Traveling between Canada and the US to do art shows

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Permalink Reply by Larry Jelf on May 25, 2009 at 7:54pm

I used to live near Detroit. Allow yourself plenty of time to pass through customs and have a passport. Don't joke about anything you have with you. Be businesslike and courteous. There will probably be forms to fill out for tax purposes when you cross. You can cross at Niagara or Detroit. Holidays can be h---. We waited 4 hours to get through customs on July 4, which importance for travel we had forgotten. Of course, you have a passport. Just avoid holidays unless you like waiting a long time.

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Permalink Reply by Natalie Salminen on January 21, 2010 at 10:39pm

Hi there Susanne,
I am wondering the same thing! I am a U.S. citizen, now living in Canada, and am curious about crossing the border with art work, taxes, etc. I would love to share any info I find with you. Would you mind doing the same? I have a Canadian accountant who is looking into this for me and hopefully she will get back to me soon.

I have a question for you. Do you think I should continue to apply to shows (in the U.S.) with a U.S. address or a Canadian address? Do you feel U.S. shows favor U.S. citizens? Or Canada favoring Canadian artists? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you...

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Permalink Reply by Dave Hinde on January 22, 2010 at 9:53am

Be very careful how you list your reason for crossing. If you list it as a hobby, or just displaying your work, you can probably cross OK - BUT if some guard finds out you are selling your work and making any kind of income from it, you will get stopped. Once they question you for anything, your name gets on a list and you will get the 3rd degree any time you cross.

A friend of mine was coming in from Canada on a regular basis doing some part time entertainment work. He had got stopped when they found out he was making some income from it. For awhile they gave him a hard time everytime he crossed, now he can't come to the U.S. at all. One of the issues was where he was declaring the income and paying the income tax.

BTW, search out an agreement about "Exchange of the Arts" or something like that. There are some allowances in it for artists of any type. Just be careful of the income tax issues.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Hoyt on January 23, 2010 at 8:13am

I know a couple of exhibitors who live in Toronto and do shows in the US. They have trailers and they dread coming over the border. Last October while one was coming to do a show in Syracuse, NY, he was held at the border for 4 hours while his trailer was searched. He made it a point to reduce his prices the last day of the show so he could go home with an empty trailer. Or at least an almost empty trailer. Another exhibotor says it's a crapshoot as to whether or not her trailer is searched. Her advice is to make sure your stock is easily removed and replaced at the crossing. make it as easy as possible for the guards and you'll have little trouble. And make sure your passport is in line. Or at least an enhanced driver's license.

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Permalink Reply by Susanne on January 23, 2010 at 8:41am

I can't offer any advice on this as we have only recently arrived back in Canada and have been too busy to do anything about this. I have info somewhere from a jeweler who does quite a few shows in the US but to make it easier she does all the paperwork and takes over enough stuff for multiple shows and then stores it in the US. I will try and find this info and post it as it may be helpful. After our move I'm still trying to find everything!

Natalie Salminen said:

Hi there Susanne,
I am wondering the same thing! I am a U.S. citizen, now living in Canada, and am curious about crossing the border with art work, taxes, etc. I would love to share any info I find with you. Would you mind doing the same? I have a Canadian accountant who is looking into this for me and hopefully she will get back to me soon.

I have a question for you. Do you think I should continue to apply to shows (in the U.S.) with a U.S. address or a Canadian address? Do you feel U.S. shows favor U.S. citizens? Or Canada favoring Canadian artists? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you...

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Permalink Reply by Bill Morris on March 31, 2010 at 11:36am

I got accepted to do the Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY this year and the shortest route would be to cross into Canada at Port Huron and back into the US at Niagra Falls, but I will put in the extra seat time and drive around Lake Erie, just to get away from crossing the border. I expect that the extra 100 miles will take less time than going across the borders.

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Permalink Reply by Natalie Salminen on July 9, 2010 at 2:45pm

Thanks to everyone who commented. This looks bleak...anyway, if you have any more info I would be so thankful to have it. Feel free to keep posting about this issue. All the best to all of you!

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Permalink Reply by Pat Sorbini on January 17, 2011 at 1:21pm

Bill..Where will you drive to that doesn't have a border crossing? I'm confused.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Reimer on January 17, 2011 at 5:06pm

He's going from US to US and could take a short cut thru Canada, but will take the long route to avoid 2 border crossings.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Bernstein on January 18, 2011 at 12:35pm

My experience with border crossings is pre 2001, when things changed, so I don't know how thorough they are now at the border.  I was going to a show in Massachusetts and crossed into Canada at the St. Ste. Marie border and back into the US south of Montreal at the Vermont border.  What I did was make sure I had my contract for the show.  I, also, had an inventory list with all my pieces in boxes, with a corresponding number marked on the box.  On the way to the show, I was detained at the Canadian border and placed in a room.  They watched me for a few minutes and then let me go.  All they were concerned with was whether I was going to sell my work in Canada, which I wasn't because it had my setup time and date on my contract.  I had no problem at the US border.  It was an indoor show so I had a 10' x 10' rolled up piece of carpet  On the way back, I was asked at the US border if I was hiding anything inside that carpet roll.  And that was it. No problems at all.

 

You definitely want to be polite at the border.  Do no make any jokes and be very business like.  Just answer their questions and have your ID and documentation by your side.  Don't give them any reason to search your vehicle. 

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