Conference kaosws::canada

    
    You are wise to be wary of these guys. If you have ever been
    interrogated, you will know that your rights are miniscule compared
    with their power under the Customs Act that empowers them. You
    can phone (613)993-0534 and get the latest rulings for the class
    of item(s) you whish to import temporarily. Make sure you get
    the name and badge of who you talked to in case the outpost you
    cross at has not received the last few dispatches from customs
    central.
    
    Pat

    I know leaving Canada for the US you can get a customs declaration
    stating that this material is really yours and was purchased prior to
    your trip to the US. It's a small green card and it records a basic
    description of the equipment and a serial #.
    
    This still doesn't stop you from being hassled at the border. I suggest
    you not go via Houlton/Woodstock if possible. Went that way this summer
    and they spent 1/2 hour questioning my wife & I about some medicine for
    my son which was completly legal, we had doctor's letters, perscription
    numbers, etc.  I was later told that Woodstock is one of the strictest
    crossings in Canada.
    
    You might want to touch base with US Customs as well, especially since
    you will be returning with the equipment.
    
    Good luck,
    Terry

    You need a temporary export form filled out at your local US customs
    office. This is a major pain because you must do this in advance and
    may be required to haul all the stuff down to the office for this to
    happen. (There is no US equivilant of the little green cards we can get
    at border crossing time).
    
    When you're bringing large value goods like 6 PC's be prepared to be
    asked to pay a bond, possibly a large one, to assure that you'll be
    taking the stuff back out. Another possiblity is to obtain something
    called a charnet (I think that's how it's spelled) I think you go to
    your local chamber of commerce to do this.
    
    Whatever you do be prepared, have a detailed list of what you're
    carting, with serial numbers. Also be prepared to prove that you're not
    coming up to work, I assume you're attenting a hamfest, have the
    brochures for the event and if possible your registration confirmation
    handy. 
          

Thanks for all this great info...  

I've done this sort of thing years ago, and I always used to stop on the US 
side of the border and present a list to US customs.  They would look at it 
and stamp it with a customs seal.  Usually, the Canadian side would'nt even 
care about it.  But I know lately they are getting really tuff.

Re .3 - No, I''m not going to a hamfest.  There is a big ham radio contest at 
the end of the month where hams from all over the world compete with each 
other, trying to talk to as many people as possible in as many countries as 
possible in a 48-hour period.  Only problem is, you can't talk to the same guy 
twice.  When you talk to 10,000 people, the only way to track this is via 
computer.  So, at the station I'll be operating at, we will have a six-station 
network which keeps our log, scores, and connects to a packet-radio 
network across the US and Canada, which is used to let people know where 
rare stations are.  Anyway, we hope to set a new Canadian record, besting 
the old one which we hold....  

I Just hope I can get the gear past The Calis <-> St. Stephen boys -- I've 
been all over the world and that border point seems to be the worst I've 
encountered.

Thanks again!

Gerry Hull
A Native of Halifax, NS, now residing in the hills of Greenfield, NH

    Gerry,
    
    Just a question - did you live in a place called Shearwater, Nova
    Scotia at one time.
    
    I knew a Gerry Hull from there many years ago.
    
    Terry MacLellan
    Nova Scotian now working in Hull,Quebec.

Yes, Terry!

I Lived in Shearwater, most recently during 1970 - 75.

I can't believe more than one Gerry Hull has lived in Shearwater, as the
base is not so active in the last few decades....

How do you know me?  Jog my memory...
(I've replied to you via mail also....)

Give me a buzz - DTN 381-0730 or (603) 881-0730...

Gerry Hull

of Greenfield, NH, formerly of Virgina Beach, VA, Shearwater,NS, Toronto, 
ON ... etc...