Zee

Hi there

I am immigrating Toronto, Canada to Dallas, TX, USA and want to take my car,
household goods like computer, sofa etc etc.

Can anyone suggest me what should I do before border crossing?
- Do I need to fill up any form?
- Do I need to pay any tax for my car?
- What do I do with Canadian Number plate and How can I get US Number plate
from border?

Also what would be better way to take those thing? U-HAUL? or any other
tranport ?

Thanks in advance

Zee

Rich Wales

"Zee" wrote:

> I am immigrating from Toronto, Canada to Dallas, TX, USA
> and want to take my car, household goods like computer,
> sofa etc etc. Can anyone suggest me what should I do
> before border crossing?

It would be extremely advisable to make a thorough inventory of all
your possessions. When you pack your stuff in boxes, number each
box clearly on all sides, and note what things were packed in each
box. Before packing each box, lay the stuff out on a bed or on the
floor and take a picture; bring a copy of the inventory and the
photos with you, and leave another copy with a friend before you go.

The thorough inventory will help you with US Customs, and if your
stuff is damaged in transit (e.g., if the moving van has an accident,
or if there is a fire in the van), the inventory will be a lifesaver
when you file an insurance claim.

For any expensive items (such as computers, TV's, or appliances),
write down the serial number and include it in your inventory. If
you have a homebuilt computer without a manufacturer's serial number,
open it up and note down the serial numbers of major components such
as the motherboard and the hard drive.

> Do I need to fill out any form?

I don't know all the forms, but I'm pretty sure you'll have to fill
out papers for the car. You will need to show that the car meets
US federal motor vehicle standards, and also US emissions (smog)
standards, for the year of its manufacture. Depending on the make,
model, and year, a Canadian-market car might or might not meet the
US requirements.

> Do I need to pay any tax for my car?

I believe this will depend on how long you've had the car.

> What do I do with Canadian Number plate and How can I get
> US Number plate from border?

You won't get your new license plates at the border. This is a
matter to be handled by the motor vehicle department of the state
you're moving to (similarly to how Canadian license plates are
issued by the provinces and not by the federal government).

> Also what would be better way to take those things? U-HAUL?
> or any other transport?

I would seriously consider having a professional mover do it. A
professional moving company should also be able to advise you about
whatever customs forms are necessary.

Regarding the car: Unless the car is in excellent condition (in
particular, with NO body rust AT ALL), I would strongly suggest you
consider selling it in Canada before you go, and then buying a car
in the US. Remember that it will cost quite a bit of money to have
your car shipped by a mover. Even if you drive it yourself, you
should remember that the distance you drive will cause its value to
depreciate. The car is probably not worth the hassle and expense
of bringing it with you, unless it's an extremely special car.

Rich Wales [email protected] http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
*DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer, professional immigration consultant,
or consular officer. My comments are for discussion purposes only and
are not intended to be relied upon as legal or professional advice.

sgallagher

    > Regarding the car: Unless the car is in excellent condition (in
    > particular, with NO body rust AT ALL), I would strongly suggest you
    > consider selling it in Canada before you go, and then buying a car
    > in the US. Remember that it will cost quite a bit of money to have
    > your car shipped by a mover. Even if you drive it yourself, you
    > should remember that the distance you drive will cause its value to
    > depreciate. The car is probably not worth the hassle and expense
    > of bringing it with you, unless it's an extremely special car.

Not to mention the fact that since the car was built for use in Canada,
its speedometer will have kilometers per hour (km/h) as the large
numbers and miles per hour (mph) as the small numbers, and the odometer
will show kilometers driven, not miles driven. That will present you
with a bit of an annoyance when you drive it in the US, and make the
car very difficult to sell in the US at a later date without having
changes made to the speedometer labelling and replacing the odometer.

Stephen Gallagher

Kelvin

You need to obtain a letter from the car manufacturer stating that this car meets all US safety and EPA standards. Bring this letter to the customs and fill out other required forms at the border.