Preparing for Moving and POE - Lewiston/Queenston

[freshheir 6]

Hey guys!

 

So I'm preparing for my move - it's scheduled for Thursday morning (the 4th), probably arriving around lunch to miss work related traffic. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for border crossing by land!

 

For your information, I'm going with my parents in tow. I have my car and they have their truck. We're both filled up with boxes of my stuff. I'm already in the middle of an inventory list, and I'm aware I need to make some form of written permission for my parents to be carrying my stuff for me as well, so I've done that. 

 

I want to import my car but am I able to wait? I read online you need a US compliance letter or such and I ordered one but I don't think it will arrive on time for the move. Also, when I do import my car from Canada to the USA... it says on the border site that I have to clean the undercarriage to avoid contamination across nations. Does this actually apply to Canada? Because I've driven this exact car across the border for months at a time more than once. I can't see them being concerned about pests from Ontario to New York state. 

 

I'm nervous about my petition expiry but I already made a separate post about that and the VJers calmed my nerves for the time being. I really just want it to go smoothly. Are the officers at Lewiston Bridge generally easy going? How long does the process take (not including waiting in crossing line)? Can I wait to do the import procedure? If they're really going to have a problem with it my mom can drive it back when I'm finished moving but I'd like to keep it there if I can. 

 

I'M SO EXCITED AND ANXIOUS AND OH MY GOSH AFTER ALL THIS TIME THERE'S ONLY 4 MORE DAYS!!!

[pajobra 1,395]

55 minutes ago, freshheir said:

Hey guys!

 

So I'm preparing for my move - it's scheduled for Thursday morning (the 4th), probably arriving around lunch to miss work related traffic. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for border crossing by land!

 

For your information, I'm going with my parents in tow. I have my car and they have their truck. We're both filled up with boxes of my stuff. I'm already in the middle of an inventory list, and I'm aware I need to make some form of written permission for my parents to be carrying my stuff for me as well, so I've done that. 

 

I want to import my car but am I able to wait? I read online you need a US compliance letter or such and I ordered one but I don't think it will arrive on time for the move. Also, when I do import my car from Canada to the USA... it says on the border site that I have to clean the undercarriage to avoid contamination across nations. Does this actually apply to Canada? Because I've driven this exact car across the border for months at a time more than once. I can't see them being concerned about pests from Ontario to New York state. 

 

I'm nervous about my petition expiry but I already made a separate post about that and the VJers calmed my nerves for the time being. I really just want it to go smoothly. Are the officers at Lewiston Bridge generally easy going? How long does the process take (not including waiting in crossing line)? Can I wait to do the import procedure? If they're really going to have a problem with it my mom can drive it back when I'm finished moving but I'd like to keep it there if I can. 

 

I'M SO EXCITED AND ANXIOUS AND OH MY GOSH AFTER ALL THIS TIME THERE'S ONLY 4 MORE DAYS!!!

Cleaning the undercarriage yeah I read that and thought interesting considering my car has gone over the border many times. Take it through a car wash just to be safe. I know they often ask when you fly if you have been on a farm recently. I always say no but I live in a farming community. I can't help but have farm dirt on my shoes. LMAO I would think it would depend on the crossing. I live a 5 minute drive from a very small crossing that sees maybe 30 cars a day on avg. I did call the american side crossing and ask them if they thought I could go through with my k-1 no problem there when the time came. The guy said hell yeah we can figure it out and then laughed and said are you the girl that's been through here a bunch in the last 5 months. HA that's what living near a small border crossing does they get to know you. 

 

As for importing the car I have no idea. I am not going to import a car when the time comes as the car I drive is my sisters and now we are wishing she gave it to me more than a year ago so I could but oh well. lol My fiance is going to drive up 15 hours to come get me. I told him I would drive us down to give him rest since he is not used to driving for hours at a time like I am.

 

But an interesting note is that a good friend of mine in Arizona recently purchased a brand new car in Canada and imported it down to the states. It had to be in Quarantine for a few months before he was allowed to take it. It had never been driven on the roads came straight from the showroom and shipped in a truck.

 

Hopefully somebody who has knowledge of this can help you out.  Will be interesting for a lot of us Canadians to hear the answer too. Good luck in your move. 

[freshheir 6]

3 minutes ago, pajobra said:

now we are wishing she gave it to me more than a year ago so I could but oh well

What do you mean by this? Do you have to own it for a certain amount of time in order to import it?

 

Also it's super cute about the small border thing! I think my POE would recognize me if it wasn't so big - which is still so so small compared to others in the area!

