That's a really helpful update! I always feel like an idiot when I'm desperately looking for a Customs Officer to whom to give my money; except of course when they waive me through!
US Customs discussion - airports, importing
- Thread starter esyee
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
I just flew through SFO and the first border agent who interviewed us definitely could see all the duty free purchases I made abroad (in case anyone had doubts still about that). He asked us if we brought back any food, merchandise, or alcohol and when I said we shopped and brought back some things he said, “yeah I see that, what did you buy?” And as I was listing it off along with where I purchased, he was clearly following along in his own list and sometimes even finished my sentence lol. I always declare but it was my first time having to pay duty. I had about $7k in purchases.
I think it depends on airport and how duty free form was processed. May I ask if you scanned the forms at self terminal? Because when I was from through Paris, there were scammers to scan forms yourself. If light is green you just go. If red then you go to officer, they check and finish the process in computer. I received tax refund d in 2-3 days. So my guess when you scan and officer out in computer, then US custom can see it.
When I was flying from Frankfurt, there were no scanners. You just go to officer to get stamp and put it in box to mail it to global blue. I don’t think US custom can see it when you arrive to country because it’s not in the system. I’ve sent my form almost 3 weeks ago and when I check status in the GB app it still says “stamp needed”. That means that my form is still in transit to global blue I guess.
I came from Japan, where there’s no forms or scanning at the airport as part of duty free purchases. The vendors you purchase from process it electronically when you make the purchase and deduct the amount from the total before you pay.
This makes so much sense!!!! This is why I am always confused by people who claim customs can see your purchases. I fly home from an airport with only a drop box and customs doesn’t even really understand what they are doing. It also took me 10+ weeks to get my refund. So makes a lot of sense that customs had no idea.
Yep. At Charle De Gaulle airport Global Blue doesn’t have these boxes anymore for forms: at least at the terminal that I was flying from. And instruction says, if light is green just go no need to send anything. If red then go to officer and they scan it and finish the process but still you don’t have to send it after that. A lot of people were confused and asking where to put forms. And officer said just keep it. This way I believe your purchases already in the system and can be seen by custom.
That’s very convenient that in Japan they deduct tax amount at the store. I wish every country would do it. Would be way simpler. I’m curious though how they make sure that this item is not staying in Japan.
But in airport with old system, since neither you nor officer scan them, thus this wi be processed only after form will arrive to global blue and they process it.
It’s SUPER convenient! But I was just reading an article about this, yes apparently it is a problem for Japan and they’ve found a lot of people just keep them in country or sell them in-country. I think they’re making some changes next year to help with this. In the meantime, when you’re at the Japanese airport you’re supposed to stop by the customs desk just like in other countries for them to visually confirm you’re leaving with the items. They already have all the info from the vat refund so they’re basically like “I see you bought X, can I see them?” If all looks good then nothing else is done. I'm not sure what they’d do if you CAN’T show the goods, since the payment was already processed and etc.
Google says that is not required to have CITES for ostrich but if double check on that
Just came back from Europe and had a mini panic attack before returning because they didn’t provide me one. Quick TPF dive later I was able to breathe easily. Ostrich does not require CITES. Only lizard/croc/alligator 🙂
You're good, no CITES. I've brought ostrich into the USA from H Paris, no issues. Good luck!
Thank you all! now the hard part ! getting the actual bag offer !lol
I also flew in from Japan through SFO on Monday. I had to show my items to a Japanese customs agent, who wanted to verify that we were indeed taking them out of the country. Like @lalame ‘s experience, the CBP officer in SFO also looked through the computer and could see my purchases both from duty free and from boutique.
It is very convenient that in Japan the VAT is deducted at the boutique/point of sale. There is no need to scan any forms at the Pablo or Diva machines as in Europe, and/or wait in line for a custom officer’s approval/stamp.
Just curious, were you charged any duty? I was a bit shocked to be charged as that has never happened to me [though always declaring]…
in your previous travels times was the amount also considerable? Also were you traveling by yourself every time? Duty free allowance is $800 per person, so if you are traveling with husband/kids or just friends you multiply $800 by number of people in your party. And if total amount is little over it some officers might wave it. Like $60 duty maybe not worth their time? But something like $6200 if they charge 3% it’s already $186. If they decide charge more then it’s even more money to the budget. Honestly Idk how they decide it. It’s just my guess. Maybe it’s just random.