import car to usa

[jxmaster]

I am going to move to NYC with TN status, and I wish to bring my car with me. The NYSDMV says that "The NYSDMV can require your vehicle to comply with the minimum NYS safety and emissions standards even if your vehicle meets or is exempt from federal safety and emissions standards."

I am wandering how to prove that?

Anyone who have such experience?

Thanks in advance.

[jxmaster]

I found the list by google "EPA list of Canadian identical models" (I am not allowed to post the link). It says "All 1999 model year light duty and heavy duty vehicles, both gasoline and diesel-fueled, and motorcycles."

[Reba]

You have to call the manufacturer in Canada and get a letter from them. Call them and tell them you're moving to the US, they should know what you need.

[Steven]

Well, you've got to get the EPA emissions certificate in order to be able to transfer the title anyway, I suspect strongly that the testing centre will either check for the NY standard (assuming you get it done in NY) or will definitely know where to take the vehicle to get it tested. States that do emission tests usually have a list of approved garages.

Getting the EPA one done is frankly more tricky.

[jxmaster]

Called the company, they said this car is not valid, so they recommended to sell it. However, since I need it to go to the port to apply the TN status, so I am wondering if I can drive it to US for applying the TN and also for moving, and then I drive it back to Canada and sell it later(possibly within one month). Thanks in advance!

[Reba]

Yeah, you can drive it in the US, you just won't be able to license it if it is not compliant.

[Steven]

You can drive in the US for up to a year on a Canadian-plated vehicle assuming you're in some sort of temporary immigration status.

On the flip side, if you buy a car in the US while you're there on TN-1, if you leave and then re-enter with a US-plated vehicle, this can cause problems with your TN-1 status as it makes it appear you live there permanently and you must have "bona-fide non-immigrant intent" to get TN-1. However, I dare say explaining what happened to you to USCIS will get you past that unless they are in a bad mood that day. Make it clear to them that you intend to import the vehicle officially into Canada when you come back.

Ditto for the Canadian side of the border as a Canadian who has residential ties to Canada would normally have to officially import any vehicle they bring back from the US.

Looking on the bright side, a lot of cars are ridiculously cheap in the US at the moment compared to Canada.