Import car at border

dell11

Member
I have a bank lien on my car from BMO and am planning to move to the US on a TN visa.

I received a no objection letter from the bank to take it to the USA for a period of six months. Is that okay to pass through the border for now? Do i have to import my car if i drive it through the border? I would rather keep the car payment than pay it off. I should be able to pay it off by the end of the year.
 
"Taking" it to the US is not the same as importing it. That is for students and tourists.

Since you will need to plate the car where you work, you will need to formally import it. Not sure if the letter you have (you also need a letter from the Cdn manufacturer, stating whether it meets FMVSS standards) will suffice for importation, since car must be either lien free or have explicit permission to leave Canada permanently.

You have looked at the CBP regulations for importing the car?
Start here:

and

(ignore the one-year importation rules, they don't apply to those coming to live and work; only students and tourists)
 
Okay thanks. I am going on a TN work permit as contractor to work for 2 years?

Do i still need to do full importation ? My vehicles tags are currently valid.
 
All states require those living and working in the state, to get a DL, and register and plate their car in that state, usually within 30 days. That requires the car to be imported.
You could do a temporary importation if you were a student of snowbird, but not on a work status.

You need a better letter saying from the lien owner stating that it is ok to export the car to US (which is unlikely). You may have to bite the bullet and pay it now. You also need the letter from the manufacturer mentioned above regarding safety features
 
Thanks nelsona.

I was wondering what the difference between a student and temp worker is ? Aren't we both the same as we will be living there for a few years.

Tourist is completely different as they could be there a few days to months.
 
In the US, students from out of state -- Canada and even other US states -- are not considered residents, they keep their DLs and plates, vote and pay taxes in their home state, etc.

Workers who move into a state are considered resident in as little as 30 days. Besides, your home province no longer considers you resident either, so....
 
I checked with Toyota Canada about compliance for FMVSS. They came back and said it was, except that it was missing tire pressure monitoring system.

Would this hold it up at the border? Can i add the sensors in the USA before registration or does it have to be done in Canada.
 
You need the letter, and you need to have it installed, before you can import it.
You could wait until you are in US. You would then show up at a POE at an airport or port.
You would need to check at the border crossing that you intend to use. (You could use the temp importation process at that point)
 
Thanks nelsona.

So, my understanding is i have to install it to complete the importation process.

But, I do not need to do the importation on the same day I get my TN visa?

I can do it later at a POE at an airport, the paperwork can be completed there?
 
Correct.
But you need to do this quickly, as you need to register the car in US rather quickly for US insurance purposes, usually within a month or two.
 
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