Landing next month and country of origin has restriction on foreign currency

[emamabd]

Hello all,

I'm planning to land next month and unfortunately there are severe restrictions in my country on foriegn currency, and i need to carry at least 20500 CAD as a POF, in my country:

- Its not possible to transfer money to banks abroad (only very small amounts not exceeding $500 per day)
- Its not possible to get Draft cheques at any bank
- No credit cards at all (due to sanctions)

& above all its not allowed to leave the airport with more than 7000 USD per person (adult) i.e.

As i will be travelling with my wife and 2 kids, i can only carry 14000 USD/CAD in cash...while i will have to show 20 500 USD/CAD in cash at the Canadian POE! So my question is....does Canadian immigration officers at POE have any special consideration for newly landing immigrants who are coming from countries with currency restrictions? Or i will be denied entry because i'm not carrying enough cash?

It's really a tough situation...as i have enough cash savings available of up to 25000 USD/CAD but due the restrictions in my country it will be impossible to travel with all that money........

Any suggestions?

 

[tocanadame]

If u r in egypt they allow $10000 not 7000 !

 

[emamabd]

If u r in egypt they allow $10000 not 7000 !

I'm not in egypt, i'm in Sudan

 

[jnathan]

carry as Cash.
everyone does that. canada welcomes this.
Canada wants money. somehow, in any ways !

 

[steaky]

carry as Cash.
everyone does that. canada welcomes this.
Canada wants money. somehow, in any ways !

There is monetary restriction in Sudan. If the Sudanese authorities find out, the money might be subject to seizure.

Since OP said he is allowed to transfer $500 per day to banks abroad, in a month, a person alone can transfer $500 x 30 = $15,000! Once $15,000 is transferred to the foreign (preferably Canadian) bank account, he can show the proofs with cash $5,500 to the immigration officers at landing! He must start his funds transfer as soon as possible before his landing.

 

[scorpion_ca]

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/proof-of-funds-skilled-workers-and-professionals-t120180.0.html;msg1788447#msg1788447

I emailed Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship & Immigration Canada on September 21, 2012 and got following reply from CBSA.

Visitors do need to satisfy the officer at the port of entry that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay and that they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their visit to Canada.

For more information on visiting Canada, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada's (CIC) Web site at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-who.asp

For all other questions related to this matter, we recommend that you contact CIC at 1-888-242-2100 . To speak directly to a representative, press 1 for English or 2 for French and 0 four times.

If you are located outside of Canada, please contact your nearest Canada visa office. A list of offices can be found at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/index.asp

You can also access additional contact information at the following Web site:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/index.asp

Thank you for contacting the Canada Border Services Agency.



After that, I contacted CIC and they have informed me the same thing that I found in another website http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000258.

Hello,

Thank-you for your question.

According to a representative from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre, you can bring a bank statement to show proof of funds. However, if your funds are still in your bank account in India, you will have to explain to the border official why you have not brought the funds with you.

Whenever you bring more than $10,000, you must tell a border official. For more information, read How do I bring money into Canada (proof of funds)?

You may also wish to read other threads about this topic, such as Landing (Toronto) inquiries.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

=====
Aimee
Settlement.Org Team

I have also found from the CIC website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/funds.asp) that you don't need to bring required amounts with you when you enter in Canada for the first time. Who knows if you leave Canada after a month of coming here. The CIC representative told me the same thing.

 

[steaky]

I have also found from the CIC website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/funds.asp) that you don't need to bring required amounts with you when you enter in Canada for the first time. Who knows if you leave Canada after a month of coming here. The CIC representative told me the same thing.[/color]

The link you provided just say "You do not have to show that you have these funds if you have arranged employment in Canada."

In other words, if you don't have arranged employment in Canada, you are suppose to show those funds.

Even if someone leave Canada after one of coming here, they still need money to buy their plane ticket to their original country of residence don't they?

 

[scorpion_ca]

As per CIC website, there is no specific amount that you need bring at the time of landing in Canada but you will need to provide proof of your funds to the Canadian visa office in your home country when you submit your application for immigration. The link I provided also states the following -

How much money should you bring?

Find out how much it costs to live where you are planning to settle in Canada.

Bring as much money as possible to make moving and finding a home in Canada easier.

The link you provided just say "You do not have to show that you have these funds if you have arranged employment in Canada."

