Vehicle registration Canada to US - customs stamp

[dolly]

I have another question about vehicle registration in the U.S., but the timing is different. I drove my vehicle across the border into the U.S. on a road trip, and then left it with a friend while I returned to Canada.

Subsequently, I was offered a job interview and returned to the U.S. (via air) on a TN Visa. I would like to register my vehicle in the U.S., and I understand I need a customs stamp. Can I get this stamp at a local CBP office in the U.S. (like the post above), or will it be an issue that my vehicle first entered the U.S. approximately 3 months before my TN Visa was issued? (especially if I look to renew my TN Visa in future, or change to a different Visa status?) Do I need to drive back across the Canadian border and re-enter again? Thanks for any info you can provide.

[Steven]

It's probably simplest to drive back to a POE and re-enter with it and declare it to CBP. It may be possible to just go to the local CBP office and import it ex post facto but you'd need to talk to them directly.

Have a read of: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_ ... ng_car.xml

Pretty much any reasonably modern Canadian vehicle meets the US specs. The main thing they don't mention on there is that there is no duty on the import of a vehicle as a personal effect.

[dolly]

Thanks very much. I am pretty far from a POE (California) so a local CBP is the most do-able option. You don't think it will be a problem that the vehicle entered 3 months before the TN was issued?

[Steven]

You can always go to the Mexico border. Like I say, you'd need to talk to them, if you go back to a POE then they're not going to have a clue how long it's been in the US.

[maurmann]

You don't have to travel to the border. As long as it is your own Canadian registered vehicle and you drove across the border, you can clear the vehicle yourself at Customs. If it was sold and you bought a Canadian-registered vehicle, then you would need to contact a Customs broker. I have cleared Canadian registered vehicles here in Phoenix so you can then get your AZ registration. Let me know if you need help, david.maurmann@cox.net.