U.S. Customs Tips for Visitors

This information is only a brief overview of U.S. Customs requirements. If you want additional information, please:

Contact an American Embassy or Consulate before you leave

Write to: U.S. Customs Service, P.O. Box 7407, Washington, D.C., 20044, U.S.A.

Or check the U.S. Customs Web Site

Welcome!

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.

Your Exemptions

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.

Caution

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).