Temporary Import of Class A to Canada
There was a recent topic in which importation to Canada was discussed and one poster (JaxDad) talked about his experience taking a US registered vehicle he owned to his home in Canada. I have looked t...
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This subject doesn't affect me, but I've been following it in amusement at how some would appear to be trying to split hairs with Canadian law. It reminds me on my own experience with Canadian Customs and might serve as a warning to others.
For years I worked for a defense contractor in the US and was often directed to do some work with Canadian defense companies. This work was authorized and approved by the US Army and the US State Dept and I had the documents to prove that. However, one day I showed up at the Canadian Border and was asked by a bright young Canadian Customs Agent to show him the contract that proved the work I was sent to do was approved by the Crown. My employer was not aware that the contract might be asked for and examined by Canadian Customs. Since I didn't have the contract with me at the time, I was denied entry into Canada and my name was put into the Canadian Customs Database. (I was able to enter Canada and the do the work I was sent to do when I later returned with a copy of the contract.) Now I'm permanently registered in the Canadian Customs Database and every time I try to cross I'm pulled to the side for enhanced processing. The Canadians also shared that information with US Customs, so I'm usually questioned about that same incident upon my return to the US.
BTW. Canadian Customs recently upgraded their computer systems and they no longer remove information that is more than 5 years old. They now retrain everything forever.
So, all it takes is for one bright Canadian Customs Agent to ask the right questions and you might have a real problem. Once such question that comes to mind might be: "If your car is owned by you and registered in Florida and you know you can't use it while in Canada, then why are you trying to bring it into Canada knowing all you can do with it is take it back into the US? Why didn't you just leave it in Florida or someplace in the US before crossing back into Canada?"
For years I worked for a defense contractor in the US and was often directed to do some work with Canadian defense companies. This work was authorized and approved by the US Army and the US State Dept and I had the documents to prove that. However, one day I showed up at the Canadian Border and was asked by a bright young Canadian Customs Agent to show him the contract that proved the work I was sent to do was approved by the Crown. My employer was not aware that the contract might be asked for and examined by Canadian Customs. Since I didn't have the contract with me at the time, I was denied entry into Canada and my name was put into the Canadian Customs Database. (I was able to enter Canada and the do the work I was sent to do when I later returned with a copy of the contract.) Now I'm permanently registered in the Canadian Customs Database and every time I try to cross I'm pulled to the side for enhanced processing. The Canadians also shared that information with US Customs, so I'm usually questioned about that same incident upon my return to the US.
BTW. Canadian Customs recently upgraded their computer systems and they no longer remove information that is more than 5 years old. They now retrain everything forever.
So, all it takes is for one bright Canadian Customs Agent to ask the right questions and you might have a real problem. Once such question that comes to mind might be: "If your car is owned by you and registered in Florida and you know you can't use it while in Canada, then why are you trying to bring it into Canada knowing all you can do with it is take it back into the US? Why didn't you just leave it in Florida or someplace in the US before crossing back into Canada?"
