Anyone had Canada Customs probs?

[Amberle3]

As far as I know it does. What they're primarily concerned with is the value of the goods purchased outside Canada. You get your allowed exemption, and then there's a special duty rate for a certain amount of overage, I think the first $300. It's been a while since I've been that much over my limit!

After that amount then the regular duty rates apply, and that's when they'll start looking at what the items are and where they were made.

Of course (not that I think you'd be doing this) but any illegal items are still illegal even if you're under your exemption. This includes ivory, some things made of certain animal skins etc.

There are a number of publications that the government puts out for travellers. The main website for the consular affairs is
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/consular_home-en.asp

A complete list of publications can be found at
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs_menu-en.asp

The publication of most interest to people here is Bon Voyage, But...

These publications are available in HTML or PDF format.

Now then, one of the reasons the government puts out these publications and makes them available online is so that when travellers come back and either bring stuff they shouldn't or try and get around the rules, customs officials can say "Hey, the information is out there, it's your responsbility to get the information before you travel".

It's also important to find out what your options are if you get in trouble in a foreign country, especially Mexico. Often times people get in trouble for seemingly innocent things - just remember that if someone strikes up a conversation and finds out that lo and behold you're from the same area as their aunt's friend's cousin and could you please take back this little trinket for them, or gosh we live there too but I'm way over my limit and I can't bring back another thing but gee I've just fallen in love with this little statue and could you bring it back and I'll get it from you at home to just say NO. NO in Mexico, NO on the cruise ship, NO at the airport. Drug traffickers use this ploy very often, and the various authorities don't care about the "I didn't know, it's not mine, someone asked me to bring it back for them" excuse.

Last time I was travelling with family (just in Minnesota) my aunt got friendly with someone who asked her to bring something back to Canada for "a friend". I couldn't believe it.

 

[minnie56]

Amberle...you've misunderstood me.

When I mentioned the 29% tax that is the tax that the Government adds to Jewellery items before they are sold to us here. Then we pay an additional 8% plus 7% GST/PST in addition to that. I merely mention that could be the catalyst to lead us to purchase such items elsewhere along with Electronics and such and subsequently 'smuggle' them into Canada.

As for the burden of proof issue....well, then that could also be said for clothing,make up and anything else we choose to travel with.Are we supposed to keep our receipts and provide same for absolutley everything we travel with?

I was charged 7%GST 8% PST and 10% excise tax on $1,200 of jewellery.Total.

It was the whole attitude that got me.By the way, I worked for a major airline for many years and I still don't think it's right.They are 'Legends in their own mind' I am afraid.

 

[Amberle3]

minnie56 - Yes! That's absolutely it! You've got it!

Technically YES you should have receipts for anything that you are bringing into the US and you'll be bringing back with you. Most time Customs doesn't really care. But step over the line with them and suddenly they care a lot. And I mean A LOT. Personally I wouldn't bother with receipts for average clothing and everyday items. Expensive items I'd definitely either have the receipts or register them. They will almost never both with valuing all of your stuff if you don't give them cause to believe that you're deceiving them.

This is why if you're taking a camera that's got any value to it and is relatively new you should be registering it before you go. You should do the same with any jewelry you're taking. Registering it is also handy in case it gets stolen while you're away.

And yes, frankly and honestly you should be afraid of them to some degree. Everyone should - a little afraid, a little respectful, a lot appreciative. These are the people that we trust to ensure our safety and security. That have been given the duty of keeping out terrorists, and smugglers, and drug dealers. Everyone has to go through the process. If you don't give them cause to suspect you then you're treated relatively well. Unless you have worked there you have absolutely NO IDEA what these people go through, and how sneaky and insipid some of these criminals can be. And yet these people are treated with scorn, contempt, and hatred. Most people don't even bother smiling at them. I haven't worked there, but I have dealt with these people every other month for the last 20 years.

What I can't understand is why people (in general) complain about their treatment by Customs. If Customs didn't go to these lengths and wasn't as thorough as they are then many more of the aforementioned smugglers etc would be coming into our country. And the treatment that we get from Canada Customs, and even from US Customs, is far better than some other countries.

If you felt you were treated badly by Customs, if you felt they were treating you like a criminal, well to some extent they were. Because you committed fraud. I've seen the jail cells they have at border crossings, believe me you'd be feeling much more like a criminal if you'd been in there, and they could easily have done that.

Every country imposes duties on imported items, some of those are very high. Some aren't. For the items that have little duty the various industries complain that it unfairly allows foreign goods into Canada for sale at lower-than-competitive prices.

You just can't have it both ways. We have liberties and freedoms in everyday life at the expense of minor inconveniences at the border from time to time. Not a big deal to me.

 

[SKFamily]

OK, Amberle3, help me stay out of trouble! or avoid problems anyway. I just skimmed through your last post, but my mind is reeling with mortgage information and I've been in serious pain for two days, so bear with me, please?

