Customs Rules for Returning Residents
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
CONTENTS
Your Declaration
Oral, written, family
Warning--Penalties
Underevaluation, failure to declare
Your Exemptions
$400, $600, $1200, $25
Cigars, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages
Time limitations
Gifts
Mailed to friends and relatives
Accompanying you
Other Articles: Free of Duty or Dutiable
Duty-free products from developing countries
Personal belongings mailed home
Foreign-made articles taken abroad
Vehicles, airplanes, boats taken abroad
Household effects
Flat rates of duty
Payment of duty
Various rates of duty
Prohibited and Restricted Articles
Prohibited items
Artifacts (see Cultural Property)
Automobiles
Biological materials
Books, records, computer programs and cassettes
Ceramic tableware
Cultural property (pre-Columbian)
Drug paraphernalia
Firearms, ammunition
Food products, fruits and vegetables
Gold
Meats, livestock, poultry
Medicine containing narcotics, fraudulent drugs
and medical devices
Merchandise from Cambodia (Kampuchea), Cuba,
Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, and Vietnam
Money and other monetary instruments
Pets
Plants
Textiles
Trademarked articles
Wildlife and fish
Customs Pointers
Traveling back and forth across the border
"Duty-free" shops, sales slips
Packing your baggage, photographic film
Shipping hints: mail, express, freight
Unaccompanied tourist purchases
Storage charges
Notice to California residents
Location of Customs Offices
Your Declaration
You must declare all articles acquired abroad and in your
possession at the time of your return. This includes:
* Articles that you purchased.
* Gifts presented to you while abroad, such as wedding or
birthday presents.
* Articles purchased in duty-free shops.
* Repairs or alterations made to any articles taken abroad
and returned, whether or not repairs or alterations were
free of charge.
* Items you have been requested to bring home for another person.
* Any articles you intend to sell or use in your business.
In addition, you must declare any articles acquired in
the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam and not
accompanying you at the time of your return.
The price actually paid for each article must be stated on
your declaration in U.S. currency or its equivalent in country
of acquisition. If the article was not purchased, obtain an
estimate of its fair retail value in the country in which it was acquired.
Note: The wearing or use of any article acquired abroad
does not exempt it from duty. It must be declared at the price
you paid for it. The Customs officer will make an appropriate
reduction in its value for significant wear and use.
Oral Declaration
Customs declaration forms are distributed on vessels and
planes and should be prepared in advance of arrival for
presentation to the Immigration and Customs inspectors. Fill
out the identification portion of the declaration form. You may
declare orally to the Customs inspector the articles you
acquired abroad if the articles are accompanying you and you
have not exceeded the duty-free exemption allowed (see pages
5-7). A Customs officer may, however, ask you to prepare a
written list if it is necessary.
Written Declaration
A written declaration will be necessary when:
* The total fair retail value of articles acquired abroad
exceeds your personal exemption (see pages 5-7).
* More than one liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages,
200 cigarettes (one carton), or 100 cigars are included.
* Some of the items are not intended for your personal or
household use, such as commercial samples, items for sale
or use in your business, or articles you are bringing home
for another person.
* Articles acquired in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American
Samoa, or Guam are being sent to the U.S.
* A customs duty or internal revenue tax is collectible on
any article in your possession.
* A Customs officer requests a written list.
* If you have used your exemption in the last 30 days.
Family Declaration
The head of a family may make a joint declaration for all
members residing in the same household and returning together
to the United States. Family members making a joint declaration
may combine their personal exemptions (see pages 5-7), even if
the articles acquired by one member of the family exceeds the
personal exemption allowed.
Infants and children returning to the United States are
entitled to the same exemptions as adults (except for alcoholic
beverages). Children born abroad, who have never resided in
the United States, are entitled to the customs exemptions
granted nonresidents.
Visitors to the United States should obtain the leaflet
Customs Hints for Visitors (Nonresidents).
Military and civilian personnel of the U.S. Government
should obtain the leaflet Customs Highlights for Government
Personnel for information about their customs exemptions when
returning from an extended duty assignment abroad.
WARNING!
If you understate the value of an article declare, or if
you otherwise misrepresent an article in your declaration, you
may have to pay a penalty in addition to payment of duty. Under
certain circumstances, the article could be seized and
forfeited if the penalty is not paid.
It is well known that some merchants abroad offer
travelers invoices or bills of sale showing false or
understated values. This practice not only delays your customs
examination, but can prove very costly.
If you fall to declare an article acquired abroad, not
only is the article subject to seizure and forfeiture, but you
will be liable for a personal penalty in an amount equal to the
value of the article the United States. In addition, you may
also be liable to criminal prosecution.
