Boarder Crossing

[Googled]

Maybe this would have been better for the niagara section....but i thought i'd give it a try here first.

With the canadian dollar doing so well against the US it's very attractive to go out and shop in buffalo, maybe the walden galleria. How well do US customs and canadian customs communicate? Can i tell the US boarder guys i'm going to be shopping in the US for a couple of days then come back to canada a few hours later? do they monitor drivers licenses, plates and stuff like that? Same question for duty free.

 

[YellowDog]

First of all the word is border. Boarder is the guy who paid rent to live at your house and fucked your sister when nobody was home.

There is minimal contact between Canada and US Customs except when it comes to drugs or criminal activity. US Customs wants you to enter the US and spend every cent you have. You can tell the US guys the truth about your length of stay and it wont get back to the Canadians.

Heres the rub, if you are trying to claim an exemption because of length of stay you better have some evidence to back it up such as appropriate luggage (lots of people take down empty suitcases & fill them up with new clothes - tags removed) or dated receipts. Because I live reasonably close to the border I will drive down and buy gas and a few small items. When I go down again I will take the small items and the receipts, buy the big ticket Item and tell Canada Customs that I bought the small stuff at the begining of my trip and finally decided to buy the big ticket item at the end of my trip.

What I like to do when smuggling stuff back is cross on a Sunday after a Bills game and say I was at the game. (Listen to the radio to hear the score.) I also like to cross at Rainbow Bridge and tell them I was trying out the US Casino and have nothing to declare.

So far its worked.

 

[tboy]

Well, first off, Canada Customs KNOWS when you cross the border in your car.....time, date, where you crossed, everything. So if you think you're fooling them, uh uh, nope.

As for filling your suitcase up with clothes and removing the sales tags, you'd better remove the "manufactured in" tags as well. FYI: if you bring a suitcase full of clothes back with no tags whatsoever plan on paying duties and at least taxes on the estimated value of all of them. Even tho if the clothes were made in the US, (nafta) you will have to pay tax on them. You'll probably get hit with "making a false declaration" fine as well.

If you have any type of criminal conviction in Canada forget about them letting you in. I'm not sure at what level they ban you but something like DUI WILL keep you out. And yes, US Immigration will know about it.

In addition, if you buy anything at the Duty Free shop going into the US, that data is also reported back to Canada Customs. That's why they ask you for your Licence Plate Number. So when you come back in the Canada Customs agent will ask you about that 26er of Rye you bought 4 hrs ago. Now you could lie, and say you gave it to your US friend as a gift, but I bet they'll ask for that friend's name address and phone number.

BTW: Now that the Cdn dollar is back up, we're getting back into the cross border shopping thing again. About 15 yrs ago the dollar was strong and every friday night, the border was packed with Canucks going south, and sunday night with them coming back. So if you think you're fooling the customs agent with "I went to the aquarium for 8 hours" and have nothing to declare, I give you 50/50 odds that you'll get a secondary inspection. NOw a lot of it depends on their impression of you. Say a family with 2 teen girls, mom and dad in a mini van, only over the border for 8 hrs, then they KNOW you've probably done some shopping and if you say "i have nothing to declare" then start emptying out the mini van cuz they're going to look EVERYWHERE. BTW: wearing the new clothes doesn't work either, they'll check the tags.

 

[YellowDog]

Well, first off, Canada Customs KNOWS when you cross the border in your car.....time, date, where you crossed, everything. So if you think you're fooling them, uh uh, nope.

As for filling your suitcase up with clothes and removing the sales tags, you'd better remove the "manufactured in" tags as well. FYI: if you bring a suitcase full of clothes back with no tags whatsoever plan on paying duties and at least taxes on the estimated value of all of them. Even tho if the clothes were made in the US, (nafta) you will have to pay tax on them. You'll probably get hit with "making a false declaration" fine as well.

If you have any type of criminal conviction in Canada forget about them letting you in. I'm not sure at what level they ban you but something like DUI WILL keep you out. And yes, US Immigration will know about it.

In addition, if you buy anything at the Duty Free shop going into the US, that data is also reported back to Canada Customs. That's why they ask you for your Licence Plate Number.

