Hey VJ'ers,

I have a question about the POE stuff. I hoping to get my Visa delivered this week. Once it comes, my wife and I will be booking a trip to fly to the US to go house shopping etc. We will be flying out of Toronto so of course will need to go through airport security/customs etc...

We are not moving to the US during this trip - we will be after we buy a house and all that (likely 4-6 weeks after this trip). Do we have to activate the Visa and all that stuff during this first trip across the border or is that done when we are actually moving? Would it be easier to do this during this trip (not having our U-Haul all packed up and ready for a 24 hour drive), or does it have to be done when we are physically moving?

Any opinions or information?

Also - I am going to be bringing my Canadian purchased car across the border when we do move, can I get the paperwork at the airport to import it? Does anyone know the forms/information we need to get that process going? (i"ve read some stuff about it on here but some of it is dated and hard to follow)

Thanks everyone for your info!

Darryl

AFAIK, you don't have to activate the visa on the first US visit after receiving the MBE; but you may face a lot of questions.

Concerning the Car.. I went thru a little process to have my cars certified for import.

Question what is make of the Car, as Chysler is different than GM.

Chysler I fax in my required info,( vin # year etc.) and with some small problems they certified it and it was free.but it took them a while couple weeks.

GM I also fax them info ( vin # year etc.) and it was $75.00 and i Got it that very day.

I will go look at my info later and advise you..

Colin

I presume it is considerably different for imported vehicles (VW, Toyota, Hyundai, ...) than for domestic; would that be correct?

Hey Colin,

My car is a Gm ('02 Pontiac Sunfire), I don't mind paying the $75 to get it done soon. If you have the phone #'s etc and the process you went through I'd appreciate your experience

Thanks

Cherry,

I guess my quesiton is - is it going to be quicker and easier for me to activate my visa during our leisurely trip to the US to visit and shop for a house when we're under no time issues or stress etc...OR...would it be better to do it when we're all packed up in the U-Haul - 1 hour into a 24 hour drive and get to the border? If this is the case, are there any benefits to doing it one way or the other? Any risks? If I do it at the airport on our leisure trip - how long does it take? Do I have to be at the airport more than the normal 3 hours before the flight departs?

Any info is helpful!

Darryl

Iformation On GM:

General Motors of Canada Limited
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ont. L1H 8P7

1-888-467-6853

The form you need is : ( They will fax it to you..)

Request for vehicle U.S. EPA/DOT Compliance Information.

For More information on importing see:
see: link www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG_Canada07032.html


On the issue of crossing sooner than sale of your home...etc.. The LPR ( Green Card) allows you to
go across do the imigration thing have your passort stamped, I expect turn around and come back to Canada to complete what you need to do.. I Dont think there are any restriction on you..

But I would think your first Crossing would have to be one of imigration.. not crossing then imigartion later ..

That is just my guess..

Colin

have you tried calling the border crossing that you plan to use to see if you are even allowed to cross the border without activating the visa?

For activation, the regular 3 hours is plenty.

For my activation trip (actually, success return trip to Atlanta), I got to Dorval at about the 3 hours; they'll take you into a separate room and take your FP and the MBE--total time about 1/2 hour.

For More information on importing see: ( at the bottom are the phone numbers for different Manufactors)

see: link www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG_Canada07032.html

Colin,

You're awesome! I just called the GM number you listed and paid the $75 and it's on it's way. Thanks for that great info. I aksed the guy if that was all I'd need and he said "yes, just bring these docs we're sending you to the border and you're all set, nothing else is required"

Very nice and easy...I wish all this stuff was so simple!

Thanks again!

Darryl

I think but I am not sure you will need this form to... But maybe the border guy has it but here is the form.. HS-7

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf


enjoy

Colin

Yeah CBP will have the HS-7 and fill it our for you..


And as a CR-1, you might as well just activate it on your first visit. It doesn't hurt you in any way.