Engagement ring

Old Sep 24th 2002, 5:58 am
  #1  
Chris
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Default Engagement ring

My fiance is coming to Canada (he's in the US) this Christmas so we can have
an "official engagement" with the families etc. Is his bringing an
engagement ring across the border going to be a problem? Has anyone gone
through this or dealt with this at all?


Thanks,
Chris
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 3:56 pm
  #2  
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Default Re: Engagement ring

This might be a stupid question, but why would they even know that he's bringing an engagement ring across the border? Why would it really matter? So far as I recall, they don't ask at the checkpoint "Are you carrying an engagement ring for your fiance?" If he says that he's entering for pleasure, to visit a friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I can't see it being an issue.

-Heidi
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Old Sep 24th 2002, 5:16 pm
  #3  
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Originally posted by Sioneva:
This might be a stupid question, but why would they even know that he's bringing an engagement ring across the border? Why would it really matter? So far as I recall, they don't ask at the checkpoint "Are you carrying an engagement ring for your fiance?" If he says that he's entering for pleasure, to visit a friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I can't see it being an issue.

-Heidi
Heidi

Believe me they DO ASK you what you are bringing into the country, i.e. gifts and their value. Just this year alone, we have traveled to Canada three times and all three times upon entry into Canada and entry back to the US both sides asked what we were bringing with us and its value.

On the last crossing, our car was thoroughly searched although the luggage was not gone through only moved around.

Rete
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Old Sep 24th 2002, 5:23 pm
  #4  
Andy Platt
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Default Re: Engagement ring

"Sioneva" wrote in message
news:423900.1032882973@britishexpats-
.com
...
    > This might be a stupid question, but why would they even know that he's
    > bringing an engagement ring across the border? Why would it really
    > matter? So far as I recall, they don't ask at the checkpoint "Are you
    > carrying an engagement ring for your fiance?" If he says that he's
    > entering for pleasure, to visit a friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I
    > can't see it being an issue.

There's a name for that ... smuggling

I was holding off on responding to the original thread because I hoped that
someone with personal experience might know something. Here's my
understanding - he's bringing a gift bought in the US for somebody living in
Canada and it's therefore subject to the usual rules about US citizens
brings goods into Canada. There isn't an exception for engagement rings that
I know of. The fact that the fiancee will eventually move to the US
unfortunately doesn't factor into the equation (though possibly you could
get a refund of taxes you had paid?).

So it seems you have four options:

a) Do as Heidi says
b) Bring a cheap throwaway symbolic ring to have until she moves to the US
c) Don't bring any ring
d) Pay the duty

b, c and d are legal. I would point out that if she was wearing the ring and
crossing into Canada, nobody would ask any questions. While this isn't
actually any different from you carrying it in, there is pretty much zero
risk of the issue arising!

Andy.

--
I'm not really here - it's just your warped imagination.
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 5:47 pm
  #5  
Jim Battista
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Default Re: Engagement ring

"Andy Platt" wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    >> If he says that he's entering for pleasure, to visit a
    >> friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I can't see it being an
    >> issue.
    > There's a name for that ... smuggling
    > I was holding off on responding to the original thread because I
    > hoped that someone with personal experience might know something.
    > Here's my understanding - he's bringing a gift bought in the US
    > for somebody living in Canada and it's therefore subject to the
    > usual rules about US citizens brings goods into Canada. There
    > isn't an exception for engagement rings that I know of.

Actually, there is, if the ring is leaving Canada again...

http://www.ccra-adrc-
.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/d2-1-3/d2-1-3-e.html


There's a lot of paperwork associated with it, it looks like.

Naturally I'd *never* break the law myself, but I know This Guy who
just smuggled his across the border in his trunk without incident.

--
Jim Battista
A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 5:58 pm
  #6  
Andy Platt
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Aha, good catch! It must be fairly common. Well, there's option (e) then!

Andy.

