIP's description:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/ohip_eligibility.aspx

Even if you are a legal permanent resident in the US, until you choose to move your domicile and no longer meet the provincial presence test, you remain insured with health care. The mere fact that you hold a green card does not make you ineligible. And in practical terms, your health card is still valid anyway until you aren't able to renew it.

[NikLR 13,227]

If you read it

OHIP Eligibility Am I eligible for Ontario health insurance coverage?

You may be eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) if you are included under one of the following categories:

• you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or landed immigrant, or are registered as an Indian under the Indian Act;
• you have submitted an application for permanent residence in Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada has confirmed that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence in Canada ;
• you have applied for a grant of citizenship under section 5.1 of the Citizenship Act (Canada), and Citizenship and Immigration Canada has confirmed that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for citizenship (i.e., children adopted internationally by Canadian citizens);
• you are a "protected person" - i.e. a Convention Refugee or a person in need of protection;
• you are a foreign worker who holds a valid work permit or other document issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) permitting you to work in Canada, and you also have a formal agreement in place to work full-time for an employer situated in Ontario which sets out the employer's name, your occupation, and confirmation that you will be working for no less than six consecutive months;
• you are a member of the clergy who is legally entitled to stay in Canada and will be providing services to a religious congregation in Ontario for at least six months;
• you hold a Temporary Resident Permit with case type 80 (for adoption only), 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 or 95;
• you are the spouse, or dependent child (under 22 years old or 22 years and over if dependent due to a mental or physical disability) of an OHIP-eligible member of the clergy or OHIP-eligible foreign worker;
• you hold a valid work permit under the federal Live-in Caregiver Program;
• you hold a valid work permit under the federal Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program;

AND

• you make your primary place of residence in Ontario; and generally,
• you are in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date you establish residence in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6 months of residence); and
• you are in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period.

Tourists, transients or visitors are not eligible for OHIP coverage.

Your eligibility for Ontario health insurance coverage is based solely on:

• you having one of the above OHIP-eligible citizenship or immigration statuses, and
• you making your primary place of residence in Ontario, and
• meeting the physical presence requirements.

Because you do not meet all 3, you are no longer eligible. When you become a permanent resident of the USA, you are no longer a resident of Canada. You are not eligible for CCTB or GST/HST cheques. You are no longer eligible for provincial healthcare because you are no longer a resident and your permanent home is no longer in Canada.