F3: Shooting in Canada

B

Backfocus92

Active member
I have a client (agency) that wants me to shoot a product in Canada. The developer of the product is located in the States and the agency is in the states, so the people paying me are all here, so no money would really leave the US. The developer has plants all over the world and I normally shoot all of their bigger videos. The product I need to shoot is only being manufactured in Canada, hence needing me to go there. Plus they want a few shots of the manufacturing process.

The last time I tried to shoot in Canada I had issues at the border. We were driving over to shoot a fishing show on a Canadian lake. We even had a letter inviting us to go there, and it was a US show only. To make a long story short they said we did not have the right paperwork, but would not tell us what we really needed. We had to do back to the states and were not allowed to shoot the shot.

This time I will be flying in, but I want to make sure I have any paperwork that I need, so I get the least hassle possible. According to the Canadian website. Film crews that are paid via foreign country do not need a work permit and are consider a business visitor. Also an US citizen as a business visitor does not need a temporary visa.

Does anyone else here have any experience traveling to Canada to work like I stated above. Any recommendations on paperwork to bring or do I need a visa? I tried calling the Embassy in the US and they were no help. I also email the CIC website and they just sent me back links to their own website, which is very confusing.
 
Andrew Stone said:
Do a search on "CARNET" on the site. Most of your answers will be contained in the threads listed.
Click to expand...


Yes I have already been down that road. I don't need a carnet to go to Canada the US Customs paper work will suffice. An all the info that I found regarding other Visa or no visa was as unclear as I have read anywhere else.
 
If you are bringing in your own gear, you will most definitely need a carnet, as Andrew stated. Even if you are being hired by americans, doing work for an american company, if gear is brought in you will need a carnet.

If you are not bringing gear, and it is just you going, with renting gear here, you won't need any visa or anything, as again you are being hire by americans and are not working in Canada for canadians.

Ryan
 
I have never had to have a Carnet when traveling there before with gear. I have always just used the US Customs forms. It has been a long time since I have done that though.
 
I know of what you speak with carnet vs. no carnet. I suspect you're still correct with doing the duplicate list method with U.S. Customs with a trip to Canada, as you say.

As far as the actual work is concerned, I believe it is a matter of not giving them any reason to believe you are being paid by a Canadian company when you are asked to declare the purpose of your visit.

"I'm here to take pictures of a factory"

Don't give them too much info, don't give them any reason to think you are trying to pull something off. I think it's as simple as that. Have the American client draw up a letter on letterhead if you must for backup, but I certainly wouldn't show it unless you have reason to believe it's going to dig you out of a hole that's developing.
 
How much gear are you bringing? I can't remember but there is a max value of gear you can bring without a Carnet. The problem with Carnet's is that a lot of customs folks don't know the specifics required so what is expected can change from agent to agent.

I always find airports frustrating because you really have very little 'rights' once you are on their turf and even if 100% right you could end up with a travel ban or something on your record for arguing. I've had a cam OP friend of mine turned away going to the states because the individual officer felt that our company should be hiring an American to shoot in the States not send our regular guys. We send another guy and he got through just fine. It really is a crap shoot but having all of your proper paperwork can at least help. Unfortunately in the modern job climate we see job protectionism from both sides of the border. When I travel with gear most of the time I go as a producer who is integral to the project and can't be hired out. That has worked for me so far (I am a producer so its not a lie and company has given letter stating such).
 
It certainly is a crap shoot, but when you show up with a carnet, they know you are serious. We all have stories of going in with/and without carnets, but it is there for a reason, so why not get one and use it. I have been with people that haven't had proper paperwork and they have been turned back. The customs officer said they could go, but the gear stays here. So take that for what its worth.
 
Thanks Nate. After finally speaking with a Border Control Person this morning they confirmed exactly what you had stated. I am only traveling with some 5D 3 and 1DC stuff for this trip. I have to be very small for these types of trips and shooting in the plant. I am renting gear and hiring a local for grip and lighting and some support equipment. The problem with using a carnet I have found the two times I ever tried to use them is that it creates more problems than not. The two times I tried using them the Border agent had no idea what it was and then that created an even bigger problem it was for a different country, but they did take them. I have a friend the works for Bass Pro shops and they travel there often with gear and just a US customs form for the gear. He has had the same experience with the carnet as I have, it creates more problems than it helps. However their situation is different than mine as they have an agreement with the government on travel and have paperwork to prove such.

So I am going to get the invite from the Canadian plant and a letter from the agency here in the states.
 
Last edited:
Work is work and it doesn't matter if it is paid back home or free, either way you "working" as your reason to enter the country and Canadian border services will not see it any other way.