Don't rely on advice given by persons outside the Customs
Service. It may be bad advice which could lead you to violate
the customs laws and incur costly penalties.
If in doubt about whether an article should be declared,
always declare it first and then direct your question to the
Customs inspector. If in doubt about the value of an article,
declare the article at the actual price paid (transaction value).
Customs inspectors handle tourist items day after day and
become acquainted with the normal foreign values. Moreover,
current commercial prices of foreign items are available at all
times and the-spot comparisons of these values can be made.
Play it safe--avoid customs penalties
Your Exemptions
In clearing U.S. Customs, a traveler is considered either
a "returning resident of the United States" or a "nonresident."
Generally speaking, if you leave the United States for
purposes of traveling, working or studying abroad and return to
resume residency in the United States, you are considered a
returning resident by Customs.
However, U.S. residents living abroad temporarily are
entitled to be classified as nonresidents, and thus receive
more liberal Customs exemptions, on short visits to the United
States, provided they export any foreign-acquired items at the
completion of their visit.
Residents of American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin
Islands, who are American citizens, are also considered as
returning U.S. residents.
Articles acquired abroad and brought into the United
States are subject to applicable duty and internal revenue tax,
but as a returning resident you are allowed certain exemptions
from paying duty on items obtained while abroad.
$400 Exemption
Articles totaling $400 (based on the fair retail value of
each item in the country where acquired) may be entered free of
duty, subject to the limitations on liquors, cigarettes, and cigars, if:
* Articles were acquired as an incident of your trip for
your personal or household use.
* You bring the articles with you at the time of your return
to the United States and they are properly declared to
Customs. Articles purchased and left for alterations or
other reasons cannot be applied to your $400 exemption
when shipped to follow at a later date. The 10% flat rate
of duty does not apply to mailed articles (See pages
24-26.) Duty is assessed when received.
* You are returning from a stay abroad of at least 48 hours.
Example: A resident who leaves United States territory at
1:30 p.m. on June 1st would complete the required 48-hour
period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3rd. This time limitation does
not apply if you are returning from Mexico or the Virgin
Islands of the U.S.
* You have not used this $400 exemption, or any part of it,
within the preceding 30-day period. Also, your exemption
is not cumulative. If you use a portion of your exemption
on entering the United States, then you must wait for 30
days before you are entitled to another exemption other
than a $25 exemption. (See page 7.)
* Articles are not prohibited or restricted. See page 15.
Cigars and Cigarettes: Not more than 100 cigars and 200
cigarettes (one carton) may be included in your exemption.
Products of Cuban tobacco may be included if purchased in
Cuba, see page 20. This exemption is available to each person
regardless of age. Your cigarettes, however, may be subject to
a tax imposed by state and local authorities.
Liquor: One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages
may be included in this exemption if:
* You are 21 years of age or older.
* It is for your own use or for use as a gift.
* It is not in violation of the laws of the state in which you arrive.
Note: Most states restrict the quantity of alcoholic
beverages you may import, and you must meet state alcoholic
beverage laws in addition to federal ones. If the state in
which you arrive permits less liquor than you have legally
brought into the United States, that state's laws prevail.
Information about state restrictions and taxes should be
obtained from the state government as laws vary from state to state.
Alcoholic beverages in excess of the one-liter limitation
are subject to duty and internal revenue tax.
Shipping of alcoholic beverages by mail is prohibited by
United States postal laws. Alcoholic beverages include wine and
beer as well as distilled spirits.
$600 and $1200 Exemptions
If you return directly or indirectly from a U.S. insular
possession--American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin
Islands--you may receive a customs exemption of $1200 (based
upon the transaction value of the articles in the country where
acquired). You may also bring in 1,000 cigarettes, but only 200
of them may have been acquired elsewhere.
If you are returning from any of the following 24
beneficiary countries, your customs exemption is $600, based
upon fair market value:
Antigua and Barbuda Grenada Panama
Aruba Guatemala Saint Christopher/Kitts
Bahamas Guyana and Nevis
Barbados Haiti Saint Lucia
Belize Honduras Saint Vincent and
Costa Rica Jamaica the Grenadines
Dominica Montserrat Trinidad and Tobago
Dominican Republic Netherlands Virgin Islands,
El Salvador Antilles British
Nicaragua
In the case of the $1200 exemption, up to $600 worth of
the merchandise may have been obtained in any of the
beneficiary countries listed above, or up to $400 in any other
country. For example, if you traveled to the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Jamaica and then returned home, you would be
entitled to bring in $1200 worth of merchandise duty-free. Of
this amount, $600 worth may have been acquired in Jamaica.
In the case of the $600 exemption, up to $400 worth of
merchandise may have been acquired in other foreign countries.
