Forms/Permits for US Movie Maker to Film in Canada

[MovieMaker]

Greetings to all,
I am a movie maker here on the East Coast of the United States, confirmed with a location to shoot at for a feature length. We'd be taping there for a week. Upon entering customs to location scout this location, we were held by customs this time around due to confusion about what we were going up to do, why, etc. After working it all out the kind woman at customs gave us a form about LMO and Permits ($150 per person coming into Canada).

I'm an independent filmmaker and I want to do this the right way and since we're setting the project in a specific indoor location that is crucial to the story but not the only location we're shooting in (we are shooting other scenes here in the States) I have to bring a few actors from the States.

I have a few questions concerning LMO's and making sure to get these confirmed and applied for.

On what terms would a movie maker such as myself not be able to film in Canada? I have no criminal record, I have an LLC that can be used to be taxed if need be rather than myself personally, etc.

How does one apply for the LMO form?

How much am I looking at per person money wise to have to spend to get them into Canada? I understand permits are $150 for as long as you're staying, and the amount of people may be 4. Myself and three actors.

Any help with the guidance of starting this process is appreciated.

 

[computergeek]

Depending upon where you are shooting, you may find there is a special unit set up for LMOs for film making (I've done this before, it takes a week or two and is VERY fast.) Further, there are special provisions for obtaining a group of work permits (this I have not done) so that it isn't $150 per work permit (which is the normal charge.) Here's the HRSDC page on film making: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/entertainment.shtml. Here in Vancouver there's a special unit. If you're filming in Toronto you'll probably find the same thing. Generally, they don't care when you're coming into the country for a week or two for a shoot (especially if you'll be hiring any local workers, since that counts directly in your favour.)

As a US Citizen, you can just show up at the border with the LMO (which can cover multiple people), the application, pictures, application fee and pick up the work permit(s). The CIC website clearly says:

Note: This fee is per person, but the total amount will not exceed $450 in the case of a group of three or more performing artists and their staff who apply at the same time and place.

So if you are all US Citizens, then you can all show up at once, with all your applications and an LMO to cover you all, the maximum cost is $450. Or you can submit the whole package to the relevant consulate/embassy in the US and ask them to process it (it just takes a couple of months to do it that way.)

Good luck!

 

[PMM]

Hi

Depending upon where you are shooting, you may find there is a special unit set up for LMOs for film making (I've done this before, it takes a week or two and is VERY fast.) Further, there are special provisions for obtaining a group of work permits (this I have not done) so that it isn't $150 per work permit (which is the normal charge.) Here's the HRSDC page on film making: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/entertainment.shtml. Here in Vancouver there's a special unit. If you're filming in Toronto you'll probably find the same thing. Generally, they don't care when you're coming into the country for a week or two for a shoot (especially if you'll be hiring any local workers, since that counts directly in your favour.)

As a US Citizen, you can just show up at the border with the LMO (which can cover multiple people), the application, pictures, application fee and pick up the work permit(s). The CIC website clearly says:

So if you are all US Citizens, then you can all show up at once, with all your applications and an LMO to cover you all, the maximum cost is $450. Or you can submit the whole package to the relevant consulate/embassy in the US and ask them to process it (it just takes a couple of months to do it that way.)

Good luck!

1. Other than they won't be considered a group of performing artists, so won't get the group rate, everything else is fine.