Relocating and importing

Our research has led us to some solid conclusions.

Since moving to Canada directly would involve Nickie going without health insurance or employment for around 10-18 months, by my current guesstimate, we decided it would make more sense to stay in the U.S. for now and continue saving up while the paperwork is processing.

I looked into what it would take to import our vehicle(s) into Canada. I also looked into importing an RV to Canada. There are things you have to do with U.S. Customs as well as Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). When all is said and done, it doesn't seem like it's worth the pain in the rear. We even asked about buying a Canadian-made RV and bringing it to the U.S. - that would be considered importing to the U.S. even though it would be temporary, and re-importing to Canada including all associated fees even though it's already made to Canadian specs. Our decision -- forget it. Wait until we land in Canada and buy one then. And part with one or both of our cars before landing, to minimize the headaches.

Thirdly, our current neighborhood is most excellent for driving one absolutely mad, what with helicopter chases, gang members hiding out on the property, and all sorts of other insanity I don't care to get into. So we have been looking for another place to live while the paperwork is in process and such, as mentioned before. We looked into a number of places here in Southern California that, last we knew, were still decent places to live. Very few of them have remained decent - most of them are now gangland, plagued with crime, and falling into disrepair and neglect. We even saw some of this as far north as Santa Barbara! Southern CA is a dump, overall, and getting worse... Northern CA rents are, incredibly, even more expensive than Southern CA. We found all this rather discouraging, and weighed more heavily toward leaving CA altogether; of the out-of-state areas we were considering, that mainly left MN and OR. It seems that Minneapolis, MN rents are expensive like L.A., and I know from my research that it's actually colder in MN than in Ontario, Canada, and I've been buying warm clothes but I really don't think we're prepared to drive into the ice and snow to try and acclimate in the dead of winter. Ditto on the winter thing in upstate NY, which right now is measuring snow in feet, not inches. That leaves Portland, OR, which is a relatively short drive away (about 14-15 hours), has a milder winter, and we've been there and liked many things about it.

So in a nutshell:

• Complete and submit Outside Canada application
• Move to Portland OR vicinity, save up and wait
• On approval of application, sell car(s)
• Land in Canada and purchase RV
  

RVing - Importing & Exporting

Called Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV), and asked them the following question:

I'm a Canadian living in the U.S. I'm considering buying a Canadian RV and bringing it here while my partner's immigration goes through, then moving back to Canada with it. How long could I have it abroad before I'd have to register it as an export, and what would be involved?

I was told that I would have to export it as soon as I took it out of the country, and then still have to pay to enroll it in the import program and do the associated inspections when I return, even though it's Canadian-made. They recommended I just wait until I move back to Canada and purchase the RV then.

I suspected this might be the case, for the trouble involved, not to mention the money. Other temporary living arrangements are obviously in order.

Their recorded message gives the following numbers for more information when calling from outside Canada:

(204) 983-3500 CBSA
(613) 998-8616 Transportation Canada

Next question: are there camper shell requirements? I called twice because the first gentleman seemed unsure about what a camper shell is. (There is probably another term for it in Canada, but I don't know what that would be.)

None according to Pierre at RIV, 2/9/07 1:42 p.m. PST.
No restrictions according to Mu at RIV, 2/9/07, 2:00 p.m. - just need bill of sale and title.

Transpo planning - RVing

• Check Canadian rules for importing a trailer
  
• Get truck's full trailering specs from truck dealer
• Make a list of trailers within specs
  
• Do web research, request brochures
• Truck dealer questions
  • Wheel base sufficient?
  • Suspension sufficient?
  • Effects of long-term towing on transmission?
  • Winterizing, i.e. antifreeze, tire chains/snow tires
    
• RV dealer questions
  
  • Tongue weight 10-12% of trailer weight?
    
  • Functionality of water system and tanks in the cold?
  • Insulation rating of roof, floor, walls?
  • Location of tanks, i.e. will they increase tongue weight?
  • Withstand full-timing?
  • 3-way refrigerator? (12V, 120V, LP)
  • Weight rating of bed(s)?
    

Exporting/Importing a Vehicle, etc.

Canadian government offices will be closed tomorrow for Boxing Day, but after that I will need to start contacting them for various information. Here is a quick to-do list.