For instance, if you travel to England and the Bahamas, and
then return home, your exemption is $600, $400 of which may
have been acquired in England.
$25 Exemption
If you cannot claim the $400, $600, or $1200 exemptions,
because of the 30-day or 48-hour minimum limitations, you may
bring in free of duty and tax articles acquired abroad for your
personal or household use if the total fair retail value-does
not exceed $25. This is an individual exemption and may not be
grouped with other members of a family on one customs declaration.
You may include any of the following: 50 cigarettes, 10
cigars, 150 milliliters (4 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages, or
150 milliliters (4 fl. oz.) of alcoholic perfume. Cuban tobacco
products brought directly from Cuba may be included.
Alcoholic beverages cannot be mailed into the United
States. Customs enforces the liquor laws of the state in which
you arrive. Because state laws vary greatly as to the quantity
of alcoholic beverages which can be brought in, we suggest you
consult the appropriate state authorities.
If any article brought with you is subject to duty or tax,
or if the total value of all dutiable articles exceeds $25, no
article may be exempted from duty or tax.
Gifts
Bona fide gifts of not more than $50 in fair retail value
where shipped can be received by friends and relations in the
United States free of duty and tax, if the same person does not
receive more than $50 in gift shipments in one day. The "day"
in reference is the day in which the parcel(s) are received for
customs processing. This amount is increased to $100 if
shipped from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or
Guam. These gifts are not declared by you upon your return to
the States.
Gifts accompanying you are considered to be for your
personal use and may be included within your exemption. This
includes gifts given to you by others while abroad and those
you intend to give to others after you return. Gifts intended
for business, promotional or other commercial purposes may not
be included.
Perfume containing alcohol valued at more than $5 retail,
tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages are excluded from
the gift provision.
Gifts intended for more than one person may be
consolidated in the same package provided they are individually
wrapped and labeled with the name of the recipient.
Be sure that the outer wrapping of the package is marked
1) unsolicited gift, 2) nature of the gift, and 3) its fair
retail value. In addition, a consolidated girl parcel should be
marked as such on the outside with the names of the recipients
listed and the value of each gift. This will facilitate customs
clearance of your package.
If any article imported in the gift parcel is subject to
duty and tax, or if the total value of all articles exceeds the
bona fide gift allowance, no article may be exempt from duty or tax.
If a parcel is subject to duty, the United States Postal
Service will collect the duty plus a handling charge in the
form of "Postage Due" stamps. Duty cannot be prepaid.
You, as a traveler, cannot send a "gift" parcel to
yourself nor can persons traveling together send "gifts" to
each other. Gifts ordered by mail from the United States do not
qualify under this duty-free gift provision and are subject to duty:
Other Articles: free of duty or dutiable
Duty preferences are granted to certain developing
countries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
Some products from these countries have been exempted from
duty which would otherwise be collected if imported from any
other country. For details, obtain the leaflet GSP & The Traveler
from your nearest Customs office. Many products of certain
Caribbean countries are also exempt from duty under the
Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). Most products of Israel may
enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced
duty rate. Check with Customs.
The U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement was implemented on
January 1, 1989. U.S. returning residents arriving directly or
indirectly from Canada are eligible for free or reduced duty
rates as applicable, on goods originating in Canada as defined
in the Agreement.
Personal belongings of United States origin are entitled
to entry free of duty. Personal belongings taken abroad, such
as worn clothing, etc., may be sent home by mail before you
return and receive free entry provided they have not been
altered or repaired while abroad. These packages should be
marked "American Goods Returned." When a claim of United
States origin is made, marking on the article to so indicate
facilitates customs processing.
Foreign-made personal articles taken abroad are dutiable
each time they are brought into our country unless you have
acceptable proof of prior possession. Documents which fully
describe the article, such as a bill of sale, insurance policy,
jeweler's appraisal, or receipt for purchase, may be considered
reasonable proof of prior possession.
Items such as watches, cameras, tape recorders, or other
articles which may be readily identified by serial number or
permanently affixed markings, may be taken to the Customs
office nearest you and registered before your departure. The
Certificate of Registration provided will expedite free entry
of these items when you return. Keep the certificate as it is
valid for any future trips as long. as the information on it
remains legible.
Registration cannot be accomplished by telephone nor can
blank registration forms be given or mailed to you to be filled
out at a later time.
Automobiles, boats, planes, etc., or other vehicles taken
abroad for noncommercial use may be returned duty free by
proving to the Customs officer that you took them out of the
United States. This proof may be the state registration card
for an automobile, the Federal Aviation Administration
certificate for an aircraft, a yacht license or motorboat
identification certificate for a pleasure boat, or a customs
certificate of registration obtained before departure.
