I didn't even know anything about a finCEN form or a problem traveling OUT of the U.S. with more than $10,000 until just very recently while doing my taxes.

Here is my problem and question.(Sorry this is long) I'm a U.S. citizen. I married a Canadian citizen. Last fall, 2009, we travelled across the Peace Bridge together. At the time, I was coming over as a visitor, to stay with my husband while awaiting the outcome of my Permanent residency app to Canada. That was not a problem and they gave me a one year visitor record. However, due to the fact that my bank person didn't seem to know how to do a wire transfer, I had her make out a cashier's check for MY money from my bank account, in MY name. It also stated Non-Negotiable on the check. I did not sign the check.

When we crossed at the Canadian border the officer asked me if I had more than $10,000 with me. I was truthful and said yes and asked him if he wanted to see the cashier's check. He looked at the check and wrote down the amount and I even spoke to two other Canadian border officers and neither of them said anything about the money I had with me. I assumed this was not a problem. The next day my husband and I opened a joint bank account and deposited the money. It's being used for living expenses for me.

But now I'm reading about a finCEN form that's supposed to be filled out at the time of departing the U.S. and I've been freaking out afraid I've done something wrong, unintentionally.

First of all, how was I supposed to do this when there were NO U.S. customs officers at that Canadian border?

Secondly, I'm wondering if this is even an issue due to what is said on the IRS. website in Publication 519

The term “monetary instruments” means the following:
Coin and currency of the United States or of any other country,Travelers' checks in any form,Investment securities or stock in bearer form or otherwise in such form that title to them passes upon delivery,Negotiable instruments (including checks, promissory notes, and money orders) in bearer form, endorsed without restriction, made out to a fictitious payee, or otherwise in such form that title to them passes upon delivery, and Checks, promissory notes, and money orders which are signed but on which the name of the payee has been omitted.

However, the term does not include:

Checks or money orders made payable to the order of a named person which have not been endorsed or which contain restrictive endorsements,

I'm wondering if the latter, means the same as what I had? A cashier's check made payable to me, from my bank and it wasn't endorsed until I went to deposit it in the Canadian bank with my husband.

Can anyone please shed some light on this or know who I should contact to find out? I've called the IRS and I've gotten three different answers.

Thank you so much