We are planning a trip to the US & Canada which will last about 15 months so I have a question about temporary import into the US.

We will take the bike into the US for about 10 months, although we won't be there all that time as we are coming home. When we return to the US after a few weeks we will cross into Canada where I assume we will have to import the bike there. We will be in Canada for a week or two and then go back into the US again. At that point, do we start a new temporary import? We are only going to be in Alaska for a few weeks before we return to Canada and then back into the US again. Our trip will look like this

US (11 months) -> Canada (3 weeks) -> US (4 weeks) -> Canada (3 weeks) -> US (4 weeks)

How does this work with importing into the two countries

Thanks in advance

Is it a UK Registered vehicle ??

aswell as the resources on the Hubb you could check this out

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...e-into-the-u.s.

I believe that everything strings around 90 days , for a vehicle and visa waiver

As i understand with adjoining countries the visa and temporary import keeps running .
I think a visit to the U.S embassy may be prudent with the time period you wish to stay there

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Imhobbs,

+1 to bushman's comment above.
Because you'll be in the US for >90 days anyway (Visa Waiver), you'll have to
apply for a personal US visa on your UK passport. You need to be sure of your personal US visa status (length of time allowed) first, before addressing the issue of vehicle import documents & status.

Assuming that you obtain the necessary (total length of time, multiple-entry) personal visa, your vehicle import to US is "skating on thin ice." That's because the category of "temporary vehicle import" is by US law limited to maximum 12 months.

Along with normal US Customs (sea or air) port-of-entry requirements, the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) now requires pre-approval of vehicles imported--at least through air and seaports. This is called "Nonresident Temporary Importation Approval Letter from EPA". You can obtain info about, and this Letter by contacting:
David Hurlin
EPA Imports Line/ Group
Ann Arbor MI 48105
tel +1/ 734-214-4100
fax +1/ 734-214-4676
email: <imports@epa.gov>

NOTE: this detailed contact info does not appear on the US EPA website,
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/documents/420b10027.pdf, and US Embassy/ Consulate (Visa) staff may not even be aware of this vehicle import requirement or contact info (it's not their baliwick/ responsiblity).
But you will get an answer from EPA by calling or email above.

Don't be surprised if EPA/ Hurlin tells you "officially" that your proposed total "length-of time" for the bike exceeds the legal limit. But, there may be some kind of "waiver," or you may be able to get an EPA approval letter for (up to) 12 months, and then (have to) take your chances on your last land border crossing back into the US.

Depending on what you learn from US Embassy-UK, and US EPA, you might have to revise your itinerary, or risk some border hassles.

Sorry 'bout those complications.
Good luck

what model bike will you be importing? motorcycles are readily available to purchase here in USA. buy it for the trip, then sell when you are ready to leave.

find a ADV or HUBB member to leave bike with if it doesn't sell right away

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R90S, R80G/S PD

Thanks for the comments

I had looked at buying a bike but I want a BMW and it's the kitting it out the way I want it plus the cost and time doing it from a far that has put me off. Also I know my bike and it only has 10,000 miles on it.

I do know that you can reset the the visa by reapplying to enter at the Canadian border, but it does sound like reimporting the bike might be a challenge.

Ah, glad I found this post.
I was told to forget USA and Canada unless I had a carnet, but as none is required, I could not get one.
One route for my RTW was from Europe to Eastern seaboard in Oct, then move south through USA . Mexico, etc....
I would be in the USA less than 12 months.
Anyone tried this on a UK registered bike, on a UK licence (with IDP). My RTW will be long....., so really want to take my GS.
William.

Yeah we took two R1200gs's from Southampton to Blatimore last April with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics - worldwide ocean transport, inland services, supply chain solutions, terminal services. Retrieved through US customs ourselves but we had to hire a port escort to take us in and out of the port i think it was around $40 per hour and $160 port fees .

Edit: sorry didn't answer your question , Yes we had UK reg and UK driving licence (both parts) and an international licence . No one looked at the licence, the only places we got stopped was by the border patrol near the Mexico border, but that was no hassle either a wave through or a quick check on passports . We did have a cop follow us for miles from Grants pass to Coos bay in Oregon, but think he just curious and couldn't make out the plates but he didn't stop us. We also took out full insurance for USA and Canada with these guys http://www.motorcycleexpress.com/pages/USInsurance/

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We shipped two UK bikes into Montreal then rode into the USA then Baja then the USA then MEXICO and back into the USA again over 8 months.
You don't need a Carnet.
You do legally need an EPA certificate but no one ever asked to see it.
Getting a visa in your PP to cover the total time you plan to be in the states and pop in and out will save you loads of hassle - you do all the hassle at the US Embassy first !!!! The US border people don't care about the bike as long as you have the V5. No problems at all.

Welcome to Two Bikes Running

Temporary Import is good for 12 months in USA but going to Canada and back will not start it over again. If you want to be in US and Canada for 15 months you will need to make a run to Mexico (good idea, great place) to restart your temp import. You might also consider importing, should not cost much but you would need paperwork from BMW stating that bike met USA emissions and I think change a light or two.

Did not check this out but I think it is correct, anyone else up on this stuff?
RJT

The EPA duration is matched to your US Visa, No one will ask to see it any way.

Hi all,

I dont suppose you have a copy floating around of the EPA waiver to see what they are all about. It seems the yanks like making things just a little bit harder than they need to be.