In other words, if you don't have arranged employment in Canada, you are suppose to show those funds.

Even if someone leave Canada after one of coming here, they still need money to buy their plane ticket to their original country of residence don't they?

 

[steaky]

But if you read carefully, it also says: You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada... The amount of money you need to support your family is determined by the size of your family. These amounts are updated every year. 4 Family members = $20,654. In order words, the minimum amount to show is $20,654!

So if the OP is to transfer $500/day according to my original suggestion, he should bring the relevant statement of at least $15,000 plus bring at least $5,654 in cash at landing.

 

[scorpion_ca]

How come he transfers funds when he is outside of Canada? At first, he will have to open a bank a/c in Canada to transfer the funds. I believe no bank in Canada would allow him to open an a/c from outside of Canada and transfer the fund. Although he might be able to open an a/c with HSBC, the a/c will not be active until the a/c holder is in Canada.

Definitely the applicant needs to bring settlement fund but not illegally like ....http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/blogs/insight/suitcases-chinese-cash-flooding-canada-borders-162935775.html

But if you read carefully, it also says: You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada... The amount of money you need to support your family is determined by the size of your family. These amounts are updated every year. 4 Family members = $20,654. In order words, the minimum amount to show is $20,654!

So if the OP is to transfer $500/day according to my original suggestion, he should bring the relevant statement of at least $15,000 plus bring at least $5,654 in cash at landing.

 

[Centaur]

Some of the Canadian Banks have branches in other countries. If there is a branch in one's local country, they can open an account that can be operated once a person reaches Canada. Initial deposit/s could be made into this account from local country of origin. To open such account, I believe the bank does ask for copy of COPR and passport to validate the claim of PR issuance.

 

[steaky]

Although he might be able to open an a/c with HSBC, the a/c will not be active until the a/c holder is in Canada.

No, from my experience, the account will be active regardless whether or not the a/c holder is in Canada. I could transfer money from my non HSBC account outside Canada to this HSBC a/c. It might be dormant if there is no activity for a certain number of months. Even if it is dormant, I can still reactivate it by calling the branch from overseas.

Initial deposit/s could be made into this account from local country of origin. To open such account, I believe the bank does ask for copy of COPR and passport to validate the claim of PR issuance.

You are correct. The bank asked for my Canadian passport.

 

[emamabd]

No, from my experience, the account will be active regardless whether or not the a/c holder is in Canada. I could transfer money from my non HSBC account outside Canada to this HSBC a/c. It might be dormant if there is no activity for a certain number of months. Even if it is dormant, I can still reactivate it by calling the branch from overseas.

You are correct. The bank asked for my Canadian passport.

Thanks to all for the suggestions, after taking time to think i found what could be a solution for the problem...here is what i will do, before travelling to Canada i will travel to Cairo carrying 7000 usd in cash..and will return with 7000 $ in the form of Thomas Cook traveller's cheques....then will leave to canada with 14000 USD in cash + the 7000 $ TC....the TC's will go undetected as in the airport in my home country they screen for cash only..

Hopefully that should solve the problem

 

[scorpion_ca]

When I contacted HSBC in Nov, 2012, the agent informed me that the applicant would be able to open an a/c in home country but the a/c will not be activated until the applicant is in Canada.

https://www.hsbc.ca/1/2/personal/new-to-canada/moving-to-canada/banking-guide

I don't know why did he tell me like that ??

No, from my experience, the account will be active regardless whether or not the a/c holder is in Canada. I could transfer money from my non HSBC account outside Canada to this HSBC a/c. It might be dormant if there is no activity for a certain number of months. Even if it is dormant, I can still reactivate it by calling the branch from overseas.

You are correct. The bank asked for my Canadian passport.

 

[steaky]

Thanks to all for the suggestions, after taking time to think i found what could be a solution for the problem...here is what i will do, before travelling to Canada i will travel to Cairo carrying 7000 usd in cash..and will return with 7000 $ in the form of Thomas Cook traveller's cheques....then will leave to canada with 14000 USD in cash + the 7000 $ TC....the TC's will go undetected as in the airport in my home country they screen for cash only..

Hopefully that should solve the problem

Sounds good. Have a save journey.

I don't know why did he tell me like that ??

Every "the world's local bank" are different I guess : Some doesn't allow you to open a Canadian a/c HSBC, some like you and some like mine.