Lickie's Ex-Expat Page

After considering a number of options for getting to our destination of southern Ontario, we decided to drive the truck north to western BC, then take the Trans-Canada Highway east. Granted, that's longer than going through the States to Chicago and then the border... but it's a darn sight more beautiful too. And it seems more fitting that we get to see more of the great country we're moving to.

Taking the train across Canada would cost significantly more (i.e. about $1200 more) than the gas to drive, unless we took a U.S. route which would cost about the same (roughly $350) - don't ask me why. But as we learned from our last trip through Canada, the train affords limited opportunities for sightseeing anyway and necessitates hotel stays and car rentals. We ruled out flying due to pretty much no sightseeing opportunity, high expense, and like the train, it would necessitate shipping everything we couldn't carry on the plane. Which begs the questions... Just where would we ship it to? And how long would it be allowed to sit there until we arrived to pick it all up? And just where would we store everything when we did pick it up? And since we'd obviously have to sell the truck or else face spending at least $1200 to ship it, exactly what would we be picking up our stuff with? All of which led us to throw up our hands and say, "Oh for pete's sake... let's just get a cheap camper shell for the truck, throw everything in there, and go."

The final cost on the aluminum camper shell will be $520, although I could have gone about $150 cheaper if I'd been willing to go with clear tip-out windows instead of tinted sliding ones (I liked the idea of making it more difficult for people to see what's inside, and having better ventilation capability). I also would have had to navigate all the traffic, construction, and crazy freeway system through downtown to the far side of the river in order to get this done, instead of saving myself the gas, stress, and time by having it done out here in the 'burbs and not having to compromise the features I want.

This is a starter "to do" list that will no doubt have many items added to it in the following few weeks.

As always, the following key, plus a new one for in-progress items:

gray - Not applicable
red - Completed items
purple - In progress

Get PR Visa

Get 2 more photos taken
Fill out the form that the L.A. Consulate sent with Nickie's approval letter
Mail the two above items, along with Nickie's passport, back to L.A. Consulate (their letter said to expect 3 weeks processing time) to get her PR visa

