David

I'm hoping someone that made the journey from Canada to the US can share
their experience. We will rent a U-haul to load our possessions, and tow one
car behind the truck. The other will either be sold or driven by my wife.
Both are 1997 Fords. I will drive the U-haul down myself.

Questions:
1) What do I need to do to import the cars?
2) Do I need to do anything special with the household goods to import them
(since they are going across the border with me personally)?
3) How long does it actually take to get across the border? My wife will
have finished the I-130 for her GC when we move down--so, I assume she'll
need to activate her Immigrant status, and get a work authorization, et al
stamped in her Canadian passport?
4) We also have a Cat that we will be bringing down with us. What do we need
to show for the Cat to be imported? (Does she became a US Citizen too? :-) )

Thanks in advance everyone!

David

lairdside

About the cars - here a website that I think covers it

http://www.canadatotwincities.com/bring_car.html

I wouldn't imagine you'd need anything for the household goods but I could be wrong. Same for the cat but for info I'd check with the SPCA or a vet, she may need up-to-date vaccinations ?

Here's some info I found about cats :-

Cats

All domestic cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense. Cats arriving in Hawaii or Guam, both of which are free of rabies, are subject to that state’s/ territory’s quarantine requirements.

The link with the full info is :-

http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm...ingyourpet.htm

Cdn Chick

Hey David,
This may help you out .... Covers household stuff, vehicles and pets
http://www.customs.gov/ImageCache/cg...ving_2edoc/v1/
moving.doc



"David" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'm hoping someone that made the journey from Canada to the US can share
    > their experience. We will rent a U-haul to load our possessions, and tow
one
    > car behind the truck. The other will either be sold or driven by my wife.
    > Both are 1997 Fords. I will drive the U-haul down myself.
    > Questions:
    > 1) What do I need to do to import the cars?
    > 2) Do I need to do anything special with the household goods to import
them
    > (since they are going across the border with me personally)?
    > 3) How long does it actually take to get across the border? My wife will
    > have finished the I-130 for her GC when we move down--so, I assume she'll
    > need to activate her Immigrant status, and get a work authorization, et al
    > stamped in her Canadian passport?
    > 4) We also have a Cat that we will be bringing down with us. What do we
need
    > to show for the Cat to be imported? (Does she became a US Citizen too?
    :-) )
    > Thanks in advance everyone!
    > David

Phil Longstaff

"David" wrote in message news:...
    > I'm hoping someone that made the journey from Canada to the US can share
    > their experience. We will rent a U-haul to load our possessions, and tow one
    > car behind the truck. The other will either be sold or driven by my wife.
    > Both are 1997 Fords. I will drive the U-haul down myself.

I just came across yesterday with a car, so I'll let you know how it
went for me.

    > Questions:
    > 1) What do I need to do to import the cars?

After I had gone through the immigration part of the process, I
imported my car (I was driving my car, not towing it). I needed a
letter from the manufacturer stating that the car met EPA guidelines
as well as my provincial registration. The officer also asked for an
estimate of the car's value. Finally, the officer needed to validate
the VIN.

Note that even though this was 8 hours before the US started attacking
Iraq, my car was never searched.

    > 2) Do I need to do anything special with the household goods to import them
    > (since they are going across the border with me personally)?

I didn't need to do anything special. When I got to the booth, I said
I was immigrating and handed my passport and brown envelope to the
inspector, who said I should pull ahead, park, then go inside. At no
time was I ever asked about household stuff coming in with me. YMMV.

    > 3) How long does it actually take to get across the border? My wife will
    > have finished the I-130 for her GC when we move down--so, I assume she'll
    > need to activate her Immigrant status, and get a work authorization, et al
    > stamped in her Canadian passport?

It took me about 45 minutes. After I had handed over my passport and
brown envelope, I went in and sat down. After a few minutes my name
was called. The INS officer asked me a few basic questions and I sat
down again for a while. I was called again, and had to give
fingerprints (my right index finger on both sides of a card) and sign
my name by the prints. I went and sat again for a while. Finally I
was called and given my passport with my stamp.

Phil