How much are you REALLY bringing?

That's terrible! It reminds me of when we were down last august and some woman on the bus was telling someone "I was at typhoon lagoon way back when it was river country" ....I didn't bother trying to explain the difference.

Back on topic a bit...I was thinking of taking 2 suitcases (provided I get accepted haha) and only filling one and then putting just a couple of things in the other one, so i can bring stuff home.

 

One thing to keep in mind (at least for Canadians) is you can only bring $750 worth of stuff back before you get charged duty. Now I know everyone ALWAYS accuratly declares what they're bringing, but on the plus side there's a UPS store right by Publix/Walgreens a short walk from the Commons/Chatham that you can send stuff home from. It's not all that cheep to send internationaly (and usually you still get dinged a little for duty/customs fees when it's delivered) but they can sure help you get stuff home that way.

Also near the end of the college program (at least the US one but I'm sure it's similar enough timing to the ICP) the UPS store comes to Chatham (and probably Vista) so provided your stuff is allready boxed you can just take it to the club house and ship it home.

 

Hi everyone...looked into the customs and duty issue as per the above post...and it's as follows:

1. If you have lived out of Canada for a year or more you DO NOT have to declare items you have owned for 6 months or more. (NOW-you have to keep your reciepts to prove that if necessary)
2. If you lease a vehicle, it's not considered owned so no duty.
3. If you buy an item (ie. Vehicle) if it's more than 10K you have to pay duty on anything over 10K.
4. If you sell your items when you get back you have to pay duty on that item.
5. If you come home with more than $10K you have to declare it (but most of us won't have that problem)
6. If you bring alcohol you are only allowed to bring back 1.14L duty free.
7. If you bring tobacco products...200 Cigs/50 Cigars/20g of Tobacco/200 Tobacco Sticks duty free.
8. There are limits on groceries...but we won't get into that.
9. If you send stuff home you (have to) declare it. (items for yourself)

Hope this helps!

 

Just a note to point 1 on that list (which is probably the most relevant to us)

You need to keep in mind that most of our programs are for less than a year (for example I'm June 19- June 10th I blelieve (might be June 8th or 12th though I can't remember). Thus unless I do a bit of traveling or extend (which is completely based off if a position is needed more so than me just saying I'll stay), I won't be in the US for more than a year and will still be limited to the $750 restriction.

Also from what I understand here http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/postal/ind_duty_free-e.html if you send packages home NOT ADDRESSED to yourself you do not have to claim them because who ever it's addressed to will be charged any applicible duties.

I had no problem sending 5 boxes home in the middle of my stay down there (addressed to my mom) but they held my 4 boxes I sent home that were addressed to myself and wanted reciepts. UPS helped out (since most of my reciepts that I still had were contained in those very boxes) and I recieved my items with no other hassels or extra duties.

So the above list is good but keep in mind, in more cases than not, you will NOT be in the USA for more than a year, and if you're sending something home, don't send it to yourself.

 

Thats awesome Jorden... never thought about those last few days that of the year! I guess it would be smart to hang around the states for about 5 more days... then we probably wont have too much of a hassel with the border... becasue we already know that we weill spend more than $750 CND while down there!

 

just remember they have to prove that what you are taking back was bought in america, if theres no labels on things that r especially designer they won't know wether u bought them there or b4 u went over