Shipping Car from Canada to USA

Hi There,

My husband and I are going down to Boston, MA from Canada for a 1-year work offer. My husband already has his TN visa and I-94 document and has started working in the States, although he frequently travels back and forth between US and Canada and is currently in Canada.

We are planning on shipping our car across the border and have 2 companies to choose from: Canada Auto Transport and AA Transport. Here's the situation:

1). Canada Auto Transport tells us that we need to submit Form 3299 and 3406 in advance of our car being shipped (i.e. we require a customs broker to do some paperwork for us and ensure we have all required documentation), whereas

2). AA Transport tells us that they can take care of eveything (including Form 3299, etc.) at the Border (i.e. we do not need a customs agent).

The question is, what are we risking by not having a customs broker? We are not importing the car technically; only going down for a 1-year work permit.

And what's the big deal if my husband is physically not in the States at the time of shipment? The customs people keep saying he has to be in the States BEFORE the car gets shipped and I don't understand why.

Anyways, if anyone has had experience with either the shipping companies I mentioned or the process, please advise! Thanks.

I think you have several issues here that you are lumping in with moving the car.

Car:
It may come down to the issue of whether you are temporarily bringing your car into US, or whether you are formally importing it.

I would suggest, even if you currently think that you will only be going for one year, tha tyou formally import the car, as this will ensure that you can properly register, plate and -- most importantly -- insure the car in US. Temporary importation applies more to students and snowbirds.

Importing the car does not require a broker. However there is documentation that you need to have before crossing in order to import the car. This has been described elsewhere on the board. I would not be going down to US without that first.

So they are both wrong: You DO need paperwork before going to the border, bu you don't need a broker to do this.

etc:
Now, form 3299 for your household effects must be filled and signed by you, and has nothing to do with the car. It does not require a broker, but you need to be involved.

I do not know what Form 3409 is.

I do not beleive, in any event , that you need to physically be down in US to do this. What you need is proof of US status, which is your I-94 that you already have.