<VV> Canada - Entering Canada for the Mosport Time Trials & Convention Activities - long

[stan east]

Joe Dunlap asked:

Is the answer to the obvious question of whether or not our car trailers
must carry insurance a secret?
 
Short Answer

Your car trailer just like your street Corvair and tow vehicle must be
licensed and insured in the state it is registered in. This is no different
than if you were stopped by your own state police or local police and asked
for insurance and registration. You need to carry this proof with you incase
there is a problem. We sincerely hope there are no problems.

Long Answers

Crossing the border between Canada and the United States is really painless
and should take less than 5 minutes of questions with the customs officer on
either side of the border.

Be assured that 99% of the time the Customs officer is not concerned about
license and insurance. The customs officers will start with questions like.

Entering Canada

What is your Citizenship?
How many are there?
What is the citizenship of the others?
Where are you going?
Where do you live?
Where were you born?
Is this a business or pleasure trip?
How long are you going to be there?
Do you have any firearms? (Firearms are strictly controlled in Canada -
better to leave them at home)
Are you leaving anything behind while in Canada? Or do you have anything to
declare? (Leaving gifts of a nominal value is OK however you must declare
them and their value)
Are you bringing more than $10,000 Canadian into Canada? It's not illegal to
bring more than $10,000 they just want to register that you have so that
money laundering does not take place. The same question gets asked of
Canadians if we go the US for the same reason.
Will you be selling anything while in Canada? Please do not sell anything in
Canada it will make you life very complicated, plan to do the selling while
in Buffalo at the indoor or outdoor vender area.
If you are towing a trailer they may ask some questions about whose it is
and if the car on the trailer is registered to you.
Are you bringing the trailer and car back to the United States on your
return?
If the car on the trailer is registered and insured bring that registration
and insurance and have it in the tow vehicle so you can pull it out if
needed. If the car on the trailer is a race car without registration or
insurance and you are going to Mosport the letter from the NECC that you get
during registration will speed the process. It's a bond set up with Mosport,
because it a bond the only people who will receive it are those who are
registered. THERFORE PLEASE REGISTER EARLY!
If you are one parent or grandparents traveling with underage children then
they may ask for proof that you have custody of the children or have written
authorization from the custody holder(s) to bring the children to Canada.
They may ask for proof of citizenship (a birth certificate or "green card")
for each passenger in the car
They may ask for photo ID (driver's license) for passengers
If you have passports they are both photo ID and proof of citizenship and
they will speed the process however during the 2006 Convention time there is
no requirement to have a passport. Please bring current passports if you
have them.

It helps to remove sunglasses, turn off the radio (Corvairs don't have CD
players or MP3s!) and look directly at the officer and answer every question
after they ask it. The Customs officer may speak to any or all of the
passengers in the car to ascertain that what you are saying is correct.

If the officer does not ask every question above but says something like
"Thank you, enjoy your trip" say thank you and be on your way!

You will get the same treatment when returning to the United States and
presenting yourself to the US Customs and Immigration Officer.

Returning to the USA

What is your Citizenship?
Where do you live?
Where were you born?
How long were you outside the United States?
Where did you go?
Are you bringing back any alcohol or tobacco?
Are you bringing anything else back? Or do you have anything to declare?
Did you purchase anything while in Canada? You are allowed to bring back a
certain dollar value of goods for each passenger in the car this varies with
the time you have been away. The exact information on limitations is in the
US Customs and Immigration web pages. If you bring back more than the
allowed value you may be charged a US customs duty.
If you are towing a trailer they may ask some questions about whose it is
and if the car on the trailer is registered to you.
If you are one parent or grandparents traveling with children then they may
ask for proof that you have custody of the children or have authorization
from the custody holder(s) to bring the children to the US even if they are
US citizens.
They WILL ask for proof of citizenship (a birth certificate or "green card")
for all passengers
They WILL ask for photo ID (driver's license) for all passengers of legal
age.
If you have passports they are both photo ID and proof of citizenship and
they will speed the process. If you have passports this will speed the
process because they will scan you passport and record your return to the
United States.

Canada Customs Agency and the US Customs and Immigration Service share
information for security purposes in both countries.

On rare occasions the customs officers may want to do a physical inspection
and in very rare instances a search. Be helpful courteous and do everything
they request and you will find the border crossing a short time in a
wonderful adventure into Canada where we will make you very welcome.

I cross the border between Canada and the United States about 20 times a
year due to business and the Convention planning. Relax answer the officers
questions honestly and you will shortly be on your way to the wonderful new
adventures while at the 2006 Convention.

Stan East
2006 Convention Committee Secretary