Brining Cash across the US/CA border

[duubouu]

This is probably a dumb question, so I apologize in advance.

I'm driving across the border in Champlain, NY in a week and was wondering if I need to declare the cash I'm brining for SPs. Obviously I haven't been able to come for a long while due to the border being closed, so I'm going a bit crazy with the SPs this visit. I'm bringing quite a bit. Do it just pack the cash in my bag and say nothing? Do I declare it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hamsaplow]

If it's more than 10k cdn you have to declare it

 

[What's My Name]

1st thing don't say it's for a SP.
Usually anything $10k or over needs to be declared.
But if you have a large amount crossing and you can't tell them why you have a large amount they may hold you or make you go back if they are suspicious and ask am, shit load of questions.
Again if you are coming for a weekend and have like 5k, they may ask.
Be ready to show where your money comes from, if you withdrew it from your bank show them

 

[duubouu]

I'm bringing 6k Canadian. Having a few multi-hour dates with social portions as well as a 3 hr duo. I'm wondering if I should just stick it somewhere they're not likely to check in my laptop bag. Is that a terrible idea?

4k of it is from when I planned to come to Montreal in March 2020 (You can certainly guess why that trip was cancelled). I've just held onto the cash since then. The only paper trail I have on that money is the receipt from the currency exchange here in Baltimore, MD. Before that, it was in bitcoin.

 

[IamNY]

I'm bringing 6k Canadian. Having a few multi-hour dates with social portions as well as a 3 hr duo. I'm wondering if I should just stick it somewhere they're not likely to check in my laptop bag. Is that a terrible idea?

4k of it is from when I planned to come to Montreal in March 2020 (You can certainly guess why that trip was cancelled). I've just held onto the cash since then. The only paper trail I have on that money is the receipt from the currency exchange here in Baltimore, MD. Before that, it was in bitcoin.

In the many, many, many years of driving across the same border your going to encounter I have never been physically searched. My car, sure, my luggage, sure, my person, never. So, if your going to carry 6 grand it's best to keep it on you and in your pocket. I would do that also just to make sure none of it disappears unexpectedly should your car or luggage be searched.

You don't need to document anything regarding the cash if it's less than $10,000 Your not breaking any laws or looking suspicious. I once crossed with 8 grand. I was asked how much money I was carrying and I answered honestly and said 8 thousand dollars. I was in the NEXUS lane so if I was to lie and get caught they would revoke my privilege's so I had to tell the truth. The border agent looked at me and in a questioning loud tone, EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS? I simply replied, yes, that's what I just said, and on my way I went. I would simply act as though carrying that kind of cash with me or across the border is perfectly normal, and it is. Keep it to one word answers and don't elaborate on any answers. How much cash? Six thousand. What is it for? Vacation money. That's a lot of money for a vacation? I don't think so. What are you going to spend it on? My vacation. and on and on I would go with the simple one word or so answers. DO NOT tell border agents it's for hookers in Montreal!

You'll have no issues at all legally regarding the cash because it's below the $10,000 limit and you'll have no issues for carrying it because your not breaking any laws and just keep your answers short and simple.

 

[joeca]

Agreed with the above. You're not above the limit. I would just tell them you brought cash because you were afraid your CC wouldn't work up here.

If the question is do you have more the 10K then the answer is no anyway, so it shouldn't come up.

 

[duubouu]

In the many, many, many years of driving across the same border your going to encounter I have never been physically searched. My car, sure, my luggage, sure, my person, never. So, if your going to carry 6 grand it's best to keep it on you and in your pocket. I would do that also just to make sure none of it disappears unexpectedly should your car or luggage be searched.

You don't need to document anything regarding the cash if it's less than $10,000 Your not breaking any laws or looking suspicious. I once crossed with 8 grand. I was asked how much money I was carrying and I answered honestly and said 8 thousand dollars. I was in the NEXUS lane so if I was to lie and get caught they would revoke my privilege's so I had to tell the truth. The border agent looked at me and in a questioning loud tone, EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS? I simply replied, yes, that's what I just said, and on my way I went. I would simply act as though carrying that kind of cash with me or across the border is perfectly normal, and it is. Keep it to one word answers and don't elaborate on any answers. How much cash? Six thousand. What is it for? Vacation money. That's a lot of money for a vacation? I don't think so. What are you going to spend it on? My vacation. and on and on I would go with the simple one word or so answers. DO NOT tell border agents it's for hookers in Montreal!

You'll have no issues at all legally regarding the cash because it's below the $10,000 limit and you'll have no issues for carrying it because your not breaking any laws and just keep your answers short and simple.