Dutiable repairs or accessories acquired abroad for
articles taken out of the United States must be declared on
your return.
Warning: Catalytic-equipped vehicles (1976 or later model
years) driven outside the United States, Canada, or Mexico will
not, in most cases, meet EPA standards when brought back to
the U.S. As unleaded fuel generally is not available in other
countries, the catalytic converter will become inoperative and
must be replaced. Contact Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, D.C. 20460, for details and exceptions. (See page 16.)
Your local Customs office has the following leaflets which
will be of interest--Importing a Car and Pleasure Boats. You
may purchase Customs Guide for Private Flyers from your local
Government Printing Office bookstore. Consult your local
telephone book under "U.S. Government."
Household effects and tools of trade or occupation which
you take out of the United States are duty free at the time you
return if properly declared and entered.
All furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, linens, and
similar household furnishings acquired abroad may be imported
free of duty, if:
* They are not imported for another person or for sale.
* They have been used abroad by you for not less than one
year or were available for use in a household in which you
were resident member for one year. This privilege does not
include articles placed in storage outside the home. The
year of use need not be continuous nor does it need to be
the year immediately preceding the date of importation.
Shipping time may not be included in the computation of
the one year. in use. For information on freight
shipments, see page 25.
Items such as wearing apparel, jewelry, photograph
equipment, tape recorders, stereo components, and vehicles are
considered as personal articles and cannot be passed free of
duty as household effects.
Articles imported in excess of your customs exemption will
be subject to duty unless the items are entitled to free entry
or prohibited.
The inspector will place the items having the highest rate
of duty under your exemption, and duty will be assessed on the
lower-rated items.
After deducting your exemptions and the value of any
articles duty free, a fiat 10 percent rate of duty will be
applied to the next $1,000 worth (fair retail value) of
merchandise. Any dollar amount of an article or articles over
$1,000 will be dutiable at the various rates of duty applicable
to the articles.
Articles to which the flat rate of duty is applied must be
for your personal use or for use as gifts and you cannot
receive this fiat rate provision more than once every 30 days,
excluding the day of your last arrival.
The flat rate of duty is 5% for articles purchased in the
U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam, whether the
articles accompany you or are shipped.
Example: You acquire goods valued at $ 2,500 from:
U.S. insular possessions:
Personal exemption (free of duty) .....up to $1,200
Flat duty rate at 5% ...................next $1,000
Various rates of duty ...............remaining $300
--------
Total .................................$ 2,500
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act countries:
Personal exemption (free of duty) .....up to $600
Flat duty rate at 10% ................next $1,000
Various rates of duty .............remaining $900
-------
Total ...............................$ 2,500
Other countries or locations:
Personal exemption (free of duty) .....up to $400
Flat duty rate at 10% ................next $1,000
Various rates of duty ...........remaining $1,100
--------
Total ...............................$ 2,500
The flat rate of duty will apply to any articles which are
dutiable and cannot be included in your personal exemption,
even if you have not exceeded the dollar amount of your
exemption. Example: you are returning from Europe with $200
worth of articles which includes 2 liters of liquor. One liter
will be free of duty under your exemption, the other dutiable
at 10%, plus any internal revenue tax.
Members of a family residing in one household traveling
together on their return to the U.S. will group articles for
application of the fiat duty rate without regard as to which
member of the family may be the owner of the articles.
Payment of duty, required at the time of your arrival on
articles accompanying you, may be made by any of the following
ways:
* U.S. currency (foreign currency is not acceptable).
* Personal check in the exact amount of duty, drawn on a
national or state bank or trust company of the United
States, made payable to the "U.S. Customs Service."
* Government check, money orders or traveler's checks are
acceptable if they do not exceed the amount of the duty by
more than $50. [Second endorsements are not acceptable,
Identification must be presented; e.g. traveler's passport
or driver's license].
* In some locations you may pay duty with credit cards from
Discover, Mastercard and VISA.
Goods covered by an ATA Carnet: Residents returning to the
U.S. with goods covered by an ATA carnet are reminded to
report to a Customs Inspector upon their arrival. The inspector
will examine the covered goods against the carnet and certify the
appropriate reimportation counterfoil and voucher. The carnet
will serve as the customs control registration document and no
entry or payment of duty will be necessary as long as the goods
qualify as U.S. goods returned and are being brought back into
the United States within the validity period of the carnet.
Rates of Duty
Various rates of duty for some of the more popular items
imported by tourists are provided for use as an advisory guide
only. If you have dutiable articles not subject to a fiat rate
of duty, the Customs officer examining your baggage will
determine the rates of duty.