1. They know the time and dates you entered into Canada before, but not when you left Canada driving to the US.
2. Most of the clothes you buy in the US are made in the far east, just like in Canada.
3. While Canada prohibits US residents with DUI's from entering the Country, the same is not true for the US. The US prohibits those found guilty of a felony, and only those with drug felonys can't eventually get a waiver. US Immigration will not know about your convictions unless you get sent inside for a secondary and your name is run on that computer.
4. I have never given a correct licence plate number to the duty free clerks. Gave them made up numbers at first because I couldn't remember mine, now I give them fake ones just on principle. Never had a problem, buy cigs at the duty free weekly for the past 10 years.

 

[DistantVoyeur]

1. They know the time and dates you entered into Canada before, but not when you left Canada driving to the US.
2. Most of the clothes you buy in the US are made in the far east, just like in Canada.
3. While Canada prohibits US residents with DUI's from entering the Country, the same is not true for the US. The US prohibits those found guilty of a felony, and only those with drug felonys can't eventually get a waiver. US Immigration will not know about your convictions unless you get sent inside for a secondary and your name is run on that computer.
4. I have never given a correct licence plate number to the duty free clerks. Gave them made up numbers at first because I couldn't remember mine, now I give them fake ones just on principle. Never had a problem, buy cigs at the duty free weekly for the past 10 years.

1. They used to not communicate, that changed after 9/11. They can get the data easily, but it is not instantaneous. Just a computer search away.
2. Canadian labels are bilingual, American are english only.
3. True, I believe. Know the drug one through a friend for sure.
4. Gambling, but what the hell. Get busted once and you'll get the old cavity search every time after.

 

[toronto04]

I just did this last saturday. The Canadian customs guy didn't even look at my passport. Only asked me two questions, value of goods being brought back and any alcohol or tobacco. Answred around $60 (actuall value was way more) and no. Waved right thru. Total time with the customs guy, maybe 30 secs.

 

[DistantVoyeur]

In my experience, it is generally this way. You get an asshole once in a blue moon, but sometimes the wheels barely stop turning. If you have about $100 worth of stuff, you're good to go. No smokes, no booze, no care.

 

[Never Compromised]

Canada Customs regularly sends agents into the boarder areas to scout out Canadian plates and enter them into a computer. The CCRA agents typically hit the discount/factory outlet malls. You come back, say you were at Honey's for the wings and they pull you over. Surprise!

Oh, and if you are going to try to bring stuff back, don't pay by interac or cc. That leaves a paper trail that can be accessed. I know at least one person that was charged 6 weeks after they came back to Canada because of CC records.

Once you are in the system, you had better remember to bring the lube everytime you cross.

 

[YellowDog]

There are a lot of myths about Customs that Customs promotes because it makes their jobs easier. I see many of them repeated in this thread.
As far as the regular traveler goes there is no communication between Canadian Customs and US Customs, even after 9/11. Their computer systems are not compatible. The US system will check CPIC and the Canadian system xan check NCIC (both criminal wants and records systems) but neither can access the others lookout database.

Strip searches are only done when there is an articulable suspicion (like a bulge where there shouldn't be one.) Previous violations don't constitute that suspicion.

What I have found is that everybody's friend has a customs story, and they are 99% bullshit.

 

[YellowDog]

Canada Customs regularly sends agents into the boarder areas to scout out Canadian plates and enter them into a computer. The CCRA agents typically hit the discount/factory outlet malls. You come back, say you were at Honey's for the wings and they pull you over. Surprise!

Honeys is at the factory outlet mall. I often eat there when I am buying things to smuggle back.

 

[papasmerf]

In the past years co-operation between the two agencies has improved. Bring your receipts and enjoy. There is no crime in not staying but you might want to stay and enjoy.

 

[tboy]

As for the two agencies systems being incompatible, that's a load of crap. On more than one occasion they knew exactly the time and date when I left Canada and once I went across at Niagra Falls and came back via Lewiston and they asked me why. I can see it not being instantaneous in many places but it certainly is at Windsor. I once had some stuff for a trade show with me and the US guys said I'd have to drive back over to Canada, turn around and then take the Commercial Traffic exit just before the regular traffic islands. When I went across the bridge the Canada Customs agent asked me why I was only across for 20 minutes....

