I work for the Burton Group, a technology research and advisory company. I’m a consultant in Burton’s Application Platform Strategies service. One of the things I hope to do with this blog is provide insight into how our (to remain anonymous) customers are deploying technology. In particular, how they are approaching SOA, Web Services, XML, open source software, databases, J2EE, .NET, etc. Maybe I’ll have something to say on this tomorrow after I visit a with large university near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
For now, though, let me tell you how Canada took me for $150CAD.
I flew this afternoon from Boston to Toronto. When I get up to passport control the following (summarized) exchange takes place between me and the passport agent.
“How long will you be in Canada?”
“2 days.”
“Business or pleasure.”
“Business.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a computer consultant.”
“What’s your business in Canada?”
“I’m providing some consulting to [Large University].”
“Are you getting paid for this?”
“Indirectly.”
“Your company’s getting paid?”
“Yes.”
“Please step over to immigration.”
Long story short, it seems that if you come to Canada to do any work that you get paid for, you need to get a “work permit” at a cost of only $150 Canadian. When I asked the immigration agent what I could have said to avoid being fleeced (his word, by the way, not mine), he answered that I should claim to be in Canada for a sales call.
Next time I head North, I’m a sales guy. Call me, we’ll do lunch.
{ 1 } Comments
After visiting Canada on twenty to thirty occasions last year, I (your wife) recall telling you different versions of this story after almost every trip. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions about whether you do or do not listen to me, really listen to me.