It is my understanding/experience that only US citizens returning to the US are required to fill out the customs declaration forms.
US Customs discussion - airports, importing
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It is my understanding/experience that only US citizens returning to the US are required to fill out the customs declaration forms.
The part I hate about Darma's story is the inconsistency. I will always declare because of the severe consequences (and the fact that I am not the luckiest person
). But it is a bit frustrating when there is such inconsistency in the way that duty is assessed-- even in the same airport for people coming through at the same time. I think the rules should be consistently applied -- if anyone pays full duty, I think we should all pay full duty.And beyond the calculation of the duty, I've had times when the process was super easy and fast and then other times when it was a hassle and took a long time.
I arrived at SFO from France last Friday. I had an H bag with me and a few other bits and bobs.
1. First stop - Passport Control. It's electronic now for the most part with individual machines where you scan your passport.
2. Next stop is Customs. They ask a bunch of questions about what you bought etc. off the sheet you fill out on the plane - declaration and then they stamp it.
3. Pick up your checked luggage at the carousel.
4. Last stop is another check on Duty/Customs - that's where I had to pay the duty for my H goodies - 3% on the first $1K, and 8% on the remaining after the $800/citizen exemption.
Step #4 took about 20-30 min. The officer was shocked at the price of the handbag and said I was only the 2nd person he ever had to charge duty - which makes me wonder - did others not declare their H goodies? SFO is a large hub - I could not understand this.
It is definitely not worth withholding information on what was purchased overseas.
Hope that helps. I had not gone through in 3 years so obviously some steps are faster with technology - which is great. It was pretty quick on the European side also with Detaxe with Pablo.
1. First stop - Passport Control. It's electronic now for the most part with individual machines where you scan your passport.
2. Next stop is Customs. They ask a bunch of questions about what you bought etc. off the sheet you fill out on the plane - declaration and then they stamp it.
3. Pick up your checked luggage at the carousel.
4. Last stop is another check on Duty/Customs - that's where I had to pay the duty for my H goodies - 3% on the first $1K, and 8% on the remaining after the $800/citizen exemption.
Step #4 took about 20-30 min. The officer was shocked at the price of the handbag and said I was only the 2nd person he ever had to charge duty - which makes me wonder - did others not declare their H goodies? SFO is a large hub - I could not understand this.
It is definitely not worth withholding information on what was purchased overseas.
Hope that helps. I had not gone through in 3 years so obviously some steps are faster with technology - which is great. It was pretty quick on the European side also with Detaxe with Pablo.
1 last tip. Fill out your Customs Declaration form when you board the plane. I don't know about you - but after 10-12 hours on a flight, the last thing I want to do is fill out one of those forms.
This is the first trip I've filled it out at the beginning; especially if you have a lot to itemize.
This is the first trip I've filled it out at the beginning; especially if you have a lot to itemize.
The part I hate about Darma's story is the inconsistency. I will always declare because of the severe consequences (and the fact that I am not the luckiest person
And beyond the calculation of the duty, I've had times when the process was super easy and fast and then other times when it was a hassle and took a long time.
I agree and understand that complaint. I have never paid duty even though I always declare everything. It seems I just get waived through. But I know it's fortuitous and depends on how busy they are, the mood of the agents, etc. That is unfair. However, I would never underdeclare on those grounds.
The part I hate about Darma's story is the inconsistency. I will always declare because of the severe consequences (and the fact that I am not the luckiest person
And beyond the calculation of the duty, I've had times when the process was super easy and fast and then other times when it was a hassle and took a long time.
Well said. Comparison is a thief of joy. There were only two of us, me and friend, over there at the time. I was held not only a lot longer but also paid more than double than what my friend had to pay. It's unfair.
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@cavalla just to be clear that I understood correctly; the form says "Visitors (Non-residents) - declare the value of all articles that will remain in the United States" then the next lines is "Duty- bla blabla US residents are entitled to a duty-free exception of 800$ on items accompanying them. Visitors (non-residents) are normally entitles to an exception fo 100$. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first 1000$ above the exception"
So what does it mean for Visitors (Non-Residents) transiting thru USA? (I have attached the back of the declaration form)
Attachments
The goods aren't remaining in the USA - so you don't need to declare the value of those. Only Goods that remain in the USA... So transiting through USA - then you have nothing to declare unless you are leaving items in the USA.
Thank you for sharing the form and clearing my doubts with me. I appreciate it. I usually print out regulations and bring along when in unclear situation. Not all the officials know all the answers to every circumstance, so it doesn't harm to be prepared. I've been searching on CBP site and found nothing for the definition of import. In this case, the declaration form provides enough explanation. I'm a visitor, since I currently live abroad, and the articles do not remain in the U.S..
Thanks @needlv for the clarification, thats what i thought too but wanted to make sure... @cavalla I'm on the same boat, however I'm not a US citizen or aything close to being one, I usually go thru US from South American for 1 or 2 days before moving forward to my final destination whether that be in Asia or Africa or UK.
In any case, its good to be clear that we are talking about goods that will remain in the States, thus I dont have to declare them.....
I was traveling back from Paris with my adult daughter in January.....point of entry Minneapolis. I assumed that we could combine our "$800" exemption into $1600 for the two of us. Apparently, it only applies if you live under the same roof/same address. We caught a little heat from the agent but he let us through.
The year before I was bringing back a new Bolide, still in the box ( I couldn't bear to leave it behind) and declared everything. The agent asked about declarations and I simply told him I had spent more than my "allowance". He waived me through with a smile!
No consistency at all.
The year before I was bringing back a new Bolide, still in the box ( I couldn't bear to leave it behind) and declared everything. The agent asked about declarations and I simply told him I had spent more than my "allowance". He waived me through with a smile!
No consistency at all.
