As a resident of
another country on a visit to the United States, your Customs status is that of a
nonresident.
While aboard ship or
on the aircraft, you will be given a Customs declaration form. Fill out the identification
part, answer questions 1 through 11 and sign the reverse side. Present it to the
Immigration and Customs Inspectors on arrival. Visitors arriving by land borders will
identify themselves during their oral declaration.
All articles brought
into the United States, including gifts for other persons, must be declared to U.S.
Customs at the time you enter. If all the articles you have to declare are entitled to
free entry under the exemptions allowed, you need not fill in the reverse side of the
declaration form. Instead, you orally declare articles brought with you to the Customs
Inspector. (If an inspector deems it necessary, you may be required to make a written
declaration and list articles brought with you.)
There is no limitation
as to the amount of money (U.S. or foreign currency), all travelers checks, money orders,
or negotiable instruments in bearer form that you may bring into or take out of the United
States. A report, however, must be filed with U.S. Customs at the time you arrive or
depart with an amount which exceeds $10,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency. A form
will be provided to you for this purpose.
Personal
Exemptions The following articles may be brought in free of duty and internal
revenue tax, if for personal use and not for others or for sale.
Personal effects (e.g.
wearing apparel; articles of personal adornment; toilet articles; hunting, fishing, and
photographic equipment)
One liter of alcoholic
beverages (e.g. wine, beer or liquor) if you are an adult nonresident
200 cigarettes, or 50
cigars, or 2 kilograms (4.4 Ibs.) of smoking tobacco, or proportionate amounts of each
Vehicles (e.g.,
automobiles, trailers, airplanes, motorcycles, boats) for personal use if imported in
connection with your arrival
Gift Exemption
In addition to the above exemptions, articles up to $100 in total value for use as bona
fide gifts to other persons may be brought in free of duty and tax, if you will be in the
United States for at least 72 hours and have not claimed this gift exemption in the past 6
months. You may include in this exemption up to 100 cigars.
Please note:
Some States limit the amount of liquor which can be brought into the State. Customs cannot
release alcoholic beverages in excess of restrictions of the State in which you arrive.
Some items must meet
certain requirements, require a license or permit, or may be prohibited entry. Among these
are:
Absinthe
Biological materials
Candy, liquor-filled
Prohibited entry except where showed by state law
Fruits, plants end
endangered species of plants, vegetables and their products
Firearms and ammunition
if not intended for legitimate hunting or lawful sporting purposes
Goods from Iran, Iraq,
Libya, Haiti, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, and The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia
and Motenegro). Foreign visitors may bring in articles of Cuban origin for personal use,
except for alcohol and tobacco products. These will be held by U.S. Customs and may be
returned, if petitioned for by the owner, on departure from the U.S.
Hazardous articles
e.g., fireworks, dangerous toys, toxic or poisonous substances
Lottery tickets
Meats, poultry and
products (e.g., sausage, pate)
Narcotics and dangerous
drugs. If you require medicine containing habit-forming drugs carry only the quantity
normally needed and properly identified. You should also have a prescription or written
statement from your personal physician that the medicine is necessary for your physical
well-being. Other pharmaceuticals and or medical devices other than for the personal use
of the traveler must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Pets (e.g. cats, dogs,
birds)
Pornographic articles
and publications
Pre-Columbian
monumental and architectural sculpture or murals
Seditious or
treasonable matter
Switchblade knifes
Trademarked items
(e.g., certain cameras, watches, perfumes, musical instruments, jewelry and metal
flatware)
Vehicles and
motorcycles not equipped to comply with U.S.A. safety or clean air emission standards if
your visit is for more than one year
Wildlife (bits, fish,
mammals, animals) and endangered species including any part or product (e.g., pheasants,
articles from reptile skins, whalebone, or ivory, mounted specimens and trophies, feathers
or skins of wild birds)
Flights