Moving belongings before activating the visa (split; edited title)

[YellingSeal 0]

Hi, I have a weird question. How is pre-moving seen at the border? By that I mean the act of bringing stuff to my spouse's place before getting the visa. My guess is that it's not really popular with border officer because it is a big sign of you probably wanting to overstay your tourist visa and just stay (even though I'm pretty sure somebody like me that is 1 month away from their interview never did that ever). In my case I would pre-move my summer tires because after some weird circumstance I have them currently in my car and do not want to put them in my apartment or drive to go store them. AND on top of that I'm getting my interview in the next 1-2 months so I WILL need to move them very soon. I'm planning on going to the US this weekend and will have basically nothing else in the car except 4 tires.

 

Thanks!

Edited January 21, 2022 by TBoneTX

[Ontarkie 14,234]

~~Post split to it's own thread as the questions is off topic to the Interview thread.~~

 

 

Mod hat off. 

This question has popped up a more than a few times over the years. You cannot move any of your belongings before the visa is issued and used at the border. You actually have to get your visa endorsed prior to your items being allowed to cross. 

So if you get your visa and wanted to set up a moving company to move you. They would need proof you crossed and have legal status (your endorsed visa). 

 

The main reason is you are not guarantied that you will be approved your visa. 

 

I cannot comment on taking the tires this weekend as anything other then a legal/proper way would be a TOS Violation. 

[JeanneAdil 6,514]

SCCA (Sports Car Club of America )   has people who bring racing tires (all 4) across the border to run in various events so the border crossing people have seen this before 

Wrong time of the year to race but i don't think it will be a big deal / its not like bags of clothes and furniture

[Ontarkie 14,234]

34 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

SCCA (Sports Car Club of America )   has people who bring racing tires (all 4) across the border to run in various events so the border crossing people have seen this before 

Wrong time of the year to race but i don't think it will be a big deal / its not like bags of clothes and furniture

Except none of them are planning on leaving them behind. Will it come up who knows but as moving things prior to entry on a visa is not allowed that is what we go with.

[SalishSea 17,847]

3 hours ago, YellingSeal said:

Hi, I have a weird question. How is pre-moving seen at the border? By that I mean the act of bringing stuff to my spouse's place before getting the visa. My guess is that it's not really popular with border officer because it is a big sign of you probably wanting to overstay your tourist visa and just stay (even though I'm pretty sure somebody like me that is 1 month away from their interview never did that ever). In my case I would pre-move my summer tires because after some weird circumstance I have them currently in my car and do not want to put them in my apartment or drive to go store them. AND on top of that I'm getting my interview in the next 1-2 months so I WILL need to move them very soon. I'm planning on going to the US this weekend and will have basically nothing else in the car except 4 tires.

 

Thanks!

My now-husband brought an entire suitcase of Calvin and Hobbes books as well as "winter" clothes (as much as that is a thing in NZ) over on the last visit before the petition was approved.   Had I known at the time, I would have discouraged it, because we would not have wanted CBP to think he would try to AOS on that trip.

 

I guess for yourself, you have to think about your own tolerance to risk and whether the benefit outweighs it.

[YellingSeal 0]

@Ontarkie Following what you said I did not end up trying to bring the tires but now that I have my visa in hands would it be safer for my spouse to bring back some belongings. As per your answer you can not bring belongings before the visa is used at the border. But I'm curious I found nothing about my current situation here. Maybe people were going to the border to activate their visa and come back to Canada quickly but with COVID this is becoming much harder. My spouse is coming to help me preparing the move before I actually move. 

 

Because she is an American Citizen what would happen? Would they refuse her the entry? Give her a fine? For bringing a couple of boxes of stuff when I have my visa in my passport seems a little extreme. And after 16 months of this whole process I understand they are strict but this is insanely strict.

 

Edit: Also if a mod could edit the title to include "before activating the visa", it could helpful to someone else in the future

Edited January 20, 2022 by YellingSeal

[Lil bear 4,228]

On 11/29/2021 at 8:25 PM, Jorgedig said:

My now-husband brought an entire suitcase of Calvin and Hobbes books as well as "winter" clothes (as much as that is a thing in NZ) over on the last visit before the petition was approved.   Had I known at the time, I would have discouraged it, because we would not have wanted CBP to think he would try to AOS on that trip.

 

I guess for yourself, you have to think about your own tolerance to risk and whether the benefit outweighs it.

What !! No  Footrot Flats books ? Where is his patriotism to such an  inimitable  NZ icon!!! 

[TBoneTX 45,329]

1 hour ago, YellingSeal said:

if a mod could edit the title to include "before activating the visa", it could helpful to someone else in the future

Done.  

[SalishSea 17,847]

3 hours ago, Lil bear said:

What !! No  Footrot Flats books ? Where is his patriotism to such an  inimitable  NZ icon!!! 

I'll have to ask him!

 

He's gotten a bit full of himself because he got a promotion at work, and at the oath of office ceremony, a higher-up told everyone that people from other agencies are always swooning about the kiwi accent over the phone......       😅

[Ontarkie 14,234]

On 1/20/2022 at 5:51 PM, YellingSeal said:

@Ontarkie Following what you said I did not end up trying to bring the tires but now that I have my visa in hands would it be safer for my spouse to bring back some belongings. As per your answer you can not bring belongings before the visa is used at the border. But I'm curious I found nothing about my current situation here. Maybe people were going to the border to activate their visa and come back to Canada quickly but with COVID this is becoming much harder. My spouse is coming to help me preparing the move before I actually move. 

 

Because she is an American Citizen what would happen? Would they refuse her the entry? Give her a fine? For bringing a couple of boxes of stuff when I have my visa in my passport seems a little extreme. And after 16 months of this whole process I understand they are strict but this is insanely strict.

 

Edit: Also if a mod could edit the title to include "before activating the visa", it could helpful to someone else in the future

Sorry for the late reply. THe kids and I have been sick. 

Normally yes they can turn her around and make her drop your stuff off. Will they do that who knows. Probably not if she doesn't have much for them to see. 

It is really crazy the hoops we have to jump through, but until your visa is endorsed anything can happened. Not likely but that is what they go by. 

Edited January 25, 2022 by Ontarkie