Preparations

Give my 2 weeks notice at work
Cancel internet service
Transfer electricity back to apartment complex' name - most people could read this as "shut off electricity" but our situation works a little differently
Go to our current bank - exchange some currency so we will have Canadian cash on hand, and get a printout of our current balances in case CBSA asks for proof of our ability to support ourselves for at least 6 months
Assemble emergency road kit - there is an excellent list for this here which I have included below for convenience's sake:
- Flares/reflector triangles
- Jumper cables
- First aid kit
- Empty gas can
- Distilled water
- Non-perishable high-cal foods
- Money (for phone calls/cab fare)
- Cell phone
- Blankets
- Candles - For this we are substituting a Forever Flashlight - it doesn't need or use batteries; instead, you shake it back and forth to charge it up. They are also waterproof, they float, and they don't need replacement bulbs because they use LED's instead. Available many places including here.
- Shovel, ice scraper
- Antifreeze
Check Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website to ensure that the snacks we're bringing for the trip (granola, trail mix) are importable
Forward or hold mail service
Magazine subscriptions - notify magazines directly; these are not included in USPS mail forwarding
Take truck to shop for pre-trip maintenance
Purchase camper shell for truck
Get camper shell installed
Give away/throw out as much as possible (to save on space in the truck)
Check if camper shell will have enough room to transport bike
Sell Nickie's car (we will not be importing it - too much $$$ for gas, importation, and car insurance)
Remove Nickie's car from car insurance policy after selling
Send DMV a form - Notice of Transfer or Sale of Vehicle
Get "letter of experience" from current auto insurance company - this is a letter showing that you have had continuous auto insurance with them and for how long, whether you've had any accidents, etc. For the insurance broker we called in Ontario, they wanted at least 2 years history. Every state seems to call it something different, and every province/territory does it differently, so this may vary.
Get "driver abstract" from DMV - this is your driving record, with history of any tickets, accidents, etc. For the insurance broker we called in Ontario, they wanted at least 2 years history. Every state seems to call it something different, and every province/territory does it differently, so this may vary.
Use B4 and B4A Personal Effects Accounting Documents - one for goods accompanying you, one for goods to follow, both provided in DUPLICATE - inventory all remaining possessions, along with approximate value in Canadian dollars (customs requires this and you will be taxed on any items not on this list) - I called CBSA to find out how detailed this list really needs to be; I was told we don't need to be counting every pair of socks or listing the title of every book, they just want to know what to expect when they open each box; I was given examples like "dishes," "clothes," "books." Thank goodness!!
Check if I have prescriptions left and order refills (there is a 3-month waiting period for the Ontario Health Insurance Program to kick in, and I don't want to be running out of medications during that time) - After ordering (from a mail-order company because it's cheaper) I found out that one prescription had gone through ok and the other (and much more expensive) one was on back order from the manufacturer. Thus my choice was to either wait (they didn't know when it would be back in stock) or try to find a local pharmacy that still has some in stock. I've found over recent months that the price for this medication has been steadily climbing, and the prices I found were now between $200-$218 for a month's supply. Checking online for local pharmacies, I happened across a listing for a Canadian pharmacy. In Canada this same exact brand name medication is available for $98, and a generic is also available for $75! I don't know if my existing prescriptions will transfer to a Canadian pharmacy, but even if I have to go to a Canadian doctor to get a new prescription, I can't imagine it will cost more than the U.S.-Canadian price difference of $125!! I don't know what I was ever thinking trying to refill it here. I've saved the boxes with labels from my last refill, and will buy this in Canada.
Check into transferring prescriptions from U.S. pharmacy to Canadian pharmacy - Found website for the North American Pharmacy Accreditation Commission (NAPAC), which says the following, amongst other things: Prescriptions, which are filled in Canada, require a valid prescription to be written and signed by a Licensed Canadian Physician. United States prescriptions faxed to a Canadian pharmacy are not valid in Canada at this time.
Check terms of giving 30-day notice for our apartment
Give 30-day move-out notice
Plan route through Canada - Nickie found a couple of outstanding websites for this: milebymile.com gives you all the highway exits, rest areas and such, and transcanadahighway.com has a trip planner, what kind of terrain and conditions to expect, pics, distances, speed traps, and attractions - Warning: Mapquest.ca and maps.Yahoo.ca are completely useless for route planning if you want to use the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH). They will route you hundreds of miles out of your way to go through the U.S., including toll roads! If you want to use these, the only way I've found is to baby it through by adding stops that I know are along the TCH. Example: I told Mapquest that I was going to Vancouver, then Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste Marie, on the way to our destination. Then it works (mostly) right.
Make copies of Confirmation of Permanent Residency (IMM 5292) and immigration visa - keep in separate place from originals - keep originals on hand for presenting at the border
Find out from U.S. Customs what locations we may use when we export the truck, and where and how they would like us to send the required paperwork (the Certificate of Title, and 2 copies of it). (202) 354-1000 or 1- 877-CBP -5511 Monday-Friday, between 8:30 and 5:00 Eastern Time. I checked their website, called them to ask if it's ok to go to any of the ports of entry if I'm emigrating and exporting a vehicle. They said yes and the Service Port designation is not relevant to our situation. The ports of entry in Washington state are
- Blaine (Service Port) (I-5/99 hwy, WA/BC on the Pacific coast - just off the I-5N at 9901 Pacific Hwy 98230 (360) 332-5771)
- Longview (OR/WA border)
- Oroville Area Port (Service Port) (CDN match: Osoyoos, BC. 97 hwy, WA/BC far inland, about 2/3 way to ID border)
- Seattle (Service Port) (Between 99 and I-5, on Puget Sound coast about 1/4 way to ID border)
- Sumas (CDN match: Huntingdon, BC. On Sumas Way, WA/BC a bit inland, by Abbotsford, BC
- Tacoma (On Port of Tacoma Rd., at the docks at Puget Sound)
Send/fax the required paperwork to the U.S. point of entry where you will be exiting the country. They must receive it at least 3 full business days prior to your arrival to export the vehicle. I was told by U.S. Customs that some ports of entry may not accept a fax and you may have to mail the paperwork, so contact them first and plan accordingly. (Your situation may vary; see Exporting a Motor Vehicle on the U.S. Customs website for more info.) - I called U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at Blaine, WA and there is a recording to e-mail cbp.blaine-export@dhs.gov or leave a message with your fax number, for them to send you a kit detailing what's involved. It says if you still have questions after that to e-mail them at the address above. Export hours are 8:00am-3:30pm only. Following is the list of required documents outlined in the information they e-mailed back to me:
- Vehicle/Equipment Export Worksheet
- Vehicle title/certificate of ownership
- Bill of Sale, unless you are the titled owner
Check back with U.S. port of entry to ensure paperwork was received (Blaine, WA provided a form for this, to be e-mailed to them within 1-2 days of faxing your paperwork to them)
Present the vehicle with title to U.S. Customs at the chosen port of entry
Canadian RIV designated ports in British Columbia
- Huntingdon (US match: Sumas, WA. 11/9 hwys, BC/WA a bit inland)
- Kingsgate (95 hwy, BC/ID/MT far inland)
- Osoyoos (US match: Oroville, WA. 97 and 3 hwys, BC/WA far inland, about 2/3 way to ID border)
- Pacific Highway (US match: Blaine, WA. 15 off 99 hwy, BC/WA close to Pacific coast - Douglas(Peace Arch) Surrey, BC/ Blaine WA - 28 176th Street
  Surrey, BC V3S 9R9 Tel# Border Information Services inside Canada (800) 461-9999 outside Canada (204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064)
Found the list of RIV designated ports in the Adobe PDF document in the US Vehicle Admissibility list on RIV's website (see links at left)
Ensure that the vehicle is listed on Transport Canada's List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States
Use this list to find contact information for the vehicle's manufacturer, then contact them to get a recall clearance letter (see to-do list below) - For ours it's GENERAL MOTORS (V.V.S) Tel#: 888-467-6853 Other#: 905-440-7689 Fax#: 905-440-7644 1189 COLONEL SAM DR OSHAWA ONTARIO CANADA L1H 8W8
- Fill out e-mailed form and fax to GM, as GM can only take a Visa credit card over the phone, not others... and e-mail is not secure for sending credit card numbers
- GM will fax the recall clearance letter directly to RIV, saving us a step.

