temp visitor expire soon on my USA driver license

[patiobarbecue]

dear there,

I am on TN visa at USA which expires 08-01-2009, and my NY driver license has such two lines:
TEMP. VISITOR EXP: 08-01-09 (at top, large print)
ISSUED: 09-26-08 EXPIRES: 04-01-13 (at bottom, small print)

I am not going to apply for new TN anymore, but I plan to travel within USA for a few months more, so I definitely need to drive in USA. I went to DMV today. The first employer told me that since the TEMP VISITOR EXP is on 08-01-09, I cannot drive after this date, and since I am not renewing TN, I cannot update this TEMP. VISITOR EXP line. She suggested me to call Immigration Service to get new visa -:) I later on talked to the supervisor there. The supervisor told me that my driver license expires on 04-01-13, but my temporary status at USA expires on 08-01-2009, so I won't be able to buy new car here-:)

My understanding is that Canadians can stay USA for up to 6 months, so I don't need any new visa during this period. I should be able to use the driver license in this period as well. Would it be hard to explain to a USA policeman, just in case one of them stopped me?

I will drive to CANADA on 07-28-09, and stay there for one week. If a Canadian policeman stoped me and checked my license, he might think of me as a Canadian driver on a USA car with an expired USA driver license. What a terrible scenario! Any suggestions?

[Reba]

Your 6 months stay also includes any time spent here on your TN status, so you've used up your allotment for the year unfortunately.

Once your TN expires, you are required to return to Canada within "a reasonable time", which is generally considered to be 10 days.

As for driving a US plated car to Canada if your TN is expired, they won't allow you across the border with the car most likely.

[SarniaGrl]

It wouldn't hurt to call CBSA and ask, they may likely let you drive it over, BUT would expect you to import it and pay the taxes on it upon entering. It'll be harder to cross back into the US and satisfy a CBP officer's questions about your return wth an expired DL, visa, etc. and a US-plated car.

[axolotl]

As for the NYS driver's license, the license itself does not expire when your TN status does. You still have a valid NYS license after the TN expires. NYS is a little different from other states in that regard (in most states, the license expires around the same time as their status does). Of course, the date the TN expires is in larger print on the actual DL so it can be confusing to people from out-of-state who are not familiar with NYS DLs.

You won't be able to stay in the US after your TN expires. You'll need to leave within 10 days. (Or you can adjust your status to B-2 by filing I-485 with USCIS. If you go this route, you won't be able to leave the US while your application for adjusting your status is pending or they'll assume you abandoned the application.)

As for the car, you'll need to import the vehicle into Canada. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications ... 8-eng.html

[Steven]

I don't think changing status on I-539 is an option here because he's already been there for over six months from the sounds of it. If your TN-1 runs out you don't automatically become a visitor, you must leave, your status has expired - which is why the validity of your DL expires then also. The difference between the dates is merely that you don't need to renew your licence, just update your status and they issue you a new one, but it hasn't been "renewed" per se.

Information for importing vehicles into Canada is on www.riv.ca

Anyone can buy a car in New York and import it into Canada, not sure what they're on about there. But given that you're a Canadian citizen and in non-immigrant status in the US, when you cross the border CBSA will expect you to formally import the vehicle most likely unless they believe you still live in New York.

Contrary to popular belief there is no tax whatsoever, provided it's part of your personal effects and you've owned it for more than six months, the trick is that you must own it and have the title, can't be leased or financed. You use CBSA forms B4 and B4A to declare your personal effects when you return.

My advice would be to complete your move back to Canada if you're not going for TN-1 again. Import the vehicle, get an Ontario DL, change the plates and if you need to go back down, go back down as a visitor.