Car Issue

[nickyfoficky]

Last fall I started work in the US on a P-2 visa that ran until April 2009. I drove through the border with my car, but at that time I didn't think the car was going to stay in the USA, so didn't do any paperwork concerning the car at the border. I left the car in the USA over the summer, with plans to drive it back home to Canada when returning from a gig in Europe.

However, now I have another job on a P-2 visa and my car is still in the States! I'm starting to run into problems with my Canadian car insurance. I understand that I have to register the car here in order to insure it in the States? And in order to register it I need to take it through US border patrol?

My main question is: Can I take the car to an airport (with the forms mentioned in the forum) and receive approval even though the car has now been here for a year?

Would registering my car in the States be detrimental to my visa status? Especially because I think you also have to have a US driver's license? Can I even get a driver's license with a P-2 visa?

My plan, if I can't get approval while in the States, is to drive it home to Canada at the end of this job, then take it back across the border for an upcoming job in January.

Any help would be appreciated. I've done a few searches on here considering bringing Canadian cars to the US, but didn't find someone with the same circumstances.

Thanks!

[lawsrlaws]

Airports, seaports and landborders should take care of you. It should not be a problem. It will not affect your Visa at all. Yes you can get a state license, but each state has different laws so its up to them. (ie. a temporary vs. a standard) Either way it is a fairley painless process.