There is a pretty complete to-do list for importing a U.S. car into Canada here, which I have included below but will modify to our purposes as I have time:

Before you import

Check the list on this web site for typical modification requirements, or you can contact us at info@riv.ca or 1-888-848-8240. * I checked and this truck and RIV said we just need to add daytime running lights, which we have.
Contact the original equipment manufacturer or authorized dealer of your vehicle to obtain a recall clearance letter. You must have this document in order to pass the federal inspection.
Obtain information from the manufacturer or authorized dealer on costs and availability of parts for the required modifications.
Determine additional costs, such as duty and taxes. Canada Border Services Agency, responsible for assessing and collecting duties and taxes, can be reached at 1-800-461-9999 (in Canada) or (506) 636-5064 (outside Canada). * I called CBSA and the recording specified the following:
- $0 - No duty if the vehicle is manufactured in Canada, U.S. or Mexico
- $100 - Excise tax for a vehicle that has air conditioning (ours does)
- $? - Additional excise tax for a vehicle over 2007 kg in weight (I don't know the weight offhand, I'll have to check this)
I spoke directly with a CBSA agent directly and was told a wealth of information about importing a vehicle. She confirmed that there would be no duties and that because I'm a former Canadian resident I have a CAN$10,000 exemption from taxes. This means, for example, that if the Red Book value (equivalent to Kelley Blue Book in the U.S.) value of the truck I'm importing was CAN$11,000 I would have to pay tax on CAN$1,000. I suspect it is below the limit... I don't have access to a provincial office or a Canadian library so I guess we'll find out the exact amount when we get there. - Tip: I was also told by CBSA that the Settler category (new Permanent Resident coming to live in Canada for the first time) doesn't have a $10,000 cap - so if our car was worth more than this, we could import it tax-free under Nickie's name, even if I was the only one on the title and registration. This is because there are special rules when one spouse is a former resident and the other is a settler.
Find out if there are any preparations or arrangements that need to be made with the Canadian port of entry - I called CBSA and they said no, you just need to appear at the port of entry with your proper documentation
CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) requires that all used vehicles be washed including the undercarriage, to remove any sand, soil, earth, and plant residue, before import - I called CBSA about this and they said it's ok as long as you wash off your car; it doesn't need to be a professional job, they just don't want you bringing it in all muddy, etc. You can also call the appropriate ISC (Import Service Center) for your point of entry (see their website for locations) to get details - for us this will be (888) 732-6222 for BC and prairies. - This didn't seem very feasible unless they actually have a car wash at customs, so I checked again with CBSA and this time I spoke with a gal who said no, if that were true they would have to wash every single car every single time it crossed between the U.S. and Canada, and we both laughed at the thought of this. No, she said this requirement is for cars coming from overseas, not the U.S.
Make sure you have the required documentation: title documents, registration, sales receipts, statement of compliance label and manufacturer's recall clearance letter.
Because I am a former resident of Canada, in order to take advantage of the tax exemption I need documentation proving I have been residing abroad for more than 1 year if I want exemption for my belongings that I've been using for at least 6 months, 5 years if they are used for less than 6 months. - I called CBSA and asked what kinds of documents I'll need; I was told tax returns, rental agreements, proof from employer
Find out about any additional provincial or territorial requirements, such as safety inspections and emissions tests.
Arrange for insurance on your vehicle. - We are members of AAA (American Automobile Association), which works directly with CAA (Canadian Automobile Association). AAA will transfer your membership to CAA for you when you move to Canada. I called CAA and they said to check with our current insurance company but by law there should be a 30-day grace period for getting new insurance, even though our trip is a landing for immigration and not a vacation. They said it's not like you hit the Canadian border and you are no longer covered. - We checked our policy and we're in luck; not only does it cover us in Canada for the grace period, but it increases or decreases coverage automatically to conform to the coverage required in whatever province you're driving in - sweet!