Thanks a ton for the helpful response. I appreciate you taking the time to write all that out. You're the best.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I have many times carried into Canada thousands of US dollars and changed it when exchange rate was close to $1.60 (wonderful summer of 2002), current is $1.28. It always helps to get that power of the exchange. Calforex charged very little on the exchange. My cash amount usually was around $2000 USD most trips. Never had an issue.

 

[jmioffe]

If you have an account with TD Bank, you can just withdraw the equivalent in country. My account is free. That's another way around the issue.

 

[Mistral]

Yes definitely be prepared for the question "How much cash are you carrying".

 

[Biggie Smalls]

Why not just withdraw the cash once you're in Canada?

 

[Fradi]

Btw it is $10,000 CDN, not $10,000 US so you need to convert to CDN and make sure it is under $10,000CDN which you do not need to declare.

Many people from China make this mistake coming back they have $6,000-$8000CDN and a ton of Chinese or other currency and think they are ok it is total value of all your currency converted to CDN that needs to be under $10,000

 

[believe]

So it seems if you dont declare over 10k you get fined maybe siezed etc but...,Ok all info seems good but what happens if you do declare more than 10k?
is it still illegal even if declared and what may be the consequences than?

 

[Fradi]

This same rule applies to Canadians crossing into US.
If you are caring more than $10,000 US you need to declare it.
I have been asked many times how much cash I am caring when going to Florida.

They want to make sure you are not money laundering, buying narcotics doing something illegal.
You can bring as much money as you want it is not illegal but need to declare it if it is over $10,000 and you need to back it up with proof that you obtained the money legally and you are bringing it for a legitimate reason. Kind of hard to justify now days why someone would be carrying over $10,000 in cash.

 

[transatlantic]

You can bring along as much as as your want but amounts in excess of $10K CDN (includes foreign currency equivalent) should be declared or risk seizure.

Having said that, why not just pull from an ATM in Canada? You avoid questions, less risk of loss/mugged etc. I don’t see any upside in carrying that much cash unless you are planning on setting up a harem that you expect to exceed your ATM account limits. You can always just open a 2nd account.

 

[duubouu]

You can bring along as much as as your want but amounts in excess of $10K CDN (includes foreign currency equivalent) should be declared or risk seizure.

Having said that, why not just pull from an ATM in Canada? You avoid questions, less risk of loss/mugged etc. I don’t see any upside in carrying that much cash unless you are planning on setting up a harem that you expect to exceed your ATM account limits. You can always just open a 2nd account.

I've thought about the second account (I need to be discreet and share a checking account). But I only do this once every year or two and am also worried about maximum ATM withdrawals. I don't want to run into a situation where I need to withdraw money and either the ATM or the bank says I can't take out any more that day. If you can recommend any solution to that potential problem, I'd be excited to hear it.

 

[IamNY]

Waiting until you get to Canada to withdraw cash is certainly an option. For me, I was in a cash industry so I would personally run into this problem. It would be easier to bring cash. Less transactions on the books, less questions , etc. Not everyone can simply pull cash out of an atm. But, for a simple tax paying salaried person this would be the better way to go IMHO.

 

[Mistral]

On trips I typically bring between $500-$1000 cash, and then withdraw cash at local ATMs with two different bank cards. The second card provides peace of mind in three ways- alternate option in case of exceeding limit, alternate option in case of other card issue, and using two accounts shows less withdrawn from each (just a personal quirk I'm more comfortable with).

 

[Like_It_Hot]

First of all, it is legal to bring as much money you want But as sated before you should declare if you bring more than $10,000. If you lie than you might be in deep trouble for a long time, specially if the money is hidden and you did not declare it. We, Canadians, love it when you come here to spend your money... For myself, I would not travel with this amount of cash. If you have an account in a Canadian bank, no troubles. If you advise your bank in advance, they could push up temporally your limit so you could cash-in in any ATM toward your debit ou credit card. I even paid a new car with my debit card passing to the bank the day before. Of course if you would bring $100,000 it would be a different story to bring it in cash. But even then, if you declare it and have no criminal records they will ask a few question and the casino might be a good answer... Good luck!

 

[transatlantic]

I've thought about the second account (I need to be discreet and share a checking account). But I only do this once every year or two and am also worried about maximum ATM withdrawals. I don't want to run into a situation where I need to withdraw money and either the ATM or the bank says I can't take out any more that day. If you can recommend any solution to that potential problem, I'd be excited to hear it.

FWIW Fidelity Investment debit card tied to brokerage has a daily withdrawal of $1,500 USD. That buys a lot of companionship per day.