US Customs discussion - airports, importing

I just came back to the US from Paris and was nervous about going through all the customs procedures simply because I had never done it before. I feel like the system is very confusing and I felt like I was treated as a “suspect” the whole time!

First, when in Paris, I scanned my VAT forms at the kiosk and they were flagged red so I had to go to the agent line. The agent went through my forms and asked to see both bags I purchased plus a Petit H charm so I had to unbox a bunch of stuff.

When I was on the plane home, I asked the flight attendant for a declaration form but he said it was all digital and there would be a kiosk. Alright then.

We land in the US and I start looking for kiosks. We are going through the passport line and the agent asks if I have anything to declare and how much. I told him approximately 9k in leather goods. He then confiscates my (and my fiancé’s) passport and tells us to wait. I’m like, uh oh, did I miss the kiosk or something? :confused1: A security guard then comes and escorts us to baggage claim to collect our luggage (all my claimed purchases were in my hands as a carry-on). Everyone from the plane is watching us with our escort and it feels a little embarrassing. We get to the customs area and the escort agent gives our passports to a different customs agent. We wait. Then we’re called up and asked to fill out a form itemizing everything that was bought. There were only 8 lines for items but I had 14 items to declare. I wrote everything down plus the prices. The agent looks at the form then asks to see the receipt for every item. :shocked: Luckily I had all of my VAT forms still neatly on me. He then cross checked every receipt to what I wrote and calculated on his phone what the receipt totals were. Luckily his number matched what I wrote, which was a relief. It just felt like a big test. He then told me that I had done the right thing by declaring my items, subtracted $1,600 from the total ($800 for each me and my partner), and charged me 3% customs tax. I was never asked to show any of my items though everyone around me had open suitcases and agents rifling through them. After I paid, he gave us back our passports.

Overall the process made me feel interrogated (although I guess that’s their job lol). I’m happy I was honest though and was grateful to be charged just 3%. I think they can lighten up the scare factor though for people who self-declare. :angel: He also said there was no “declaration kiosk” lol
My sense is that this is pretty much standard procedure if you get an agent who goes by the book. I’m sure you felt relieved to have been honest in your declaration.
At least you were asked to declare. I swear I must look disastrous when I fly because the agents almost actively waive me through. I hate that there’s not just an electronic process at my airport.
Sometimes I feel like I’m begging them to take my money lol. Much better feeling than being snagged by an agent having a bad morning. I always declare everything and have receipts at the ready. Most of the time the agents look at the size of the stack and decide they’d rather go for coffee :biggrin:
 
Unfortunately I can relate. Which airport did you land on in the US? I have heard that some are worse than others.
We had a layover in Newark. Never again! That was a rough airport and many people were quite unfriendly!
At least you were asked to declare. I swear I must look disastrous when I fly because the agents almost actively waive me through. I hate that there’s not just an electronic process at my airport.
I’m glad I was asked too! Happy to have experienced the process so I know what to expect next time.
My sense is that this is pretty much standard procedure if you get an agent who goes by the book. I’m sure you felt relieved to have been honest in your declaration.

Sometimes I feel like I’m begging them to take my money lol. Much better feeling than being snagged by an agent having a bad morning. I always declare everything and have receipts at the ready. Most of the time the agents look at the size of the stack and decide they’d rather go for coffee :biggrin:
Hahaha I did offer for him to go through all the orange boxes but he declined! He must’ve been ready for his coffee too! :biggrin:
 
I just came back to the US from Paris and was nervous about going through all the customs procedures simply because I had never done it before. I feel like the system is very confusing and I felt like I was treated as a “suspect” the whole time!

First, when in Paris, I scanned my VAT forms at the kiosk and they were flagged red so I had to go to the agent line. The agent went through my forms and asked to see both bags I purchased plus a Petit H charm so I had to unbox a bunch of stuff.

When I was on the plane home, I asked the flight attendant for a declaration form but he said it was all digital and there would be a kiosk. Alright then.

