Some things I learned while importing my Stemme from Mexico:

1. A US licensed pilot may fly a foreign registered aircraft in US
airspace (though saying "Five Juliet" is much easier than saying "Xray
Bravo Mike India Golf" on the radio).

2. I was required to pay a bond to US Customs to get clearance into the
US (even though, under the Customs regulations, there is no duty on
importing civil aircraft). That was an unexpected and onerous expense.

3. Local Customs agents at Laredo, Tucson, and Albuquerque did not know
how to handle importing a civil aircraft and so a Customs broker
(another fee) was required.

4. Reserving an N-number cost $5.00, IIRC, but took about 6 weeks of
waiting. Even after finding my desired number available, the FAA does
not know if they have another request for the same number ahead in the
queue, and so you'll have to wait until your number is awarded before
buying vinyl stick-ons.

5. The FAA would not accept electronic communications from Mexico. All
documentation had to be in hard copy (which took extra time). I was
told this was for Mexico only and other countries may be acceptable to
the FAA. YMMV.

6. Hire one of the documentation companies in Oklahoma City who will
walk your paperwork through the bowels of the FAA in a day rather than
waiting weeks for your paperwork to filter down through the system.
IIRC, that cost about $150 and was ever so worth it.

7. The sellers of the aircraft (a corporation) were anxious to remove
the aircraft from the Mexican registry and demanded I remove the XB
number while I was still enroute home, effectively grounding the
aircraft until my N-number was issued and DAR inspection were completed.

8. DAR inspection and Standard Airworthiness Certificate was quick (if
planned ahead) and expensive ($800 + travel expenses).

Other than the the above, the whole process was a breeze. My advice is
to contact an A&P/IA, a DAR, and a Customs broker well in advance and
have all parties ready to act when you get ready to import an aircraft.

Good Luck!

On 2/4/2017 7:07 AM, wrote:
On the US side of things, you will need an N number. Reserve one right away, this can take some time to be assigned after the ship is de-registered in Canada. Then put it on the bird, 3" vinel is a good way to go. Armed with an N number, you can apply for US Registration. The ship will need an airworthiness inspection which may require a DAR (these guys don't work cheep)....... I went Experimental with an A&P inspection, then requested an airworthiness certificate from our local FSDO. All in all, not a big issue, but it may take some time to get everything accomplished.
JJ

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Dan, 5J