Clearing Shipment in Calgary
 

Hi all,

I have just received word that my shipment from the UK will be arriving in Calgary on Friday where I will meet the driver to clear my shipment.

I'm looking for advice or to see if anyone else has been in this situation.

I'm an expat, honorary Canadian citizen. I left Canada last September to get married in England and returned July of this year. I tried to clear my shipment at the airport when I flew back in but because I hadn't been out of Canada for a year or more the customs agent at the airport said I would have to clear it when it arrives.
Since then I have been told that I may not be able to clear my things at all or may just have to pay duties and taxes on the shipment.

Has anyone else been in this situation before?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Clearing Shipment in Calgary
 

From the D Memo dealing with Former Residents of Canada
Absence Requirements
3. Persons who establish themselves as residents of another country for a period of at least one year may make return visits to Canada (as non-resident visitors) without jeopardizing their eligibility to claim under tariff item No. 9805.00.00 at the time of their final return to resume residence.

4. However, persons who do not establish themselves as residents of another country during their absence from Canada, such as those on extended vacations, voyages or world cruises, are eligible to claim goods under tariff item No. 9805.00.00 only if the duration of their absence is a continuous period of at least one year, without any return to Canada having been made during that time.

5. One year is interpreted as meaning from the anniversary date of departure to the same date the next calendar year (e.g. from January 1, 2011, to January 1, 2012).

6. Persons who are studying or working abroad for a period of less than one year are not eligible for the benefits of tariff item No. 9805.00.00 at the time of their final return to resume residence in Canada. These persons may not aggregate the time spent abroad (e.g. an athlete who spends six months in the United States and six months in Canada each year over a period of several years may not accumulate the time spent in the United States to qualify for the benefits of tariff item No. 9805.00.00).
D2-3-2 Memorandum - Former Residents of Canada – Tariff Item No. 9805.00.00

If goods are going into the Sufferance warehouse this is the address
TFI Transport 7 L.P. dba Stream Calgary Warehouse
Local Address:
11150 38th Street SE
Unit 11
Calgary AB T2G 4E7

You should also be able to go to the following CBSA office to clear the goods
175 Aero Way North East
Unit 162
Calgary AB T2E 6K2

The shipping company should be telling you where to go and supplying you the manifest or where and when to meet the driver.
You should have your list of goods to follow that was stamped when you arrived back in Canada.