what to tell Canada customs on the way into US?

O

omen

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Hey,

So, what, if anything, do we tell the Canadian side when driving into US for matches? I know there are no reporting requirements, is there anything we can/need to/want to/etc do to try and make the trip BACK IN easier? Thanks!
 
There is no need to stop at Canada customs on the way out of the country that I am aware of
You Need
An ATT from the CFO to get to the border if the firearm is restricted
The permit from the ATF to get into the US
A invitation or brochure from the event you are attending to show US customs were you are going

On return to Canada
You must report all firearms to Canada Customs when entering Canada
Have your PAL
The firearm registration certificate
The ATT to go to the border if firearm is restricted

That is all I am aware of
 
Bud45223 said:
There is no need to stop at Canada customs on the way out of the country that I am aware of
You Need
An ATT from the CFO to get to the border if the firearm is restricted
The permit from the ATF to get into the US
A invitation or brochure from the event you are attending to show US customs were you are going

On return to Canada
You must report all firearms to Canada Customs when entering Canada
Have your PAL
The firearm registration certificate
The ATT to go to the border if firearm is restricted

That is all I am aware of
Click to expand...

and the ATF Form 6 NIA... since the ATT (restricted) is issued on condition of having the Form 6
 
I was sent to secondary insp. once... outta i dunno how many trips.
Of cousre it was by one of the summer student officers.
The full time (experienced) officer was befuddled as to why we were sent over and without inspecting anything asked us that next time we "coach" the person in the kiosk as... and I quote: "Some of the new people don't know what to ask for"
Rest assured Canada. Your borderes are secure:rolleyes:
 
Tell them no more then they ask for. I cross every weekend with guns. If they ask where I was then I tell them a shooting competition and that I have Firearms, then they'll ask what type, Pistols not handguns. Then they usually ask me what paper work I need to have, so I just tell them I need a PAL. Every now an then I get someone a bit smarter and they ask for my PAL and the registrations. Haven't been asked to see my Border permit in over a year.
The green card is redundant since you have registration paper work, you can't get the reg certs if you bought the gun on that trip you are returning from.
I had one Guy who asked for the forms that an American needed to bring guns into to the country, he got all pissy when I told him that I didn't need that form since I was Canadian. So I explained the process to him in my most condescending voice.

Your main concern should be the laws of the states you pass thru, some states consider loaded mags or even ammo in the same bag as your gun to be a loaded gun. If you have a passport show it at US customs, they prefer it to photo id and a birth certificate as the passport can be swiped thru their computer.
 
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DrakeriderCa said:
If you wanted, you could stop and fill out a green card (Y27 I think). It's a reporting card for valuable goods going into the U.S. that will be coming back into Canada with you. If you've got a newer spotting scope or any optics going with you, it would be a good idea. It shows that you had the goods before you left Canada, so there won't be any questions if you get examined, and the officers are concerned that you bought it down there.
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Good advice.

Madness said:
The green card is redundant since you have registration paper work, you can't get the reg certs if you bought the gun on that trip you are returning from.
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Actually, you can. Arrange the deal on the phone a week ahead, phone verify, and pick it up on your trip. You're unlikely to have a problem with just certs unless you're actually smuggling, but green cards don't hurt.
 
.... The GREEN CARD is a good idea for items other than restricted firearms which require registration certs. anyway. The green card is free, and has a secondary benefit in that it records serial numbers for any Insurance claims resulting from theft etc. I have them for my cameras, and keep laminated (I have duplicates) copies in the camera bag(s), so I've always got at least one available when I travel. ....... Simplifies the process, when returning home ! ..... David K. .....
 
