Hi Loren,
You stated: “What are the implications, if one travels to another
country to conduct workshops? I suspect that most countries would
wish to control who conducts business within their borders, and I’m
wondering what sort of hurdles would have to be overcome, to avoid
legal issues. The materials would have to be carried or shipped
internationally, which involves customs, of course, but I’m sure
that’s not the only issue that would have to be dealt with.”
A couple of things come to mind.
Your Passport
For most countries, to alloy you to pass through Immigration, you
will be required to have at least six months left of available usage.
Work Visa
Option #1 – if you plan to state [at Immigration] that you are
conducting seminars or workshops in their country, you will be
required to apply for a work visa prior to entering. This will entail
serious ‘hoop-jumping’ and further streams of governmental paperwork
- for you and the folks who are bringing you in. Option #2 – do not
announce at Immigration that you are there to work. They will stamp
your passport, you will in effect receive a ‘landing visa’, which as
a tourist will give you from two weeks to six months [each country is
different] to enjoy their country.
Traveling with materials, inventory or tools internationally Option
#1 – ship to and from your destination using FedEx, UPS or DHL.
From each of the respective shipper’s websites you should be able to
determine what their requirements are. Even though you are
theoretically shipping to yourself, you will need to have someone be
the receiver. Depending on the value of what you are shipping, you
may need to develop a Commercial Invoice, Shipper’s Export
Declaration, and be approved by Homeland Security through AES [part
of the US Census Bureau]. The Commercial Invoice is not the
traditional invoice we would think of in the trade. It is basically
a listing of everything you are shipping; complete with descriptions
and listing the category each item falls into with the International
Harmonized Code. Once you are approved with AES, you won’t need to
work you way through it again. More info heRe:
http://www.aesdirect.gov/register_help.html
Option #2 – travel with your goods using a governmental product
known as a ‘Carnet’. This is a relatively new travel document that is
especially helpful for those world travelers who may be moving from
country to country with the same list of goods. If you’re traveling
and selling, it can still be used but does create some complications
- though this may not be the case with you. Some folks have stated
that the Carnet is pricey to use, but it is designed to reduce the
confusion and headaches normally associated with moving items through
Immigration and Customs around the world.
Using the Carnet, a Surety Bond is already developed for you, in
addition to a form of Commercial Invoice that you will carry with
you. The Carnet is like a passport for your goods, it is good for one
year and will allow you to pass seamlessly through over 60 countries
that recognize it, including Canada, the UK and Australia to name a
few. As you pass through Customs you will need to announce you are
traveling with a Carnet. You will then be forwarded to an inspector -
who seems to give you preferencial treatment.
More info on the Carnet can be acquired here:
http://www.atacarnet.com/HowCarnetsWorkAnswersToYourFAQs.aspx
I hope you find this helpful!
Roger Dery
@Roger_Dery
Royal Oak, Michigan USA
Rare Gems - Precision Faceting