We land in the US and I start looking for kiosks. We are going through the passport line and the agent asks if I have anything to declare and how much. I told him approximately 9k in leather goods. He then confiscates my (and my fiancé’s) passport and tells us to wait. I’m like, uh oh, did I miss the kiosk or something? :confused1: A security guard then comes and escorts us to baggage claim to collect our luggage (all my claimed purchases were in my hands as a carry-on). Everyone from the plane is watching us with our escort and it feels a little embarrassing. We get to the customs area and the escort agent gives our passports to a different customs agent. We wait. Then we’re called up and asked to fill out a form itemizing everything that was bought. There were only 8 lines for items but I had 14 items to declare. I wrote everything down plus the prices. The agent looks at the form then asks to see the receipt for every item. :shocked: Luckily I had all of my VAT forms still neatly on me. He then cross checked every receipt to what I wrote and calculated on his phone what the receipt totals were. Luckily his number matched what I wrote, which was a relief. It just felt like a big test. He then told me that I had done the right thing by declaring my items, subtracted $1,600 from the total ($800 for each me and my partner), and charged me 3% customs tax. I was never asked to show any of my items though everyone around me had open suitcases and agents rifling through them. After I paid, he gave us back our passports.

Overall the process made me feel interrogated (although I guess that’s their job lol). I’m happy I was honest though and was grateful to be charged just 3%. I think they can lighten up the scare factor though for people who self-declare. :angel: He also said there was no “declaration kiosk” lol
This is 100% standard in Newark. It also usually adds up to an hour before you get out of the airport. Mostly I've had nice agents, never been treated like a criminal, but they should make it much easier and faster.
Unfortunately, since it's a customs issue, they do have to process you with all your baggage (including anything checked), because once they let you go you are past the customs area.
 
I just came back to the US from Paris and was nervous about going through all the customs procedures simply because I had never done it before. I feel like the system is very confusing and I felt like I was treated as a “suspect” the whole time!

First, when in Paris, I scanned my VAT forms at the kiosk and they were flagged red so I had to go to the agent line. The agent went through my forms and asked to see both bags I purchased plus a Petit H charm so I had to unbox a bunch of stuff.

When I was on the plane home, I asked the flight attendant for a declaration form but he said it was all digital and there would be a kiosk. Alright then.

We land in the US and I start looking for kiosks. We are going through the passport line and the agent asks if I have anything to declare and how much. I told him approximately 9k in leather goods. He then confiscates my (and my fiancé’s) passport and tells us to wait. I’m like, uh oh, did I miss the kiosk or something? :confused1: A security guard then comes and escorts us to baggage claim to collect our luggage (all my claimed purchases were in my hands as a carry-on). Everyone from the plane is watching us with our escort and it feels a little embarrassing. We get to the customs area and the escort agent gives our passports to a different customs agent. We wait. Then we’re called up and asked to fill out a form itemizing everything that was bought. There were only 8 lines for items but I had 14 items to declare. I wrote everything down plus the prices. The agent looks at the form then asks to see the receipt for every item. :shocked: Luckily I had all of my VAT forms still neatly on me. He then cross checked every receipt to what I wrote and calculated on his phone what the receipt totals were. Luckily his number matched what I wrote, which was a relief. It just felt like a big test. He then told me that I had done the right thing by declaring my items, subtracted $1,600 from the total ($800 for each me and my partner), and charged me 3% customs tax. I was never asked to show any of my items though everyone around me had open suitcases and agents rifling through them. After I paid, he gave us back our passports.

Overall the process made me feel interrogated (although I guess that’s their job lol). I’m happy I was honest though and was grateful to be charged just 3%. I think they can lighten up the scare factor though for people who self-declare. :angel: He also said there was no “declaration kiosk” lol

Your experience sounds so similar to my multiple experiences in the Detroit Airport.

The main difference is Detroit has always charged me the full rate for bags —9%. I have talked to them about the fact that they go exactly by the book and they say that management there expects them to enforce the rules exactly.

I have even had them search my luggage in Detroit which tbh is embarrassing and makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong. I always declare everything so it’s not really a problem, but to your point , it is a weird scare tactic for someone self-declaring.
 
I traveled back from Paris through JFK last month. It’s been years since I flew back from Europe through JFK, so I didn’t know what to expect in customs. My flight was supposed to arrive at 1:30 PM, but was delayed and landed at JFK at around 8 pm.