--
I'm not really here - it's just your warped imagination.
"Jim Battista" wrote in message
news:Xns92938215FCC6Fbattist-
[email protected]
...
    > "Andy Platt" wrote in
    > news:[email protected]:
    > >> If he says that he's entering for pleasure, to visit a
    > >> friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I can't see it being an
    > >> issue.
    > >
    > > There's a name for that ... smuggling
    > >
    > > I was holding off on responding to the original thread because I
    > > hoped that someone with personal experience might know something.
    > > Here's my understanding - he's bringing a gift bought in the US
    > > for somebody living in Canada and it's therefore subject to the
    > > usual rules about US citizens brings goods into Canada. There
    > > isn't an exception for engagement rings that I know of.
    > Actually, there is, if the ring is leaving Canada again...
    > http://www.ccra-ad-
    > rc.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/d2-1-3/d2-1-3-e.html

    > There's a lot of paperwork associated with it, it looks like.
    > Naturally I'd *never* break the law myself, but I know This Guy who
    > just smuggled his across the border in his trunk without incident.
    > --
    > Jim Battista
    > A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 6:04 pm
  #7  
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Or if the man were smart, he would use a jeweler with a Canadian branch in his sweetie's town, i.e. Ben Moss and order the ring online with it to be picked up in Canada at that particular store. Not only would it circumvent the "cross the border with smuggled goods" issue but would save him a S__tload of money with the rate of exchange being what it is.

Or let his intended go to the jewelry store and pick out several rings that "she" likes and then they can go back together and get the "perfect" engagement ring.

Rete
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Old Sep 24th 2002, 6:38 pm
  #8  
Mrtravel
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Sioneva wrote:
    > This might be a stupid question, but why would they even know that he's
    > bringing an engagement ring across the border? Why would it really
    > matter? So far as I recall, they don't ask at the checkpoint "Are you
    > carrying an engagement ring for your fiance?" If he says that he's
    > entering for pleasure, to visit a friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I
    > can't see it being an issue.

Have you never visited a foreign country or returned to the US and been
faced with Custom's forms, or other declarations of what you are
bringing into the country?
You don't get to bring in whatever gifts you feel like bringing. You may
not get caught, but that doesn't make it legal.

So, you fill out E29B for the ring.
At the POE, you get 15 days to bring the ring back to the US.
This period can be extended up to a year.
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 7:43 pm
  #9  
Chris
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Thank you all for your responses... hm, good idea on the American/Canadian
exchange, guess buying it here would be a good idea and no stress or hassles
     Thank you!

Chris.

"mrtravel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
t
...
    > Sioneva wrote:
    > >
    > > This might be a stupid question, but why would they even know that he's
    > > bringing an engagement ring across the border? Why would it really
    > > matter? So far as I recall, they don't ask at the checkpoint "Are you
    > > carrying an engagement ring for your fiance?" If he says that he's
    > > entering for pleasure, to visit a friend/girlfriend (which he is) then I
    > > can't see it being an issue.
    > Have you never visited a foreign country or returned to the US and been
    > faced with Custom's forms, or other declarations of what you are
    > bringing into the country?
    > You don't get to bring in whatever gifts you feel like bringing. You may
    > not get caught, but that doesn't make it legal.
    > So, you fill out E29B for the ring.
    > At the POE, you get 15 days to bring the ring back to the US.
    > This period can be extended up to a year.
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 10:17 pm
  #10  
Deanna C
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Default Re: Engagement ring

If you don't have a reciept for it (if it was handed down) get an apprasil
done on it. My sisters from Canada and her husband from Chicago and this is
what she's done just to be safe in the future. Get it appraised in the US
for when she travels home now that she's living there.

As for getting it there in the first place, I haven't a clue. I wore mine
and forgot to mention it when crossing.

D


"Chris" wrote in message
news:8f3k9.406769$Ag2.17-
[email protected]
...
    > Thank you all for your responses... hm, good idea on the American/Canadian
    > exchange, guess buying it here would be a good idea and no stress or
hassles
    > Thank you!
    > Chris.
    > "mrtravel" wrote in message
    > [url="news:[email protected]"]news:[email protected][-
    > /url]...
    > >
    > >
    > > Sioneva wrote:
    > > >
    > > > This might be a stupid question, but why would they even know that
he's
    > > > bringing an engagement ring across the border? Why would it really
    > > > matter? So far as I recall, they don't ask at the checkpoint "Are you
    > > > carrying an engagement ring for your fiance?" If he says that he's
    > > > entering for pleasure, to visit a friend/girlfriend (which he is) then
I
    > > > can't see it being an issue.
    > >
    > > Have you never visited a foreign country or returned to the US and been
    > > faced with Custom's forms, or other declarations of what you are
    > > bringing into the country?
    > > You don't get to bring in whatever gifts you feel like bringing. You may
    > > not get caught, but that doesn't make it legal.
    > >
    > > So, you fill out E29B for the ring.
    > > At the POE, you get 15 days to bring the ring back to the US.
    > > This period can be extended up to a year.
 
