Hi, guys
I am thinking to drive to virginia with my fiance after my visa has approved. As I have so many stuff and want to bring as much as I can to US. Is it Ok not go through the immgrant office in the airport?
Thanks a lot
Full Version: moving from St Catharines to US
you can enter using any POE
it doesn't matter how you enter the US. if you plan on moving your stuff at the same time, just make sure you have the necessary customs paperwork filled out. 
Isn't there something about the vehicle too and if it's registered/owned by her? I'm not familiar with the rules regarding that because I never brought a vehicle with me on my move over.
Find out all that info inthe Canadian forum here on VJ. One requires a letter of compliance for your vehicle. Search this thread for the info http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7
Hey, I lived in St. Catharines for seven years:-).
Yes, you can drive across the border and that is your POE. You will need to check with customs to obtain the necessary forms to fill out to import your personal belongings free of duty. You will need to have rabies certiicates for any pets - and a good bill of health from your vet would assist and you need phytosanitary certificates for any houseplants you are bringing.
We crossed at Port Huron, Michigan with a van filled with my 6 cats, the house plants, my wedding dress and belongings that I had had for less than a year (dutiable) and enough clothes for the week it would take for the moving van to arrive. The moving company provided all of the necessary custom documents for me, then when I crossed the border I had to fax them a copy of the I-94 to add to the documents so they could bring my belongings across. Get very good at making lists - and when you pack your items pack like objects with like objects, then you can add your list to the front of the box - ie. kitchen utensils, followed by a list of contents or 'bedding' followed by a list of contents.
I did all of the lists and inventories, got all of the documents and certificates - and didn't even have to show them. I know if I didn't have them, I probably would have had to.
I didn't bring my car because I couldn't get the manufacturer's statement that it complied with US criteria - in fact I could have brought it but would have had to add airbags within the year so decided to sell it and buy one here.
One of the useful tricks I found was to google international moving companies - they were very good at providing free on line information about what was needed to move my belongings to the US.
Good luck.
Yes, you can drive across the border and that is your POE. You will need to check with customs to obtain the necessary forms to fill out to import your personal belongings free of duty. You will need to have rabies certiicates for any pets - and a good bill of health from your vet would assist and you need phytosanitary certificates for any houseplants you are bringing.
We crossed at Port Huron, Michigan with a van filled with my 6 cats, the house plants, my wedding dress and belongings that I had had for less than a year (dutiable) and enough clothes for the week it would take for the moving van to arrive. The moving company provided all of the necessary custom documents for me, then when I crossed the border I had to fax them a copy of the I-94 to add to the documents so they could bring my belongings across. Get very good at making lists - and when you pack your items pack like objects with like objects, then you can add your list to the front of the box - ie. kitchen utensils, followed by a list of contents or 'bedding' followed by a list of contents.
I did all of the lists and inventories, got all of the documents and certificates - and didn't even have to show them. I know if I didn't have them, I probably would have had to.
I didn't bring my car because I couldn't get the manufacturer's statement that it complied with US criteria - in fact I could have brought it but would have had to add airbags within the year so decided to sell it and buy one here.
One of the useful tricks I found was to google international moving companies - they were very good at providing free on line information about what was needed to move my belongings to the US.
Good luck.
Getting off track here but I lived in St. Catharines from 1978 until 1999. I would love to move back there when my husband retires here.
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