Customs Declaration Form

[Jmurph3rd 0]

When the beneficiary arrives in the USA (via Air), how should they fill in the Customs Declaration Form? She's only bringing clothing, shoes, documents, and pictures. No electronics or anything else of significant value. Do they need to have an inventory of all items?

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

Just say clothing and personal self care items, and personal paperwork

no long list / just simple

[j&ana 363]

only things of value or Questionable items such as certain food or alcoholic drinks or any other like item need to be declare. If she is only bringing in clothing, shoes, documents, and pictures nothing need to be declare. No she does not need an inventory or list of every type of clothing ,documents, shoes or pictures she has with her

Edited September 15, 2015 by j&ana

[dilip 187]

What about gold Jewelry ?

[j&ana 363]

gold and jewelry you might have to declare it depends. a wedding ring or any other jewelry worn probably not. A suite case of gold bars yes it will have to be declare If a person is worry about declaring something then they should declare it. but is it necessary to declare all items with you the answer is no

Edited September 16, 2015 by j&ana

[Ash.1101 1,755]

Pretty sure you have to declare any jewlery of worth that you aren't wearing. I had gotten my fiance a watch for his birthday (in reality he bought it, had it shipped to me, so I could feel like I gave him a present LOL), and he made sure to wear it because if it was in his bags he'd have to declare it. I'd assume that would be because he was leaving the US with i.

So far the only thing my fiance had to declare coming back and forth here was the engagement ring, and again in this case it was considered a gift he brought home to me.


But here!

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1239/~/what-must-be-declared-when-entering-the-u.s.

""

What items must I declare when entering the United States?

Upon entering the United States you must declare:

- Items you purchased or and are carrying with you upon return to the United States. (Gifts purchased or received)

- Items you inherited.

- Items you bought in duty-free shops, on the ship, or on the plane.

- Repairs or alterations to any items you took abroad and then brought back, even if the repairs/alterations were performed free of charge.

- Items you brought home for someone else.

- Items you intend to sell or use in your business, including business merchandise that you took out of the United States on your trip.

- All monetary instruments such as traveler's checks, cash, gold coins, negotiable checks, money orders, promissory notes, and securities or stocks.

Also, if you acquired items in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or in a Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act country (see section on $800 exemption for a list of these countries) and asked the merchant to send them to you, you must still declare them when you go through customs. This differs from the usual procedure for mailed items, which is discussed in the section on Sending Items Back to the United States.

You must state on the CBP declaration, in U.S. currency, what you actually paid for each item. The price must include all taxes. If you don't know for sure, estimate. If you did not buy the item yourself - for example, if it is a gift-estimate its fair retail value in the country where you received it.

Remember: Even if you used the item you bought on your trip, it's still dutiable. You must declare the item at the price you paid or if it was a gift, at its fair market value.

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Edited September 16, 2015 by Ash.1101

[Limey 550]

I was worried about filling this in as it asks you to list anything will remain in the USA, and since I was emigrating, that was pretty much all my stuff, and it appears you were only allowed up to USD100 worth. However they put some kind of mark on my customs declaration and I had no problems - I assume that indicated that I was emigrating, not just a visitor and hence the usual rules didn't apply

[Jmurph3rd 0]

Thank you! I purchased her engagement ring in the USA and I will be traveling with the receipt. I already anticipated that one in case they see it and ask why it wasn't declared. I took her wedding dress/accessories back with me on last visit and declared that.

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from K1 Process to Working & Traveling During US Immigration Forum~

~Inquiry applicable to numerous visa processes~