Stop and think for a second: if the US Justice system reports tickets to Ontario Drivers to the DOT, why wouldn't the customs agency?

 

[Never Compromised]

There are a lot of myths about Customs that Customs promotes because it makes their jobs easier. I see many of them repeated in this thread.

Strip searches are only done when there is an articulable suspicion (like a bulge where there shouldn't be one.) Previous violations don't constitute that suspicion.

What I have found is that everybody's friend has a customs story, and they are 99% bullshit.

I have lots of stories about customs on both sides of the border. I went to McMaster, and at least 3 times a semester we found ourselves drinking in Buffalo or doing wings at Honey's or steak at Pete's. I've been crossing on average 6 times a year for over 25 years now. Bills games, Sabres games, Honey's, The Anchor Bar, The Tudor Lounge (now departed).

Once caught smuggling stuff back into Canada, you are on a list. We went over in someone's parent's car and brought back too much booze and were caught. The parents never understood why everytime that car came back to Canada, it was searched.

As for strip searches, they are unusual. But there is no need for a warrant, and if a CCRA agent is in a bitchy mood, you better hope the lube is warm.

 

[onthebottom]

Stuff is cheaper in the US than Canada? Why is that.

OTB

 

[papasmerf]

Stuff is cheaper in the US than Canada? Why is that.

OTB

We are worth it

 

[tboy]

Stuff is cheaper in the US than Canada? Why is that.

OTB

Cuz we gotta support all the freeloaders on welfare and EI....oh yeah, and give free healthcare to everyone here (whether or not they ever contribute to society)......

Oh yeah, we also have to support all current and past governments and their cronies....

 

[Serpent]

Cuz we gotta support all the freeloaders on welfare and EI....oh yeah, and give free healthcare to everyone here (whether or not they ever contribute to society)......

Oh yeah, we also have to support all current and past governments and their cronies....

Yeah, but that doesn't explain why a USD 400 pair of Zegna shoes at NM is CAD 630(after tax) at David's in Toronto. The government isn't doing the markup, retailers are.

 

[tboy]

Serpent: there are import taxes etc levied before it even hits the distributor. Plus every business along the supply chain pays: business tax, property tax, tax on every item they purchase for consumption, (fuel, office supplies etc) EI fees, health canada fees, etc etc etc....

BTW: did you know that an average store front in Toronto pays about 23 - 30% of the property value in property taxes every year? So, a shop on Queen E that is worth about $500K pays $115,000.00 in property tax?

 

[Serpent]

Serpent: there are import taxes etc levied before it even hits the distributor. Plus every business along the supply chain pays: business tax, property tax, tax on every item they purchase for consumption, (fuel, office supplies etc) EI fees, health canada fees, etc etc etc....

BTW: did you know that an average store front in Toronto pays about 23 - 30% of the property value in property taxes every year? So, a shop on Queen E that is worth about $500K pays $115,000.00 in property tax?

I'm no economist and you're probably right. If these items are not N.America made, then I assume the US also has the same duty structure built for foreign imports (maybe lower percentages?). If they are N.American made, there should be no import tax due to NAFTA, correct?

So you are saying that in Canada, there is a lot of taxes levied on businesses which are passed onto the consumer. I used to hear the CAD vs USD market rate difference (which isn't significant anymore) but you may have a point.

 

[tboy]

OH, I also forgot about buying power. When you buy a larger volume of goods, you get a better deal and since New York City and the 5 boroughs have about the same population of ALL of Canada, there is a much larger market down south.

As for North American (including Mexico) made or not. Even if an item is "made in America" not all the components necessarily are. For eg: While a Viewsonic LCD Monitor may be American, I bet a lot of the chips etc that go into it are made overseas and are taxed as such.

Another thing that the US is very strict on is what types of items get into their county. I remember a few years ago when I was in the Trade Show biz a customer of mine wanted to give away canvas bags with their logo on it. Well the entire shipment (booth included) got held up at US customs because it just happened that the US had hit it's limit on imported textiles. We had a choice: unload the bags and send the booth on it's way, or pay a fee equal to what it would have cost to have the bags produced in the US.

I have to assume that Canada has similar restrictions.