Question about CBSA border!!

[Canadatour]

Hi! I'm going to Canada on a 2 week holiday to visit boyfriend.
Question: Is 2 luggages too much/suspicious? One carry on, one backpack (ONLY for laptop) or if that won't work, I'll put laptop in carry on, and one check in bag full of clothes?
Is it suspicious to declare money on a Mastercard moneypassport? It's a master card designed for travel, and I have about 1500 CAD in the card. Do I have to prove the amount? If so I can print a receipt from ATM.

I am from NZ, meaning Visa-exempt country. Will I have to go through 2nd inspection? I'm nervous and I hope I don't, I would dress properly and all, but the main concern is if my 2 luggages are too much for 2 weeks. Will bringing winter clothes also be suspicious? It is winter here BUT it is summer there right now.

My trip is this Saturday! I don't want to be refused entry.. I am asking this as this is my first time travelling without help from others (family).

 

[Decoy24601]

A carry-on and a backpack is fine for a 2 week visit. To be honest, I'm not even sure I'd be capable of packing that little for even a week long trip myself.

Using a mastercard moneypassport is fine. If anything carrying only cash looks even more suspicious now.

Since you're only visiting for 2 weeks, I wouldn't worry about being pulled in for a secondary. You have sufficient funds for your trip and little baggage. Even if you end up in a secondary, I wouldn't worry. Yes, printing a receipt is good just in case they ask for proof. Bring proof of ties to NZ just in case (proof of a job, apartment, etc) they ask for it. The two main things they want to know is do you have enough money for your trip and do they think you will return at the end of your stay. I doubt you'll even need this, but it's good to have on hand. Of course, your experience will vary from officer to officer, so I can't guarantee you that you won't end up in a secondary (this is what having that proof is good for).

 

[Canadatour]

Would a check in bag + one carry on (Laptop in carry on or a separate school type backpack) be okay? I know this may seem excessive if it's just mostly clothes. Would bringing in Winter clothes be suspicious too? This is due to the fact that it's winter here, but it's summer in Canada right now.

 

[Decoy24601]

As long as it's not an excessive amount of winter clothes, maybe one or two outfits worth of clothes, it'd be fine. A small checked back would be fine, but I would go with a backpack type back for the carry-on.

Again, they mostly just want to know that you have the money for your trip and have ties to your home country. I flew in for a three month visit to visit my (then boyfriend) husband during the summer before I attended university in the fall. Even though I had a couple checked bags and a small carry-on (for three months I'd argue that's a normal amount) AND would be staying for multiple months, I had strong ties to my home country because of my university plans, so I was fine. The CBSA officer asked a lot of questions, but I didn't end up at a secondary. Of course, when I asked for three months I knew I was pushing it, but even then I didn't have much issues (I'm also visa-exempt).

Just have proof of funds, proof of ties to your home country, and a return ticket in case they ask and you'll be fine. The only time I had problems at the border was when I had no ties to the U.S. and little money.

 

[Bs65]

As long as it's not an excessive amount of winter clothes, maybe one or two outfits worth of clothes, it'd be fine. A small checked back would be fine, but I would go with a backpack type back for the carry-on.

Again, they mostly just want to know that you have the money for your trip and have ties to your home country. I flew in for a three month visit to visit my (then boyfriend) husband during the summer before I attended university in the fall. Even though I had a couple checked bags and a small carry-on (for three months I'd argue that's a normal amount) AND would be staying for multiple months, I had strong ties to my home country because of my university plans, so I was fine. The CBSA officer asked a lot of questions, but I didn't end up at a secondary. Of course, when I asked for three months I knew I was pushing it, but even then I didn't have much issues (I'm also visa-exempt).

Just have proof of funds, proof of ties to your home country, and a return ticket in case they ask and you'll be fine. The only time I had problems at the border was when I had no ties to the U.S. and little money.

all above good advice just dont over think things and anyway a NZ winter compared with Canada is not a real winter so any winter clothes you have could in some parts of Canada be seen as normal for summer.

People travel from southern hemisphere to north and vice versa all year long with mix winter/ summer clothes some thing CBSA wont even be concerned about. If you had 2/3 checked bags for a 2 week trip they might be but single checked and carry on will be same as nearly everyone on the plane.

Just purpose of visit, length of visit, return ticket, employed or not and funds to support self is all you need to be clear about with only real tip being to only answer questions you are asked and try to avoid volunteering information that is not needed.

Secondary usually comes about if during initial interview people give reasons for CBSA to be dubious about intentions which they are trained to recognise and then they could look at phones, laptops and luggage. Having said that if you see the international arrival lines at peak time secondaries are likely a very small percentage with some arrivals getting more attention than others, same in any country like it or not there is a degree of profiling.