Rates of duty on imported goods are provided for in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. There are two
duty rates for each item, known as "column 1" and "column 2."
Column 1 rates are those applicable to most favored nations.
Column 2 rates are higher and apply to products from the
following countries.
Afghanistan Kampuchea North Korea*
Albania Laos Rumania
Bulgaria Latvia Union of Soviet
Cuba* Lithuania Socialist Republics
Estonia Mongolia Vietnam *
NOTE: The tariff duty status accorded to these countries
is subject to change. Please check with Customs for updated
information.
Products of the above listed column 2 countries are
dutiable at the column 2 rates of duty, even if purchased in or
sent from another country. Example: A crystal vase made in
Rumania and purchased in Switzerland would be dutiable at the
column 2 rate. If the article accompanies you, however, it may
be entered under your duty-free personal exemption or the flat
rate of duty allowance.
* Goods from, or products of, these countries are subject to
foreign assets controls, see page 20.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
(Subject to federal excise taxes, which greatly exceed
Customs duties. These-taxes vary from approximately 15 cents
per liter for beer to more than $3.50 per proof liter for
distilled spirits, liquors, and cordials.)
Distilled Spirits
per proof liter
Brandy 10.6¢ to 89.8¢
Gin 13.2¢
Liqueurs 13.2¢
Rum 37¢
Tequila 33¢ to 60 ¢
Vodka 13.2¢ to 67.6¢
Scotch 5.3¢
Other whiskeys 6.6¢
Wine per liter
(33.814 fluid ounces)
Sparkling 30.9¢
Still 8.3¢ to 26.4¢
Beer 1.6¢
ANTIQUES produced prior Free
to 100 years before date of
entry are admitted duty-free.
Have proof of antiquity
obtained from seller.
AUTOMOBILES
Passenger 2.5%
BAGS
Hand, leather 5.3% to 10%
BEADS
Glass beads 8%
Imitation precious and
semi-precious stone
(not glass) 6%
Ivory* 4.7%
BINOCULARS (PRISM), OPERA
AND FIELD GLASSES Free
BOOKS Free
CAMERAS
Motion picture 4.5%
Still, over $10 each 3.0%
Cases**, leather 8%
Lenses, mounted 6.6%
CANDY
Sweetened chocolate bars 5.0%
Other 7.0%
CHESS SETS 4.64%
CHINA, other than tableware
Bone 6.6%
Non-bone 2.5% to 9%
CHINA TABLEWARE
Bone 8%
Non-bone, valued
not over $56 per set 26%
Non-bone, valued
over $56 per set 8%
CIGARETTE LIGHTERS
Pocket 7.2% to 10%
Table 4.8%
CLOCKS
Valued over $5 each 45¢ + 6.4%
CRYSTAL 6% to 20%
DOLLS
Stuffed Check with Customs
Other 12%
DRAWINGS
Done-by-hand Free
FIGURINES, china 9%
(By professional sculptor) 3.1%
FILM
Unexposed 3.7%
Exposed Free
** Cases imported with camera are classifiable with the camera.
* Ivory beads made from elephant ivory are prohibited. See page 22.
FUR*
Wearing apparel 5.8%
Other 3.4%
FURNITURE
Wood chairs 3.4% to 5.3%
Wood furniture
other than chairs 2.5%
Bentwood 6.6%
GOLF BALLS 2.4%
GLOVES
Fur 5.8%
Horsehide or cowhide 14%
HANDKERCHIEFS,
linen, hemmed 10.7%
IVORY, manufactured 4.2%
Note: May be prohibited as endangered species.
See page 22.
JADE
Cut, but not set,
suitable for jewelry 2.1%
Other articles of jade 21%
JEWELRY, precious metal
Silver chief value, valued
not over $18 a doz. 27.5%
Other 6.5%
LEATHER
Flatgoods, wallets 4.7% to 8%
Other manufactures of Free to 5.6%
MUSIC BOXES 3.2%
PAINTINGS, done entirely
by hand Free
PEARLS
Loose or temporarily strung without clasp:
Natural Free
Cultured 2.1%
Imitation 8%
Permanently strung or
temporarily strung, with
clasp attached or separate 6.5% to 11%
PERFUME** 5%
POSTAGE STAMPS Free
PRINTED MATTER Free to 5.3%
RADIOS, solid state
radio receivers 6%
RECORDS
(PHONOGRAPH) 3.7%
* May be prohibited. See p. 22, Wildlife and Fish.
