Declaring at Customs before crossing

[wee-haggis]

I think I read on a previous thread you could declare your property before crossing over to the U.S. so that on returning to Canada your goods would not be mistaken as new purchases. We will be taking a somewhat new video camera, digital camera and two PSP's so we do not want to be charged duty on things we did not purchase in the States. Anyone have any info on this?
We do not have the receipts for them anymore so cannot take them with us.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

Hi. Here's some info I found on the Canada Customs site:

www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5056-eng.html#P002

Protecting your valuables

Before travelling outside Canada with valuable items, you may wish to take advantage of a free identification service that is available at all CBSA offices. This service is available for items that have serial numbers or other unique markings. For items that do not have such markings, the CBSA can apply a sticker to them so they can be identified for customs purposes as goods legally in Canada.

When you show your valuables to the border services officer and state that you acquired them in Canada or lawfully imported them, the officer will list your valuables and their serial numbers on a wallet-sized card called a Form Y38, Identification of Articles for Temporary Exportation. If you are questioned about your goods when you return to Canada, show your card to the border services officer. This will help identify the valuables that were in your possession before leaving the country.

hope it helps..

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

Thanks - this never occured to me - I am taking a new top of the line video cam with me, psp, ds, laptop - yikes - we could have been in trouble!

 

[wee-haggis]

Thanks, Best Vacation Ever that was very helpful information.

 

[tiggerrr]

I think I read on a previous thread you could declare your property before crossing over to the U.S. so that on returning to Canada your goods would not be mistaken as new purchases. We will be taking a somewhat new video camera, digital camera and two PSP's so we do not want to be charged duty on things we did not purchase in the States. Anyone have any info on this?
We do not have the receipts for them anymore so cannot take them with us.

I've actually done this personally, and it goes just like the info Best_Vacation_Ever posted. I did it just before leaving for the US from the airport. I went to the Canada Customs Office in the airport and showed my laptop and camera. The officer recorded the serial numbers and the model on a green wallet-sized card and stamped it. It took about 3 minutes. They must do a lot of them, because he actually took a blank card out before I even told him why I was there.

I just keep mine tucked into my passport, so that it is always with me. And wouldn't you know it, I got pulled aside for a secondary inspection on my return to Canada last month, and there was no problem, no questions asked on my stuff.

 

[tiggerrr]

Duplicate

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I did this as well, and I kept the card in my camera bag all the time. I wanted to add that the card is not just for the one trip, in case you were unsure. (Although since tiggerrr mentioned keeping his/hers with the passport, you probably weren't!)

I don't believe you can add new items to the card, you would need to get a new card done up if you bought anything new before your next trip.