2 Questions for a newbie in New York (TN)

haha I am too a visitor ! Okay, so I am pretending to be a visitor. What the insurance company doesn't know can't hurt them (for now.)

I am in a pretty lousy situation. But I will ammend it soon. I think I'm going to give the car to my family and just buy a new car here in a couple months.

You're not a visitor though. You're an intended immigrant, with application pending.

Yes, but the insurance company does not know that. My parents own the vehicle and they are there in Canada. It's really not that big of a deal. I wish I wouldn't have mentioned I had my car in the US now at all! lol

lulu, we are all telling you the same thing: What the insurance company will do the INSTANT you file a claim while in US, will be to investigate (a) what were you doing in US, (b) does your policy cover you actaully living in US.

Insuarnce comapnies deny claims all the time based on false information given at any time during the life of the policy (like saying you never smoked, saying you have an alarm system, parents saying they were the only driver, saying you live in one locale when you live in another -- never mind in a different country).

Paying premiums does not mean you are covered.

I think we all wish you hadn't mentionned it, especially advising other to do it, 'cause it really puts you and others in jeopardy.

Basic rule (applies anywhere): you need car insurance/DL/Plates where you LIVE, not where mummy and daddy live.

I never advised someone else to do it. I merely said you can drive your car into the US. The guy was going to throw his car away. He actually pmed me and I advised him to import his car if he was going to be there for a long period of time, and because he was a resident, he would have to go about doing it the right way. To be honest, any one who reads something on an internet form and then goes and does it isn't a very bright person any ways. I told the original poster to contact the DMV of new york state to find out exactly how he was to go about getting everything he needed. I have no sympathy for those who read something on a form and don't go to the actual right sources to get the proper info. All "we" can do is talk about our experiences as we are not the law or regulators.

I never said what I was doing was correct. I merely said I had not had a problem thus far and will be returning the vehicle shortly to Canada.

And I will say this once again, I can't get car insurance OR plates where I live because I do not have a driver's license. That is not my fault as I am waiting to get those things and I'm not willing to have my freedom of driving taken away by not having a car. I live in the suburbs.there is not exactly buses lined up to take me places. This is my choice and whether you like it or not, whether you advise it or not, I could care less. I'm not here to stir up shit or anything. I'm here to read other people's experiences and give my own. I'm not a bad person or anything.

Thing about forums, is that people are looking, if not for 100% accuracy, at least not to be misled.

And flippantly posting something in public, is not excused by then elaborating/clarifying/correcting in private.

Others read these posts for information.

Typically, those who don't believe what they read on these forums, generally feel that way because they don't believe what they themselves post.

It's OK not to know something. It's OK.

Let's be friends, we are all Canadian after all.

what about my burned DVDs? I'm a little concerned so far.

Nelsona.I know I don't know everything. I know very little in terms of this stuff. I'm just learning. People are looking to not be mislead, but it doesn't mean that is what is going to happen. It is the internet and look at something like wikipedia. A dictionary that now has become a web icon that allows users to post anything as a definition of something. The times I've seen inaccurate definitions on that website has been numerous. Those people, however, did not have ill-intent in posting what they think they know or what they believe to be true. Basically what you are saying is don't post if you are not 100% correct. I will do that if that is what you think is best. I didn't mean any harm by what I posted.honestly.

Also, I just can't agree on coming to the internet for correct information. It's like people who look up medical advice on the internet instead of going to the doctor. The net is a great tool to maybe get a couple basics, but most people giving out information are just like you and me; we are non-professionals just sitting in front of a computer. While info here can be great or helpful, I think you are really looking at a 50/50 chance of something being viable. I just think the attitude that an internet forum can be a form of professional help isn't right. I guess we had to agree to disagree.

Moonrider, your burned dvds (I'm pretty sure.not 100% sure as every case is different) will be fine. Don't worry about it.

hello everyone, I figured I would give an update.

First of all, the TN application took less 5 minutes. I waited for 2 hours in my car in a looooong car lane to get to the border officer but once I was sent inside: the officer looked at my things, went to his supervisor, the supervisor looked at the documents for about 1 minute and then I was answering a few questions as the officer was creating my TN. That's it.

Secondly, I decided to not import my car and just store it in Canada- way too many problems with the DMV and the requirement to re-import the car back to Canada did not seem very pleasant. It will be also a good argument upon renewal of my TN (car in Canada=no intent to stay in USA). I managed to lease a brand new suzuki grand vitara 2007 for 2 years (the length of my contract in USA), the amazing thing is that suzuki seems to have some program for foreign workers for which I qualified and provided me with "better" rates on my lease. I also got an NY driving license but I wonder if it was done properly done as the clerk included on my license: temporary visitor until xx/xx/2008 based on my TN. The license itself is good until 2011 but that additional detail will probably force me to return to the DMV next year.
The car insurance did not got as well as NationWide did not want to acknowledge my 9 years of flawless driving in Canada.

I also had to fight with Verizon for a few weeks to get internet and phone but now that's all settled as well. Essentially it's very important to have access to a fax machine and have good photocopies of US SSN Card, Passeport, etc. Every USA company will have difficulty establishing the identity of the TN worker as the new US SSN has no history.

I do have one question, How should I approach the renewal of my TN? I will re submit an updated contract/letter of employment + what I submitted the first time. But what are the chances of getting denied of the first renewal? And how many renewals do people get on average?

thank you!

You need to remember that as a TN visa holder, your principal residence is still in Canada. I have been doing this TN thing now for several years and have never bothered to put new plates on my car for the simple reason that the local State requirements are for you to have your plates registered once you have established residency in their State. Under NAFTA, you can't do this. So, I keep it simple and drive back home to Canada a few times a year.

I kind of agree with the Lady. On one of my TN years back in 1998 when I was working in Rhode Island, I got rear ended on my BMW by an American. I had Canadian Plates and Canadian insurance. I called my insurance company to let them know. They asked very few questions and arranged everything with the insurance company from the guy that hit me. Shortly after, I my car was repaired.