This might seem like a silly question, but I don't know the answer and need to! I'm going to Canada in just 6 days. Here's the question...Do I need to convert my cash into Canadian currency? I think I do, but I'm not sure. I know that in Mexico, they're glad to see American currency, but what about Canada? Please help!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

You can use your US money there but you won't get it's true value if you pay for things in the stores and restaurants with it. You can change it once you arrive there in Canada. There are a few currency exchanges in the cities. I believe there is a currency exchange at the Toronto Airport also.

It has been many years since I
went, but in Kingston they all
knew the exchange rate and they
welcomed the business. In many
stores the prices were listed in
both US & Canadian money prices
but I'm sure that is probably
because it is on the border.

I often go to Canada. The best exchange value for your money is if you use your ATM or Credit Card in Canada. I have yet to find an ATM in Canada that charged a fee from Yukon to Ontario. Maybe I was just lucky. I got a better exchange this way than by changing my money at a bank here as the bank charged me a fee. Changing left over money back to USD is a hassle, you will loose no matter what. If your bank only has a low fee, change some and use the ATM and Credit Card for bigger purchases.

Canadians pay 15% GST tax. It is refundable to nonresidents thru paperwork you can get at the border. Consumable items are not eligible for the refund, ie, food, motel, gas.

Take no weapons with you. Conceal large fishing knives. They took my tire billy away from me, it was considered a weapon. Image is everything when crossing the border. Clean car windows, tidy passengers, no visable weapons. This applies double on the way back. The US border crossings have been the only ones to hassle me. They can be viscious. I have been locked in a room while they tore up my truck. Cross at a smaller checkpoint if possible, not off a main interstate.

Take a good calling card with you. They will charge you 3 minutes off the card for every one used but its way cheaper than a pay phone. I get 600 USA minutes, 200 Can, for $21 at Sam's Club from At&T.

Have fun. Enjoy the food, Canadians use less overprocessed foods than we do. They may snicker when you want mayo on the sandwich as its not common there. Most of all, enjoy the people, they are wonderful!
Feel free to email me.

[This message was edited by nerdqueendeluxe on 06-20-02 at 08:42 PM.]

Hi gojenni714. Hope you enjoy your trip.The previous post was not right about the GST It is 7% not 15% Each province also has their own provincial sales tax which varies. Here in Alberta where I live is the exception. We have no provincial sales tax.American dollars are accepted everywhere.Well you didn't say where exactly you were going but have a super time.

And watch out for the beer. It is a little higher in octane then ours and if you are referred to as 3 beers ______ like me, then one and a half just about does me in.

Thank you everyone for your help!

Oops, sorry about that error on the tax. I am used to just lumping the Territorial and the GST together to figure out purchases. Saffy123, I am glad you corrected my thinking.

American dollars are accepted everywhere but I was usually driving a tractor-trailer and many of the truckstops exchanged at 15% less than fair value. They could get away with it because our rides were too big to stop in town and use a bank. Some were just nasty about taking USD at all. This is just big fuel stops I am talking about, not great places like Tim Hortons...wish I was at one today.

Don't forget your passport! Everyone in the car traveling with you has to have a passport or birth certificate to enter the country, including newborns.

Just a few weeks ago I was turned away from the border for not having one. Being a Washington resident all my life, this caught me off guard. I've gotten in with just a smile in the past! So I visited the State Department website (www.state.gov), and their travel sheets have been updated to show that US citizens are required proof of citizenship to visit Canada.

Passport...dang! Thats new. I cross at a tiny border station on a dirt road and seldom even show my drivers license. Thanks for the heads up.

I have my birth certificate, so I think I'm okay. My boyfriend only has a birth registration card. His mom says that's the only thing they gave her. Do you think that will work? I've been a little worried about this one. It is proof of his US citizenship and that's all they're looking for, right? I mean, it says where he was born, who his parents are...everything that's on a birth certificate. What do you think?

I don't know if it's acceptible or not. Usually, you have to go to the county courthouse where you were born and get the real thing. Most hospitals issue a complimentary birth certificate, but it's not an official document.

One thing you could do is go to your employer, wherever they hire new employees, and ask for a blank I-9 form. This is an Immigration form used to determine proof of eligibility to work. (Remember? You have to show two pieces of ID, one to prove who you are and one to prove you're a citizen?)

According to INS, the social security card is proof of citizenship because it shows endorsements for those who are not on the front of the card (my wife's says "not eligible for employment without INS authorization"--for authorization, she got a visa stamp in her Philippine passport). The form also gives acceptible substitutions, one of which is a birth cert. Since border stations go by INS policy, these other docs, like an ss card, may be acceptible.

Here's what it says at the State Dept web site:

"ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: When entering from the United States, U.S. citizens must show either a U.S. passport or proof of U.S. citizenship and photo ID. U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country must have a valid passport. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens for a stay up to 180 days. Anyone with a criminal record (including a DWI charge) should contact the Canadian Embassy or nearest Canadian consulate before travel. For further information on entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of Canada at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, telephone (202) 682-1740, Internet address: http://www.cdnemb-washdc.org; or the Canadian consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Juan or Seattle."

They also have a travel warning posted for Kananaskis, Alberta (if you'll be in the area) here.

[This message was edited by mahal on 06-21-02 at 05:49 PM.]