Old Sep 24th 2002, 11:25 pm
  #11  
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Lest I sound like an idiot, yes, I have been in and out of the country, many, many times. As I recall, the amount of the exemption is fairly high, at least entering into the US, as my engagement ring was well under the limit for "items acquired abroad". If the cost of the ring is going to cause problems, then by all means the original poster should either pay the duty or buy the ring in Canada.

-Heidi
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Old Sep 24th 2002, 11:33 pm
  #12  
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Also, although this was pre-September 11th of last year, I've crossed into Canada multiple times, and back, and never been asked more than why I'm visiting, so didn't realize such a big deal was made out of it. I must say, I don't particularly appreciate the general implication that I'm advocating something illegal, as everything else I've ever said in here has been by-the-book, and I was simply asking a question for clarification based on *my* past experiences entering the country. I certainly didn't intend it to be less than honest.
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Old Sep 24th 2002, 11:34 pm
  #13  
Jojo3232
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Simple solution to your problem....Have him UPS the ring to you before he
leaves.....Just get plenty of insurance on it....
"Chris" wrote in message
news:R9Tj9.402964$Ag2.17-
[email protected]
...
    > My fiance is coming to Canada (he's in the US) this Christmas so we can
have
    > an "official engagement" with the families etc. Is his bringing an
    > engagement ring across the border going to be a problem? Has anyone gone
    > through this or dealt with this at all?
    > Thanks,
    > Chris
 
Old Sep 25th 2002, 1:38 am
  #14  
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Default Re: Engagement ring

[SIZE=1]Originally posted by Jojo3232:
Simple solution to your problem....Have him UPS the ring to you before he
leaves.....Just get plenty of insurance on it....
Nothing simple about that at all. From experience sending birthday and xmas presents to Canada to stepson and grandson, you have to pay duty. Even though marked gifts, Nova Scotia has made my stepson pay duty on the estimate costs of the gifts we have shipped in the past. Have had this occur in New Brunswick province too when sending a used printer to a friend and it was clearly marked gift.
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Old Sep 25th 2002, 3:49 am
  #15  
Margaret
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Default Re: Engagement ring

Interesting you mentioned Ben Moss Jewellers. When my then fiance
came to visit me in Canada for the first time face to face last
September, he asked me to marry him. Ben Moss Jewellers happened to
be the first jewellery store we went to. The first ring I spotted was
the one I wanted. We did look at other stores after just to make sure
I didn't want something different but ended up coming back to the
first and getting the ring. This was on the way of returning him to
Buffalo, New York for him to catch a flight back to his home the next
day.

He initially wanted to present me with the ring on the U.S. side in
Buffalo and of all places at McDonald's just to be different. Anyhow
we were starting to drive up the Peace Bridge and while stuck in the
middle of traffic (it was backed up since he was returning to the U.S.
only 13 days after the terrorist attacks on the WTC), we looked at
each other and wondered about the ring and declaring it at customs.
Meanwhile we had the receipt and ring box on us but we were panicked
about leaving it in the box and customs finding it. He then decided
to propose to me while we were in traffic and where the U.S./Canada
international boundary met on the Peace Bridge. We had no problems
whatsoever at customs.

I think you were right in advising the poster to buy the ring on the
Canadian side and to present it to her there.


Rete wrote in message news:...
    > Or if the man were smart, he would use a jeweler with a Canadian branch
    > in his sweetie's town, i.e. Ben Moss and order the ring online with it
    > to be picked up in Canada at that particular store. Not only would it
    > circumvent the "cross the border with smuggled goods" issue but would
    > save him a S__tload of money with the rate of exchange being what it is.
    > Or let his intended go to the jewelry store and pick out several rings
    > that "she" likes and then they can go back together and get the
    > "perfect" engagement ring.
    > Rete
 

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