Border Xing to CA with LF and Lights

[Frank Petronio]

I have to drive over to Canada once again with lights and large format gear, and the guards on both sides seem to always stop and check me out, with an hour delay and much creepiness.

Short of going to the Customs Office ahead of time and creating a Clarent (or whatever those damn things are called) is there a simple way to diffuse their fears that I might be an equipment export/importer or that I am poaching jobs from poor (!!!???) Toronto photographers?

(I live in the Mississipi of the North -- Appalachian Upstate New York -- and I find it ironic that they need to protect photographers in a sophisticated and very expensive city like Toronto. And this isn't a paying job anyway.)

[Marko]

I have to drive over to Canada once again with lights and large format gear, and the guards on both sides seem to always stop and check me out, with an hour delay and much creepiness.

Short of going to the Customs Office ahead of time and creating a Clarent (or whatever those damn things are called) is there a simple way to diffuse their fears that I might be an equipment export/importer or that I am poaching jobs from poor (!!!???) Toronto photographers?

(I live in the Mississipi of the North -- Appalachian Upstate New York -- and I find it ironic that they need to protect photographers in a sophisticated and very expensive city like Toronto. And this isn't a paying job anyway.)

Hey Frank, I would expect you to grouse more about them protecting their "socialism" then their photographers... :D

Which, joking aside, may actually be true. Toronto is expensive because they gotta pay their taxes and support the system, just as we do here. The difference being that they pay a bit more and also get a bit more in return, but I'll leave that for the Lounge.

[Frank Petronio]

Upstate NY is like the 49th or 50th worst economy in the USA, if Upstate were its own state. When I travel to places that don't seem to be that prosperous -- West Virgina for example -- there is still more construction and new companies starting up, jobs, etc.

I will give it up for Universial Health Care. Our insurance just went up 14% again next year. It seems like single payer health care would help businesses compete. I am not a complete hardcore Republican... But we can leave the tax and regulation topic to the lounge, I agree.

[Mark Sampson]

Just tell the Customs officers that you're a wealthy amateur. It has the advantage of being literally true, if you're not getting paid for the work; and it explains all the expensive gear. Calling yourself an "artist", in this situation, might cause *more* trouble.

[tim atherton]

Canada has a simple form (for Canadians) you can go to customs and get (it's just a little green card) - where they list all your equipment and serial numbers and stamp it - doesn't expire. It's basically for Canadian Customs on your return and shows them you didn't buy the stuff elsewhere and bring it back without paying duties... but, it often works great for other countries customs too - they take a photocopy of the list and stamp it themselves and maybe staple it in your passport. Sort of an unofficial carnet - especially if you are a wealthy "amateur"

Don't know if the US has something similar?

[Ron Marshall]

I have to drive over to Canada once again with lights and large format gear, and the guards on both sides seem to always stop and check me out, with an hour delay and much creepiness.

Short of going to the Customs Office ahead of time and creating a Clarent (or whatever those damn things are called) is there a simple way to diffuse their fears that I might be an equipment export/importer or that I am poaching jobs from poor (!!!???) Toronto photographers?

(I live in the Mississipi of the North -- Appalachian Upstate New York -- and I find it ironic that they need to protect photographers in a sophisticated and very expensive city like Toronto. And this isn't a paying job anyway.)

You must fit their profile Frank. I often cross and have only been searched a couple of times.

Go for the green card that Tim mentioned, quick and easy.

[Louie Powell]

Frank -

I drove up to Montreal earlier this year with my LF kit in the back seat. Had absolutely no trouble getting into Canada. Getting out was more of a hassle - long line at the border, and the US ICE agent couldn't understand why someone who lives three miles off the Northway would choose to come back by way of Vermont. But even with the hassle, he didn't insist on a physical inspection.

Must be your face.

[DavidFisk]

Canada has a simple form (for Canadians) you can go to customs and get (it's just a little green card) - where they list all your equipment and serial numbers and stamp it - doesn't expire. It's basically for Canadian Customs on your return and shows them you didn't buy the stuff elsewhere and bring it back without paying duties... but, it often works great for other countries customs too - they take a photocopy of the list and stamp it themselves and maybe staple it in your passport. Sort of an unofficial carnet - especially if you are a wealthy "amateur"

Don't know if the US has something similar?

I have read that there is just such a Customs form for the U.S. But try as I might, I cannot find details online about how to find it. It is supposed to involve going to a Customs office with your stuff and the form filled out with serial numbers and all. It was supposed to be downloadable, but in all my searches on the website for U.S. Customs, I haven't found it. It's never been an issue flying into the U.S. but it certainly couldn't hurt to have it.

Anyone know something more?

[Oren Grad]

David, try this (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing_goods/certificate_of_registration.xml).

PS - check out the brand names on the sample form at the link...

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

You must fit their profile Frank

He probably does... :)

[Ted Harris]

First, many years ago I found out that filling out the necessary forms in advance can save you a whole lot of grief when you come back into the US .... been doing it for some 20+years.

Second, try another border crossing. I go backand forth across US 3 in NH and I89 in Vermont all the time and have never been hassled or had anythingmore than a fairly quick check in either direction.

[Kirk Gittings]

I will give it up for Universial Health Care.Frank

Sounds almost like a liberal idea, but coming from Frank I must be mistaken?

[DavidFisk]

David, try this (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing_goods/certificate_of_registration.xml).

PS - check out the brand names on the sample form at the link...

Thanks much. It's what I was looking for.

[roteague]

Don't know if the US has something similar?

We do, I keep one with me whenever I travel.

[tim atherton]

Thanks much. It's what I was looking for.

the great thing about them is - I've never had to make use of them coming back to canada, but they'ved soothed the Customs officers in maybe half a dozen other countries vis a vis my backpack full of camera gear....

[Uri Kolet]

Never had a problem either way across the Canada-U.S. border, whether by air or car.
Two years ago my fellow orchestra LFer and I drove to Mt.Rainier near Seattle from Vancouver; the American Customs officer never asked to look at our gear in the trunk after we explained the purpose of our visit, but you should have seen his face when he looked in the back seat and asked "What's with the baby buggy?" He laughed when we described its ability to move cameras, tripods, lenses, etc. around.

[fred arnold]

I think the biggest worry I've ever had was that they were going to find the bag of fresh fruit we were carrying for the trip (Chicago -> NE PA via Ontario). The advantage of home-built (Bender) or might as well be (grey Burke and James) becomes apparent at customs. Nobody believes you're a professional or smuggling cameras with equipment that looks like that.

Frank, you can't be living in the Mississippi of the north, because I've been to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, and it's positive civilization compared with down here. (and people wonder why I get nostalgic for New Jersey)