When visiting Canada....

[Tithen 4]

We are trying to figure out exactly how to prepare our stuff for the border.

1 US citizen

1 Canadian Citizen with US perm residency.

When we cross into Canada, will Canada see me as someone returning home, or someone visiting the country? I know there is a duty free amount a Canadian on Vacation can bring back over... I'm just wondering if they'll consider that for me, or if they'll consider me like my husband who's pretty much restricted to gifts and personal use.

We leave in just over two weeks and I need to start getting paper work and such in order and want to make sure I'm declaring the right things!

[SapphireDreams 71]

You are visiting, exactly the same as your husband, the US citizen. You follow all the guidelines of a visitor to Canada.

Residents of Canada have different allowances, but they don't count for you since you are a resident of the US.

[Tithen 4]

That's what I thought.

Course my friend who was a resident down here while her husband was stationed in WA had something different to say.. but they ALWAYS flew, so she wasn't lugging tonnes of stuff back. I've got gifts galore to pack into my car. I need to go find a cheap pack of birthday cards. LOL

adding*

Are we each allowed a $60 limit in gifts per person.. or will they combine them as we're travelling together? I've maxed out on a gift for my little cousin, just wondering if DH is allowed to take her his own gift too.

Edited July 14, 2012 by Tithen

[Kathryn41 3,205]

That's what I thought.

Course my friend who was a resident down here while her husband was stationed in WA had something different to say.. but they ALWAYS flew, so she wasn't lugging tonnes of stuff back. I've got gifts galore to pack into my car. I need to go find a cheap pack of birthday cards. LOL

adding*

Are we each allowed a $60 limit in gifts per person.. or will they combine them as we're travelling together? I've maxed out on a gift for my little cousin, just wondering if DH is allowed to take her his own gift too.

It is per person. Your husband can use his allowance to bring gifts into Canada as well. He would include 'his' gifts on his declaration statement and you would include yours on your declaration statement.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I was so worried last Christmas when I brought a boat load of stuff (I mean gifts for 6 family member plus a used computer for my dad plus random other stuff, spoiled my 2 nieces rotten) I can't remember the specific wording of the border guy's question but we just replied that we were bringing gifts and he barely blinked an eye, he may have asked whether any were individually worth more then...something like $400 and our answer was no.

Good luck, I'm sure all will be fine.

[Tithen 4]

Thanks folks! We have so much to bring it makes my head hurt to think how we're going to fit it all in the new car. LOL. We went from a mini van to a station wagon. oops. Least it still tows.

I'm starting to get so flipping excited. I haven't been home since April 17th 2011 (so really the day before since I had a five am flight)... And they think we're getting in a full day later than we really are. LOL. Gotta surprise them some how right?

[darkchilde794 5]

Last June, we drove up to Toronto for my brother's graduation. We bought him an Asus tablet that was about 500 bucks. My husband told the border patrol person that it was a gift for his graduation, declared the amount and I was SURE we would have to pay taxes. But the guy just waved us through. While I think it's important to be honest and follow the gift guidelines at all times, I also think that enforcing the guidelines greatly depends on the CBP officer you talk to

[Flames9_RN 358]

Last June, we drove up to Toronto for my brother's graduation. We bought him an Asus tablet that was about 500 bucks. My husband told the border patrol person that it was a gift for his graduation, declared the amount and I was SURE we would have to pay taxes. But the guy just waved us through. While I think it's important to be honest and follow the gift guidelines at all times, I also think that enforcing the guidelines greatly depends on the CBP officer you talk to

Yeppers!!!! I came into Customs in Saskatoon---I was over my Rum limit and told the POE officer--said my friends were too cheap to visit me in Nicaragua,lol He didnt charge me duty!! Officer 1 over---he sent a guy to the cashier to pay for his over the alcohol limit,lol

[Stuart and Thea 95]

When I was a kid, some friends and I drove across the border to shop an picked up cheap booze and smokes. At the border when they asked if we had anything to declare, we said, a case of beer and a carton of smokes and a pair of shoes. (all I found) The officer laughed and said because we were only across for a couple hours, it wasn't enough to import them, but let us go through anyway with a don't do it again! I think he had felt bad for us, because we ran out of gas in line, and had to push the car through, and then hitchhike to get some gas. We ended up going from the Rainbow Bridge to St Catherines with a truck driver and having to cab it back to fill up. (I had told the driver before we hit the ramp to make sure to fill up on the US side, but he was too stupid to realize the US side was before we went through customs)

[Tithen 4]

LOL well this is my first trip back across the border since I crossed in 2011, I just want it to go as smoothly as possible. It's been a rough summer for us, so we just want to try and avoid as many hiccups as possible. But of course, the gifts just keep piling up. Gifts for my two little cousins, a friends THREE kids... oi. lol. So far everyone's under the limit of $60 per gift.. but now we're running out of room in the car! lol.

I figure we'll find hiccups on the way back, since I'll be moving my belongings with us. We leave Wisconsin a week from today, expecting it to take 2.5-3 days to get there... I'm quite excited!!!!!!!

[Tithen 4]

Well change of plans. the money didn't fall into place.. so I don't get to go home. again. for another year. I hate this. between the rip off lawyer, and the gov't that doesn't want to pay out the unemployment we're owed I don't get to go home again.

Instead I get to spend hundreds shipping gifts that we were driving over.