BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, We are renting a house in Florida and want to fly down. Can we purchase a car, register it in Florida and leave it there for six months each year? Henry Laurence Bracebridge, ON Ed.: Yes, we have done that three times over the years. Dear Bird Talk, We own a home in Florida and have decided to sell. We have to go down one more time to remove personal property. We know that we can fly down, but what steps can we take to make our return to Canada as smooth as possible? Patricia Colley Woodstock, ON Ed.: Make a detailed list of the things you are bringing back and send it to the border crossing where you will cross back into Canada. Tell them approximately when you will be there and keep a copy with you. Make sure that they are aware that you are closing your U.S. home and bringing back your personal things. There should be no problem and you should not declare anything unless you bought it on this recent trip. Dear Bird Talk, I am hearing conflicting information about Form 8840 for 2020. Is the one-time policy change allowing snowbirds to exclude the days spent in the U.S. from Feb. 1-April 1 up to 60 days for purposes of the substantial presence test, applicable to those who file an 8840? How will that be calculated on the 2020 form? Sheryl Whyte Calgary, AB Ed.: Just calculate your days in the normal way. If there comes a time when the IRS wants to speak to you (which is highly doubtful), that is when to deal with the exception policy change. Dear Bird Talk, We have heard that if we snowbirds have a residence address in the U.S., we would be exempted from the travel restriction currently in place. I have been told this anecdotally by someone who has gone to Palm Springs with the current restrictions in place. Can you comment? Helen Guenette St. Albert, AB Ed.: My guess is that they flew to Palm Springs, as this is allowed. Owning a U.S. residence is not considered to be “essential travel,” and you will therefore be denied entry if crossing in a vehicle. Dear Bird Talk, When we come back from the U.S., if I have two COVID-19 tests – the first on day one of getting back and another on day seven − and both are negative, why would I be required to continue to be quarantined? If I amnegative and in quarantine, howwould I catch or pass on COVID-19, so the extra seven days is a waste of time? Do you know of upcoming changes? Don Moroz Edmonton, AB Ed.: The 14-day quarantine is still required. There have been rumblings in some government circles that they are considering reducing the quarantine period, but I suspect that it will only be reduced to 10 days, if at all. Dear Bird Talk, We keep hearing more and more rumours that even if you’re flying to your destination in the U.S. and staying in your owned or rented residence for an extended period, U.S. Immigration and Border Security doesn’t consider this an essential service and have been prohibiting entry. Another rumour is that Border Security has been showing up at your residence and asking you to return to Canada. Is this the case? Thank you. Paul Grimes Arcola, SK Ed.: We have never had anything like this happen before, so I doubt that it is true. There are far too many rumours out there and most are not true. Dear Bird Talk, It was reported over a month ago that CSA is working on having the U.S. allow those of us who own or rent a home in theU.S. to enter as “essential travellers” via land border crossing. However, today’s notification of temporary travel restrictions up to November 21, 2020 published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) still does not include such travel in the definition of “essential travel.” This is a real concern for those of us who, for whatever reason, do not have the option of airline travel. I am sure that many of us who own our homes in the U.S. feel a real need to travel, even just to check up on our homes. It would be much appreciated to hear an update on CSA’s communications with DHS in this regard. John Potter Milton Station, PE Ed.: CSA has had many discussions with DHS and the INS in an attempt to get an exclusion to the no-travel ban for automobiles and RVs without any success. Their standard answer is “No, but we are reviewing it.” At the time of writing, the non-essential travel ban has been extended to December 21, 2020, and we believe that it will be extended again. We understand that the Canadian Federal Government has appointed a “commission” to look into lifting the bans and that they will work with the U.S. Government on rules to allow the reopening of the border. The commission is led by Jean Charest and they should have a report by next March. This, to me, means that the border is shut to vehicle traffic until then. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
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