What Cannot be brought through customs?

Prohibited and Restricted Items
  • Alcoholic Beverages. ...
  • Automobiles. ...
  • Biologicals. ...
  • Ceramic Tableware. ...
  • Cultural Artifacts and Cultural Property. ...
  • Defense Articles or Items with Military or Proliferation Applications. ...
  • Dog and Cat Fur. ...
  • Drug Paraphernalia.
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What items do I have to declare at US Customs?

What Must I Declare?
  • Anything you bought (including from duty-free shops or on a ship or airplane)
  • Anything you inherited or received as a gift (you'll have to estimate the fair market price of the gift)
  • Anything you brought home for a friend.
  • Anything you plan to use or sell in your business.
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Will customs look at my pills?

Medication is usually screened by X-ray; however, if a passenger does not want a medication X-rayed, he or she may ask for a visual inspection instead. This request must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.
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What if there is nothing to declare at customs?

Merchandise is declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item.
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Do I have to declare clothes at customs?

While each traveler has an aforementioned duty exemption, you still are required to declare anything you bought while abroad — whether it's stationery, artwork, gifts, or even clothes you brought from home and had altered in a foreign country.
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US Customs Refusal. “Everything you need is on my passport” (part 1) tyrant gets mad



What packages do customs check?

Customs checks all inbound international packages and mail. During this process, a customs officer in the country you're shipping to will review the package to make sure it meets the country's laws, regulations and policies. They will also determine what duties and taxes might be due.
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Do they look through your bag at customs?

Be specific and answer promptly to clear customs quickly. If you're chosen for a search, customs agents will search your bags by hand or X-ray and ask you more questions about your trip.
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Do you have to declare handbags at customs?

You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.
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Why do customs ask if you have anything to declare?

This allows customs officials to track how much of that product is being brought across the border by individuals and to ensure that you do not have more of the product than you are allowed if seeking to avoid the duty fees.
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Do you declare everything at customs?

Travellers have to declare everything they acquired abroad and possibly pay customs duty tax on goods. Some countries offer a duty-free allowance of certain products which may not need to be declared explicitly.
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Do I need to declare prescription medication at customs?

As a U.S. citizen, you do not need to declare prescription medication, but the CBP requires you to have the medication in its original containers, or that you travel with a copy of the prescription or a doctor's note on hand.
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Can I take medication through customs?

Travelling with your medicines

Always carry medicines and medical equipment (needles, syringes and so on) in their original, correctly labelled packages. Carry your medicine in your hand luggage (although check your airline's regulations before travelling) with a copy of your prescription.
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What is not allowed in a carry-on?

Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible. TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.
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What does US Customs check for?

In fact, the CBP assesses all people who arrive by airplane, overland vehicle, ship or on foot and want to enter the U.S. The job of U.S. customs agents is to search for banned agricultural products and counterfeit goods, but they also are trained to seize street and pharmaceutical drugs, illegal immigrants and ...
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What is the customs limit for USA?

The USA raises import threshold to $800.
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What food is not allowed in US customs?

Meat, milk, egg, poultry, and their products, including products made with these materials are either prohibited or restricted from entering the United States.
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How do you know if you are flagged by customs?

There are signs that will indicate you have been flagged for additional screenings: You were not able to print a boarding pass from an airline ticketing kiosk or from the internet. You were denied or delayed boarding. A ticket agent “called someone” before handing you a boarding pass.
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Do I have to give my phone to customs?

If you're an American citizen, you can refuse to unlock your devices for CBP agents and still enter the country. (This may not be clear from the information sheet agents are supposed to give you during the search, which says the process is “mandatory.”) If you decline to cooperate, CBP can hold onto your device.
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What questions are asked at U.S. customs?

Prepare for Likely Questions From U.S. CBP Officials
  • Why are you visiting the United States? ...
  • Where will you be staying? ...
  • Who will you be visiting? ...
  • How long will you be staying in the U.S.? If you're coming in with an immigrant visa (have been approved for U.S. permanent residence), you won't likely be asked this.
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Do I need to declare jewelry at customs?

Registering jewelry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to traveling abroad. A dated copy of a jewelry appraisal, jewelry insurance policy or receipt can be used to prove ownership of the jewelry prior to your travels outside the United States.
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Do I have to declare Louis Vuitton at customs?

If you're purchasing big-ticket items that you'd prefer not to schlep through the airport and onto the plane, you're legally allowed to ship back any luxury goods — but you're still required to declare them.
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Do you go through customs or get your bag first?

Generally speaking, the first step is the immigration checkpoint, where you will show your passport, visa, and I-20. The second part comes when you pass through customs after collecting your checked luggage from the claim carousels in the baggage terminal. Note: Your port of entry may not be your final destination.
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Do you have to declare luxury items at customs?

Visitor's Gift Exemptions. Travelers should declare all items being brought from abroad that will remain in the United States. This includes gifts and duty-free purchases.
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Can they see everything in your bag at the airport?

Baggage Scanners are explicit enough to pick up detailed images of your luggage contents, which is why so many of us wonder “what do airport baggage scanners detect?” They can detect metallic and non-metallic objects, including most organic materials.
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What happens if your checked bag has contraband?

As a result, prohibited items may result in both a TSA civil enforcement action and a criminal enforcement action. Before leaving home, remember to check your baggage to ensure you are not carrying any prohibited items to avoid a possible arrest and/or civil penalties.
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