[shakra]

hi

time from time the customs ask you this question before letting you enter: "what's your job?" !
if your only income is from crypto trading, would you be confident to simply tell them that ?

don't you think it could cause some problem because it's unregulated, and that it means you are going to "work" online while on a tourist visa ?

any experience is appreciated

[Dulceácido]

That's actually an interesting question... If you say you're "unemployed," you're fucked if you're coming from a 3rd world country because they will assume you will work in the country you're visiting (especially if you're referring to the US).

If you say you are a wealthy online trader, you're still going to be working in that country, while on a tourist visa.

Hmmm... It's a conundrum. You can always just tell the truth. That's what I'd do because if you start making up stories, you're going to get hauled into "secondary" (meaning secondary, additional screening) where you'll be asked even more questions in detail and your lies will likely start to unravel and then you'll definitely be denied entry for lying to a Customs Official. So, I'd suggest that it's better just to be honest because they could just say, "Okay, cool," and you walk right through or if you do go to secondary, at least you'll be able to defend your position when the tough questions start coming.

[Suits]

I don't discuss my income earning with any immigration officer of any country I enter, other than Canada. I'm not going to tell them that I work under the table in China, especially if it is a country that has a problem with people doing that exact thing.

I've only been asked once directly in recent memory. This was in Malaysia about a month ago. I told the officer that I don't work anywhere and that I have investments and savings that pay my expenses. He didn't make a big deal about it.

[Heart Break Kid]

Why not just say you're a trader, why be specific to crypto?

[Alpha_Romeo]

What do you do? Teacher.

What do you teach? Economics and Finance.

Probably the best approach would be to be as boring as possible.

[rotinz]

It's best to come off as boring as possible. Don't try to break down all your business and how crypto is taking over the world just have something simple you do on the side and show that when people ask what you do.

[jordypip23]

(07-13-2018 04:45 AM)Alpha_Romeo Wrote:  

What do you do? Teacher.

What do you teach? Economics and Finance.

Probably the best approach would be to be as boring as possible.

LOL probably one situation where coming off as nerdy & bookwormy as possible will give you the least amount of grief.

[godzilla]

(07-12-2018 10:56 PM)Suits Wrote:  

I don't discuss my income earning with any immigration officer of any country I enter, other than Canada. I'm not going to tell them that I work under the table in China, especially if it is a country that has a problem with people doing that exact thing.

I've only been asked once directly in recent memory. This was in Malaysia about a month ago. I told the officer that I don't work anywhere and that I have investments and savings that pay my expenses. He didn't make a big deal about it.

I told an immigration officer re-entering the USA the same thing basically that you did in Malaysia. I was pulled aside for a bag search and I was coming back from Sweden.

I would just say you're a currency trader. They're probably not gonna ask where you work.

[hundreds]

dumb it down and keep it simple. online business, freelancer, investments, or finance

[RatInTheWoods]

Finance and investments.

or

Banking.

[DrugAdvisor]

If you mention crypto to the immigration officer these days, they will probably look at you with sympathy and let you through with no further questions.

[Soyouz]

Try to stay vague at first (ex : I have private investments and manage my portfolio online while traveling). If they ask you to be more specific, go ahead and give them more details (trading crypto).

Make sure to avoid lying to border agents. These guys have access to a lot of information, and they’re trained to detect any BS.

If they smell anything fishy, they might start digging deeper, ask you to unlock your phone/laptop and start looking at all your files, emails, WhatsApp conversations, pictures, etc... Here’s a guide that explains how to protect yourself against it :
https://bccla.org/our_work/electronic-de...he-border/

[DaveR]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a country where trading your own account required a work permit. As long as you're not trading for someone else, you should be fine as far as immigration is concerned.

I would say something to make it clear that you're not engaged in any kind of business or subordinate work (as an employee). I.e.: "I don't work; I just trade the financial markets"

However, taxation may be a problem and they could share details with . Trading is usually considered active income rather than passive capital gains if you trade CFDs or regularly turn over your positions. It's unlikely that you'll get caught, but there is a possiblity. Eg. the UK rule is: you're not tax resident if you spend fewer than 91 days in the UK in the tax year, and you work for more than three hours in the UK on fewer than 31 days in the tax year.

[DaveR]

(08-01-2018 09:12 PM)Soyouz Wrote:  

If they smell anything fishy, they might start digging deeper, ask you to unlock your phone/laptop and start looking at all your files, emails, WhatsApp conversations, pictures, etc... Here’s a guide that explains how to protect yourself against it :
https://bccla.org/our_work/electronic-de...he-border/

Not a bad guide as to how Canada's customs department operates, but they've omitted the most important operational security tip: use full-disk encryption with plausible deniability: https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Plausible%20...ility.html

It works as follows:

- if password 1 is entered: unlock and boot a decoy operating system. Before travelling, you would use it to download some travel guides or photos and watch a few cat videos on Youtube.

- if password 2 is entered: unlock your main (hidden) operating system which you use for anything sensitive.

In the event that you're questioned and a customs officer wishes to look through your PC, no problems - just unlock using password 1. He'll probably see that there's nothing interesting on it and let you go. As long he doesn't take the computer out of sight or connect any devices or cables to it at any point, you can safely continue to use it.

In the unlikely event that an officer takes your computer for further investigation and/or connects a device or cable to it, you can't trust that computer any more. It should be wiped and then sold. DO NOT unlock or use it for any reason. You should sell it, buy a new one and restore from a backup.


Try to not keep anything sensitive on a phone or tablet. iPhones are generally secure if locked before government officers touch them (five presses of the power button or hold the power button and slide to turn off). However, if you're compelled to unlock a phone or provide your password, and it contains sensitive, you're screwed.