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October 07 BRIEF UPDATE   I             I called the US Border today and THERE ARE NO CHANGES FOR RVERS. including food.            NO SPECIAL FORMS are required and it is still advisable to have a passport BUT having one is still NOT LAW or a hard and fast rule - AS OF YET!. These rules continue to change.  _______________________________ UPDATED PHONE CONTACTS FOR INFO as of Oct 2007-- ______________________________ General Canada Info - who to contact -1 800 OCANADA. Canada Tourism/Customs - 1 204 983 3500 _______________________________ To discover Food allowed  in the USA 1-810 985 6126  (If voice info comes on try pressing ' O' for agent) and specifics as to what you can take across the border, log onto   OR Call US Customs officials at (202)-354-1000 (International) or (877)-CUSTOMS – (USA only). This is a voice only message that spells out details of what you can and cannot take across the border. That list changes by the day, so no one rule applies.  The Passport Canada website  or call (800)-567-6868 or (819)-997-8338 answers many Frequently Asked Questions,  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  controls imports of animal hides, insects, hunting trophies, live birds, fruit, vegetables and live plants. All such items MUST be declared when entering Canada. Call - Central (800)-835-4486 (1-416-661-3039); Western (888)-732-6222 (1-604-666-9240); Eastern (877)-493-0468 (1-514-493-0468).  NOTE: Government Phone numbers and websites constantly change – these were correct at publication. The restriction of NO Beef still stands-  ALL other meat including Chicken and eggs is allowed.  Hard cheese is OK - soft cheeses may be questioned. Pet food may still be questioned because of the ingredients referred to as 'by-products'. So do not stock up on a winter supply  NOTE:  I was told that  Unopened packages or cans of Pet Food clearly marked 'MADE IN USA' will probably be OK & NOT be confiscated. As usual fresh produce especially CITRUS may not be allowed and/or confiscated RULES CHANGE BY THE DAY SO As a result we always travel with no meat of ANY kind in our freezer,  Our first stop in the USA is a grocery store. We do have some USA canned food and some American packaged frozen meals for emergencies.  IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION IT IS WISE TO MAKE A CALL TO THE NUMBERS ABOVE and maybe to the border you plan to cross at. Check back to see the entire page updates real soon, thanks P&J

Tips and Hints for RVing Canadians

 - heading south

At the Border

New USA Customs Website www.cbp.gov

The good news is not much has changed for RVers heading south.  

ALWAYS GO THROUGH THE CAR LANES --- NOT THE TRUCK LANES.  Delays for the most part are minimal. Recently at several Ontario crossings we were directed to a separate RV lane. Agents came into our coach both times.

Take off your sun glasses so both you and the official have eye contact

Answer ONLY the questions you are asked.  Volunteer nothing more.  Do not be flippant---officials are only doing their job. If they ask if you have cigarettes do not answer "I don't smoke!" 

If you are Fulltiming DO NOT relay this info at the border.  When asked where you are from provide your official home address. (See my story on Medical Requirements and residency www.rvliving.net/advice.htm.) If you appear to be from NO place in particular Officials feel you have no reason to return home you may become a burden on the Host country

You may now be asked to prove that you have a reason to return to Canada such as a season reservation at a campground, a phone on vacation, a permanent or primary residence, a business etc.

You do not need a passport but you do need a photo ID and proof that Canada is your official home. Having a passport may make for smoother crossings.

Expect that your RV just might be searched at the border. You may be asked to leave your RV --- BUT you can ask for two officials to inspect it together HOWEVER If they are busy it is possible you will wait for an extended time period for this to happen.  There is a chain of command at the border. If you feel you have been mistreated ask how to access the second and third level of authority. Completion of the entire process could continue after you leave. 

Another option if you have valuables you don't wish to leave inside, why not pack them in a small case; ask if you can take them out of the RV with you --- of course officials will want to inspect them as well. HOWEVER This is a bit unusual so you may wish to clear it with the border officials where you plan to cross before you take this step

It is not necessary to list all items in your RV (although it is a good idea for insurance purposes) but if you have expensive 'toys'---(cameras, jewelry, computers etc.) on board you can stop at customs and register them with a customs wallet card. OR another option is to carry the original bill of sale on board to prove you had them before you crossed the border.

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Customs Info

Be sure to check with Canadian customs to determine the amount you can bring home 

from the USA: 

 

www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html (Canada Border)

or  www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca  (Canada Revenue)

http://dfait-maeci.gc.ca (Foreign affairs)

 

and (US Customs ref entering USA--- http://www.customs.ustreas.gov   OR

www.cbp.gov 

 

    New USA Customs Website www.cbp.gov

---

Presently on return to Canada after 24 hours ---$50.00; after more than 48 hours--- $200.00 and  over 7 days it goes up to $750.00. Exact explanation is on the preferred website above plus since these figures may change check it out.  It is not possible for persons to join allotments together to cover large purchases but children do have allotments as long as the purchase is for items for their benefit.

