Canadian Travelling to USA

[bigfunkyg]

I have a upcoming vacation to a small island in the US of A coming up shortly. I would typically bring a well stocked travel humidor with my and remove labels.

I was under the impression under the recent legislation that I was free to bring my vacation stash with me as long as I was under $100 per person. 4 people x 40 cigars x $10 average = $400 means I should have plenty.

I just read this from the Canadian - US Embassay website:

"Tobacco products of Cuban origin, however, are prohibited unless you actually acquired them in Cuba and are returning indirectly from that country on licensed travel. You may not bring into the U.S. Cuban cigars purchased in Canada."

Any thoughts? Am I missing somthing?

[NapaNolan]

Your quoted section appear straightforward to me - your are not allowed to bring in Cuban cigars from anywhere other than Cuba assuming you recently visited and have a layover in the US.

[Habana Mike]

Yes, I agree that is the current position regarding Cuban cigars coming in to the US. To be safe, stick with your original plan!

[JohnInCleveland]

Clip the bands, problem solved

[TheGipper]

The embassy website is correct.

You risk having them confiscated if they open up your bags and take notice. In most cases you will sail right through. You may even get an agent who opens your bags and sees them, but doesn't care and lets them through. But it's roll of the dice.

There's also a tiny risk of running into some a-hole agent with a bur under his saddle who throws the book at you and decides to write it up for the purposes of issuing a fine or possibly even denying you entry into the country. Practically speaking, there's almost zero chance of that happening. But be aware the law would technically allow that.

I travel across the Canada/US border a lot for business. Because it's necessary for my business, I don't mess around with this and never take so much as a single cigar with me when headed south.

[vivalanation734]

The $100 only applies to Americans who legally traveled to Cuba. You could always buy some cigars in the states as well. Warped, Illusione, Casa Fernandez, etc all produce fine cigars.

[kuma]

Go to a non-Cuban cigar store where you live and get non-Cuban bands. Or just like the

other mate said cut the bands off and; no runs, no drips no errors. Nothing to see here

keep moving along folks nothing to see!

[brschoppe]

That was the impression I got when I re-entered the USA from Mexico last summer. I have been told the been told by a former customs agent also that their is little that they can do w/o the bands on the cigars unless you confess to them that they are Cuban.

[anjimj]

My car was subjected to a random search going from Canada to to my home in the states. I was visiting Canada and was gifted 2 cigars a partagas short and a Connie 1. The guy searched my humidor and found them. He said even if I took the labels off he would assume they are Cuban and told me I have to either fill out siezure paperwork which could take 3 hours or turn around back into Canada and get rid of them. I chose the latter. What a embarrassing experience with my kids in the car. He also had know idea the difference between a Cuban and non Cuban and assumed my padrons where Cuban. I had to explain to him that they had nicaragua printed on the labels and Cubans don't come in cellophane or have a sku number. Don't assume if you take the label off that you will squeeze through.

[SipIt]

My car was subjected to a random search going from Canada to to my home in the states. I was visiting Canada and was gifted 2 cigars a partagas short and a Connie 1. The guy searched my humidor and found them. He said even if I took the labels off he would assume they are Cuban and told me I have to either fill out siezure paperwork which could take 3 hours or turn around back into Canada and get rid of them. I chose the latter. What a embarrassing experience with my kids in the car. He also had know idea the difference between a Cuban and non Cuban and assumed my padrons where Cuban. I had to explain to him that they had nicaragua printed on the labels and Cubans don't come in cellophane or have a sku number. Don't assume if you take the label off that you will squeeze through.

Wow, that's crazy. I've gone through a bunch of times without an issue at all - even when they find cigars (cc's and nc's). Someone definitely pee'd in that guys Cheerios...that's about unlucky as it gets.

[AlohaStyle]

My car was subjected to a random search going from Canada to to my home in the states. I was visiting Canada and was gifted 2 cigars a partagas short and a Connie 1. The guy searched my humidor and found them. He said even if I took the labels off he would assume they are Cuban and told me I have to either fill out siezure paperwork which could take 3 hours or turn around back into Canada and get rid of them. I chose the latter. What a embarrassing experience with my kids in the car. He also had know idea the difference between a Cuban and non Cuban and assumed my padrons where Cuban. I had to explain to him that they had nicaragua printed on the labels and Cubans don't come in cellophane or have a sku number. Don't assume if you take the label off that you will squeeze through.

Sorry for your troubles, that sucks especially having the kids in the car. But as the person said above, there is absolutely nothing customs can really do without proof. They can give you a hard time for a very long time while pressuring you to cave... threatening you basically. But if you decide to play their game, you should be able to move along. But, I totally understand not wanting to play their game.

[Squarehead]

Why would you take cigars into the USA from Canada?Buy your sticks there as the're much cheaper in the US.You just wont get any Cubans except for pre embargo ones for which you have to take a mortgage out.

