Advice for Canadian returning to homeland

Hi there

We moved to USA May 2007, sold our house in Canada. The vehicles we drove over border were our own from Canada, we will be taking them back again.

Also will be moving our furniture etc back again.

I was wondering if anyone had done this and if there is any 'pointers' I should be aware of?

Declare everything on Form B4 and B4A. If your cars are Canadian-spec that shouldn't be a problem.

are those customs forms? How much detail do we have to go into, essentially we have'nt bought anything since we moved in May 2007.

yes, those are customs forms. You can download them from the Canada border services website.

bump.
I would like to know how much detail I need to give on the B4 form. Do I need to write down how many pairs of pants and shoes I am bringing back?

CBSA told me to use "as much detail as possible". There is a PDF-fillable version, so as much detail as will fit onto each line, basically.

Steven, thanks for the reply. but where can I find the pdf file? The one from CBSA website is not fillable. thanks!

Erm, oh yeah, I made my own PDF-fillable version, I remember now. The CBSA officer was well impressed. After I woke her up.

I've got to say it also depends on which POE you use, if you use Pearson then you need details, if you use Calgary you could put down "one tonne of refined cocaine" and personally I doubt they'd notice. Frankly it's not even illegal to do that, until the goods are actually imported, you can put anything down on the B4 at all.

When I was at the counter the guy at the next counter had a hat made from crocodile skin listed on his B4 and the CBSA officer made a note on the B4 that it couldn't be imported without an import permit.

The only real trick to it is to make sure the B4 and B4As match the packing list your mover has prepared as closely as possible, otherwise when the container arrives you will be standing in the CBSA office all day going: "and this thing on the packing list is this thing on my B4A." Before they will approve the release.