** Subject to federal excise tax of $3.566322 per liter.
SHAVERS, ELECTRIC 4.4%
SHELL ARTICLES* 3.4%
SHOES, Leather 2.5% to 20%
SKIS AND SKI EQUIPMENT 3.5% to 5.5%
SOUND RECORDINGS Free
STONES, Cut but not set
Diamonds Free
Others Free to 2.1%
SWEATERS--wool 7.5% to 17%
TAPE RECORDERS 3.9%
TOYS 7%
WATCHES
Mechanical type (depending on jewels) plus
Gold case 6.25 %
Gold bracelet 14%
Digital type 3.9 %
WEARING APPAREL
Cotton, not knit 3% to 32%
Cotton, knit 7.9% to 21%
Linen, not knit 3% to 12%
Manmade fiber, knit 16.2% to 34.6%
Manmade fiber, not
knit 7.6% to 52.9¢/Kg. + 21%
Silk, not knit 3% to 7.5%
Wool, knit 6% to 77.2¢/Kg. + 20%
Wool, not knit 9.8% to 30.4%
WOOD, CARVINGS AND
ARTICLES OF 5.1%
* May be prohibited. See p. 22, Wildlife and Fish.
NOTE: Duty rates are subject to change without notice by
statute. For further information call your nearest Customs
District office.
Prohibited and Restricted Articles
Because Customs inspectors are stationed at ports of entry
and along our land and sea borders, they are often called upon
to enforce laws and requirements of other Government agencies.
For example, the Department of Agriculture is responsible for
preventing the entry of injurious pest, plant, and animal
diseases into the United States. The Customs officer cannot
ignore the Agriculture requirements-the risk of costly damage
to our crops, poultry and livestock industry is too great.
Certain articles considered injurious or detrimental to
the general welfare of the United States are prohibited entry
by law. Among these are absinthe, liquor-filled candy (where
prohibited by state law), lottery tickets, narcotics and
dangerous drugs, obscene articles and publications, seditious
and treasonable materials, hazardous articles (e.g., fireworks,
dangerous toys, toxic or poisonous substances), and
switchblade knives (however, a one-armed person may import a
switchblade knife for personal use.)
Other items must meet special requirements before they can
be released. You will be given a receipt for any articles
retained by Customs.
Automobiles
Automobiles imported into the United States must conform
to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission
requirements and Department of Transportation (DOT) safety,
bumper and theft prevention standards. Other than models
required to meet theft prevention standards, vehicles may be
entered conditionally to be brought into conformity. Automobiles
that do not meet theft prevention standards will not be permitted
entry into the United States, even under bond.
Automobiles that do not meet EPA emission requirements can
only be imported by holders of conformity certificates from
EPA. These certificate holders are known as Independent
Commercial Importers (ICI). Individuals contemplating
purchasing a nonconforming vehicle should first make
arrangements with an ICI for importing and modifying the
vehicle to U.S. specifications.
Vehicles that do not meet DOT safety and bumper standards
must be imported by a DOT-registered party under a DOT bond
of one and one-half times the value of the vehicle. Bonds may be
difficult to obtain and can be expensive. Security deposits of
50% or more of the bond amount may be required.
Vehicles that do not conform to either EPA or DOT
standards must be imported by a company that is an ICI and
DOT-registered party with a separate DOT bond for one and
one-half times the value of the vehicle.
Prospective purchasers should be aware that almost all
automobiles purchased overseas are manufactured to European
specifications and will require modification. Vehicles imported
conditionally to be modified to U. S. specifications, and not
modified, or not modified acceptably, must either be exported
or destroyed under Customs supervision.
Further information on importing vehicles may be obtained
from the Environmental Protection Agency, Atm: EN-340F,
Washington, D.C. 20460, telephone (202) 2602504, and the
Department of Transportation, Office of Vehicle Safety
Compliance (NEF 32), Washington, D.C. 20590. Copies of the
Customs pamphlet Importing a Car and the EPA brochure
Buying a Car Overseas? Beware! may be obtained by writing
the U.S. Customs Service, P.O. Box 7407, Washington, D.C.
20044, or the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,
D.C. 20460.
Biological Materials
Biological materials of public health or veterinary
importance (disease organisms and vectors for research and
educational purposes) require import permits. Write to the
Foreign Quarantine Program, U.S. Public Health Service, Center
for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga. 30333.
Books, Records, Computer Programs and Cassettes
"Piratical" copies of copyrighted articles--unlawfully
made articles produced without the authorization of the
copyright owner--are prohibited from importation into the
United States. Piratical copies will be seized and destroyed,
unless the importer can demonstrate that he had no reasonable
grounds for believing his actions violated the law. Then, they
may only be returned to the country of export.
