Vyrus: Dude, that's totally uncalled for... This is a valid question. You seem to have too much of a high opinion about the US as in "if you ask stupid question like this, blah blah blah......" . My take on this is if a person like you survives in the US, any one can...

Daum: Bro, any monetary instrument that you take with you personally should be within $10,000. If it is more than that then they can confiscate the money if you do not declare it. Usually, they would not check how much money you are carrying but if you raise some other flags (eg., looking like Moammar Gaddhafi's son ), they me go through you in entirity and you may be caught out... Here's what I suggest you do.

Option 1. If someone you trust in the US has a bank account, do the bank transfer.

Option2. Send 7,000 cash by western union payable to someone you trust, or yourself. If you make it payable to yourself, you will need a US ID.

Option 3. Use the ATM in the US to withdraw cash from you bank a/c in Canada as Vyrus suggested. Find out who is the correspondent bank of your Canadian Bank in the US and use that bank's ATM to avoid ATM fees...

Good luck...