What Are My Chances?

[PHZ]

Traveling by car from US to Canada via Michigan. Considering grabbing a Mini 5 Pro whilst visiting there. I am wondering what my chances are of bringing it back home successfully?

Also bringing a currently owned Mini 3 Pro along. Will I have an issue bringing it back in?

Thanks,

Phil

 

[mavic3usa]

From everything I have been hearing, no issues with crossing the Canada border with drones. I've only heard of one issue where a gentlemen declared it as a DJI drone and it was confiscated at the port of entry but either he was a foreign national or he looked like a "foreigner" so it's likely he received extra scrutiny when Canada/Mexico was not involved.

 

[PHZ]

From everything I have been hearing, no issues with crossing the Canada border with drones. I've only heard of one issue where a gentlemen declared it as a DJI drone and it was confiscated at the port of entry but either he was a foreign national or he looked like a "foreigner" so it's likely he received extra scrutiny when Canada/Mexico was not involved.

Thank you for your response.

 

[Landshark99]

It all depends on how you perceive risk, legally you are required to declare all purchases made out of the country, If you have been in Canada for at least 48 hours, you have an $800 exemption and will only pay a duty starting from $1,000. If you do not declare theyt may not notice it in your vehicle ,but if they do and you did not declare the purchase, you could lose it and also pay a fine.

 

[PHZ]

It all depends on how you perceive risk, legally you are required to declare all purchases made out of the country, If you have been in Canada for at least 48 hours, you have an $800 exemption and will only pay a duty starting from $1,000. If you do not declare theyt may not notice it in your vehicle ,but if they do and you did not declare the purchase, you could lose it and also pay a fine.

Thank you. The duty does not worry me, it is the possibility they may seize it.

 

[Landshark99]

My guess is you just saw you bought photo gear or a drone in Canada, they will either let it go or just charge the duty fee. But I have not crossed the border in the last year, so I think it all depends on who that customs person is.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Traveling by car from US to Canada via Michigan. Considering grabbing a Mini 5 Pro whilst visiting there. I am wondering what my chances are of bringing it back home successfully?

Also bringing a currently owned Mini 3 Pro along. Will I have an issue bringing it back in?

Thanks,

Phil

I would imagine that a lot of the 'scrutiny' would be avoided if it looked as though you'd been using it along with any other camera gear you took with you for the trip... and it wasn't still in the packaging.

 

[Bad Santa]

I would imagine that a lot of the 'scrutiny' would be avoided if it looked as though you'd been using it along with any other camera gear you took with you for the trip... and it wasn't still in the packaging.

And the box folds flat.

An unboxed drone, in it's carry bag, is less likely to set off a flag.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Thank you. The duty does not worry me, it is the possibility they may seize it.

It certainly won’t be seized if you properly declare it. There is no official ban on bringing DJI drones into the U.S.. However, trying to smuggle them in, without declaring them, could potentially result in seizure and forfeiture.

As to your Mini 3 Pro, if you bring along your receipt from your original purchase, that will help prove prior ownership before the trip, just in case they question it. You could also declare the Mini 3 Pro on your way into Canada, and ask that they document its ownership before entry.

By the way, for the $800 exemption to apply, you have to have been in Canada for at least 48 hours.

 

[PINEBARON]

By the way, for the $800 exemption to apply, you have to have been in Canada for at least 48 hours.

Its purely up to the CBP officer and my comments only relate to land border crossings. Living right next to the border we frquently travel across for only a few hours, for activities, shopping, restaurants, groceries at times (only legally permitted items). Funnily grocery, hardware stores, restuarants across the border are much closer to us than going to our nearest town in the US. As I've already provided a similar response to your statement on another thread, we have on rare occasions, purchased and brought across furniture, lighting etc. with values far exceeding daily exemption limts; we declare absolutely everything purchased and leave it to the CBP officer to decide. Never purchased tobacco, any banned items, alcohol for sure, and stuck to personal import limits, since they are very fussy about alcohol, although once, on a day before one Xmas, ran out of red wines at home. rushed across the border to purchase several bottles of expensive red wines from Canadian duty free, declared quantity and values (they immediately send details to border guys at moment of purchase at duty free with licence plate info) the CBP officer said Merry Xmas. Till date we have yet to pay duty on any import, although we would not hesitate to pay if asked to.

 

[Felix le Chat]

And the box folds flat.

An unboxed drone, in it's carry bag, is less likely to set off a flag.

