|
When it
comes to crossing the border, things are a
bit tighter than they were prior to 9-11,
but trucks and merchandise and people move
across the border every day. It
involves a bit of preparation, but it is not
a big deal. This page is here to help
with some of the details, but you should
contact US
Customs at 202-354-1000 if bringing pews
into the US, or
Canadian Customs (204-983-3500 or
506-636-5064 or if in Canada you can call
toll free 800-461-9989.) if you are entering
Canada.
BRINGING PEWS
FROM CANADA INTO THE US
The BEST
WAY is to rent a U-Haul
truck (or Ryder
or Budget
Trucks) and truck them yourself.
Note:
You can rent a U-haul in the US, load it
with pews, and take it to Canada, but you
cannot do a round trip and bring it back to
the US. You would have to make another
rental in Canada, so the better way is to
tow your car behind the U-Haul and drive it
back.
Same is
true if renting in Canada and driving into
the US. You cannot drive it back
across the border (something to do
with paperwork) so it is better to tow your
car, or get airline tickets back.
If you
are bringing wood (or padded wood)
church furniture (that has been made
in Canada, the US or Mexico) into the US
from Canada, there are no forms, no tax, no
duty. You need to accompany the
furniture. There may be a $5 fee
at the border. You should have a
letter on church letterhead from both
churches stating that you are buying pews in
a church-to-church transaction and moving
them.
UPDATE:
Apparently pews are not commonly moved
across the border, so they are not in the
"official book" of rules. A
recent church found it helpful to pay a
broker ($140) to help. They suggested
contacting a border broker before arriving.
However, they also indicated that the Border
folks told them that if the pews had been
under $2000 they would not need a border
broker. It seems that the rules vary
by interpretation and by who is at the gate
on the day you arrive. (Pray first).
Regular
rules about crossing the border apply….
Here are some places to review info….
http://www.howstuffworks.com/us-customs-service.htm
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/
Traveling
from the US into Canada: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/us_citizens/travel_to_canada.xml
Also
visit
http://www.amcits.com/entry_ca.asp
and
http://www.explore.canada.travel/ctc/ke/things_to_know_2.jsp?cat=4004&localeId=16
Returning
from Canada into the USA: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/us_citizens/documentary_requirements.xml
SHIPPING
If
you prefer you can hire a shipping company,
many cross the border, here is one to review
their info:
http://www.myyellow.com/dynamic/services/content/coverage/canada/howtoship.jsp
BRINGING PEWS FROM THE US INTO CANADA
-
Review this site
This
gets a bit trickier, but still no big deal.
Again, we recommend U-Haul or Ryder.
You
will need to get and fill out a Form
B-3, available at the website Canadian
Customs.
If
you are uncomfortable with filling out the
forms you can get a Customs Broker to do it,
but it is not necessary to have a customs
broker. Here
are the instructions for B-3.
There
is NO DUTY on moving church pews.
There is NO PST (Province Sales Tax).
However the furniture is subject to the GST
(goods and services tax) which is 7%.
DONATING
PEWS:
If
the pews or other wood church furniture are
being donated (gift from one church in
the US to another church in Canada), you can
avoid the 7% GST by documenting that no
money is exchanged. (Call us, we can
help with this). You
will need to have a letter on a US church
letterhead, signed (and it wouldn’t hurt
to have it notarized)
And
it should state that there is “no
commercial consideration”, and give the
name, address, phone, info of the church
where it is going in Canada. It would
also be good to have a letter from that
church stating the same things, on their
letterhead.
Again,
the rules state: donations by
non-residents to religious, charitable or
educational institutions in Canada are not
subject to duty or the GST.
So,
outside of a bit of paperwork it is not a
big deal. We hope you will feel free
to cross the border, and share in Christian
service with your brothers and sisters to
the north or south.
Disclaimer: This information is
presented as a guideline and has been
gathered from the web and by us calling US
and Canada customs. It is subject to
change and you should contact the Customs
office of the country you are entering for
the latest information.
|
What
Do I Need to Know to Travel to
Canada?
(from
the Customs Website)
(02/28/2003)
|
|
The following only applies when
traveling directly from the U.S. to
Canada!
U.S.
Citizen
A US citizen will be required by the
Government of Canada to prove that
he/she is a citizen of the US. This
proof may be a birth record,
baptismal record, passport,
Certificate of Citizenship, or
Certificate of Naturalization.
Often, native born US citizens will
be allowed to enter Canada with just
another photo identification
document, like a drivers license,
because the officer believes an oral
declaration of US citizenship. A
voter registration is NOT proof of
US citizenship for legal reasons too
lengthy to be of concern. Do not be
shocked when an immigration officer
tells you that after you present
that document.
Evidence
of the reason for your travel to
Canada may also be requested. If you
are a tourist, explain where you
will travel, for how long, and be
ready to show any advance
reservations for your stay. If you
are a business visitor, state what
the nature of your business is,
where you will go, what companies
you will see, and be ready to show
any letters from prior contacts with
those companies. If you are entering
for employment purposes, you should
have done your homework and have the
necessary papers preapproved, or be
entering under the NAFTA Trade
Agreement. You do not want to be
caught unprepared at the border and
be refused admission or even
arrested in extreme cases. None of
this is to say that you will need to
actually present any documentation
of these things. Oral declarations
will sometimes be sufficient. But
you should be ready, if asked. NOTE:
always carry photo identification
with you.
For
more complete information of entry
rules, employment, customs
regulations, you may wish to visit
the Government of Canada site.
U.S.
Permanent Residents
A Permanent Resident or holder of
the immigration "greencard"
needs to present a valid card to the
Canadian authorities when trying to
enter. Other than this fact, you
will be treated just like a US
citizen and expected to produce the
same proof of travel reason.
For
more complete information of entry
rules, employment, customs
regulations, you may wish to visit
the Government of Canada site.
Non-immigrants
in the US
If you are in a legal nonimmigrant
status in the US, the Canadians will
generally welcome you. You may be
required to present a passport and
visa, depending on your country of
citizenship. You should contact the
Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC
to determine what exact entry
requirements you must meet. Their
number for immigration and customs
issues is 202-682-1760. Or visit
their website at http://www.canadianembassy.org/splash/.
One special requirement often
requested of nonimmigrants is the
ability to show that you have the
appropriate documentation to return
to the US. That will generally be a
valid passport, INS Form I-94 that
has not expired or will not expire
during your visit to Canada, a valid
visa, and any other reentry papers
needed (such as a Form I-20 for F/M
students.)
For
more complete information of entry
rules, employment, customs
regulations, you may wish to visit
the Government of Canada site.
General
Information
Many of your questions can be
answered on the websites listed or
through an extensive touchtone
retrieval system of the Canadian
Embassy at (202) 682-1760.
|
|
