Author Topic: US Customs declarations (Read 4170 times)

Sam Finkelstein · « **on:** April 25, 2018, 02:14:30 PM »

https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/trip-notes/woman-loses-global-entry-fined-500-apple-happened/

Technically, you have to declare all food. However, I don’t think I’ve ever declared it and now consider myself lucky that I never got into trouble.

What exactly happens if you declare food at a GE kiosk?

lubaby · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2018, 02:24:21 PM »

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1272/~/food---general-food

SGF · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2018, 02:31:14 PM »

Quote from: Sam Finkelstein on April 25, 2018, 02:14:30 PM

https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/trip-notes/woman-loses-global-entry-fined-500-apple-happened/

Technically, you have to declare all food. However, I don’t think I’ve ever declared it and now consider myself lucky that I never got into trouble.

What exactly happens if you declare food at a GE kiosk?

IME as soon as you have anything to declare they send you to the counter to put your bag through the machine.

lubaby · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2018, 02:41:51 PM »

In general, the problems aren't really doing the things in question (bringing food / taking money etc.).

If you say you have food, they will scan it and either let you keep it or make you throw it out. If you are caught lying to a federal officer on the other hand..

Sam Finkelstein · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2018, 02:45:55 PM »

Quote from: SGF on April 25, 2018, 02:31:14 PM

IME as soon as you have anything to declare they send you to the counter to put your bag through the machine.

Would you recommend just not bringing food, or is it no big deal?

SGF · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2018, 04:10:59 PM »

More than once have i or a family member been stopped at customs with food for the day as an apple or sandwich, at worst they throw it out. Seems to me like this article is a rare case.

Quote from: lubaby on April 25, 2018, 02:41:51 PM

In general, the problems aren't really doing the things in question (bringing food / taking money etc.).

When i was 17 yrs old i once arrived with 10 cartoons of cigarettes w/o declaring (i think only 1 is allowed free) and all they did was charge taxes on the other 9. Still came out half the price of cigarettes in the US.

hr555 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2018, 04:30:58 PM »

IME, when I have snacks etc., I declare on GE kiosk.
Once the officer asked what I have. Said some snacks & sandwiches for the way. He just marked the slip "snacks" and sent me out.
Another time they sent the luggage thru the machine. Just took a few seconds.

nafnaf12 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2018, 04:51:24 PM »

Quote from: SGF on April 25, 2018, 04:10:59 PM

More than once have i or a family member been stopped at customs with food for the day as an apple or sandwich, at worst they throw it out. Seems to me like this article is a rare case.

happened to my mother and she lost her GE for 5 years. Real pain.

aygart · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2018, 05:14:30 PM »

Quote from: aygart on April 22, 2018, 05:27:26 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/04/22/woman-fined-500-for-saving-free-delta-air-lines-snack.html

jose34 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2018, 06:12:16 PM »

Its a pain but I declare every time I bring in something at most it takes 10 min extra much better then getting caught....
However its interesting since with Israel they dont really care what you bring in and the in England they let me bring a small package of deli.

shaulyaakov · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2018, 09:58:28 AM »

I noticed customs was a breeze yesterday in JFK T4. Used the mobile app since my wife and daughter don't have GE. There was only 1 lane open for it, but the wait was less than 10 minutes. All other non GE US citizens used kiosks which also looked to have a short line (there was a bunch of international arrivals at the time - maybe 8 flights on the baggage claim TVs.)

In the future, I think the app may be superior to GE, since any time I've used the GE kiosk, the facial recognition doesn't work so I have to go to an agent anyway.

Passport control didn't bother to scan the code the app generates in lieu of the form, and I had declared food, which I would think would trigger questions to make sure it wasn't meat or produce (it was not). All he asked us was where we were and for how long and let us go without any other questions. After baggage claim, there was just 1 agent patrolling the customs exit who also didn't ask for the app or any other exit info.

There was nowhere pointing me to declare something if I wanted to! It reminded me of European customs.

mgarfin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2018, 06:44:34 PM »

When flying from Canada to the USA, with US customs in CA. If you have food you want to consume in the airport, before departure, are you required to declare it?

yitrap · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2018, 06:55:32 PM »

Quote from: mgarfin on June 18, 2018, 06:44:34 PM

When flying from Canada to the USA, with US customs in CA. If you have food you want to consume in the airport, before departure, are you required to declare it?

Yes.

jose34 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2018, 03:08:15 PM »

Quote from: mgarfin on June 18, 2018, 06:44:34 PM

When flying from Canada to the USA, with US customs in CA. If you have food you want to consume in the airport, before departure, are you required to declare it?

Will they let certain things through or you still cant bring the usual into the "US"?

aygart · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2018, 03:09:14 PM »

Quote from: jose34 on June 19, 2018, 03:08:15 PM

Will they let certain things through or you still cant bring the usual into the "US"?

Considering that anyhting brought past customs there can be brought into the US how can they let it by?

how · « **Reply #15 on:** June 19, 2018, 03:18:36 PM »

Quote from: jose34 on June 19, 2018, 03:08:15 PM

Will they let certain things through or you still cant bring the usual into the "US"?

NO

Sam Finkelstein · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2018, 01:21:26 PM »

Any problems bringing Thomy mayonnaise into the US?

yelped · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2018, 01:30:51 PM »

I've brought in plenty. I declared it. They didn't ask anything.

myi · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2018, 03:55:25 AM »

Quote from: Sam Finkelstein on October 22, 2018, 01:21:26 PM

Any problems bringing Thomy mayonnaise into the US?

Checked luggage?
Carry on? What should be the problem? You can always declare, as your technically suppose to for anything to do with food.
Nothing to worry.

myi · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2018, 03:56:36 AM »

Quote from: Sam Finkelstein on October 22, 2018, 01:21:26 PM

Any problems bringing Thomy mayonnaise into the US?

Iirc bingo in brooklyn was selling it.