It would be much more responsible of THS to just make a statement indicating that it is up to the sitter to understand the requirements of the country they want to enter.
Do not mention housesitting EVER when crossing an international border. Do not take the risk of being refused entry!! Your reason for travel should always be just for tourism. (Or family visit) Make sure you have the name and address of your first host or the hotel where you’ll arrive to. If giving host details make sure you inform them too- so your stories, if questioned, will always match!
Whatever you do NEVER EVER show the THS letter!!! I think it is highly irresponsible of them to suggest using it! Its caught more than a few more naive sitters out! In most countries housesitting is considered work, even if not paid, and is not allowed, like some voluntary work. Don’t risk having all your precious travel plans messed up!
As @Cuttlefish might say- if questioned at the border- #mefirst! followed swiftly by #whiteliesalltheway!!! 
Yes, “very small handful” should be about three.
But in the recent CBC story THS said that they were aware of “0.02 percent of about 49,500 house-sits in 2023”. That is a strange way of saying it, but my guess is that this was 12 cases. In that single year.
I know of a case at the UK border: International Housesitting and Tourist Visas by Gobsmacked at Gatwick (Prt 1) on the Housesit Match site.
Edited to comply with the Terms of Service
Thanks for sharing, I read the whole story with interest. The housesitting issue isn’t raised until the third round of questions. So the first problem was not that. The main concern was that they didn’t find enough evidence of financial support for the length of the stay and that, mixed with the prospect of possibly getting a job in show business, made the agents suspect that she might work illegally. Anyway, they made it clear that housesitting was considered work.
Although it is quite long and at some point it feels a bit repetitive (it isn’t, it’s just that the whole process is repeated several times) I think it’s worth reading to be prepared for the type of questions they ask and the type of answers that may raise suspicions.
If you can show ability to support yourself say as a visitor, border agents typically won’t ask further unless they’re otherwise suspicious of you. That’s why I snap a shot of my banking app before I fly. That way, if an agent asks and I can’t get a signal from inside the security zone to access a bank app, I can at least show resources.
I learned the above when I watched a series of videos about how various countries screen travelers.
They basically don’t want indigents or lawbreakers entering.
It is not just about indigents. One would need to be quite wealthy to live as a tourist for half a year, in paid accommodation.
So in typical Western economies, an average person (or an average retiree) would need a source of income, and the border officials are concerned that one would do work to support oneself. Or that one was trafficking something.
Yup, I was loosely referring to anyone who couldn’t support themselves.
US citizen here - I’ve entered the UK 4 times for sits, since Covid using the automated gates so had no interaction with border agents. And one time to S Korea with no question about why was visiting. One time to Australia and was asked about the prescription meds I was carrying. Twice to Canada - first time through Calgary connecting to Victoria and used the automated gates; second time in Toronto connecting Halifax - used automated gates but then questioned by border agent who specifically asked if I was going to an international climate conference - told him no, just a tourist - wonder if that was a trick question.
Might be useful for folks who don’t travel much:
• For prescription meds, to save yourself trouble, keep your prescriptions on you in paper or digital form. And keep your medication in its original containers. That can help avoid border agents becoming suspicious unnecessarily.
• If you carry or buy bags of coffee, pack them somewhere easy to access. That’s because drug traffickers use coffee to mask drugs and border agents look for such. If you put the coffee in hard to reach places, they might have to unnecessarily dig through your baggage.
• Meat and produce (including dried forms) often can get you stopped for more thorough searching. That’s because various countries try to protect agricultural industries worth millions or billions of dollars. Pests, mold, insect larvae, etc., can decimate crops and livelihoods. If you’re going to carry such, check each countries’ border control restrictions. They get updated as needed, because pest controls and such evolve. If in doubt, don’t carry it. Even tucking away a piece of fruit served to you on a flight can run you into needless trouble.
• Many countries scan baggage behind the scenes, as well as when you check baggage. That’s to find contraband. Also, dogs sniff for explosives, drugs, even large amounts of cash (which must be declared in various countries, because they’re looking to stop money laundering and other crimes).
Hi! I have my first sit in Canada and I’ll be driving from VA to Ottawa. I received an email that states that I have to show proof of income for the length of my stay. Is there a minimum amount required? Do I bring bank statements or show balance from my bank app?