[bigfunkyg]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Looks like I will be going bandless again this year! I have done it several times in the past and not had any significant issues other than a bit of nervous moments at customs. I don't purchase cigars in the states because where I'm staying they are not readily avaliable and I would much rather smoke CC's!

[Mustang1981]

Why would you take cigars into the USA from Canada?Buy your sticks there as the're much cheaper in the US.You just wont get any Cubans except for pre embargo ones for which you have to take a mortgage out.

I can attest to the fact that buying in the US in my experience is more expensive then in Canada at the moment. The exchange rate is almost 45 cents. If you can find a reasonable shop in Canada you can buy a stick that is $15 in the US for $16-$17 in Canada. I have seasonal camping site in the US and for the past 3 years I have not purchased from a B&M around my camp because the prices have been more once you figure in exchange. Now if you are looking at ordering from on online store that's different story, because they have great deals compared to most B&M's.

[GasGuy82]

When I went on my bachelor party I was brazen enough to have 20 CC's in a ziplock with some Boveda 65. Traveled from Oakland to Scottsdale. I took the sticks out of my carry on and into the scan basket. Nobody blinked an eye, the guy even asked about my Boveda and wanted to know where he could get some. No one cared. Of course, for better AND worse, California is far more liberal about these things and the Thursday morning cattle line left other things for guys making $12/hour to worry about.

[Corylax18]

As most above have said, no bands usually equals no hassle. I've come back from Mexico a number of times over the past few years with all my shoes, my dads shoes, and my brothers shoes full of unbanded cigars. If customs even notices them a simple, "I bought em from the guy at the resort, I have no idea where they're from" has been enough to get us moving through the line again.

It can certainly vary agent to agent, but be polite and courtesy, have your docs ready and don't give them any reason to hassle you.

[AlohaStyle]

When I went on my bachelor party I was brazen enough to have 20 CC's in a ziplock with some Boveda 65. Traveled from Oakland to Scottsdale. I took the sticks out of my carry on and into the scan basket. Nobody blinked an eye, the guy even asked about my Boveda and wanted to know where he could get some. No one cared. Of course, for better AND worse, California is far more liberal about these things and the Thursday morning cattle line left other things for guys making $12/hour to worry about.

Traveling domestically inside the US has nothing to do with Int'l travel and you shouldn't have problems carrying cuban cigars on you. Those are TSA/Security agents, not customs people looking for contraband.

[forgop]

When I went on my bachelor party I was brazen enough to have 20 CC's in a ziplock with some Boveda 65. Traveled from Oakland to Scottsdale. I took the sticks out of my carry on and into the scan basket. Nobody blinked an eye, the guy even asked about my Boveda and wanted to know where he could get some. No one cared. Of course, for better AND worse, California is far more liberal about these things and the Thursday morning cattle line left other things for guys making $12/hour to worry about.

Apples and oranges here. Putting it on the scanner belt for TSA is far different than going through customs. Do that with customs and you'll get entirely different results.

[ElJefe]

Just an idea or sorts:

Perhaps order some blank cigar bands and use a number scheme to track which is which. With 40 cigars, I'm sure remembering which is which, might be a bit of a concern. Just log each number to what cigar it is, in a journal somewhere for your reference later. Put all cigars either in a Ziploc bag or a blaring hard not to discern Non Cuban cigar box.

[CanuckSARTech]

I have a upcoming vacation to a small island in the US of A coming up shortly. I would typically bring a well stocked travel humidor with my and remove labels.

I was under the impression under the recent legislation that I was free to bring my vacation stash with me as long as I was under $100 per person. 4 people x 40 cigars x $10 average = $400 means I should have plenty.

I just read this from the Canadian - US Embassay website:

"Tobacco products of Cuban origin, however, are prohibited unless you actually acquired them in Cuba and are returning indirectly from that country on licensed travel. You may not bring into the U.S. Cuban cigars purchased in Canada."

Any thoughts? Am I missing somthing?

Meh. Frequently travel over. When asked, I declare. Has actually never been an issue.

That said, I primarily bring over just a few sticks, or customs / unbanded sticks anyways.

Knock on wood, it's generally not been an issue.

[TheGipper]

I can't believe how casually some folks treat the idea of in-person smuggling. It's foolish and unnecessary. No customs agent is going to fooled by bandless cigars. If they see them, they will know exactly what you're doing. Granted, most of the time they won't care. But if you have bad luck and run into some hardarse agent, you are in for a really, really bad experience.

Especially if you are talking about bringing in 40+ cigars. Some agents may think that anything more than 4-5 cigars can't be only for personal use. Forty cigars may seem like not much for aficionados like us, but to an agent who doesn't know anything about cigars, it may look like a staggeringly huge quantity. If they think you're not bringing them in only for personal use, the chances of them trying to throw the book at you goes up a lot.