Bud45223 said:
That is what I was saying with the line that read:

"The permit from the ATF to get into the US"
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yeah but you didn't include it under "on return to Canada"

just didn't want Omen to get hassled at border.... but it's all fun.... I love crossing border back into Canada and seeing the look on the student summer worker ask if I have anything to declare and I just reply no just me and my pistols....
the look on their faces is priceless...
 
cool, ok. I was more thinking do I need to tell them I have so-many mags, are they going to hassle me thinking I'm bringing more accessories/etc then I left with, etc.. I'll be going through a Quebec crossing (into Vermont), so I'm expecting more hassle, just on general principles (being an Algo with guns going into Quebec, haha).
 
basically all you need is a small raft to float across the river on preferably a moonless night... or a large truck.
 
omen said:
cool, ok. I was more thinking do I need to tell them I have so-many mags, are they going to hassle me thinking I'm bringing more accessories/etc then I left with, etc.. I'll be going through a Quebec crossing (into Vermont), so I'm expecting more hassle, just on general principles (being an Algo with guns going into Quebec, haha).
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Just a Question... since your from Ontario does your Ontario Border ATT allow you to exit via QC, or do you need another issued by QC's CFO??
 
an "Algo"?

omen said:
cool, ok. I was more thinking do I need to tell them I have so-many mags, are they going to hassle me thinking I'm bringing more accessories/etc then I left with, etc.. I'll be going through a Quebec crossing (into Vermont), so I'm expecting more hassle, just on general principles (being an Algo with guns going into Quebec, haha).
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Exactly what..... is an "Algo"?
 
Just had some fun at customs 20 min ago. Kid at the booth asked if I had been over working, I told him that I was over shooting anf that I had 2 firearms, so he gets out the orange secondary note, I tell him that I bought $160 dollars worth of stuff too just to save any headaches. Drive around to secondary and I'm met by two more kids, then an old guy walks up and asks if I have a handgun, so I grin and say I have 2 of them, to which he replies " oh, you bought 2 when you were over. So I tell him that they are not new purchases and he asks if I 'm a cop then gives me a weird look when I say no. SO I get out of the car and another guy comes over and remarks, that 2 Handguns for $160 is a good deal, so I explain to him that they aren't new. Then the first old guy asks to see my "conveyance permit", so I ask if he wants my border permit. He says " No, I need the permit that allows you to carry these from the border to your place of work":confused: So I explain the border permit to him, the second old guy asks to see it, he sees the 5 cert #'s and says "so you have 5 handguns?":bangHead: So I once again point out that I only have 2 fireamrs in the car and that those ceerts are for all the restricteds I bring over frequently. He starts to walk to the back of the truck to check my #'s when I stop him to explain that the border permit has cert#'s on it not serial #'s and hand him my registrations. Then officer #5 shows up and ask's if I have a form 6, I nod expecting to be asked to show but then he asks if i get hasseled getting the form or bringing guns into the states, so I tell him that the only hassle I get is from his fellow workers when I come home, and that the US hasn't sent me to secondary in close to a year where Canada has searched me the last 3 times I've crossed. The guy laughs and says its "because no knows anything about guns here". Well I feel safe now, when are they being armed again?
 
hmm... I guess I got lucky; coming into the US the guy asked to see my form 6; I have 4 guns on it, I told him I was only bringing 3 of them, with so much ammo, he let me go (there was NO ONE ELSE waiting to cross/etc it was deserted).

Coming back into Quebec, we had long lineups; I ended up with a pretty young kid, I told him about the guns, showed him the RegCerts and the ATT, he asked how much ammo I had with me, and then just let me go... No problem...
 
omen said:
hmm... I guess I got lucky; coming into the US the guy asked to see my form 6; I have 4 guns on it, I told him I was only bringing 3 of them, with so much ammo, he let me go (there was NO ONE ELSE waiting to cross/etc it was deserted).

Coming back into Quebec, we had long lineups; I ended up with a pretty young kid, I told him about the guns, showed him the RegCerts and the ATT, he asked how much ammo I had with me, and then just let me go... No problem...
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Mostly they are only concerned with people bringing smokes and booze just so they can collect the tax dollars. If you have the paperwork (and they even know what they are looking for on it). you should never have any problems
 
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