Bringing camera across U.S. border and back

F

Fender126

Member
Hello:
I got a question for anyone in the forum that can help. I am a Canadian. I plan to go to Detroit on Thursday to film a debate with one of the debators being a professor at a school here in Ottawa. The school is a non for profit organization, and we are filming the debate for our own purposes.

It is not for commercial use in the states (although if someone wants to buy a copy they can). And we are planning on just filming it and returning to Ottawa Canada right after.

My question is, what do we need for the border crossing to do this? Do we need special papers? Are we going to get stopped and the border, possably have our equipment confinscated? Does anyone know what we as Canadians would need to do to ensure that we can come and film and go without any trouble?

thank you.

From Kevin
 
Prior to crossing the border, go to Canadian Customs and have your equipment registered. They will take serial numbers and provide you with a small green document that will eliminate all hassles when you return. Indicate on your customs document that this was not for business purposes.
 
I cross all the time with a dvx100 and hvx200 and canon 7d with lenses all at the same time never have any issues nor do i stop to register them I have crossed at 3 different locations near me
 
Yeah me too, I'm french, I went in the USA 1 month ago and I had absolutly no problem at the airport. I just brought the copy of the invoce of my camcorder, in case the customs wanted to see it, but I never used it. Amways keep the camcorder with you though...
 
i never have any problem going all over Europe and Canada with my hvx although I am a US citizen. The US seems to be scared of canadians and checks you guys a lot more then us US citizens.
 
I had mine across the boarder this year and no problems except when I had it out to film us waiting for the rest of the riders and BUSTED
Do Not take out you camera !! They were pretty cool about it though .
No problems crossing back into Canada
 
I wouldn't recommend having lens cleaning fluid. I took a Mexican cruise a few years ago, along with a lot of my camera equipment. When we got off the cruise at the end, we had everything checked again by customs, and the dog barked at my backpack with equipment. Of course, I didn't have anything to hide, so I let them check the bag. They opened the lens fluid bottle, as if I was hiding something in there. It was legitimately the same stuff that was in it when I bought the bottle at B&H, but, they didn't think so. I had all my equipment confiscated. The dog also peed on my DVX which destroyed it. After I had it all returned, I was able to get the camera replaced under insurance, but what a pain...
 
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