Canadian Customs Purgatory

[santacruzer]

I suspect that today they would not be so lenient as to simply confiscate the weapon!

[tdf-texas]

Traveling to Canada has never been a big issue for us - yes we get the multiple questions because of the concealed carry permit I have but still nothing unusual.

Getting back into the US is another matter.
First time, I had to set in the office while they searched my truck - I got the "random" search ball.
The second time, the immigration officer wanted to see my vehicle registration papers. Oops, Texas doesn't issue registration papers - they issue registration stickers. Well, after a "long" delay at the gate, multiple questions, and insinuations about my intelligence, another officer came over and whispered to my officer that Texas doesn't have registration papers. That's when I got the "MOVE ALONG" multiple times from the red faced officer.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Greg A

I grew up just going over the border both north and south with a drivers license or birth certificate but apparently they changed that and I'm assuming it is still that way.

When I was a little kid my grannies place was a couple of miles from the border. Dad would take us across the border to get ice cream. No passport, license or b/c. Times have definitely changed.

I remember the first time he said that we were going to the United States. We entered Blaine and I looked around and evidently said, "it looks the same." I guess I was expecting that people and houses in the US would look really different.

Ron

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Traveling to Canada has never been a big issue for us - yes we get the multiple questions because of the concealed carry permit I have but still nothing unusual.

Getting back into the US is another matter.
First time, I had to set in the office while they searched my truck - I got the "random" search ball.
The second time, the immigration officer wanted to see my vehicle registration papers. Oops, Texas doesn't issue registration papers - they issue registration stickers. Well, after a "long" delay at the gate, multiple questions, and insinuations about my intelligence, another officer came over and whispered to my officer that Texas doesn't have registration papers. That's when I got the "MOVE ALONG" multiple times from the red faced officer.

Very similar to my experiences. The Canada side, no issue - returning, more of a hassle.

[Fox hunt]

i forgot i had pepper spray in my truck but remembered when the boarder guard asked me about weapons I told her i had it and she asked me to pull over and turn it in. Her big concern was i would not get the spray back- i told her it was OK i should have left it at home it was my fault i know their rules. They were very nice.

[sclifrickson]

Pepper spray is ok if it is Bear Spray. It must clearly be labeled with a picture of a bear and the words “Bear Spray”. And it is a crime to use Bear Spray on a human in Canada. That’s when it instantly becomes a prohibited weapon. We’ve taken our Bear Spray across and back at least a dozen times in the last two years. Just declare it if they ask, and all is good.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Wow, great news! Looking forward to meeting you and seeing your work on the trailer. Looks like I have to make sure to reserve two Pins/buttons now to welcome our Canadian friends. Ron's and Jim's are on hold.

We are looking forward to it very much too. Definitely save me one of those pins.

[emers382]

Originally Posted by Greg A

I may be wrong as it has been since 2015, but at that time the birth certificate no longer was acceptable for the children and we had to have at a minimum passport cards for the adults and the kids.
I grew up just going over the border both north and south with a drivers license or birth certificate but apparently they changed that and I'm assuming it is still that way.

A passport is required for entry into the US if you are going by air or ship. By road a birth certificate for children (I think under 16) is acceptable. As mentioned earlier we often pass through MN on the way to Thunder Bay as does my son and his family. They have four kids the eldest three have passports, the 3 year old does not and they've never had an issue. We have crossed with her and her birth certificate as well.

Adrian

[emers382]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

When I was a little kid my grannies place was a couple of miles from the border. Dad would take us across the border to get ice cream. No passport, license or b/c. Times have definitely changed.

I remember the first time he said that we were going to the United States. We entered Blaine and I looked around and evidently said, "it looks the same." I guess I was expecting that people and houses in the US would look really different.

Ron

I have to tell the story of our eldest grandson who lives just down the dike protecting our town from the Red River from Cdn. customs. He liked to ride to the end of his road which went up a hill to the dyke so he could ride down when he was about five. It's absolutely flat here, only hill is our dike. He would say to his mom "Don't worry I won't go to the United States"

Adrian

[emers382]

Another story, when going through MN eastbound we cross at Warroad, never an issue there. Coming westbound we cross at Baudette, every time there we get extra questions, and if we have the trailer they always want to peek inside. Anyway one time crossing at Warroad with our four grandkids (with a letter signed by both parents) he asked us to pop the tailgate of the van. The boys had two nerf guns back there. Next thing we hear is a stern "Whose guns are these. You know you must declare any guns entering the US." We looked back to see our grandsons quivering in the back seat. Of course he was kidding and quickly sent us on our way whilst laughing.

Adrian

[Greg A]

Originally Posted by emers382

A passport is required for entry into the US if you are going by air or ship. By road a birth certificate for children (I think under 16) is acceptable.
Adrian

Ah, I remember now you are correct. We had to get passport cards because one of our kids was 16, so we ended up just getting them both passport cards since they were not expensive.

[SouthernCamper]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

It sounds like what's creating your problem is the post-conference "sales trip" aspect. Couldn't you simply leave the silencers with your father after the NRA conference and just enjoy the "camping adventure" part of your trip to Canada? You wouldn't be able to write your trip North off on your taxes as a business expense that way (which may be your intent), but that's not the end of the world. Our government could use those extra tax dollars.

Haha I wish we could write it off! I have no idea what'S deductible anymore in 2018! My priorities were build sheet, file taxes without an extension this year, then figure out what the heck is still deductible!

No we're actually going to expand exposure by meeting with dealers and distributors as we travel. By working to build a dealer base as we go, we justify more time on the road. We don't want to rush back. Ideally no work would happen on the road, but it would really be best. It's funny, neither of them are serious gun people (although they owned guns before this), my dad just happens to be a design engineer and redesigned silencer function when he decided to make his own personal one. Now here we are traveling with guns and silencers!

