8840 Form

bob_nestor wrote:
The last time I was sent I ran into a Customs Officer who asked for a copy of my company's contract that authorized my visit, and I didn't have it so I was denied entry.

From watching the TV program Border Security, they should have offered you the option to withdraw your 'application' to enter Canada so that they didn't have to deny you.

Of course the rules may have changed since then.

bob_nestor wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
I doubt that immigration and customs personnel would even know what an IRS form like the 8840 is. My guess is they will never ask for it.

All it takes is to meet up with one Agent who thinks it's needed and if you can't produce it you're denied entry.

My experience with Canadian Customs: I used to be sent to Canada periodically for a minor work related activity. The last time I was sent I ran into a Customs Officer who asked for a copy of my company's contract that authorized my visit, and I didn't have it so I was denied entry. The company lawyers and import/export officers had never heard of such a requirement and couldn't find any reference to it, but they provided me with a copy of the contract and pointed out the most likely paragraph that would satisfy Canadian Customs. The next day I returned and as luck would have it I met the very same Canadian Custom Agent who remembered me from the previous day. He asked me if I'd been turned back by him previously and why and if I had the proper paperwork this time. I answered his questions and provided him with the contract, but it was clear from the look on his face he had no clue what to do next. I politely pointed out the paragraph that he was probably looking for, he read it handed it back to me and wished me a good trip.

A few years later I was traveling to Alaska and went in and out of Canada a couple of times. Upon each entry into Canada I was asked about this prior incident and was finally told that I'd been flagged in the Canadian Customs database, so they had to ask. I was never denied entry, just had to have a prolonged discussion with them. However, on one re-entry into the US I was asked by US Customs why I'd been flagged in Canada. Obviously the data had been shared.

The amusing part of this to me was the contract was one between the Canadian and US Governments.

Actually, the issue of doing business as a foreigner and requiring documentation is standard practice in Canada (and I would suspect the US as well). When I was working, our company was required to provide documentation to foreign maintenance personnel who sold us equipment so they would be allowed into the country. Some companies sent reps in (as tourists) but that was a very risky practice.

The rationale for the requirement is to prevent foreign workers from working illegally in the country. It got even more complicated if the foreigner brought tools into Canada, we generally provided tools for the work.

We had our personnel stopped coming back into Canada with blueprints in their briefcases from our parent US company.

Again, I suspect that that something similar would occur going into the US.

John & Angela wrote:
I doubt that immigration and customs personnel would even know what an IRS form like the 8840 is. My guess is they will never ask for it.

All it takes is to meet up with one Agent who thinks it's needed and if you can't produce it you're denied entry.

My experience with Canadian Customs: I used to be sent to Canada periodically for a minor work related activity. The last time I was sent I ran into a Customs Officer who asked for a copy of my company's contract that authorized my visit, and I didn't have it so I was denied entry. The company lawyers and import/export officers had never heard of such a requirement and couldn't find any reference to it, but they provided me with a copy of the contract and pointed out the most likely paragraph that would satisfy Canadian Customs. The next day I returned and as luck would have it I met the very same Canadian Custom Agent who remembered me from the previous day. He asked me if I'd been turned back by him previously and why and if I had the proper paperwork this time. I answered his questions and provided him with the contract, but it was clear from the look on his face he had no clue what to do next. I politely pointed out the paragraph that he was probably looking for, he read it handed it back to me and wished me a good trip.

A few years later I was traveling to Alaska and went in and out of Canada a couple of times. Upon each entry into Canada I was asked about this prior incident and was finally told that I'd been flagged in the Canadian Customs database, so they had to ask. I was never denied entry, just had to have a prolonged discussion with them. However, on one re-entry into the US I was asked by US Customs why I'd been flagged in Canada. Obviously the data had been shared.

The amusing part of this to me was the contract was one between the Canadian and US Governments.

Sea Dog wrote:
Does anyone know of anyone who has been questioned
or fined?

I am thinking someone that you know personally.
Not stories from the cousin of your ex brother in law!

Sure. Some very good friends of ours recently.

And us the first year we went south for a couple of months. We had to "prove" that we weren't moving to USA. I wanted to shout "Why would I want to do that?" but I kept my mouth shut and we were admitted after lots of forms and declarations.

Does anyone know of anyone who has been questioned
or fined?

I am thinking someone that you know personally.
Not stories from the cousin of your ex brother in law!

I doubt that immigration and customs personnel would even know what an IRS form like the 8840 is. My guess is they will never ask for it.

Firstly,,,THEY WANT IT,,,,to me it's like taking your shoes off when entering a house as a guest! Secondly as the US and Canadian border NOW SHARE border information it's only a matter of time until people start getting nailed! Through this forum I learned about the 8840 and of all my friends who snow-bird I was surprised at how many refuse to file, good luck I say, as previously noted it's cheap insurance!

Red Green: If my wife Bernice is watching, I'll be coming straight home after the meeting, and I learned today that you cannot change an ugly thing by hiding it. But I'm still not going to shave my beard off.

We carry our 8840s along with municipal tax bills and utility bills to prove that we're residents of Canada.

Have never been asked for the 8840s at the border (or anywhere else for that matter).

Sea Dog wrote:
Why should I be forced to fill out this form?

I can see the tax implications if there is income,
otherwise, what is the problem?

Because it's their law. No other answer is necessary.

I do not really understand this.

If I spend four months per year in the US,
do not own property there, have no income, earned or otherwise
from America.
Why should I be forced to fill out this form?

I can see the tax implications if there is income,
otherwise, what is the problem?