How to bring engagement ring to U.S.

[manning]

deleted posted too soon was in process of writing.

 

[manning]

The items need not be purchased in Canada, it can be something you brought in. This also applies in the United States. What customs is looking for is revenue (duty). Anything foreign made and brought into the country is subject to duty. Duty only has to be paid once. However if you take it out of the country and return with it you have to be in the position to prove duty has already been paid. The way to do this is to register it before you leave to prove you left with it.

If you never registered it and you brought it back any number of times, you are liable for duty. That is why you see items stamped made in (country named).

Every piece of camera equiptment I take out of the country is registered. I learned my lesson years ago when everything except a Kodak camera was registered. I said hey that's a Kodak. All he did was point to the made in country and said it was foreign made.

 

[manning]

If you are bring any jewelry into the country and wearing it.... throw away the boxes!!!

I use to do custom work for the company. I happened to be at customs one and heard a group of agents talking about a woman who was a little short on brains.

She was wearing what looked like more jewelry than the norm. The agent really didn't give a thought figuring she looked like she was rich and wore that much jewelry. However something in the back of his mind said take a look at her bags. These agents are uncanny and a lot of it is done by instinct. He had her open up the bags and sure enough there are all of these empty jewelry boxes. She not only got the honor to pay the duty AND the penalty. The lucky part for her he had the right to confiscate them but didn't.

By the way here is something to remember if you are trying to sneak something in. If asked to open your bag tell them to give back the declaration papers you forgot to declare something. This has to be done before they see the item.