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2012-06-22 1:38 PM

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Philadelphia, south of New York and north of DC
Subject: Bringing photo/video equipment into Canada from US

I've got a photo/video shoot coming up in Vancouver in a few weeks.
I'm also shooting in the Bay Area and flying Southwest, so the easiest thing for me is to drive in from Seattle.

I've shot much bigger productions in Canada in the past, and it's always been something of a hassle.
On the bigger shoots I've had lots of documentation for immigration, worked with local crew members, and had a carnet for a pile of equipment.

This is a simple "one bagger shoot" with just myself and involves interviewing a private Canadian citizen.
I talked with a very helpful person at the British Columbia Film Commission
who seemed confident that given this small production I can enter Canada as a "Business Visitor". 

The question I have is about bringing my equipment in.
I'll have one bag of still cameras, anther bag with video camera and mics, a tripod and a light with stand.

I'd rather not get a carnet. That would cost around $330, even for this small package.

I'll get US customs to stamp a form so I can bring it back in.

It seems that the worse that could happen is that Canadian customs will make me leave a deposit on the equipment
that would be refunded upon leaving. 

Anybody have any recent experience with a situation such as this?
What's the chance that customs will simply wave me through vs. requiring me to leave a deposit?

Thanks! 



Edited by dontracy 2012-06-22 1:44 PM
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