If you don't want to get a work visa, the simple thing to do, then your better off crossing without much gear and rent most of it up here.

If you need F55, lights, grip, etc.. gimme a shout :happy:
 
I tend to agree that it’s sometimes the individual customs officer. I was refused entry into the US from Canada several years ago even though I had entered via that same entry point several times before, with the same equipment listed on Canadian Customs forms and never had a problem.


A couple months later I had another story and had to shoot an interview a customs officer on the way down. Turned out the interview was with the same officer who had refused me entry the time before. They let me in that day and have not had a problem since.


This year I traveled to Ireland and Inner Mongolia with 2 cameras, lenses, tripod and had no problems.


If I was taking a lot more gear would get a carnet as well as Canadian customs paper. Letter of invitation is also a good idea.
cheers
Morton
 
starcentral said:
Work is work and it doesn't matter if it is paid back home or free, either way you "working" as your reason to enter the country and Canadian border services will not see it any other way.

If you don't want to get a work visa, the simple thing to do, then your better off crossing without much gear and rent most of it up here.

If you need F55, lights, grip, etc.. gimme a shout :happy:
Click to expand...

According to the Canadian Temporary Workers Manual and two Border Control agents I talked with today, I do not need work visa. An it does matter where the money is coming from. If I was being paid via a Canadian employer I would being entering into the Canadian work-force. Since no one in Canada is paying me I am not and just considered a business visitor, so no visa require for a US resident. I am actually bringing Canada a job since I am hiring a local for grip and lighting.

Sorry Star I am not going to the Toronto area.
 
It will matter who you get at the border as many have said, and how will you prove to a border guard you are not being paid? That's the part I'd be worried about.
 
starcentral said:
It will matter who you get at the border as many have said, and how will you prove to a border guard you are not being paid? That's the part I'd be worried about.
Click to expand...

Yep just like the guy we got heading to the U.S. who felt we should be hiring camera OP in L.A. and not traveling with Camera from Toronto and this was with all the legit paper work and Carnet. Once you are on their turf it is up to the individual and you can't argue or face a permanent ban.
 
I really really doubt you need a carnet. Tell 'em you're shooting some shots as a favor to a friend....for free.
 
JCummings said:
I really really doubt you need a carnet. Tell 'em you're shooting some shots as a favor to a friend....for free.
Click to expand...

The problem becomes if they search your stuff and find evidence of your true intentions you are screwed and might never be allowed in country again or always flagged for a search.

In my experience it isn't worth the potential risks to lie to customs officers. Especially if international travel is part of your business.
 
RatLabProductions said:
The problem becomes if they search your stuff and find evidence of your true intentions you are screwed and might never be allowed in country again or always flagged for a search.

In my experience it isn't worth the potential risks to lie to customs officers. Especially if international travel is part of your business.
Click to expand...

As with us going to the states, it's always a crap shoot. Not to scare you but if they think you are bringing equipment in for the wrong reason it can be seized..... always my fear going to the states.
Where are you shooting?
 
i would never attempt to travel to Canada with my own equipment without a carnet and work permit. if it's someone else's gear i wouldn't be as concerned. but for production Canada is one of the most difficult countries for an American to travel to. at least in Africa you can buy your way through. i went with a very small crew but for a large production company, obviously being paid $US for a US production, and we needed the works. the production co paid for an agency to do the paperwork and it was substantial. when we flew into Winnipeg we spent an hour in customs going over paperwork. since it was all to code, they didn't bother too much checking the gear. but you should be even more careful to follow all the instructions on the way out. since, you know, you want to take your gear home with you.

it's a lot easier if you can rent everything there. it's only the gear that would give you away anyway. but in my case we were going to the back of beyond. either way, if you and your client are willing to risk being turned away, go for it. personally i don't like to be involved with a production that doesn't do the paperwork. it's not reportage.
 
I've been watching a Canadian TV show on the specialty channels called "Border Security" http://natgeotv.com/ca/border-security which is about people from other countries crossing into Canada specifically.

Not sure if you can watch it in the States, but you can see first hand how it goes down when you cross the border with equipment and have to explain and convince them you are not going to be working, or you are going to be working but not getting paid. Most of the time they want a letter and will want to contact the individuals where you say you are going to ask them if they know you are coming and what the nature of your visit is. So a letter is probably not a bad idea, but I would also be sure to have the direct contact of the individual from the company where you are going so they can vouch for you.

I would still get the carnet, its more for when you go back to the USA that you can prove you left with it and will not be forced to pay taxes on items you already own. I even carry receipts of expensive item stuff to help prove I where I bought when I go over borders.

Good luck and hope all this has been helpful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top