Ceramic Tableware
Some ceramic tableware sold abroad contains dangerous
levels of lead in the glaze that can leach into certain foods
and beverages served in them. The Food and Drug
Administration recommends that ceramic tableware, especially
when purchased in Mexico, the Peoples Republic of China, Hong
Kong or India, be tested for lead release on your return or be
used for decorative purposes only.
Cultural Property
An export certificate issued by certain Latin American
countries may be required in order to import pre-Columbian
monumental and architectural sculpture and murals, whether they
are shipped directly or indirectly from the country of origin
to the United States. Currently, there are also import
restrictions on certain items from Peru, Bolivia, and El
Salvador. Customs also enforces the Convention on Cultural
Property Implementation Act. The regulations prohibit illicit
traffic in cultural property while allowing the exchange of
national treasures for legitimate scientific, educational, and
cultural purposes. For further information, contact the United
States Information Agency, Washington, D.C. (202)485-6612.
Drug Paraphernalia
The importation, exportation, manufacture, sale, and
transportation of drug paraphernalia are prohibited. Persons
convicted of these offenses are subject to fines and
imprisonment. As importations contrary to law, drug
paraphernalia may be seized by U.S. Custom.
Firearms and Ammunition
Firearms and ammunition are subject to restrictions and
import permits approved by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF). Applications to import may be made only by or
through a licensed importer, dealer, or manufacturer. Weapons,
ammunition, or other devices prohibited by the National
Firearms Act will not be admitted into the United States unless
specifically authorized by ATF.
No import permit is required when it is proven that the
firearms or ammunition were previously taken out of the United
States by the person who is returning with such firearms or
ammunition. To facilitate reentry, persons may have them
registered before departing from the United States at any
Customs office or ATF field office. However, not more than
three nonautomatic firearms and 1,000 cartridges therefor, will
be registered for any one person. Quantities beyond these are
subject to the export licensing requirements of the Office of
Munitions Control, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.
For further information, contact the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, Department of the Treasury,
Washington, D.C. 20226; (202) 927-7977.
Residents of the United States carrying firearms or
ammunition with them to other countries should consult in
advance the customs officials or the respective embassies of
those countries as to their regulations.
Food Products
Bakery items and all cured cheeses are admissible. The
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service leaflet,
Travelers Tips, provides detailed information on bringing food,
plant, and animal products into the U.S. Imported foods are
also subject to requirements of the Food and Drug Administration.
Fruits and Vegetables
Most fruits and vegetables are either prohibited from
entering the country or require an import permit. Every fruit
or vegetable must be declared to the Customs officer and must
be presented for inspection, no matter how free of pests it
appears to be. Most canned or processed items are admissible.
Applications for import permits or requests for
information should be addressed to Quarantines, USDA-APHIS-
PPQ, Federal Bldg., Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
Gold coins, medals, and bullion, formerly prohibited, may
be brought into the United States, under regulations
administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, except
from Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea, Libya, Iraq, Haiti and Iran.
Copies of gold coins are prohibited if not properly marked by
country of issuance.
Meats, Livestock, Poultry
Meats, livestock, poultry, and their by-products (such as
sausage, pate), are either prohibited or restricted from
entering the United States, depending on the animal disease
condition in country of origin. Fresh meat is generally
prohibited from most countries. Canned meat is permitted if the
inspector can determine that it is commercially canned, cooked
in the container, hermetically sealed, and can be kept without
refrigeration. Other canned, cured, or dried meat is severely
restricted from most countries.
All prohibited importations will be seized and destroyed
unless the importer returns them immediately to their country
of origin.
You should contact USDA-APHIS-VS, Federal Building, 6505
Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, for detailed
requirements or call (301) 436-7885.
Medicine/Narcotics
Narcotics and dangerous drugs, including anabolic
steroids, are prohibited entry and there are severe penalties
if imported. A traveler requiring medicines containing
habit-forming drugs or narcotics (e.g., cough medicines,
diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills,
depressants, stimulants, etc.) should:
* Have all drugs, medicinals, and similar products properly identified;
* Carry only such quantity as might normally be carried by
an individual having some sort of health problem;
* Have either a prescription or written statement from your
personal physician that the medicinals are being used
under a doctor's direction and are necessary for your
physical wellbeing while traveling.
Warning
The Food and Drug Administration prohibits the
importation, by mail or in person, of fraudulent prescription
and non-prescription drugs and medical devices. These may
include unorthodox "cures" for medical conditions including
cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. While these drugs and
devices may be completely legal elsewhere, they may not have
been approved for use in the United States, even under a
prescription issued by a foreign physician. They may not
legally enter the United States and may be confiscated upon
arrival by mail.
For additional information, contact your nearest FDA
office or write:
Food and Drug Administration
Import Operations Unit,
Room 12-8 (HFC- 131)
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Merchandise
The importation of goods from the following countries is
generally prohibited under regulations administered by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control: Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea,
Libya, Iraq, Haiti, and Iran.
