Flight and entry to USA on K1

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Hi, 

 

I am hoping someone will be able to answer my question based on experience.

 

I am flying to the USA on the K1 which is why I have put this here but I am guessing there may be a different place to put my question.

 

I am flying to the USA on the 21st of January via BA (direct flight), I plan on taking most things I own in my suitcase and will pay for an extra case. The cost of shipping was too expensive for how little I actually have other than my clothes and DVD's.

I am wondering about the declaration card upon landing in the United States. 

Obviously previous visits where it asks you the value of all articles that will remain in the US including commercial merchandise is: I have not had to write anything as nothing has been left, but this time will be different.

I am guessing I will have to declare the amount of everything in my cases as it will all be remaining in the USA with me but this is where i get confused...

The card reads the following:

 

'Visitors (non residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1000 above the exemption'

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What does this mean?

 

Has anyone else taken everything they own in just suitcases instead of shipping and if so, how on earth should I fill out this card?

 

 

I am obviously not taking anything to sell as all I am taking is my clothes, DVD's (in a binder rather than all their cases) and a few little bits and bobs which I guess have more sentimental value rather than actual cash value. Its probably a maximum of $800 if that...

And by the way yes, I am aware my DVD's will not work on US DVD player but I plan on packing my DVD player and using a converter  

 

I never want to fill this out incorrectly and I have no intentions of ever being fraudulent which is why I am asking, so I can fill out the card correctly

 

Also, Has anyone ever taken something in their case that they thought was okay to take but in actual fact has been removed from them?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Any help will be much appreciated 

 

 

 

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

Just fill it out honestly.

 

A lot of that card is ment for commercial resale items or mass excess purchases, or even for USC's anything monetary of I believe $10,000 or more.

 

A case of DVDs and a player, clothing and such is not really of any concern nor should you worry too much about it honestly.

 

Things you shouldn't bring, same thing for anyone going to the UK really... meat products, fresh produce, plants, certain hazardous materials,  ect.. all same type of things really.

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Thank you for your response,

 

I shall definitely be honest on the card for sure

 

Its just that other bit that confuses me, The bit that says 'Visitors (non residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1000 above the exemption'

I know when people bring things or mail them to the UK over a certain value then the receiver or the person bringing the items with them have to pay tax on it...

 

I obviously don't want to arrive with my card saying I have a value of $600 say in my suitcase of things that will be left in the USA and then have to pay tax on something I have already paid 20% tax on here in the UK or even have them think its something I intend to sell and make money on because that is not the case. 

Please bear in mind I have not mentioned that I am believed to be dyslexic so I either read things wrong or maybe read into things a little bit too much 

 

So basically I read that as, if there is over $100 worth of goods in my suitcase (because I have to fill out as a visitor) that will remain in the US that I will maybe come across a problem or a cost. 

 

If I am reading it completely wrong then please let me know in the nicest way you can phrase it as I know this potentially is just my incorrect reading problem. 

 

Thanks 

 

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

Personal items are exempt from those exemptions.  That's more for importing stuff into the US.  But if you are moving, they don't expect you to come with only a couple of shirts, pair of pants, and a toothbrush. 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

K1 hit it on the head  You are not visiting! I had this conversation with a co-passenger and an attendant on my flight hahahah

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Thanks for your replies!

 

So just to clarify would I need to fill in the visitor section still?

Also saying that... on the card if i remember rightly it asks my country of residence, do I still put the UK on there or USA. 

 

I know this probably sounds like really daft questions but I don't want to look like the dumbest person and have them look at my card and say why have you filled that in rather than this one... 

 

So also based on which one I complete do i write an estimated value of what I have brought with me.

 

So yeah... my questions are now:

Do i complete it as a visitor still?

Do I estimate a value of my belongings and fill that it?

Do I need to put my country of residence as USA?

 

I think I am seeing it wrong because I am not actually there yet if that makes any sense. It's hard to imagine me writing country of residence as USA when at the moment it's still the UK and I will not have lived in the US before writing it as my Country of residence. 

 

 

[Scandi 3,970]

I just filled in my name, address and country (Sweden and swedish address) and "no" on everything else basically. Did not fill in any value or anything. 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think they see you as a resident of the US yet, so use British address. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by Scandi

[Scandi 3,970]

1 hour ago, K1_Journey said:

1) Do i complete it as a visitor still? No, you are now moving to the US as a resident

2) Do I estimate a value of my belongings and fill that it? You do not need to estimate the value of personal belongings

3) Do I need to put my country of residence as USA? Yes, see answer to question 1 

 

You are a resident of UK currently, however once you land here you are a resident of the US since you are coming on K1 immigration visa. K1 is filed as a non-immigrant visa, however it is processed as an immigrant visa since the intent is permanent resident.

The K-1 is only to enter the US though, and temporarily stay for 90 days to get married, it doesn't give you residency in the US. A greencard does.

[Matt&Sophie 8]

Hey, congrats on getting your visa!!

 

I came over on K1 in September, bringing all my stuff with me in 2 suitcases and as far as I can remember I filled out the card with no amounts on. The guy who inspected me upon POA at Boston also had very little interest in the card and was obviously far more interested in the K1 packet you're required to hand over. - you're not regarded as a visitor, because you're not one. - although the K1 visa is not an immigrant visa, it is a visa with intent for immigration so it is processed as such.

 

I think this applies to stuff that would remain in the USA once you left, such as commercial items, not personal belongings. 

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Thanks again for your responses

 

I think this is where my confusion was coming from, purely the fact that although you have the intentions of staying as that is what the K1 is all about, I was under the impression that you are not classed as a US resident until you recieve your green card.

 

It seems different people have different impressions of what should be completed on this card. 

 

Every other time I have entered the USA they have taken the completed landed card from me and never returned it. Last time I travelled there I gave it them and they gave it me back which confused me lol 

 

[Scandi 3,970]

The K-1 is indeed INTENDED for immigration but you don't become a resident just because you have a K-1 visa, you still need to adjust your status first to actually become a resident.

 

 

An intention to do something is not the same as actually doing it. Many people who use the K-1 to enter the US with the INTENTION to immigrate don't actually go through with it. The intention was there, but they didn't care to stick around to actually become residents. There's a differenece, a K-1 doesn't grant you residency.

Edited January 4, 2017 by Scandi

[Chair_force1 195]

On 1/3/2017 at 9:51 AM, Ben&Zian said:

Just fill it out honestly.

 

A lot of that card is ment for commercial resale items or mass excess purchases, or even for USC's anything monetary of I believe $10,000 or more.

 

A case of DVDs and a player, clothing and such is not really of any concern nor should you worry too much about it honestly.

 

Things you shouldn't bring, same thing for anyone going to the UK really... meat products, fresh produce, plants, certain hazardous materials,  ect.. all same type of things really.

You won't have any problem with personal belongings, they will understand you are arriving on K1.  Worst case scenario, paying duties on imports aren't too much money anyhow, but you'll be fine

[yuna628 9,528]

As a K1, you're immigrating, and iirc you are not required to be filling out any monetary amounts (I believe he listed household goods) and that was it. You can bring as much stuff as you can cram into your suitcases duty free so long as it's under the weight restrictions and not restricted items.  Hubby brought everything, clothes, books, dvds/games, collectables, wedding stuff, piles upon piles of tea, multiple consoles, laptops, and pc equipment. Think he brought everything but the kitchen sink if he could. He did take out extra one-way type travel insurance (that terminates within 24hrs of the plane landing) to protect his equipment. Make sure to put any important documents and stuff you can't bear to be without in the carryons.

Edited January 4, 2017 by yuna628