We just bought a digital camera at Easter... does that have to be registered, or are we okay if I have the receipt on hand? I'll skip wearing my good earrings and avoid that issue, much to dh's chagrin. They should probably be left at home anyway just for safety sake. Or... are we better off to register all jewelry including watches, one of which is probably 10 years old, same with the only other pair of earrings I would wear on a trip (because I can handle wearing them for extended periods - no other reason)

I'll go back and read through some of your previous posts about registering things later - after my massage appointment when hopefully I can think a little clearer.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Originally posted by Amberle3
Last time I was travelling with family (just in Minnesota) my aunt got friendly with someone who asked her to bring something back to Canada for "a friend". I couldn't believe it.

I've never had that happen to me but I can only imagine the kind of trouble one could get into... yikes!

When I mentioned the 29% tax that is the tax that the Government adds to Jewellery items before they are sold to us here. Then we pay an additional 8% plus 7% GST/PST in addition to that. I merely mention that could be the catalyst to lead us to purchase such items elsewhere along with Electronics and such and subsequently 'smuggle' them into Canada.

What!?! That would explain a couple of things ... A friend on mine has always wondered why jewellery at Tiffany's is so much more expensive here than it is in the US.

 

[Amberle3]

SKFamily:

If you have the receipts then you shouldn't need to register it. Although registering is handy in case you lose the receipts, it's not technically necessary if you have the receipts.

Good jewelry is always iffy - it's nice to have with you, OTOH it presents a darn fine target for thieves.

Older items that are obviously older and used and not very valuable (in jewelry terms) I wouldn't bother with registering.

In all honesty you are extremely unlikely to encounter any difficulty with either US or Canada Customs if you have all your paperwork filled out and all your ducks in a row (so to speak). Be pleasant, answer their questions, and above all be honest and you should be fine.

I would register the expensive items that you don't have receipts for. As mentioned it's also handy in case they're lost or stolen. I'd be tempted to register very expensive items even if you do have the receipts just in case your the item and the receipts are lost.

Oh, and for air travel above all remember to pack expensive items in your carryon instead of in your checked luggage (unless it's an expensive item that isn't allowed on the airplane).

 

[OntFamily]

It should be mentioned that registering your items with Customs is a very painless exercise. Simply bring your items into the nearest Customs office (it does not have to be done when you leave the country -- if you have an office in your home town, bring the goods into that office). The customs agent will write down on a form the name of the object, brand name, and serial number. They'll then place an official stamp on the form, and give you the form to keep. Presto, you're ready to go!


It is the easiest way to prove you have the items before you leave.

 

[SKFamily]

Nope, no customs office anywhere near handy. (Regina? would be the closest place, a little over an hour away) So I guess we'll either do it there when we go pick up our travel package, or go to the airport earlier the day we fly out.

 

[ljane1]

Hi Everyone,
We did have customs problems a couple of years ago so what we did the last time we were there (last Christmas) was mail our items home. Yes it cost a bit (not that much though) and we just marked them as "Gifts" with a low value. It worked..........All 4 boxes arrived (We shopped quite a bit) 2 after we got home but all arrived.

 

[dsneygirl]

Originally posted by ljane1
Hi Everyone,
We did have customs problems a couple of years ago so what we did the last time we were there (last Christmas) was mail our items home. Yes it cost a bit (not that much though) and we just marked them as "Gifts" with a low value. It worked..........All 4 boxes arrived (We shopped quite a bit) 2 after we got home but all arrived.

I'm not sure if you know but do have to declare all goods which are not accompanying you with your original declaration. I wouldn't want anyone to get misinformation.
From the cbsa website

"You can claim up to CAN$750 worth of goods without paying any duties. With the exception of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive."
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4044/rc4044-e.html#P284_19912

And keep in mind all international mail goes through a Canada Customs postal centre and can be opened if they believe there is reason.

 

[jjohns]

We came back from Orlando via Buffalo on May 24 - here was our experience...

Totally painless. So much so that the border crossing was a joke.

The customs officer asked what our citizenship was and where we lived. Value of goods coming back with us. Then... move on!

Not once did he want to see any actual *proof* of our citizenship or residence - like a birth certificate, driver's license, or passport. Nor any proof of the value of the goods. Whole thing took 45 seconds, if that.

To answer the question earlier about why do people seem to hate customs officers so much... I think two reasons:

1) Unpredictability
2) God complex (already mentioned, and related to point 1)

IMHO, if there was some type of consistency with the customs experience, it would be better for everyone - the traveller and the customs officer. But, sometimes (like our last trip), you breeze through with no apparent requirement for proof of anything and other times its the Spanish Inquisition.

My two cents, anyway...

PS: While I happy our border crossing was quick and uneventful, I must say that that particular officer wasn't doing *much* of a job about protecting Canada's border, security or economy... Without even swiping our passports to check for something simple like a stolen one, I (as a citizen, now) don't feel very 'protected'!

 

[robsawatsky]

"PS: While I happy our border crossing was quick and uneventful, I must say that that particular officer wasn't doing *much* of a job about protecting Canada's border, security or economy... Without even swiping our passports to check for something simple like a stolen one, I (as a citizen, now) don't feel very 'protected'!"

IMHO, the judgement on the effectiveness of the border security should not be based upon "feeling". What the Officer did was exercise trained judgement, much better and efficient than the mass screening done at airports. To do more without any suspicion that something is amiss would create more massive border tie-ups than already exist.