Moving to the US...

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Bhomes

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It looks like I may be moving soon to California for a promotion with my company and was wondering if anyone has insight on moving there with firearms both restricted and non-restricted. I have a few handguns (Ruger SR9, SR1911, and GSG 1911) along with a 30-06 Savage 111 and a few shotguns. I also have a Norc AR but I'am already aware this will have to get sold as Norc product isn't allowed in the US. I have emailed the California Bureau of Firearms on this inquiry but wanted to see if any fellow CGNers might have some answers or personal experience with this type of situation. THX!
 
You are probably just better off selling what you have here, and buying the similar gun when you get to Cali. Assuming that none are family hand-downs that are special, this is probably the easiest way.
 
curseyou said:
Just keep them, and buy new ones when you get to the US. Only buy, never sell. :p
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This^. Who knows what type of hoops a "foreigner" has to jump through in the hype of paranoia running rampant in U.S. policies these days? The OP may find that as he isn't a citizen (if he isn't?) Constitutional rights don't apply to him, and as he'd only be a recently arrived individual, the authorities can't/won't issue licences for ownership until after having lived in the State/Country for...so many months/years.
I wouldn't sell anything OP, you may even hate Cali and want to return the Great White North. Transfer ownership to a trusted (licenced) individual here, on your return...they just transfer back.
 
plinker 777 said:
This^. Who knows what type of hoops a "foreigner" has to jump through in the hype of paranoia running rampant in U.S. policies these days? The OP may find that as he isn't a citizen (if he isn't?) Constitutional rights don't apply to him, and as he'd only be a recently arrived individual, the authorities can't/won't issue licences for ownership until after having lived in the State/Country for...so many months/years.
I wouldn't sell anything OP, you may even hate Cali and want to return the Great White North. Transfer ownership to a trusted (licenced) individual here, on your return...they just transfer back.
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The non-restricted units aren't an issue as i will likely give them to a hunting buddy to hang onto for now along with my ammo stash. But the restricted ones are the main issue here...as I'm not a US citizen and will be down there on a working visa I'm likely going to have to sell them :-(. Well there may be some units on the EE shortly at good prices!
 
I personally would sell everything.
The cash is a lot easier to import.
Juggling US federal and California legalities in regards to firearm importation and possession for a non-US citizen would be a battle I'd want to avoid.
California tries almost as hard as Canada does to make gun owners as uncomfortable as they can within their jurisdiction.
 
Bhomes said:
The non-restricted units aren't an issue as i will likely give them to a hunting buddy to hang onto for now along with my ammo stash. But the restricted ones are the main issue here...as I'm not a US citizen and will be down there on a working visa I'm likely going to have to sell them :-(. Well there may be some units on the EE shortly at good prices!
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I was in a similar situation when I went down to Cali and the south west for a prolonged contract. It will all depend on the type of Visa you are admitted under. If you are going there with one of the Non-Immigration Visas (L, H1B, O, P, TN or the investor E class), a Form 6 is enough to bring your guns in with you, since the Visa is a temporary Visa legally speaking (regardless of the fact that some of them can be renewed) and is of a Non-Immigrant nature; regardless if you have the option (with some of them only) at a later date to apply to change your status from Non-Immigrant to Immigrant (also called "dual intent Visas").

As such, since you will be in the US temporarily (weeks, months, years) and will leave (eventually), you can keep your guns with you in the US for as long as the Visa you used to gain entry into the US is valid. I wrote to the Dept of Justice for an opinion on the matter (I was in the US for almost 6 months on a TN) and got a reply back from them. I can send you a redacted copy for your reference.

However......that's just the Federal laws. Just because bringing my guns into the US was ok with the BATF, USCBP, and USCIS did not mean I was in the clear at the State Level, where they have different rules. IIRC, I only brought 1 rifle and 1 pistol with me into Cali, but the rest of my stay in Az, NM, Texas and NC I had them all with me (AR, Shotty, Rifle, 2 pistols) in addition to small game licenses in each of those states. I wasn't concerned with Cali's laws, as my Canadian pistol mags complied and my bolt action was GTG. I never brought my AR or Shotty into Cali, just to be safe.
 
For all the hassle of having someone hold onto your guns until you can legally possess them in the US, export paperwork, import paperwork, shipping & FFL handling fees? Unless they're one of a kind family heirlooms, sell them here and buy new there. The 10 day waiting period for non-first-time buyers was just struck down as unconstitutional. Justification of need for CCW was also struck down as unconstitutional. God Bless America & Constitutionally protected gun rights.
 
I am in this situation. I am in the process of selling my norc's because I absolutely can't bring them with me. On the fence about the rest. I would rather NOT sell everything because contrary to what everyone says you don't really get more money on the EE than people pay for new.
 
do you even have to sell them to your family and/or friend?

you can lend a restricted to someone who holds a restricted license as long as you give them permission and you give them your certificate for that weapon, and do the normal STATT to move them over there and such.
when i had done some looking into this that is what i came up with.

so if i where in your boat id just pass them over to a friend to keep hold of and keep them in your name so you can get them back.
then go shopping when down in the states for some new toys!!!!
 
I went through this 6 years ago.

IF like myself, you have no plans on returning to Canada to live - then selling the Canadian guns is the best option.

The cost of importation is significant when you look at the price of guns down here comparatively. Even if you sell at a relative loss (say 75% of value) you will be better off.

NOW IF one thinks one may return -- keep the PAL current and store the guns.
 
Martin248 said:
I am in this situation. I am in the process of selling my norc's because I absolutely can't bring them with me. On the fence about the rest. I would rather NOT sell everything because contrary to what everyone says you don't really get more money on the EE than people pay for new.
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you can bring them at least for a temporary reason.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...Norc-to-the-USA-(proof)?highlight=norinco+usa

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-for-a-competiton/page3?highlight=norinco+usa
 
In my opinion it isn't worth the hassle to attempt to take them with you. Be prepared to have to jump through a lot of hoops. California is very anti-gun. My advice-sell them in Canada before you move.
 
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