Follow steps at RIV website
- my car has a minor recall so there will be some extra steps here

• Have recall repair performed 1
  
• Obtain manufacturer's recall clearance letter 1 2 3
  
• Check Transport Canada's list of admissible U.S. vehicles 1 2 3
  
• Check vehicles for manufacturer's valid U.S. statement of compliance label 1 2 3
  
• Valid 17-digit Vehicle Identification Numbers 1 2 3
  
• Ensure vehicles have daytime running lights 1 2 3
  
• Trucks - Manufacturer's cargo capacity label if manufactured after April 1, 1999 1
  
• Determine additional costs, such as duty and taxes
• Gather title documents, registration, sales receipts, statement of compliance label and manufacturer's recall clearance letter
• Find out about any additional provincial or territorial requirements, such as safety inspections and emissions tests
• Arrange for insurance on vehicles 1 2 3
  
• Notify U.S. Customs and follow procedures:
• Provide Certificate of Title including the VIN
  
• Provide 2 complete copies of Certificate of Title
• Submit this required documentation at least 72 hours prior to exportation
• Present vehicle for exportation at time of export
• Port Directors will determine at what location vehicle(s) must be presented
• Original document will be authenticated and usually returned
• Dirt must be washed from vehicles including undercarriages (see BIS contact info below to get requirements)
  

Things that can wait until after landing if we do an Inside Canada PR app:

• Check this - vehicles may be able to be brought in as "temporary" at first, then official importation filed later - this may work for Nickie as a temporary resident but it may be different for me as a citizen
  
• Obtain SIN from HRSDC
• Ensure that the Inside Canada forms are ready to go
• Photos - PR app
  
• Medical exam - PR app

Important Contacts:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles
1-888-848-8240
Fax: (416) 626-0366
info@riv.ca
Mon. to Fri.: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (EST)
Sat. and Sun.: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)

Canada Border Services Agency
In Canada: 1-800-461-9999 (English) ; 1-800-959-2036 (French)
Outside Canada: (506) 636-5064 (English); (506) 636-5067 (French)
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Transport Canada
In Canada: 1-800-333-0371
Outside Canada: (613) 998-8616
Fax: (613) 998-4831
www.tc.gc.ca

Border Information Services
In Canada: 1-800-461-9999
(204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064
24-hour recorded info
Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00 local time press "0" for an agent

Import Service Centers
(for Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requirements)
In Canada or U.S.:
Eastern ISC (Montréal): 1-877-493-0468
Central ISC (Toronto): 1-800-835-4486
Western ISC (Vancouver): 1-888-732-6222
www.inspection.gc.ca

General Motors (Oshawa, ON)
888-467-6853
905-440-7689

Toyota
1-800-331-4331

To Do - first draft

This is a rough sketch of things to do. First, things that need to be done regardless of where we move to. Then mixed tasks including things that depend on circumstances, highlighted in blue. Completed items will be marked in red italics rather than deleted, so as not to remove potentially helpful information.
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Finish cleaning extra stuff out of the apartment

Sell the RV (it's in an RV storage facility) - I'd like to get it on the market within a week of today

1. Finish emptying out RV including bedding
   
2. Clean counters, tub, sinks, floor
3. Ask management - where is hitch lock?
4. Hire someone for RV detailing - who does management contract with?
5. Take photos of inside and outside for posting in ads
6. Double-check Blue Book value
   
7. List RV online and in print publications - post pics where possible

If RV sale goes well, we'll put more weight into considering going directly to Ontario

File for Dad's Travel Document - Application for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) (IMM 5524)

1. Finish polishing arguments for H&C
   
2. Gather documents to back up H&C arguments - Record of Landing (IMM 1000), driver's license and/or passport, mail sent to this address, etc.)
   
3. Gather Dad's information and fill out the application together
   
4. Get 1 passport-size photo, write name and date of birth on back
   
5. Get Money Order, Cashier's Cheque or Bank Draft - $45 USD or $50 CDN payable to the "Canadian Consulate General"
   
6. Mail application - contact info is:
   

   Consulate General of Canada
   550 South Hope Street, 9th Floor
   Los Angeles, CA 90071-2627

   Tel: (213) 346-2700, Fax: (213) 346-2767
   e-mail: lngls-td@international.gc.ca

   Territory: California, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada

If the RV sale goes well *and* Dad gets a Travel Document, I imagine we'll go directly to Ontario

Take detailed inventory of all items; this will be needed for the Personal Effects Accounting Document (B4) form, needed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (link here) when you cross the border. There should be 2 lists; 1 for items you've brought with you and one for "items to follow" that will be brought or shipped later. Anything not on these lists will get TAXED so be thorough. Returning residents (such as my father and I) get a $10,000 tax exemption, presumably to assist with importing your car tax-free.

Pack up less-frequently-used items

Label all boxes clearly; better yet, number them as well and keep detailed item inventory on a separate list corresponding with the B4 document - i.e. "Box A, 12 books."

Check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles at www.riv.ca to see if our cars are acceptable for import (Canadian auto requirements differ from those in the U.S.) - as of this writing, there is a document here - RESULT: yes our cars are ok, but always double check with RIV (see step below)

Call RIV at (888) 848-8240 (toll-free in Canada and U.S.), to confirm acceptability of our cars

Check on requirements for auto insurance in new location

Check on health insurance arrangements in new location (in Ontario, this would be just until we were covered by the Canadian healthcare system)

Look for work

Look for a new place to live in our chosen location

File "inside Canada" or "outside Canada" PR application for wife (breakdown of steps for this will be posted in the future)