Korean Job Discussion Forums

[khyber]

I have "heard" that once you live in a country for "x" (a year?), one can claim "living expenses"...or "necessary purchases" or something.
I have a few "electronics" to bring back home and i'm SURE that i would have more than customs would allow.
I don't want any o my shit to get confiscated, I don't even want a chance of that happenning.

Can anyone tell me whether there is truth to my informah...you know see daddymesnow yeah i go blame a licky boom boom doowwwwwn

[sistersarah]

I haven't heard many other stories of people with problems, but i think Canadian customs gets enough "returning from teaching in Korea" people on a daily basis, and they know what's happening. when I went through, I was worried as well, so when the officer asked, I tried to just claim my minidisk player. the guy was looked at me with an expression that said does it look like i was born yesterday?and said "are you sure?".
i revealed my digital camera.

"go ahead"

i'm sure there's been people stopped though. i'm interested to hear more stories.

[ulsanchris]

the deal is that if you live outside of canada for a full year, to the day, then you are alowed to bring back $10,000 worth of personal items. Electronics fall into this category.

[matko]

Canadian customs are the biggest mutha fukkahs on the face of the planet!! Just be sure you know what the deal is before you try anything.

I hate those guys.

[mithridates]

I remember the last time I went through customs in Canada. Just got back from a pilgrimage (a failed one!) in France, jumped off a high surface and hurt myself and couldn't walk anymore. Actually I could barely lie down and the bruised bone took over a month to heal. Hurt and limping I made my way up to customs, where I revealed that I had been in France.
"And what were you doing in France?"
"I was on a pilgrimage."
To which he raised an eyebrow, and asked:
"So, what exactly...is... a pilgrimage?"
"Uh....it's like a big walk!"
"I see! All right, you can go through!"

That was so weird!

[khyber]

so...well, i'm worried about falling under Matko...so i wanna have a clue before i enter.
So dude....being ulsan chris.

What exactly can you tell me about that? I mean 10000$? you didn't get that from "money you can physically bring over" did you?

Also, would you happen to know the expression to indicate that?

I will have been in korea for 1yr and 1months so i'm comfy.

[khyber]

i just went to customs website.
It says..."if you have been abroad for more than a year for health or pleasure, you are considered a guest and therefore, still a canadian citizen. You must pay duty etc.."
I couldn't find anything on the list in regards to going home...damn. And of course they only have phone numbers but no emails. Geez...jump into the 90s here ottawa

[Cthulhu]

Canadian customs has always been pretty good to me, both along the Canada/U.S. border and at the airports. I never had to declare or show anything though I did anyway a few times.

My biggest headaches were lineups for immigration--especially in Vancouver though it was better last time.

[ulsanchris]

i looked this up before buying my laptop because customs has my name on file for a little incident that wasn't my fault. seriously.
i didn't want to be charged duty on it so i looked it up. if you reside for a year or more outside of canada then you can bring in $10,000 worth of tax free goods. it took me awhile to find it and i had my mom phone up customs to make sure. you have to be outside of canada for a year to the day. i'm not sure if the customs guys will look the other way if you are shy a day or two. might depend of their mood. i'm going back home for a few weeks in april and unless i get my ticket extended by two days i won't be gone from canada for a full year. And i won't be risking bringing back my laptop. i can do without it for a few weeks.

[kangnamdragon]

I got asked a lot of questions when I went through Canadian customs last December............I'm American....like I'm going to bomb Vancouver? Why is it your business whom I am visiting?

[mithridates]

Perhaps they thought you were one of the many that takes B.C. pot across the border and trades it for cocaine then brings it up north? Just a thought.

[Gwangjuboy]

[Mr. Pink]

[OiGirl]

[ulsanchris]

i bought the computer in korea.

i forgot. you also have to have bought the item six months before you arrive in Canada