At the border

Produce your title documents, registration and sales receipts.
Complete Vehicle Import Form – Form 1, which Canada Border Services Agency will provide. This requires a Canadian mailing address. This form must be kept in the vehicle until it is licensed. - I called CBSA to ask, what if we don't have a Canadian mailing address yet? I was told that they don't really care where you're living, just as long as they have someplace in Canada to mail the paperwork. This can be a mailing service, post office box, friend or relative's house, or the hotel where you will be staying.
Set up account with a Canadian mailing service
A Canadian address is needed for mailing the new Permanent Resident card. - I called CBSA to check if they will take a mailing service address for this, or must have a residential address. They said a mailing service is fine.
Canada Border Services Agency will check your vehicle against Transport Canada's List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States. They will also verify the public VIN and manufacturer's statement of compliance label on the vehicle to make sure they match.
Canada Border Services Agency will collect your nonrefundable Registrar of Imported Vehicles' fee of $195.00 + GST in all provinces except Quebec where it is $195.00 + GST and QST.
Payment for the RIV fee may be made directly to Canada Border Services Agency with any major credit card. Canada Border Services Agency does not accept cash or cheques for the RIV fee. If you wish to pay by cheque or money order, Canada Border Services Agency will provide you with a payment envelope which must be mailed to the Registrar of Imported Vehicles. Please note that all personal cheques will be held for ten business days in order to allow them to clear the bank. This will use up a portion of your 45 day time limit.

After arriving

Ensure all auto-pay bills on our current bank account are pre-paid so that we won't have failed transactions after we close it
Find out more about changing to a Canadian bank - I called CBSA and was told that if you are transferring funds between financial institutions, they are responsible for any declarations that need to be made. So if you want to you can find a Canadian bank with branches in the U.S., open an account, and do a transfer from your U.S. account. - But upon looking into it I found that you need a residential Canadian address; so this will have to wait
Choose a Canadian bank - one factor will be whether they have a U.S. branch local to us - It appears that there is no way to start a Canadian bank account without a Canadian residential address; an address for a mailing service is not permitted
Check with both current and new bank to inquire about procedures and associated fees for closing our account and transferring money to the Canadian bank (Can they do electronic transfer bank to bank? Should we get a cashier's check from them and take that to the new bank? What is the cheapest, fastest way to go?)

Ohmygosh the letter is here!!!!! PR approved!!!! Time to send the passport to Los Angeles! I can't believe it's almost time to go, and all of a sudden I have a serious wake-up call... we gotta get busy getting our plans solidified! It's one thing when you're waiting and hoping, dreaming about moving to Canada together someday, and then when you get the letter you realize, oh crud, we haven't done this and this and that. Well, it will be a busy few weeks as we scramble to get 2 more photos and send the passport, then pack and wrap up all the loose ends before it gets back.

** Tip: We did not send in our original photos, cards, and letters as proof of our relationship. I was too nervous doing that so I used our all-in-one printer to print and scan photos and photocopy the rest of the stuff. The printed photos weren't necessarily the best quality, either, but good enough to see who we were. The Consulate didn't seem to mind and processed everything the same as other people here who sent originals. (Then again, we've been together more than 11 years now so I was able to send pics from back when we were skinnier and my son was but a little tyke, up until more recent ones where we are heavier and he towers above us. Not real easy to fake. :) ) Anyway, thought this might be helpful for someone who is nervous about sending their irreplaceable mementos through 2 mail systems to a place where they no doubt have countless stacks of documents and photos to keep straight. Sending copies worked just fine for us.

09/29/06 - Got fingerprints done
09/30/06 - Mailed paperwork to FBI and California DOJ
10/03/06 - FBI received fingerprints
10/04/06 - Received DOJ police clearance letter
01/25/07 - Received FBI clearance
02/19/07 - Got fingerprints re-done for DOJ
(they're nearly 5 months old)
02/22/07 - Medical exam
02/22/07 - Received 2nd DOJ police clearance letter
02/23/07 - Mailed application to CPC-Mississauga
03/07/07 - CPC-M received application
03/28/07 - Sponsorship decision made and letter sent
04/04/07 - Received letter - sponsorship approved
04/12/07 - Buffalo started processing Immigrant portion
05/01/07 - Received letter - Buffalo acknowledgement of receipt (mistakenly sent to our old address)
05/08/07 - Received letter - file sent to Los Angeles Consulate (also mistakenly sent to our old address)
07/14/07 - Received letter - applicant approved, request for passport

Lickie's Ex-Expat Page

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Saturday, August 25, 2007

Spouse Outside Canada - Completed Timeline

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Landing!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Preparation for Landing - To Do List

Friday, August 03, 2007

Spouse Outside Canada - Updated Timeline

Monday, July 16, 2007

Preparation for Landing

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Spouse Outside Canada

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Spouse Outside Canada - Updated Timeline