Taking the used car to US on TN visa -- URGENT PLS

Good day!

My partner is on TN. He wants to use his used car in NY. He got all the papers for car emission and EPA/DOT to be presented to the border. Is it risky? Will they ask him why he is bringing the car when he will be in NY temporarily, that is to work, until I finish my school? We are both Canadians. Please advise.

Take care

shouldn't be a problem, you have to get around when you are there.

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. You see, in order for his car to be insured in the US (since no Canadian insurance is willing to insure if the car is in the US), the US insurance needs US registration.

So, customs and immigration will not think that he is planning to stay permanently in the US for bringing his car?

Take care

You don't actually need to officially import it if you're going to be there less than a year. I suppose it might be risky if you formally import a car because it plays against "non-immigrant intent", but it's totally at the discretion of USCIS as to whether they consider it relevant.

I imported my car. At the border you just clear the car and bring it in and then go to dmv and register the car in united states.

and you don't need registration to get insurance, you need insurance to get registration.in order to get your plates you have to show proof of valid insurance in the state in which you are registering it.

if your friend is on a TN you do not have to import the car, I asked at the border, and had all the paperwork to do it if necessary, and since we were temporary importation is not necessary. and you can register and insure it even though it is not imported. the only time that you would have to officially import it is if you were planning to sell it while in the united states (or trade it in when buying a new one).

Or staying more than a year. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_ ... ng_car.xml

so what happens after one year if a TN is renewed?

Can importation be filed later? I am not going to drive back to a POE with my vehicle, that's over 12 hours one way.

You'd have to talk to CBP about it, there may be a way of doing it by going down to the local office (if there is one).