Aussie couple driving Montana LLC registered RV into Canada

I would certainly check with US Customs before going into Canada in case you are checked coming back to the US as to what they expect. Don't assume that Montana plates will whisk you through US Customs. Google US Customs/Immigration as a start. When you get to the US agent at the kiosk and he hears you accent he may shuttle you into secondary inspection. You need to know what they will want to see...paperwork wise. They may want to inspect your RV and ask you to leave the coach. Be polite, don't make jokes, don't volunteer info they didn't ask for.

Oznick wrote:
Hi we are coming to America from Australia in July and were wondering who you used to set up your Montana mlc and if you had any advice ...thanks nick

Hi Oznick

To set up the LLC we used 49dollarmontaaregisteredagent. That was really easy. I did the vehicle registration myself dealing directly with the Flathead County of the Department of Motor Vehicles after working through the steps in this link.. This saved a considerable amount of dollars which I can now spend elsewhere.

Advice? - Tony Lee has given me quite a few hints along the way which have been appreciated.

Doug

Doug, the other thing you should check on is Progressive issue a card to certify that your US insurance is valid in Canada as it is sometimes requested at the border. Nobody asked for it or the "permission" document but probably just one of those just in case documents. Our self-printed permission document without notarisation or official stamps was accepted by Mexican Border officers so Canada would be probably even less fussy. Our conversation lasted all of 15 seconds even including the officers request to come with us and the subsequent banter. Only documents sighted were our passports

OzNick
For the LLC, we used

Aaron Lamphear
Deer Creek Corporate Services ™
1-877-913-5100
Shipping: 1076 N. Ewing Street Helena, MT 59601
Mailing: PO Box 1840 Helena, MT 59624
Fax: 888-587-5379
www.mtvehicles.com

Coming into Canada - you need to have complete vehicle registration as well as your personal ID. (drivers license, passports).

Hi we are coming to America from Australia in July and were wondering who you used to set up your Montana mlc and if you had any advice ...thanks nick

donn0128 wrote:
I think your best bet would be to contact Canadian customs and immigration directly. Otherwise you might get some bad information.

Thanks for that advice. I emailed the Canada Border Services Agency and this is part of their reply:

Here is an excerpt from our publication BSF5082, Visitors to Canada and other Temporary Residents, from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Web site:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5082-eng.html#s2x1
What you can bring with you

As a temporary resident, you can bring certain goods into Canada for your own use as "personal baggage". Personal baggage includes clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras and personal computers. It also includes vehicles, private boats and aircraft.

You are permitted to drive a foreign plated company owned vehicle across the border into Canada. To expedite the process at the border it is recommended that you obtain a letter authorizing you to drive the company owned vehicle across the border. The letter should include the name and contact numbers of the company representative, the company particulars, the description of the vehicle, the name of the person borrowing the conveyance, and the length of time during which you are allowed to use the conveyance. It is also recommended that you have the vehicle registration and insurance documents with you at all times. Notarization of the letter is optional, as long as it contains all the information as mentioned above along with a signature and telephone number of the company representative.

The vehicle paperwork can now be prepared according to their requirements.

With Oz and Canada, both being Commonwealth members, I can't imagine you having any problems going between the US and Canada and back. For the vehicle, you may want to have the purchase documents, the Montana LLC paperwork and along with your Oz passports, I would think that would about do it.

In 2009, we were in Canada and having lunch at a pull out on Muncho Lake, next to us was a couple of folks we got to visiting with. They too were from the Land of Oz and had flown to the US, purchased a used Class C motorhome in California and were touring both the US and Canada. They didn't indicate any problems at all in their travels. Perhaps the common background we all three have, but there seemed to be a common thread of oneness, between Australians, Canadians and the US. Also have vehicle insurance, either US or Canadian issued and proof of same. Either is good in either country. If you go to Mexico, the insurance requirements are different, as their system of laws is based upon the Napoleonic Code, whereas our three countries are based upon English Common Law.

Check the stickies on this page, especially for Canadian government agencies.

When you are searching go to www.google.ca that takes you directly to Canadian domained webpages. Get the visitors guides and the maps printed by each province. Search term should include: "name of province & tourism". While larger centres have their own visitors centre each province will have them too.


You can also go to www.google.com and search each state and find out how to get printed visitors guides from each state you plan to visit. Again the states run their own vistors centers.

Having just been in Australia in 2012 Sept to Dec. I know visitors centres are more of a local thing than a state thing in Oz. Here it's the other way around for both countries.

Enjoy.

:C

I think your best bet would be to contact Canadian customs and immigration directly. Otherwise tou might get some bad information.