weird topic but: bringing christmas gifts to canada

[Shanny 0]

hi everyone,

i have a weird little question:

will i be able to bring wrapped christmas gifts into canada when driving from the USA?

i want to wrap all the gifts for my friends and family before we get there, but will there be a problem with that at the border?

just wondering if anyone can share their experiences.

have you ever been asked to unwrap gifts so they can see what is inside?

because that would be a huge pain in the #######.

i hope i'm not wasting my time by wrapping all these things.

[riblet 0]

The rule is not to, and I seem to recall someone in my family having to open gifts at the border once. It's really a calculated risk though, I'm personally not wrapping anything.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Years ago when I was taking Christmas gifts to a friend in the US I did bring across the wrapped gifts along with a completely detailed list of what each gift was and who it was for. This was at a land border crossing. The guard went through the list, told me that I shouldn't have wrapped them in case he wanted to see them, but allowed me to cross without his unwrapping the gifts to check. It will be the same situation for going into Canada. If you are flying, instructions on airline pages actually state to bring any gifts unwrapped as if they are wrapped, they will be unwrapped at security. I would plan on wrapping them after you get to Canada. Or - you could do what I have done in the past and did this time - I mailed them off ahead of time - wrapped but with a complete list attached for customs. All of the packages have arrived with gift wrapping intact, although it is always a risk that customs will open and check.

[Jersey Girl 2]

Leave them unwrapped and throw them into gift bags with tissue when you get there. They'll look nice.

[Reba 2]

I never wrap them ahead of time. I just go and lock myself in a bedroom after I arrive so I can wrap them without anyone bothering me.

This year I wrapped them Sunday morning and everyone was tearing into them Sunday afternoon. But it was awesome to see my nephew's face light up with he opened up his Mack truck from Cars

[Carlawarla 1]

I've crossed the border twice now with Christmas gifts. Once they were wrapped (bad idea...) the other time, not wrapped. A couple of people here have the idea (which I did the second time!) Don't wrap anything, bring gift bags, tissue, or flat wrapping paper, and do it when you arrive where you're going. There is no concern from Customs when you do this, and you'll save yourself a lot of wasted time as they go through them if they want, or have to.

Carla

[cmartyn 0]

I order all the ####### I need online and ship it to my Moms house. She wraps it up for me. Thatway I just have to bring my mom's gift which is normally a 30 year old bottle of Scotch

[neiks 19]

If you wrap them, Customs may unwrap them. Gifts up to$60 CAD are duty and tax free any gift more expensive may have to pay duty and tax on the overage. $60 is per gift.

[Emancipation 2]

So what about coming back to the US? What does my fiancée (US citizen) have to do with all the loot he is bringing back with him from Canada this year? I assume it's just have an inventory on hand of everything he's acquired as well as a dollar amount (guesstamite) and keep it under his $$ amount allowable for the days he's here for the holiday. Thoughts?

Edited December 11, 2006 by Emancipation

[pj1959us 0]

Leave them unwrapped and throw them into gift bags with tissue when you get there. They'll look nice.

That's what I did when I went to England for Christmas. The bags and tissue didn't take up much room since they could be packed flat and I put the presents in them after I arrived. Worked a treat!

[Reba 2]

So what about coming back to the US? What does my fiancée (US citizen) have to do with all the loot he is bringing back with him from Canada this year? I assume it's just have an inventory on hand of everything he's acquired as well as a dollar amount (guesstamite) and keep it under his $$ amount allowable for the days he's here for the holiday. Thoughts?

I just got home with my holiday loot and all I did was write it on the customs declaration card that you fill out at the airport. As a US resident returning, you're allowed up to $800 er summat. All I had was not even $200 I don't think. There's room on the card to write all that in. Plus I marked "YES" for bringing food back. The guy asked me what kind of food, I said "all kinds of chocolate!" He waived me thru.

[Marilyn. 340]

I am waiting for hubby to bring home a box from work so I can mail off my Christmas package to Canada... He did bring one home last week but it was too small .....

I highly doubt it is going to get there before Christmas now... but that is ok the kids like it because it is almost like having a 2nd Christmas when a package arrives after Christmas....

Edited December 11, 2006 by MarilynP

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am waiting for hubby to bring home a box from work so I can mail off my Christmas package to Canada... He did bring one home last week but it was too small .....

I highly doubt it is going to get there before Christmas now... but that is ok the kids like it because it is almost like having a 2nd Christmas when a package arrives after Christmas....

They may still get there in time. I ended up shipping ours off late last week by priority mail (it was the middle price of the three) and they assured me they would take 4 to 7 days since they go airmail. Sending parcel post was 4 weeks although it would probably be faster but no guarantee that method would get them there for Christmas. Keep your fingers crossed:-).

[Marilyn. 340]

I am waiting for hubby to bring home a box from work so I can mail off my Christmas package to Canada... He did bring one home last week but it was too small .....

I highly doubt it is going to get there before Christmas now... but that is ok the kids like it because it is almost like having a 2nd Christmas when a package arrives after Christmas....

They may still get there in time. I ended up shipping ours off late last week by priority mail (it was the middle price of the three) and they assured me they would take 4 to 7 days since they go airmail. Sending parcel post was 4 weeks although it would probably be faster but no guarantee that method would get them there for Christmas. Keep your fingers crossed:-).

well, I have a box now..... hopefully we will get the box mailed off tomorrow....

[Buttons 0]

I just brought a trunk load full, was asked and said gifts for family for christmas.