Working in Canada

W

Will Lane

Freshman
Jan 16, 2011
78
0
6
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
I have a project coming up where I would need to take a small truck (sprinter / 16' truck) of production equipment into Canada for several days.

Can someone detail the border crossing for me and what paperwork is necessary? Are there any services that can help (for pay of course) with getting this together?


Thanks!
-will
 
Re: Working in Canada

Carnet filing may be needed, listing all equipment being brought in (so they can make sure you take it back home). This has been discussed on PSW forums before (and maybe here). The carnet is a form of bonding to help insure that that all items imported are exported (or duties and customs fees collected if the items remain in a foreign country or if the carnet expires).

From a personnel standpoint, you will need to make sure you are eligible for admittance to Canada and determine whether or not you will need a work permit (likely). Generally your client should secure the work permits. Not sure how long that takes, but the sooner the process is begun the sooner you'll be certain. It's been a decade or more since I've been to Canada so others will have better and more recent information.

One thing that will almost certainly keep you from entering Canada: felony criminal charges in your home country, or being charged with a crime that is a misdemeanor in your country but a felony in Canada (DUI is *the* prime example). It doesn't matter if the charges were dismissed, that you completed diversion or that that a conviction was expunged... you'll have to apply for "criminal rehabilitation for entry to Canada" (IIRC that's how they word it). Canadian immigration/customs has detailed information on their website, and an email or phone call will be probably be needed if you have reason to be filling out those forms. They have different requirements based on length of stay and presumably purpose of visit. If these circumstances apply to anyone desiring to enter Canada it is best to begin the process early. Several years ago I was in catering with some tour drivers - one was telling about another driver who had an 8 year old DUI conviction in the USA, who was denied entry to Canada. His employer had to find a Canadian driver and arrange for deportation of the first guy back to the USA (I guess you can't just walk back across the line).

You'll need your U.S. passport or passport card.

Canada is a beautiful country with lots of smart and generally friendly people. If you're prepared you'll have a good time.
 
Re: Working in Canada

Will Lane said:
I have a project coming up where I would need to take a small truck (sprinter / 16' truck) of production equipment into Canada for several days.

Can someone detail the border crossing for me and what paperwork is necessary? Are there any services that can help (for pay of course) with getting this together?


Thanks!
-will
Click to expand...
I'm a Canadian and have done this going the other direction many times, but the rules and regulations change all the time, so you're best bet is to contact the Border Information Service. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

As Tim mentioned, DUIs are the biggest reason why people are refused entry into Canada. Obviously any criminal record of any kind will be a big problem.
Your equipment will need to be inventoried, with serial numbers, value, country of manufacture for each piece. Customs can ask to see any random item which you will need to find for them to prove that it is what you say, or they can unload the entire truck and go through it themselves if they like. Or they can ask you a few questions and send you on your way. Always make sure all your paperwork is in order, don't try to "get away" with anything, but only answer questions the border guards ask, no need to volunteer information to make them ask more questions. Don't lie about anything, it's simply not worth it.

If you are working for a musical group, you won't need a visa, but you'll want to bring a letter from the people in Canada that are hiring your group. For a corporate or business show, you'll likely need a visa.
 
Re: Working in Canada

Andrew Broughton said:
If you are working for a musical group, you won't need a visa, but you'll want to bring a letter from the people in Canada that are hiring your group. For a corporate or business show, you'll likely need a visa.
Click to expand...

How does working for a band differ from working for a corporate show? Both are work for hire aren't they?
(Last time I was in Canada was for a band, and we did not need visas, but did our paperwork ahead of time with a broker)


- Tony Williams
 
Re: Working in Canada

Tony Williams said:
That makes sense, knowing the engineer would have to be working for the band.


- Tony Williams
Click to expand...

You can't get a work permit if you, as a foreign national, would replace or prevent a Canadian citizen from working. There are already AV technicians, stage hands, and other production craftsmen/women in Canada. There is an exemption for artists and cultural presenters and their crew that work for them delivering the art or culture. So back line techs, FOH and monitor mixerpersons, lighting operator, etc. and administrative staff are eligible for permits as they are intrinsic to the artist's work.

This is not just Canada, but tends to apply in varying degrees around much of the world.
 
Top Bottom