Slap an 'I ' sticker on the bag for good measure and you're quids-in.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Its purely up to the CBP officer and my comments only relate to land border crossings. Living right next to the border we frquently travel across for only a few hours, for activities, shopping, restaurants, groceries at times (only legally permitted items). Funnily grocery, hardware stores, restuarants across the border are much closer to us than going to our nearest town in the US. As I've already provided a similar response to your statement on another thread, we have on rare occasions, purchased and brought across furniture, lighting etc. with values far exceeding daily exemption limts; we declare absolutely everything purchased and leave it to the CBP officer to decide. Never purchased tobacco, any banned items, alcohol for sure, and stuck to personal import limits, since they are very fussy about alcohol, although once, on a day before one Xmas, ran out of red wines at home. rushed across the border to purchase several bottles of expensive red wines from Canadian duty free, declared quantity and values (they immediately send details to border guys at moment of purchase at duty free with licence plate info) the CBP officer said Merry Xmas. Till date we have yet to pay duty on any import, although we would not hesitate to pay if asked to.

I will respectfully defer to your personal experience, now that I better understand the context of it. Certainly declaring everything relieves you of any and all responsibility.

While it is anecdotal to your area, I'm sure other areas are also tourist friendly to cross border shopping trips. Not sure if that will continue, as the Canadians are ticked off at us and canceling annual trips to Florida and Arizona, but maybe the CBP officers look upon wishing you a Merry Xmas as their way of getting even with Canada for punishing us. You are free to loot Canada and come back home! LOL!

 

[Cafguy]

For one You will be banned from entering Canada again. then theres the 1000 to 5000 dollar fine. Plus of course they will take the drone. Last but not least there is the up to 1 year of Canadian jail you will be facing......I would declare the drone!

 

[PHZ]

It certainly won’t be seized if you properly declare it. There is no official ban on bringing DJI drones into the U.S.. However, trying to smuggle them in, without declaring them, could potentially result in seizure and forfeiture.

As to your Mini 3 Pro, if you bring along your receipt from your original purchase, that will help prove prior ownership before the trip, just in case they question it. You could also declare the Mini 3 Pro on your way into Canada, and ask that they document its ownership before entry.

By the way, for the $800 exemption to apply, you have to have been in Canada for at least 48 hours.

Thank you. 48 hours won’t be a problem in this case.

 

[PHZ]

For one You will be banned from entering Canada again. then theres the 1000 to 5000 dollar fine. Plus of course they will take the drone. Last but not least there is the up to 1 year of Canadian jail you will be facing......I would declare the drone!

Good advice. Although a “free” stay is sometimes an attraction, but not in this case.

 

[Cafguy]

Its Canada how bad could the prison really be lol...

 

[PHZ]

Its purely up to the CBP officer and my comments only relate to land border crossings. Living right next to the border we frquently travel across for only a few hours, for activities, shopping, restaurants, groceries at times (only legally permitted items). Funnily grocery, hardware stores, restuarants across the border are much closer to us than going to our nearest town in the US. As I've already provided a similar response to your statement on another thread, we have on rare occasions, purchased and brought across furniture, lighting etc. with values far exceeding daily exemption limts; we declare absolutely everything purchased and leave it to the CBP officer to decide. Never purchased tobacco, any banned items, alcohol for sure, and stuck to personal import limits, since they are very fussy about alcohol, although once, on a day before one Xmas, ran out of red wines at home. rushed across the border to purchase several bottles of expensive red wines from Canadian duty free, declared quantity and values (they immediately send details to border guys at moment of purchase at duty free with licence plate info) the CBP officer said Merry Xmas. Till date we have yet to pay duty on any import, although we would not hesitate to pay if asked to.

Thank you for your reply and sharing your story.

 

[Bad Santa]

Its Canada how bad could the prison really be lol...

I can't answer that but I can tell you about the suspect holding area at the border. Not quite a jail cell but close.

 

[PINEBARON]

Not sure if that will continue, as the Canadians are ticked off at us and canceling annual trips to Florida and Arizona, but maybe the CBP officers look upon wishing you a Merry Xmas as their way of getting even with Canada for punishing us. You are free to loot Canada and come back home! LOL!

I have not run into any Canadians who are ticked off. CBP officers in both directions are extremely polite; sure they may ask pertinent questions and also take a peek into my vehicle or ask to drop the tailgate when I use my truck, but its their job and I always respect that. Even when I've been across even for a few hours (I go bowling at an alley across the border every week), when I return back, its not unusual for the officer to say 'Welcome back home'. They are all a great bunch no matter what time and which crossing anywhere WA to NY, and I've used them and at various times of the day.

Apart from a couple of countries, I find they are all ok and I've extensive travelled through majority of countries in the northern hemisphere mostly by air, a few by road and few by sea (in my own boat). I'm talking of travel span from the very early 70's to date covering the North America, Europe both west and east, Far East, China, Russia and a whole lot more. Once physically drove my own car, all the way from London UK to New Delhi India as well, thorugh Europe, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan then to India; now that was an adventure.

 

[PINEBARON]

I can't answer that but I can tell you about the suspect holding area at the border. Not quite a jail cell but close.

Seems like you have some exprience with that.