Vehicle in US for more than 12 months
 

I'm sure there must be people who have done this.
How did you get around the 12 month temp import thing? I am going home for about six months and I think my only option may be to take my bike out of the States and leave it in Mexico. Mainly because I am due to fly home from LA and the mexican border is a lot closer than the Canadian one.
The Mexican HU community has been helpful, I just wanted to check if anyone else has done this or something similar?
I know many people have entered US via a land border and so did not get the same kind of paperwork that I have as I shipped Thelma (my bike) in.
Any ideas/advice/suggestions??
cheers

If you take it into Mexico, make sure you send the "export" papers to be notified of its exit status.

On re-entry, I'd say it is pot luck.

My wife and I crossed from Canada a month ago and the border guard was not interested in ny of the bike paper work (EPA approval etc) I had.

In fact, the bike would appear to have not actually entered the US, so in theory I could leave without it.

So, as I say, pot luck in my experience.

HI Bruce
thanks for the words of advice, I think you may find that actually US Customs (and Canada) input the vehicle number plate on their computers every time you cross into the country- it can be done subtly, but it was definitely done the four times I came back into the US as I criss-crossed along the border.

I'll look into getting the paperwork properly exited whan I leave the States - I've done it twice into Mexico with bikes in the past and each time it is very difficult to find anyone interested in people EXITING the US, obviously a totally different story for those coming in.
Meanwhile if there is anyone else out there who has tried keeping a vehicle in N America for more than 12 months I'd be interested in how you did it.
Tiffany

It would not surprise me if the bikes are on a computer somewhere :-)

I've forwarded the thread to a mate who has recently moved to the SF area from the UK, I'm sure he took some of his bikes with him.

A reply from my friend suggests there is no way around the 12 month rule as they are tightening up, but EPA etc is lighter if over 25 years.

I also notice you are not far behind us, we are in San Antonio at the moment and pondering which Mexico border to take, currently looking at Presidio after a ride via Fredericksburg and Alpine/Marfa.