If you absolutely have to do this, mail them ahead of time to the hotel you're staying at. Put "Hold for Guest" and your name and arrival date.

Worst case for smuggling on person: customs grabs the cigars, and you are denied entry and/or fined.

Worst case for smuggling via mailed package: customs grabs the cigars and you get a letter. Actually, the hotel will get the letter and you'll be back home already anyway.

[CanuckSARTech]

I can't believe how casually some folks treat the idea of in-person smuggling. It's foolish and unnecessary. No customs agent is going to fooled by bandless cigars. If they see them, they will know exactly what you're doing. Granted, most of the time they won't care. But if you have bad luck and run into some hardarse agent, you are in for a really, really bad experience.

Especially if you are talking about bringing in 40+ cigars. Some agents may think that anything more than 4-5 cigars can't be only for personal use. Forty cigars may seem like not much for aficionados like us, but to an agent who doesn't know anything about cigars, it may look like a staggeringly huge quantity. If they think you're not bringing them in only for personal use, the chances of them trying to throw the book at you goes up a lot.

If you absolutely have to do this, mail them ahead of time to the hotel you're staying at. Put "Hold for Guest" and your name and arrival date.

Worst case for smuggling on person: customs grabs the cigars, and you are denied entry and/or fined.

Worst case for smuggling via mailed package: customs grabs the cigars and you get a letter. Actually, the hotel will get the letter and you'll be back home already anyway.

So you talk badly about those you perceive as doing "in-person smuggling", say they're being foolish, and instead recommend doing it through the mail and involving a third party instead?

Pot. Meet kettle.

Besides, if it's my post that brought on yours, I wasn't talking about smuggling. And yes, I have declared as personal use. Only once had an issue (done it with up to 20 sticks before), and they simply seized and bagged them, for me to claim them and bring them back home upon my return trip.

[NSXCIGAR]

That was the impression I got when I re-entered the USA from Mexico last summer. I have been told the been told by a former customs agent also that their is little that they can do w/o the bands on the cigars unless you confess to them that they are Cuban.

That's true. We come back with custom rolls from LCDH Tijuana all the time and there's nothing customs can do about it. There is, however a 100 cigar limit per person regardless of origin from MX to USA but no bands, no recourse unless you declare them as Cuban. Always has been the case.

[NSXCIGAR]

I can't believe how casually some folks treat the idea of in-person smuggling. It's foolish and unnecessary. No customs agent is going to fooled by bandless cigars. If they see them, they will know exactly what you're doing. Granted, most of the time they won't care. But if you have bad luck and run into some hardarse agent, you are in for a really, really bad experience.

Especially if you are talking about bringing in 40+ cigars. Some agents may think that anything more than 4-5 cigars can't be only for personal use. Forty cigars may seem like not much for aficionados like us, but to an agent who doesn't know anything about cigars, it may look like a staggeringly huge quantity. If they think you're not bringing them in only for personal use, the chances of them trying to throw the book at you goes up a lot.

If you absolutely have to do this, mail them ahead of time to the hotel you're staying at. Put "Hold for Guest" and your name and arrival date.

Worst case for smuggling on person: customs grabs the cigars, and you are denied entry and/or fined.

Worst case for smuggling via mailed package: customs grabs the cigars and you get a letter. Actually, the hotel will get the letter and you'll be back home already anyway.

I'm sorry, but this is just completely erroneous.

Customs agents follow procedures and the law. There is an established limit on the importation of any good declared for personal use. In the case of Mexico to US, it's 100 cigars per person. It's not up the customs agent--that's law. With no bands, there is absolutely no way customs has probable cause to believe they're contraband. Many countries, including Mexico, produce cigars. In fact, statistically, it's much more likely that the cigars being brought back from Mexico are Mexican cigars.

Customs can have all the reasonable suspicion they want. The fact is they need probable cause to seize anything. Without bands, packaging or incriminating statements they simply don't have it.

[SCgarman]

I'm sorry, but this is just completely erroneous.

Customs agents follow procedures and the law. There is an established limit on the importation of any good declared for personal use. In the case of Mexico to US, it's 100 cigars per person. It's not up the customs agent--that's law. With no bands, there is absolutely no way customs has probable cause to believe they're contraband. Many countries, including Mexico, produce cigars. In fact, statistically, it's much more likely that the cigars being brought back from Mexico are Mexican cigars.

Customs can have all the reasonable suspicion they want. The fact is they need probable cause to seize anything. Without bands, packaging or incriminating statements they simply don't have it.

Disagree. If customs discovers your "unbanded" cigars, the onus is on YOU to prove to them they are not Cuban (contraband). If you are unable to provide proof, they have every right to confiscate them. It is a game of Russian Roulette. You may win most times, but there is always a chance......

The OP is entering the US from Canada not Mexico like yourself, so the excuse the cigars are of Mexican origin simply won't fly, IMO.