Enjoy your trip, dont over think things and create some great memories !

 

[Decoy24601]

Enjoy your trip, dont over think things and create some great memories !

I completely agree with everything you said, especially the "don't overthink things" part.

 

[Canadatour]

Okay, so bringing winter clothes is OK?
Would they inspect my bags if I bring in one checked in bag and one carry on? ( I'll put laptop in the carry on )
I did print off my itinerary however so it is proof I have a return ticket, is that okay?

From my knowledge, the CBSA officers wouldn't even get to see my checked in luggage anyways, right? So I wouldn't even/shouldn't even worry?
All I know from boyfriend is Canada is generally cold, my winter in NZ is probably nothing to Canadians, he even said it snowed.. in May! So it should be fine for me to bring winter clothes, as I'm not used to harsher colder general weathers? Not sure how "cold" Canadian winters are, but I assume it's cold regardless to me as NZ doesn't even have snow in Winter.

 

[Decoy24601]

Okay, so bringing winter clothes is OK?
Would they inspect my bags if I bring in one checked in bag and one carry on? ( I'll put laptop in the carry on )
I did print off my itinerary however so it is proof I have a return ticket, is that okay?

From my knowledge, the CBSA officers wouldn't even get to see my checked in luggage anyways, right? So I wouldn't even/shouldn't even worry?
All I know from boyfriend is Canada is generally cold, my winter in NZ is probably nothing to Canadians, he even said it snowed.. in May! So it should be fine for me to bring winter clothes, as I'm not used to harsher colder general weathers? Not sure how "cold" Canadian winters are, but I assume it's cold regardless to me as NZ doesn't even have snow in Winter.

Bringing clothes is fine and proof of a return ticket is good.

They will only inspect your bags if you end up in a secondary inspection, and they don't even do that for everyone. It's very unlikely you would have your luggage searched just because you have a checked bag. You shouldn't worry about this. When they do search people's bags, they're looking for much more than just winter clothes (illegal substances, undeclared goods, proof of intent to illegally work in Canada... etc). I wouldn't overthink this.

Also, depending on where you're going it could be very warm in Canada (by my standards anyways). Toronto has been reaching over 20 degrees Celsius lately (or so a google search tells me). Friends I have in the area have said it's been very hot overall this summer. If you're going any time soon, it'll definitely be summer, so I would plan on packing at least one outfit for hot weather in mind.

 

[Canadatour]

Bringing clothes is fine and proof of a return ticket is good.

They will only inspect your bags if you end up in a secondary inspection, and they don't even do that for everyone. It's very unlikely you would have your luggage searched just because you have a checked bag. You shouldn't worry about this. When they do search people's bags, they're looking for much more than just winter clothes (illegal substances, undeclared goods, proof of intent to illegally work in Canada... etc). I wouldn't overthink this.

Also, depending on where you're going it could be very warm in Canada (by my standards anyways). Toronto has been reaching over 20 degrees Celsius lately (or so a google search tells me). Friends I have in the area have said it's been very hot overall this summer. If you're going any time soon, it'll definitely be summer, so I would plan on packing at least one outfit for hot weather in mind.

I am going to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Right now it's apparently 15C. In terms of Auckland, anything 20C or below is actually cold to us. Anything above 25c onwards would then be hot. I suppose that would be normal?
Majority of my items will be clothes, mix of summer & winter. Hopefully that's ok. Is 1000-1500CAD enough for the trip, as I won't be needing hotel?

 

[Decoy24601]

I am going to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Right now it's apparently 15C. In terms of Auckland, anything 20C or below is actually cold to us. Anything above 25c onwards would then be hot. I suppose that would be normal?
Majority of my items will be clothes, mix of summer & winter. Hopefully that's ok. Is 1000-1500CAD enough for the trip, as I won't be needing hotel?

It's possible that while you're there it could get to over 20C. Depends on the day and where you are specifically. I would bring a mix of clothes since the weather can vary. It'll be fine.

I'm fairly sure that it will be enough money for your trip, especially since you're not staying in a hotel. I wouldn't overthink it. I honestly doubt you'll end up in a secondary, and if you do, I doubt there will be any major issues that would end up having you refused entry.

Enjoy your trip to Canada ;D.

 

[Bs65]

Final points if you are transiting via the US assume you have applied for an ESTA given transiting via the US you need to go through US immigration which is nothing to worry about just a pain, more so if LA. If you are transiting through Vancouver then you will do Canada immigration fomalities there as first port of entry and not Toronto as the last leg Vancouver to Toronto is domestic,