Customs

NEXUS < do this

Important to note that if you are gone 48hrs and you have 8.5L or less it is not a crapshoot, it is a fact you will have to pay zero. Even less chance they will make you pay duty on any excess the longer you are gone.

Day trips are the crapshoot.

 

got pulled into secondary my first time a few weeks back as a nexus holder (after being down more then 48h). they said they were "checking people with clean records". declared my 12 bottles, they searched the car and I was on my way.

 

you HAVE to pay anything over if using the nexus line

 

Yes, and?

I stated I was aware of limits suggesting that I am ready and willing to pay.
Not sure I get what you are getting at?

BTW, went through Nexus today (lunch trip to buy beer). Told them exactly what I had (16 12oz beers) and they told me to have a good day.

 

I do 2 hr Queenstown/Lewiston for runs to Premier and Consumers in Buffalo about 1 time per month for past 2 years. Normally I bring in about a case and like above, always declare it. I have been asked to pay exactly 1 time. I did not have a receipt and basically was asked inside how much each bottle was worth and they just took me at my word and charged me. About 20% total. I also often ship trades from UPS store on US side and always tell them if they ask that I have x # of bottles. Never once had an issue with this (knock on wood).

 

perhaps he meant the old rule. it used to be there was a form you filled out and it was connected to your credit card. I havent had mine that long but have heard. But it still didn't happen guaranteed apparently.

rule for anyone you HAVE to declare. Paying is never 100% guaranteed. Worth it if you go a lot. I've had to pay 3 times out of maybe 50.

 

So that form is a thing of the past? The main reason that I never cross back in to Canada through Nexus is that I didn't want to be bothered with that form. Are Nexus declarations verbal now like just like the regular lines?

 

Yup completely verbal, hasn't been a form since i've had mine and that's been a few years at least

 

Yup, I handed an old one in a while back and they looked at me like I was nuts

 

This exactly. Go across for 3-4 hours with my wife, do a little grocery shopping, have lunch at the Olive Garden or some other restaurant not found in Canada, bring back a bunch of singles that have the volume equal or slightly less than the volume of a 24. When at customs, Declare you have beer and the volume quantity, declare the total value of everything you bring back and if necessary state the total value of the beer. Had to pay duty once in the last 2-3 years, albeit, I'm only going across the border 4-5 times a year.

 

Crossing into Manitoba I found when I exceed my duty limit being as specific as possible is best. Before I cross the boarder I make a list of exactly what I have. And in this case they want to know the type of beer, the percent alcohol, and if it's in cans/bottles.

The list I make is in a chart and as long as the info is right it makes their life's easier.

 

What about going from Canada into the us? I'll be taking the Amtrak train from Vancouver to Seattle in march, can I bring bottles back with me? What about growlers? Any info is appreciated.

 

Try this but I suggest you contact the US border and get it straight from the horse's mouth.

http://www.dutyfreecanada.com/customs-allowances/

Not much extra at all

As for growlers here in Ontario you need to buy theirs between $5-10 which you may never use again. We don't refill your glass which is a pity. You are better off with a stop by some micro brews and hope they have something in the bottle shop but at least you can try some good stuff on tap.

 

Went down to Vermont for a day trip last week and claimed $384 Cdn of beer, it's even on the customs form. Yet somehow they only charged me $21.60. Wtf?! Someone screwed up. I should have easily been charged triple that. Oh well, I kept quiet. Then there was a mis-understanding with growlers listed on one receipt and not the other, so I had to pay a "forced payment" for 2 growlers and got a big huge lecture about it, being 200ml over the 9L excess limit (because I had no duty free limit for the day) ended up spending 45 minutes there. At the end of it "Sir you will need to pay an extra tax. This is your fault and you need to be very specific each time. The charge is $2.49"...bahahahaha! Ok...

Then me and buddy returned to Vermont 2 days later, this time for 48hrs+. We declared $950 for the car, explained we had some beer (32L but were not asked quantity) and coffee, maple syrup, tshirts etc. ZERO DUTY! Despite being over our limit but close to the max 9L excess per person in QC (on top of the 8.5L duty free).

Quebec is a crapshoot! Seems we got lucky though

 

I hate crossing in to Quebec, specifically at Derby Line.

 

Why is that?

 

3 for 3 on getting searched, despite being within my bottle count and twice being over for longer than 48 hours. One of the border guards did mention that it's one of the more popular crossings for cigarette smuggling along with Pigeon River and that tiny one outside Constable while tearing through my car looking for contraband.

If I'm heading to Montreal after a Vermont trip I find Champlain and Swanton are far easier crossings.

 

I concur, despite using Nexus, the first time I crossed into and back into Quebec, I was asked more questions than the total 30-40 times I've crossed in and out of BC.

 

Should also mention going from Canada to US I've always found Swanton/Highgate unusually slow. The residential crossing at Derby however:

Guard: Where you going?
Me: Hill Farmstead.
Guard: Enjoy!