Complicated question about driving in Toronto(Importing Car from US) (2015, vehicle registration)

[ordinary_needs]

Hi everyone, I would like to share my situation over here and hope somebody can help me out

I am originated from Hong Kong and I hold a Hong Kong passport. I immigrated to the US on 2006 and

I just moved to Toronto for school. While I was living in US, I landed in California and moved to

Boston last year and currently I am a resident of Massachusetts and my driver license was already

switched to a Massachusetts one instead of the California one. The Mass ID(Driver license) will

expire in 2015. I have no relatives in Massachusetts but I have friends over there, so I am thinking

maybe I can use their address for naturalization process. As I have a car, I considered to import

it to Canada and obtain insurance and driver license over there. However, if I wanna switch my

driving license to a Canadian one, I need to surrender the Massachusetts one, which I think the

point is I also surrendering my residency of Massachusetts. Once I surrender my Massachusetts

residency, I think I will have trouble to process my naturalization. Right now I am a US Green

Card holder and I have a student permit which last for 2 years for studying in Canada. I don't

know if I should remain everything same for my car( driving license/license plate) as a US one

or switch to Canadian because I need to file naturalization through mail recently. Thanks so much!!

[Liberated in TO]

This is a tough one that probably needs the advice of an immigration lawyer.

[dougie86]

Originally Posted by ordinary_needs

Hi everyone, I would like to share my situation over here and hope somebody can help me out

I am originated from Hong Kong and I hold a Hong Kong passport. I immigrated to the US on 2006 and

I just moved to Toronto for school. While I was living in US, I landed in California and moved to

Boston last year and currently I am a resident of Massachusetts and my driver license was already

switched to a Massachusetts one instead of the California one. The Mass ID(Driver license) will expire in 2015 .

I have no relatives in Massachusetts but I have friends over there, so I am thinking maybe I can use their address for naturalization process. As I have a car, I considered to import it to Canada and obtain insurance and driver license over there.

However, if I wanna switch my driving license to a Canadian one, I need to surrender the Massachusetts one, which I think the point is I also surrendering my residency of Massachusetts. Once I surrender my Massachusetts residency, I think I will have trouble to process my naturalization.

Right now I am a US Green Card holder and I have a student permit which last for 2 years for studying in Canada. I don't know if I should remain everything same for my car( driving license/license plate) as a US one or switch to Canadian because I need to file naturalization through mail recently. Thanks so much!!

You made it sound so complicated.

Are you sure that you have to surrender your Massachusetts driving license? Because that is not the case with driving licenses of Japan and some other countries.

[dougie86]

Find out if your Massachusetts Driver License will be returned to you in due course. I see no reason why not.
Customer Comments and Enquiries (http://www.drivetest.ca/en/customercomments.aspx - broken link)

Exchanging a Reciprocal Licence

Applies to Drivers from the Following Jurisdictions:


Please Note:
Applicants requesting an exchange with a driver's licence issued by a Canadian or U.S. jurisdiction are now required to provide documentation to satisfy all three (3) identification requirements2. Driver licences issued by a Canadian or U.S. jurisdiction are only acceptable for signature purposes. However, a Canadian or U.S driver licence may still be presented as proof of driving experience and must be surrendered at time of application.
.
.
.Japanese Licences are not required to be surrendered.

[Cornerguy1]

Originally Posted by dougie86

Find out if your Massachusetts Driver License will be returned to you in due course. I see no reason why not.
Customer Comments and Enquiries (http://www.drivetest.ca/en/customercomments.aspx - broken link)

Ontario does require the licence from a US jurisdiction to be surrendered at the time one acquires an Ontario licence.

Students with a permanent residence outside Ontario are not required to obtain an Ontario licence or change their vehicle registration.

[tarp]

Be very careful, as you are treading on the edge so to speak. U.S. immigration law is very strict about when an LPR (lawful permanent resident) retains his status. If you stay outside of the U.S. for 180 days or more, you could lose your status as an LPR. Until you naturalize, you must return to the U.S. frequently to retain your LPR status. Also, there are specific rules on naturalization. By no means should you give up your current residence in Massachusetts. You also should not use someone else's address to naturalize, as that could possibly be perceived as fraud. This is not legal advice, and you would do well to hire a U.S. immigration lawyer to assist you.

[minibrings]

You have to surrender your Mass DL. Do you want your American citizenship?
Did you notify the INS of your move? Because if you claim to be living in Mass, but you're not, I'm not sure how this will impact your application for citizenship. Easiest would be to delay grad school in Toronto until after you get your citizenship or contact an immigration attorney.

Originally Posted by ordinary_needs

Hi everyone, I would like to share my situation over here and hope somebody can help me out

I am originated from Hong Kong and I hold a Hong Kong passport. I immigrated to the US on 2006 and

I just moved to Toronto for school. While I was living in US, I landed in California and moved to

Boston last year and currently I am a resident of Massachusetts and my driver license was already

switched to a Massachusetts one instead of the California one. The Mass ID(Driver license) will

expire in 2015. I have no relatives in Massachusetts but I have friends over there, so I am thinking

maybe I can use their address for naturalization process. As I have a car, I considered to import

it to Canada and obtain insurance and driver license over there. However, if I wanna switch my

driving license to a Canadian one, I need to surrender the Massachusetts one, which I think the

point is I also surrendering my residency of Massachusetts. Once I surrender my Massachusetts

residency, I think I will have trouble to process my naturalization. Right now I am a US Green

Card holder and I have a student permit which last for 2 years for studying in Canada. I don't

know if I should remain everything same for my car( driving license/license plate) as a US one

or switch to Canadian because I need to file naturalization through mail recently. Thanks so much!!