Hi there

i could not find a thread about storing a bike in USA or Canada. I dont mean a place to store the bike but rather how to get a temporary import licence for up to one year.
I have parked my bike for 10 months in Uruguay and one year in Costa Rica. I could not find anything about leaving a bike in USA or Canada.

I would be very grateful for any information.

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Canada doesn't have a TIP or TVIP. I believe it is the same for the USA
Strictly speaking it looks like you can't store your bike in Canada if you leave.
That being said you could:
1.) Talk to the Canadian authorities and ask if they will permit you to leave it for a specified time.
2.) Or just go ahead and store it when you want and plead ignorance if you run into problems. It looks like the main thing is they want the bike exported. If it is not on the road it doesn't need to follow the MVSA. If it is stored near the border to the USA, it would be quick to export it when you got back.

For myself, I would be tempted to go the second route.

From the Transport Canada Website:
"I will be visiting Canada with my vehicle. Do I have to formally declare it for importation at the Canadian border?

No. Section 7(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA), allows a visitor to temporarily enter Canada with a motor vehicle without complying with the MVSA if the vehicle is used only by a visitor to Canada or a person passing through Canada en route to another country.

Notes:

You alone may use the vehicle.
Any change in your status, such as receiving permanent residency in Canada, may make your vehicle inadmissible and you will be required to export or destroy it.
You may not sell or gift the vehicle while in Canada.
The vehicle cannot remain in Canada longer than the time limits allowed under your temporary entry."

If you enter USA via land border then, AFAIK, there is no TVIP given. No record of your vehicle is kept. They will only check to see if it is reported stolen upon entry.

USA Customs/immigration do not care about your bike ... only about YOU.

If you have a valid Visa, you are fine. My guess is you could store your bike
indefinitely in USA and continue riding it when you return.

If you enter with your bike via Sea or Air, then not sure how this goes currently.
I'm pretty sure some paper work is done. Should not be too hard for temporary basis as tourist.

Once again, always the PERSON ... not the vehicle that is important with USA.

I have left my bike in storage in the US without a problem, it did enter over a land border not that it makes any difference.

Something I found strange about the US is the lack of passport control on exit from the country at land borders, I asked the immigration officer about this when re-entering from Mexico and he seemed puzzled by my question, most of the countries I have visited check you in then out again.

I think it does make a difference how you enter. Although never entered USA with bike by plane or ship, I've read here a few times that they do need some paper work. Not sure if true riding a USA originated bike. Probably not since local registration would prove that.

NON USA bikes, IIRC, they do require some sort of verification.

Land Border entry:
I've ridden in from Mexico to USA with friends on German and Danish plated bikes twice. Both times ... they breezed right through, border guard only checking their Visa, never looked at bike other than to run plate through system which they do for every vehicle that comes through.

This is true and weird as Hell! Only thing I can figure is to keep traffic moving. ??

I know of several travelers who stopped and walked back into USA immigration
(a real PITA right at the border do to one way roads and no turn arounds) and ask to be stamped out. Of course the immigration staff hardly ever see this so the inexperienced ones aren't sure what to do.

If travelers don't get stamped out then their re-entry to USA months or a year later could be in question as it would look like they never left the USA ... so possible re-entry blocked or visa over stay issue.

I don't get the no stop thing. Not a real smart system for travelers ... and confusing for sure.

One thing is clear ... about 90% of cross border traffic is Mexican. The rest are tourist day trippers from San Diego or other border town in CA, AZ or Tejas.

The Mexican govt. don't stop traffic entering Mexico (although that is changing lately) so, you just cruise right though into Mexico without even slowing down. ... and as you say, there is NO STOP leaving USA either. Zoom ... your through.
Never seen a border like this anywhere in the world.

I believe they do this to keep the traffic moving as THOUSANDS of Mexicans go back and forth each day to work in USA. Workers have special border crossing visas, even so, it's hours to cross INTO USA no matter what ... but at least they get home quicker at night after work and don't have to line up entering Mexico.

As mentioned, this is now changing ... and I was stopped a few years back in my Van. They checked registrations of Van and dirt bikes. They also now check pick ups carrying commercial goods.

What they should be checking are old Geezers in huge motorhomes who have a stash of AK47's, Glocks and Rocket Launchers in the Belly. This is far more common than realized.

So yes, if traveling on US Visa, stop at USA immigration at border, get stamped out. Then, cross border into Mexico, go to immigration office, pay for tourist FM3 thingy or whatever it's called. (6 month visa) About $22 or so.

You can get your TVIP there as well or wait until Ferry if riding down Baja. Once into Mexico, away from border you will not be able to find a FM3 or TVIP, so best obtain at border.

Thanks Guys for all your information it will help me a lot.

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To go where this man has not gone before!