[cpaharley2008]

Combining business with camping sometimes creates problems. Most people want to escape their work by camping. Not that there is anything wrong with using your camper for sales meets, but I'd make them separate trips, sales or family vacation, not both. That way it would be easier to designate personal vs business trips in lieu of trying to figure out how many hours were for personal and business and what percentage was vice or versa. Believe me, that is how it is done. But if the entire trip is one or the other then it simplifies things.Make a choice and stick with it, it will make it easier rather than trying to combine both in one trip.

[SouthernCamper]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Combining business with camping sometimes creates problems. Most people want to escape their work by camping. Not that there is anything wrong with using your camper for sales meets, but I'd make them separate trips, sales or family vacation, not both. That way it would be easier to designate personal vs business trips in lieu of trying to figure out how many hours were for personal and business and what percentage was vice or versa. Believe me, that is how it is done. But if the entire trip is one or the other then it simplifies things.Make a choice and stick with it, it will make it easier rather than trying to combine both in one trip.

Are you mainly referring to the enjoyment aspect, tax aspect, or all of it being difficult if it combined?

We hadn't talked about tax impact at all, but if we decided to not deduct anything the trip would still be a major gain. If we did deduct anything (after I relearn what's deductible this year), it would just be if we went out of our way for a specific company, and wouldn't be much. If it's too messy to involve the IRS, we won't! We should talk with our CPA I guess. Off-the-cuff here as we were more excited about the opportunities than the deductions! But in the event there are some legitimate deductions we'll conference with our CPA before we go. If it can't be separated we won't try. The benefit of combining the trips was really just making use of covered geography. My husband is one of two in the company and it would be hard to take the trip without providing some benefit!

We have to have fun while mixed traveling, because it's part of how we justified doing this! The business may soar or crash or somewhere in between but we hope to have fun meeting with the connections we have, and making more!

[cpaharley2008]

You may have a better concept after talking with your accountant, until then good luck and just enjoy the trailer. Later on you will have a better handle on how to benefit both personal and business, once you are informed and after becoming acclimated with camping.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by SouthernCamper

Alright, I am troubled now. My husband has a concealed carry, and my husband and dad together design, oversee manufacturing, and sell firearm silencers. Seriously, our trip up is going to be to go to the NRA conference in Dallas, where they have a booth, then keep driving to BC. We will bring silencers with us on our trip, and our trip will be a camping adventure sales trip. My husband is a respectable attorney, but they're going to act like he's Rambo. I NEVER thought about the border. We now have two issues: 1. Where will we store the silencers and assortment of firearms when we go to into Canada?? Get a storage room in the US? My sister lives in Portland, but no-one else can be in possession of the silencers. 2. What the heck is going to happen when he tries to cross? We'll have two dogs and a toddler and we cannot go through this. How long is the process from entering Canada, orientation, then crossing back? Should I cross without them and do it myself?

Hey Adrienne! So how did your boarder crossing to pick up your new Escape go? Inquiring minds want to know. I hope all went well. If not, let us know if we need to start a "Go Fund Me" for your bail out of the Canadian pokey!

[Wayne Henderson]

Customs Officers in training are told that US campers heading to Alaska ALWAYS are carrying weapons.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

Customs Officers in training are told that US campers heading to Alaska ALWAYS are carrying weapons.

And, these customs officers are often right.

But, there are regulations and protocol that would have allowed those campers to take their weapons through Canada to Alaska, if they followed the rules and didn't have an inflated sense of entitlement.

[Iowa Dave]

While I have not participated in this training I do have a high respect and empathy for these people. I also would expect that the trainers are well informed to substantiate whatever information they are teaching. So with statistics in hand their training becomes valid and their duty to uphold the regulations is reinforced. I’ve been asked about weapons just like everyone else when I cross into Canada. I have taken weapons into Canada, declared them and paid the fees. Perhaps this information from nearly 10 years ago remains on their computer screen when they scan my I.D. I don’t know. But when asked a the same basic question twice, I refer to the fact that we hunted bear in Canada previously and that we got the proper permit that time but that we are not hunting bears this time. Every time I have been respectfully treated by Canadian customs and passed through in a short time with good wishes for the time we will spend in Canada. Bear spray is allowed in Canada and that’s all we are packing. The streets of my home town on a hot Friday night scare me more than a very chance encounter with Mr. Grizz. So I’m good with the gun totin profile they may be expecting, but the only heat I’m packing is Jalapeño SPAM.
Iowa Dave

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

While I have not participated in this training I do have a high respect and empathy for these people. I also would expect that the trainers are well informed to substantiate whatever information they are teaching. So with statistics in hand their training becomes valid and their duty to uphold the regulations is reinforced. I’ve been asked about weapons just like everyone else when I cross into Canada. I have taken weapons into Canada, declared them and paid the fees. Perhaps this information from nearly 10 years ago remains on their computer screen when they scan my I.D. I don’t know. But when asked a the same basic question twice, I refer to the fact that we hunted bear in Canada previously and that we got the proper permit that time but that we are not hunting bears this time. Every time I have been respectfully treated by Canadian customs and passed through in a short time with good wishes for the time we will spend in Canada. Bear spray is allowed in Canada and that’s all we are packing. The streets of my home town on a hot Friday night scare me more than a very chance encounter with Mr. Grizz. So I’m good with the gun totin profile they may be expecting, but the only heat I’m packing is Jalapeño SPAM.
Iowa Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... To me it's all SPAM!!! Is it Sept. yet? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie