What do i tell the Canadian Border Agent

[Zake424]

I will be filing my immigration paperwork late next week when I get to Canada. My mom and I are driving up from Texas to Ontario to visit my Canadian husband for a few days. I will drive back home with my mom and then will get on a plane 3 days later to return to Canada. There are several reasons why we are driving, one is so I can take some winter and summer clothes, my laptop, ps4 and a few other things that will fit in my luggage. I plan on leaving everything in Canada at our new apartment and then when I fly back up a few days later, I will only have to fly with one small suitcase with some clothes in it. I have already purchased a ticket for a return flight for November 12. I will be going back to Texas for a couple of months and then will fly back to Canada sometime in January.

My question is, when we drive up next week do I tell the Canadian Border Agent that I plan on flying up a few days later after returning to Texas? I know not to lie to the agent and never do, but I also know not to necessarily volunteer information. But, if they happen to look in my luggage and ask me why I'm bringing so many clothes if I'm only staying for 5 days, I don't want them to think I was trying to hide the fact that I'm flying back up there a few days later. I have driven up there 4 times already and have flown up there 3 times. They have only searched our luggage one time when we drove. It was a quick search at the crossing booth. Basically they just opened one or two pieces of luggage and then let us go. I just don't want to be barred from entering Canada if they think I'm hiding something or being deceitful. I hope this makes sense.

 

[Aquakitty]

I will be filing my immigration paperwork late next week when I get to Canada. My mom and I are driving up from Texas to Ontario to visit my Canadian husband for a few days. I will drive back home with my mom and then will get on a plane 3 days later to return to Canada. There are several reasons why we are driving, one is so I can take some winter and summer clothes, my laptop, ps4 and a few other things that will fit in my luggage. I plan on leaving everything in Canada at our new apartment and then when I fly back up a few days later, I will only have to fly with one small suitcase with some clothes in it. I have already purchased a ticket for a return flight for November 12. I will be going back to Texas for a couple of months and then will fly back to Canada sometime in January.

My question is, when we drive up next week do I tell the Canadian Border Agent that I plan on flying up a few days later after returning to Texas? I know not to lie to the agent and never do, but I also know not to necessarily volunteer information. But, if they happen to look in my luggage and ask me why I'm bringing so many clothes if I'm only staying for 5 days, I don't want them to think I was trying to hide the fact that I'm flying back up there a few days later. I have driven up there 4 times already and have flown up there 3 times. They have only searched our luggage one time when we drove. It was a quick search at the crossing booth. Basically they just opened one or two pieces of luggage and then let us go. I just don't want to be barred from entering Canada if they think I'm hiding something or being deceitful. I hope this makes sense.

How many clothes do you have? How long are you staying when you fly? I recommend telling the truth, that you want some clothes at your other/husband's house for winter when you go back again (if they give you a problem).

I've always been fine telling the truth, even though we've used the wrong terminology and been questioned, and even said my husband was living in Canada as a tourist, heh. I think the real problem is showing up with a wagon train of goods.

 

[Gemmie]

Well, its hard to say . If they decide to pull you in for secondary inspection
and they start going through your luggage.. they might consider the things your
bringing to be more then necessary for a five day trip and have concerns about your
intent to return to Texas.

Having been the lucky couple who got hauled into secondary inspection in 2013 ,
I can say , they went though our car with a fine tooth comb and then gave my
now husband a voluntary withdrawal and turned us around, because he had what
they considered to be to much things * in retrospect , we did have a bunch of stuff in the car,
but we had picked it up from California after he left the military , and that stuff had been
sitting in the car for 4 or 5 years and we just didn't even think about it*
Hindsight really is 20/20
*when i say they turned us around, I actually mean , that they turned him around and I choose to go back to the states with him
while we figured this issue out.. plus my own van was at home..in Canada*

He now has a name hit now and every time he's crossed the border, depending on the
day , or the officer , they have pulled him in for secondary inspections many , many times.

So, I would say to bring as much proof as you can showing the ties you still have to your own country.
That is just my opinion . others will chime in and maybe give you a better answer such as Aquakitty has ;D
And always tell the truth of course.

 

[Snowisland]

I am also an in Texas and travel to see Husband in Canada. I always take my laptop and a carry on bag that is large enough for my purse and my prescriptions, etc. to fit in it. It's a pain to check luggage and sometimes could make me miss my flight so I mailed my sweaters, heavy bathrobe, etc to my husband.I had to explain having no luggage once. I don't need sweaters living on the Gulf Coast in Texas.

My husband was questioned and taken into the little room by immigration on his first trip to Texas because he only had carry on of 3 pairs of jeans, some undies and socks. Well he hadn't traveled in 10 years either and had a brand new passport. So he explained that it's minus 40 where he lives in the North Peace Region of BC and it's 90f in Texas. I bought him cargo shorts, which he didn't own, why would he need them in -40 weather, and moisture wicking material shirts and sandals to keep here in Texas. Immigration called me to verify he was coming to see me, he missed his flight and caught a later flight, but that was the only time he was questioned. We have made 10 trips back and forth since.

Always tell the truth, you are not doing anything wrong. Be courteous and calm. Your explanation is good, you just want to have clothes there so you don't have to check luggage each trip.

Or you can just mail the clothes. I used a large box, mailed the clothes and listed them as used clothing to avoid paying a tax. It cost about $60.00 but it all went in one big box and I mailed it the cheapest way with tracking.