As the security level has increased dramatically and reentry requirements recently changed, your experience with US Immigration and Customs officials is now a little different as well. When you return from your trip abroad, the first people you encounter are probably not going to be a smiling group at Immigration and Customs who will be greeting you with open arms? More likely you will encounter officials who are somewhat grumpy with extended palms, wanting your passport and customs declaration.
If Immigration and Customs officials weren’t doing that job, I don’t think they would be smiling greeters at Wal-Mart. They’re not there to be social directors, and very rarely do I see them looking particularly happy. Maybe it’s because they see thousands of people a day, and in the seconds of interaction with each passenger, they have to decide if a person is entering the country illegally, or bringing in something they shouldn’t.
The first stage of your reentry is Immigration and Passport control, followed by Customs, where you may find Agricultural Inspection and if necessary, secondary screening. If anything illegal is found at the secondary stage, you very well may be subjected to personal search including strip search.
Have you ever seen a customs official walking a small dog through the baggage area? No, it’s not for the exercise. That dog is there looking for and smelling for any forbidden fruits, plants or drugs. They are good at what they do so be smart and don’t try to bring something in you shouldn’t.
Here are some tips for getting through Immigration and Customs a bit easier:
If you know you will have a tight connection when you land in the states, leave the flowers or produce behind. Agriculture inspection sometimes adds up to one hour or more.
Always carry a photocopy of your passport separately from your passport. Many officials will accept it if you misplace it.
Turn your cell phones off. Customs and Immigration are strict on that rule and will confiscate and not return them.
Don’t make wisecracks or jokes to these officials; it only makes you look like you are trying to hide something and quite frankly, they don’t have a good sense of humor about their business.
Read your forms carefully, and fill them out as soon as you get them. There is a complete guide to filling out your form and a list of contraband items at the back of your in-flight magazine.
If you are unsure, declare it. The “I didn’t know reply” won’t work.
Articles acquired abroad and brought back with you are subject to duty and Internal Revenue tax. U.S. Customs currently allows each U.S. citizen to bring back $400 worth of merchandise duty free, provided the traveler has been outside the United States for at least 48 hours, has not already used this exemption within the preceding 30 day period, and provided the traveler can present the purchases upon his or her arrival at the port of entry. The next $1,000 worth of items brought back for personal use or gifts are subject to duty at a flat 10% rate. (Your duty-free exemption may include 100 cigars, 200 cigarettes, and one liter of wine, beer or liquor.)
Don’t make a scene. If it’s a long wait and your connecting flight is soon, so is everyone else’s and you definitely won’t make your flight if you are sent to secondary screening.
If you are uncomfortable with the opposite sex searching through your luggage, ask for an official of the same sex. Many don’t know that they can make such a request.
Leave any photos or videos of you and a partner in a compromising position at home. They could be considered pornography and when they are confiscated, they will probably go up on their “wall of shame” in some back office.
Immigration and Customs officials must have enough stories to fill a book.
If Immigration and Customs officials weren’t doing that job, I don’t think they would be smiling greeters at Wal-Mart. They’re not there to be social directors, and very rarely do I see them looking particularly happy. Maybe it’s because they see thousands of people a day, and in the seconds of interaction with each passenger, they have to decide if a person is entering the country illegally, or bringing in something they shouldn’t.
The first stage of your reentry is Immigration and Passport control, followed by Customs, where you may find Agricultural Inspection and if necessary, secondary screening. If anything illegal is found at the secondary stage, you very well may be subjected to personal search including strip search.
Have you ever seen a customs official walking a small dog through the baggage area? No, it’s not for the exercise. That dog is there looking for and smelling for any forbidden fruits, plants or drugs. They are good at what they do so be smart and don’t try to bring something in you shouldn’t.
Here are some tips for getting through Immigration and Customs a bit easier:
If you know you will have a tight connection when you land in the states, leave the flowers or produce behind. Agriculture inspection sometimes adds up to one hour or more.
Always carry a photocopy of your passport separately from your passport. Many officials will accept it if you misplace it.
Turn your cell phones off. Customs and Immigration are strict on that rule and will confiscate and not return them.
Don’t make wisecracks or jokes to these officials; it only makes you look like you are trying to hide something and quite frankly, they don’t have a good sense of humor about their business.
Read your forms carefully, and fill them out as soon as you get them. There is a complete guide to filling out your form and a list of contraband items at the back of your in-flight magazine.
If you are unsure, declare it. The “I didn’t know reply” won’t work.
Articles acquired abroad and brought back with you are subject to duty and Internal Revenue tax. U.S. Customs currently allows each U.S. citizen to bring back $400 worth of merchandise duty free, provided the traveler has been outside the United States for at least 48 hours, has not already used this exemption within the preceding 30 day period, and provided the traveler can present the purchases upon his or her arrival at the port of entry. The next $1,000 worth of items brought back for personal use or gifts are subject to duty at a flat 10% rate. (Your duty-free exemption may include 100 cigars, 200 cigarettes, and one liter of wine, beer or liquor.)
Don’t make a scene. If it’s a long wait and your connecting flight is soon, so is everyone else’s and you definitely won’t make your flight if you are sent to secondary screening.
If you are uncomfortable with the opposite sex searching through your luggage, ask for an official of the same sex. Many don’t know that they can make such a request.
Leave any photos or videos of you and a partner in a compromising position at home. They could be considered pornography and when they are confiscated, they will probably go up on their “wall of shame” in some back office.
Immigration and Customs officials must have enough stories to fill a book.