"Declaring" Your Possessions
When you “declare” something, you indicate that you have a specific type of goods in your possession. This is done by filling out Form 6059B, which you will be given during your flight. You will not be required to list your personal effects, such as clothing, toiletry, or portable electronics. You must, however, declare the value of any gifts or articles you have in your possession that are not for your own personal use. Remember, some types of goods are completely restricted (including most agricultural products), and may not be brought into the U.S. under any circumstances. You also may be required to pay a duty, or tax, on certain items. However, there are many exceptions that will allow you to bring a fixed amount of some goods with you to the U.S. For more information on restricted goods, please visit www.customs.gov.
The following four tips, taken from the USCBP website www.customs.gov, should help you avoid most difficulties that can arise during a typical Customs inspection. Keep these tips in mind, and you should be able to pass into the U.S. with relative ease.
- Keep key travel documents with you at all times. It is best to always carry your passport and visa materials on your person– never pack them.
- Don’t forget to declare any food products you are bringing with you.
- Declare everything you’ve purchased outside the U.S. that is not for your specific personal use. Remember, advice from friends and shopkeepers about what you must declare is often wrong. You must declare duty-free goods, even if you purchased them in a duty-free store.
- Don’t assume. Find out if the items you plan on bringing to the U.S. are acceptable. There are very specific restrictions on fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, live plants and animals, trademarked goods, and animal trophies to name a few.