No, you need not import your vehicle. Your visitor’s “visa” (as Americans, you do not need one, but just go with the idea for now) is good for up to six months, so your personal vehicle can be admitted for up to six months.
Do make sure that you can indicate insurance coverage on the vehicle to Canadian authorities if necessary. Your car insurance is most likely automatically valid in Canada (most, if not all American insurers cover operating your car in Canada and the US), but American insurers don’t tend to show this on your insurance card. You need to get in touch with your insurer for a document that can indicate to Canadian authorities that your insurance is valid in Canada. As I understand, such a document is free of charge, so it costs no more than a phone call to your insurer.
Because we didn’t have our income tax return until now. This was only way we could’ve afforded the passports. The planning was thought of WAY in advance, but the finances were only there just now (putting us behind WAY more than inticipated).
Yes, we had to switch to Allstate just to get complete coverage for the ENTIRE 4 month (total) stay in Canada. And we already ordered our Canadian (yellow) insurance ID cards. And thanks for the info on importation
I haven’t a clue. I’m not sure what that entails, but I don’t see why. Snowbirds head for the U.S. South every winter and stay for months. I’ve never heard that they have to import their cars to the U.S.
One other thing. What about medical insurance? It’s free here (for all intents and purposes) for Canadian citizens, but not for foreigners. If you have medical insurance, are you sure it covers you outside the U.S.?
It might be worthwhile to check into your car insurance, though I doubt that would be a problem.
That means that the only way you can re-enter the US using a passport card is by land or sea, not that you can’t use it to enter other countries. It’s to stop people from turning up at the airport with a passport card thinking it will get them on the plane. Since you’re planning to drive in (and presumably back out), your passport card would be fine.
Lol (on your edit) I haven’t checked with medical insurance (it’s just regular Medicaid currently). I guess if we get really badly injured or sick or something serious, we will have a mad dash to the border. Or once we get our passports, a mad dash to America on a plane!
Hmmmm…have you had any experience with it personally? Or know someone who has? Specifically for using it to ENTER canada from US? Would love to hear more
And you’re correct btw…I guess the original I read didn’t make sense because it didn’t say that in any part of it. Here’s from Canadian website instead… “United States citizens can use an official passport card to enter Canada if driving across the border or entering from the sea.” Do you know if it takes LESS TIME by any chance to receive it then a passport book?
Don’t be nervous. Border crossings happens every day. I’ve crossed the US-Canada border innumerable times, and have never had any problems.
Be prepared for the following questions from CBSA authorities:
– What is your citizenship? (Passports help with this one.)
– What is the reason for your trip? (Vacation, business, attending a training course, etc. See Note.)
– Where are you going?
– For how long?
– Anything to declare? (This is custom-ese for “What will you be leaving behind?” Examples would include tobacco products, alcohol, gifts for friends in Canada, anything similar.)
–Any weapons? (Canada does not allow handguns, long guns unless the proper paperwork has been completed ahead of time or upon declaration at the border, brass knuckles, pepper spray, etc. If anything is remotely offensive/defensive, declare it.)
Note: You said this:
I am unsure how this would be interpreted by a CBSA officer. True, you cannot study at a Canadian university or community college on a tourist “visa” (again, Americans don’t need one, but again, just go with it); but at the same time, I’m sure that you’re attending neither.
You might do well to contact the school you are planning on attending and asking whether you can attend classes as a tourist, or whether you require a student visa. They would know, and would advise you accordingly.
Yes, I went onto the Canadian government website and took their “quiz” to see if we needed visas. According to the government, it’s considered temporary (under 6 months) so doesn’t require any special visas. The school we are attending concurred.
Get medical insurance to cover your stay in Canada. Contrary to what many Americans think (thanks, Homer Simpson), medical care costs money in Canada, and if you have no insurance, you will receive a bill.
Canadians and permanent residents are insured under provincial plans, of course; but more than one American has been surprised to receive a bill from a Canadian hospital for what they mistakenly assumed was “free healthcare in Canada.”
Gotchya thanks! I think another commenter here said same thing, that it’s only free to Canadian residents and not foreigners. Wasn’t there recently that lady who went into labor in Canada and had to pay hundred thousands or millions of dollars?
I sincerely thank ALL of you for responding and all the info you have given us thus far. It’s almost 2:30 in the morning where I am so I am gonna head off to bed. I will check in with this thread tomorrow (well later today). Thanks again so much!
It looks like you’ve been doing your homework then. Good to hear!
Enjoy your stay here. And if you feel like a coffee after geting through the Canadian border, let me know–as you can see from my location, I’m in the first town of any size you’ll hit after passing through the Coutts/Sweetgrass border. Looking forward to hearing how your trip progresses!
ETA on preview: likely thousands, but it wouldn’t be millions.
Yes, I have been planning for MONTHS…just coming down to the wire it’s getting a little crazy! LOL! Oh yeah definitely…we will need a victory lap (ie: coffee) after crossing the border for our first time ever hehehe! :o;)
Something a little less serious: Your vehicle’s speedometer would be marked (secondarily, likely) in kilometres per hour (km/h), but you can figure distances into miles, more or less ballpark, by multiplying the first number by six.
So, f’rinstance, a sign saying Calgary, 80 kilometres, multiply the 8 by 6 to get 48 miles (It’s 49.7, but close enough for government work).
Wasn’t there recently that lady who went into labor in Canada and had to pay hundred thousands or millions of dollars?