After going through the Global entry kiosk, there was a customs agent at a podium which had a sign saying people must self-declare . I told the agent I needed to declare, and she pointed me to the customs area.

When I told the agents in the customs area that I need to declare, they asked me how much I was declaring. It was clear in the way they asked the question that they were hoping it wouldn’t be worth their time . They seem bummed when they heard that the amount was worth their time . :lol:

One of the agents disappeared for a few minutes, came back and said we don’t have a cashier so you’re free to go. I’m not sure why there was no cashier, the only thing I can think is maybe they don’t have a lot of international flights coming in at that time in the evening? I have to say I was pumped, especially because of the number of times I’ve flown through Detroit and had to pay full duty!!
 
This is 100% standard in Newark. It also usually adds up to an hour before you get out of the airport. Mostly I've had nice agents, never been treated like a criminal, but they should make it much easier and faster.
Unfortunately, since it's a customs issue, they do have to process you with all your baggage (including anything checked), because once they let you go you are past the customs area.
Yes! I had only a 1.5 hour layover in Newark so I had a bit of heightened anxiety that I would miss my connecting flight! Especially because they make you recheck your bags and go through security all over again. :facepalm:
Your experience sounds so similar to my multiple experiences in the Detroit Airport.

The main difference is Detroit has always charged me the full rate for bags —9%. I have talked to them about the fact that they go exactly by the book and they say that management there expects them to enforce the rules exactly.

I have even had them search my luggage in Detroit which tbh is embarrassing and makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong. I always declare everything so it’s not really a problem, but to your point , it is a weird scare tactic for someone self-declaring.
9%! I’m so sorry, that sucks! It does seem a little unfair that the customs agents seemingly have the power to charge whatever percentage they like. I’m surprised it’s not more standardized.
I traveled back from Paris through JFK last month. It’s been years since I flew back from Europe through JFK, so I didn’t know what to expect in customs. My flight was supposed to arrive at 1:30 PM, but was delayed and landed at JFK at around 8 pm.

After going through the Global entry kiosk, there was a customs agent at a podium which had a sign saying people must self-declare . I told the agent I needed to declare, and she pointed me to the customs area.

When I told the agents in the customs area that I need to declare, they asked me how much I was declaring. It was clear in the way they asked the question that they were hoping it wouldn’t be worth their time . They seem bummed when they heard that the amount was worth their time . :lol:

One of the agents disappeared for a few minutes, came back and said we don’t have a cashier so you’re free to go. I’m not sure why there was no cashier, the only thing I can think is maybe they don’t have a lot of international flights coming in at that time in the evening? I have to say I was pumped, especially because of the number of times I’ve flown through Detroit and had to pay full duty!!
You lucky duck! :yahoo: Good for you! I’d be thrilled as well! Not just for the money saving but also the time saving!!
 
9%! I’m so sorry, that sucks! It does seem a little unfair that the customs agents seemingly have the power to charge whatever percentage they like. I’m surprised it’s not more standardized.
It is standardized but the agents have the discretion to charge you a lesser rate by putting your items in a different category with a lesser percentage of duty owed.
 
Sorry if this is a standard, basic question…😅 but when a percentage of duty is mentioned, are we talking about X% of the bag’s actual retail price? Or it’s the X% of the selling price?
A lot of time the reseller has already charged a premium when the item is paid in full (say, on the website when it’s from big, well known international reseller). For example, an item with $6k retail price but is charged $8k, would that X% of duty coming from the $6k? Or it’s whatever amount they put on the form with the shipment (which can be $1k-$8k)?

TIA :blush:
 
Sorry if this is a standard, basic question…😅 but when a percentage of duty is mentioned, are we talking about X% of the bag’s actual retail price? Or it’s the X% of the selling price?
A lot of time the reseller has already charged a premium when the item is paid in full (say, on the website when it’s from big, well known international reseller). For example, an item with $6k retail price but is charged $8k, would that X% of duty coming from the $6k? Or it’s whatever amount they put on the form with the shipment (which can be $1k-$8k)?

TIA :blush:
Purchase price.
 
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