Edited April 30, 2017 by freshheir
Additional response

[pajobra 1,395]

Just now, freshheir said:

What do you mean by this? Do you have to own it for a certain amount of time in order to import it?

You need to own it for at least a year from what I have read. Plus you do have to pay to import it. If you search the forums you will find lots to do with importing cars from Canada. I think in the Canada subforums. I read many for the last 4 months just seeing what I would need to do. Also depends if you still owe money on a lease if I remember correctly. Like I said hopefully someone with more knowledge knows the answers. I only know what I read of others crossings and importing from the Canada subforum.

[freshheir 6]

Just now, pajobra said:

You need to own it for at least a year from what I have read.

Oh god I hope not! It's been "mine" for 2 years but the paperwork is being done NOW to be mine. I guess if that's actually for sure how it is, importing will definitely have to wait!

[pajobra 1,395]

11 minutes ago, freshheir said:

Oh god I hope not! It's been "mine" for 2 years but the paperwork is being done NOW to be mine. I guess if that's actually for sure how it is, importing will definitely have to wait!

You might be fine. Check this thread out...

 

 

[Keepchill 19]

Hey! My family drove my stuff down with them when they travelled for the wedding, and they crossed at Queenston/Lewiston. They had a uhaul with all my belongings, and they whole process took maybe 15 min. They didn't even look in the trailer! The officer was very helpful and friendly they said, and I was so anxious because I wasn't going to be with them. 

 

Unfortunately I can't help with the car questions as I didn't import one, but don't stress about the crossing! You're there, just make sure you have an itemized list (just in case! Like I said, they didn't even look at it) and that you have all your other visa paperwork in order!

 

Good luck!

[O.C 160]

I have emailed CBP to find out information about bringing my vehicle as well, with a K1; here is their response:

 

You may drive the vehicle in the USA for up to a year without importing it. You may also import it a few years down the road.

 

To import a vehicle into the U.S., you need to:

 

(a) declare to the CBP officer upon your arrival at a CBP port of entry that you wish to formally import the vehicle, and

(b) present the following:

-Proof of ownership, an original certificate of title, or a certified copy of the original;

-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) form 3520-1; and

-Department of Transportation (DOT) form HS-7.

Vehicles imported to the U.S. must have proof of compliance with both EPA and DOT standards.

Proof of compliance can be a sticker on the engine of the vehicle stating in English that it complies with EPA standards and a sticker on the driver's side door stating in English that it complies with DOT standards. 

If one or both stickers are missing, the importer must obtain a letter from the manufacturer stating that the vehicle complies with EPA and DOT standards.

If the vehicle was not manufactured in the U.S. or Canada, it is subject to a 2.5 percent duty, based on the purchase price or Kelley Blue Book value of the vehicle.

Once the CBP officer completes the inspection of your vehicle, you will receive CBP’s entry summary document, CBP Form 7501. You will need this form to register the car in your state of residence.

Find the EPA form, DOT form and additional information on the vehicle import process at: 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/218

 

 

Edit - the thing about not importing at POE is that your insurance from Canada needs to cover you for long enough until you import.  But, once you enter on K1 into NY state, you have to swap your license within 30 days from what I understand. Not sure if Canadian insurance can work with US license info... ( I will be in the same boat eventually, so let me know what happens ) 

Edited May 1, 2017 by Orit.d

[freshheir 6]

On 5/1/2017 at 6:04 PM, Orit.d said:

( I will be in the same boat eventually, so let me know what happens ) 

Since posting this I've actually decided to simplify my moving process by bringing my car in at a later date because I won't be needing it for the summer anyway. You might actually go through before me! But I'll be coming back to this post to recollect the information you got about bringing it across when that time comes.

 

If it's not obvious as well, I'll be getting my NY license in relative quickness even without my car being with me (it'll stay in Canada under my mother's insurance and name while I'm gone - I'm a secondary driver right now. That was actually part of why I decided to wait - switching ownership was an additional complication to add to an already frantic process. T MINUS 18 HOURS UNTIL BORDER CROSSING!)

[freshheir 6]

Hey everyone, just posting to let you know I made it through the Queenston POE in under 20 minutes absolutely no hassle. I didn't end up bringing my car, but the paperwork, my belongings, and my parents all managed without any harassment or delays. I just posted a lengthy and thorough review of my POE experience, which I don't know where else it can be found but is definitely on my profile. I think. (still kind of new to VJ)

[pajobra 1,395]

Super glad to hear the border crossing went well.  I read your review and it sounds like you had a pretty quick entry. Good luck to you on the rest of your journey.

[Ontarkie 14,221]

~~Moved to the Canada forum from K1 - As this is about moving and border crossing/endorsing visa and importing personal belonging and car.~~