I also read from a post that I can be turned away if I state the purpose of my visit as a pet sitting. What other questions they ask at the border?
Do they check/inspect your vehicle?
I’ll be staying there for two months so I was planning on bringing my French press’s and air fryer. Are these items allowed?
Lastly, do I disclose for how long I’ll be in Canada and how can they track the length of time? I was planning to book another sit while in Canada without exceeding the allotted 6 months.
Can’t answer all your questions @bellaluna but the most important one of “what are you doing in Canada?” Is not answered with “I’m a pet sitter” or you’ll be turned away. Do NOT use the dreaded THS letter. Just say you’re a tourist. A French press & air fryer with you is fine. As for the amount of money you need to show & onward travel, it probably depends what the border guard is like on the day. Best advice, have some funds, have evidence of them and have an onward ticket and/or travel plans for leaving. #bestofluck
Keep things simple and say you’re sightseeing. They might ask you to pop your trunk, so they can see what you’re bringing over. They don’t usually do a more invasive search, unless they suspect you of something. (There’s drug smuggling across the U.S.-Canadian border, for instance. Canada also doesn’t want Americans bringing undeclared guns. And the U.S. screens for food, to protect agricultural industries against pests.)
You can bring the items you mentioned, but they’re more likely to then ask where you’re staying if you look like you’re carrying things tourists don’t usually.
You can show proof of funds via a statement or an app. I’d suggest using an app, because if you bring a paper statement, they might ask how you knew to do that.
They also might ask where you’ll be touring and/or staying. If you say with friends, you’ll want to have their address on hand. And if you’re staying with friends, they might ask how you met them and what they do for a living.
When sitting, I load my hosts’ address into my contacts on my phone, which friends typically do. And I’m prepared to say we met online, in a pets group, and I know what they do for a living, if asked.
Americans can stay in Canada for six months without a visa, if you have a U.S. passport, for instance. The longer you say you’ll stay, the more they might ask Qs. Of course they can track how long you stay — you enter and exit through borders. Even if you flew or trained out they’d know.
At the driving borders, I’ve always been asked how long I’ll stay. And I’ve driven between the U.S. and Canada a lot and don’t recall not being asked that and the purpose of my visit. I’ve usually been waved through quickly.
Note: Canada or the U.S. also won’t let you in if you have certain criminal cases or convictions on your record. You should be able to find that info online. (I learned that on a video series about how countries screen travelers.)
Whenever anyone crosses a border, you don’t know what they will do. Years ago I lived near the border, and getting in and out was usually not an issue, but every once in a while, depending on who was in the car, it could be.
Thank you so much Cuttlefish! This is very helpful.
Thank you Maggie! This is incredibly helpful.
Happy to help.
FWIW, I’ve crossed the U.S.-Canadian border at four or five entry points while driving / road tripping over decades and haven’t had any hangups. That’s included driving folks who were foreigners to both the U.S. and Canada. Nothing eventful, because we all appeared on the up and up and everyone had their documents in order.
At one point, my husband and I would drive over during many weekends, because we lived in Seattle at the time and a family we knew had given us unlimited use of their vacation home in Vancouver, which they rarely visited from Asia. At their invitation, we even brought friends to stay, including a foreigner on a fellowship from Asia, whom we’d hosted via my work.
I’ve also crossed while driving to Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and returning to the U.S. at various entry points over the years. And from Detroit to visit Windsor. Nothing notably different entry wise when it came to border agents’ questions across visits, even when I had foreign passengers.
@bellaluna the most important thing is NOT to mention pet sitting as your reason to travel!! There was a sitter on here not so long ago- travelling the other way from Canada to US. She got turned away at the border for that reason and also is now on a watch list for the future. Not good. Major hassle for the HO as well at last minute.
Most countrues do regard petsitting as work even if unpaid but the US/Canada border is particular strict on policy.
Always say you are a tourist. If they ask for an address show the host address, say they are friends & make sure the HO knows this too-(also how & where you met) just incase! Or show hotel bookings (which you can cancel)
Never volunteer any information they do not ask for! Its easy to get nervous with border guards on a power trip!!
Good luck!
Note: This person is driving across the border and wants to potentially stay longer after their planned two months. If driving, don’t complicate things with “plane tickets,” etc., because it will just raise more Qs than necessary.
You are right. I didn’t note they were driving. I’ll remove that comment.
Thank you, Lockstar!