       For example: when my computer crashed in the USA I had to replace it then, it was not possible to wait till we returned home.  I also bought an insurance policy on the computer as well as a ZIP Drive for back-up files.
      Although there was no duty on computers there was tax.  We extended our stay from six to seven days so I could deduct the $750.00 off the price of the computer and claim the difference as excess purchase (any amount over $750.00 would be subject to tax and duty if applicable). John on the other hand claimed the Zip Drive and Insurance. Although he still had another $400.00 he could have claimed I could not put the excess of my computer onto his duty-free amount.

There is also a limit to the dollar amount of gifts ($60.00 Cdn) you are taking across the border, but this too can change often.  Although gifts sent to the USA (less than $60.00 Cdn) do not count against your allotments --- gifts carried across do count.

You can only bring 1.14 litres of alcohol; or 24 x 355 ml cans/bottles (8.5 litres) beer/ale or 1.5 litres of wine. Duties  and taxes are assessed for extras.

You can only bring 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 tobacco sticks or 200 grams of manufactured tobacco into Canada.  BUY YOUR CIGARETTES AT A DUTY-FREE SHOP BECAUSE THE TAX IS ALREADY IN THE PRICE.  IF YOU BUY ELSEWHERE YOU MAY BE ASKED TO PAY TAX AT THE BORDER---even though the amount above is duty-free. Similar amounts are authorized en route south---see above Webpage for info.  Duties and taxes are assessed for extras.

Buying products at border duty free shops allow duty-free purchases within the allotment.  Overages will be charged duties and taxes.  

Emergency maintenance is not usually assessed duty or taxes; but extra maintenance may be; although one replacement tire is considered an emergency --- replacing all four may not qualify.  Keep your maintenance receipts to show to the official at the border.  We have never been asked to pay extra for emergency repairs, even expensive ones but we always report them along with receipts.

 

Just for info. When we claimed our Fridge replacement two years ago we had to pay GST on it because Cdn Customs classed it the same as a stereo - NOT as an essential item.

 

We paid for it by Credit Card so it would have been traceable back to us. We felt we had to report it even though we left with a fridge and returned with one.   Happy Travels 

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Fruits and Vegetables

On board fruits and vegetables could be confiscated when crossing the border especially citrus.  We make it a practice of avoiding a major shop before going south.

RVers used to be able to carry sufficient food on board for living purposes for a week or more.  The recent ban on some meats has changed all that.  See note above for more info, 

NOTE: If you every have a question you can call the border centre of your planned crossing and  ask for an explanation. Ask if the official will share his badge number (some will share it and some will not) for verification later in case there is a discrepancy of what you were told.

 

Guns and Pepper Spray

USA has gun rules much the same as Canada---a new book is available explaining Gun Rules in all 50 States. For complete info log onto http://rvbookstore.com.

  Just for info Pepper Spray or Mace or other human sprays are ILLEGAL for transport into Canada.  They are considered weapons and the same info applies to these sprays as to hand-guns when crossing into Canada.

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New USA Customs Website www.cbp.gov

 

Vehicle Insurances

Of course it is common knowledge that no one should drive without Insurance on your vehicle.

A Canadian Drivers license is accepted as legal in the USA  as is your Canadian Insurance.  The reverse is also true for USA visitors

Every driver should also subscribe to ERS (Emergency Road Service). If you have an RV, be certain to subscribe to one that services RV's.  Your policy should include unlimited calls; unlimited miles for transport to service for your unit; and most of all two trucks if possible. Leaving your towable unit unprotected on the side of the road while your tow vehicle gets service is not a good idea. The cost of one service call from recovering keys locked inside the car; or to replace a tire or to be towed to service will more than pay for your policy.  All you do is sign and drive with these policies and they generally cover travels in USA and Canada.  Most provide emergency service for two motorized and one towable unit, coverage for extra vehicles is generally available.

Be certain to include contents insurance on your unit.  The 10% vacation coverage by your home owners policy is OK during your travels, but if you leave your unit on vacation someplace while you return home, your unit is not covered.  

Last point is --- if you must store your unit while you return home, search for a park with a secure storage facility.  This way park staff can look after your unit when you are not there.  Early in our travels (we were still working) John and I made the mistake of storing our unit in a private storage area while we returned to Canada.  Since no one was looking after it in our absence when we returned three months later, all appliances had been removed during a prolonged robbery. The 'invaders' knew we were away plus security - we felt it was an inside job,  For certain a busy park setting would have been more secure .  Take care and Happy Travels.

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New USA Customs Website www.cbp.gov

SITE CONTENTS: GENERAL SITE CONTENTS:    RV WebLinks;  Meet Your Hosts;    Getting Started;  Articles;  Destinations-(Canada, Mexico, USA);   Forum NOW SPAM_FREE Advice and How To;  Book Nook;  (As of Jul 09)  RV Shows;   Travel to Canada:   Travel to USA;  Q&A;   ;   Contact Us;  Site Contents