These proscriptions do not apply to informational
materials such as pamphlets, books, tapes, films or recordings.
On June 5, 1992, the President issued an Executive Order
prohibiting the importation of goods from the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).
Specific licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets
Control are required to bring prohibited merchandise into the
United States; but they are rarely granted. Foreign visitors to
the United States may be permitted to bring in small articles
for personal use as accompanied baggage, depending upon the
goods' country of origin. A limited number of specific licenses
are being issued for articles assembled or processed in Haiti
using parts or materials previously exported from the United States.
Travelers should be aware that there are severe
restrictions on travel and transportation transactions
involving Libya and Iraq. Spending money on travel-related
transactions involving Cuba, North Korea, and Vietnam is
closely controlled and monitored. Because of the strict
enforcement of prohibitions, anyone considering travel to any
of the countries listed above should contact the Office of
Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20220 or call
202/622-2520.
Money and Other Monetary Instruments
There is no limitation in terms of total amount of
monetary instruments which may be brought into or taken out of
the United States nor is it illegal to do so. However, if you
transport or cause to be transported (including by mail or
other means) more than $10,000 in monetary instruments on any
occasion into or out of the United States, or if you receive
more than that amount, you must file a report (Customs Form
4790) with U.$. Customs (Currency & Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act, 31 U.S.C. 1101, et seq.). Failure to comply can
result in civil and criminal penalties. Monetary instruments
include U.S. or foreign coin in current circulation, currency,
traveler's checks in any form, money orders, and negotiable
instruments or investment securities in bearer form.
Pets
There are controls, restrictions, and prohibitions on
entry of animals, birds, turtles, wildlife, and endangered
species. Cats and dogs must be free of evidence of diseases
communicable to man. Vaccination against rabies is not
required for cats and dogs arriving from rabies-free countries.
Personally owned pet birds may be entered (limit of two if of
the psittacine family), but APHIS and Public Health Service
requirements must be met, including quarantine at any APHIS
facility at specified locations, at the owner's expense.
Advance reservations are required. Non-human primates, such
as monkeys, apes and similar animals, may not be imported. If
you plan to take your pet abroad or import one on your return,
obtain a copy of our leaflet, Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs.
You should check with state, county and municipal
authorities about any restrictions and prohibitions they may
have before importing a pet.
Plants
Plants, cuttings, seeds, unprocessed plant products and
certain endangered species either require an import permit or
are prohibited from entering the United States. Endangered or
threatened species of plants and plant products, if importation
is not prohibited, will require an export permit from the
country of origin. Every single plant or plant product must be
declared to the Customs officer and must be presented for
inspection, no matter how free of pests it appears to be.
Applications for import permits or requests for information
should be addressed to: Quarantines, USDA-APHIS-PPQ,
Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
Textiles
Textile and apparel items which accompany you and which
you have acquired abroad for personal use or as gifts are
generally not subject to quantitative restrictions. However,
unaccompanied textile and apparel items may be subject to
certain quantitative restrictions (quotas) which require a
document called a "visa" or "export license" or exempt
certificate as appropriate from the country of production.
Check with Customs before you depart on your trip.
Trademarked Articles
Foreign-made trademarked articles may be limited as to the
quantity which may be brought into the United States if the
registered trademark has been recorded by an American
trademark owner with U.S. Customs.
The types of articles usually of interest to tourists are
1) lenses, cameras, binoculars, optical goods;
2) tape recorders, musical instruments;
3) jewelry, precious metal-ware;
4) perfumery; 5) watches, clocks.
Persons arriving in the United States with a trademarked
article are allowed an exemption, usually one article of a type
bearing a protected trademark. An exempted trademark article
must accompany you, and you can claim this exemption for the
same type of article only once each 30 days. The article must
be for your personal use and not for sale. If an exempted
article is sold within one year following importation, the
article or its value is subject to forfeiture.
If the trademark owner allows a quantity in excess of the
aforementioned exemption for its particular trademarked
article, the total of those trademarked articles authorized may
be entered. Articles beating counterfeit trademarks, if the
amount of such articles exceeds the traveler's personal
exemption, are subject to seizure and forfeiture
Wildlife and Fish
Wildlife and fish are subject to certain import and export
restrictions, prohibitions, permits or certificates, and
quarantine requirements. This includes:
* Wild birds, mammals including marine mammals, reptiles,
crustaceans, fish, and mollusks.
* Any part or product, such as skins, feathers, eggs.
* Products and articles manufactured from wildlife and fish.
Endangered species of wildlife and products made from them
are prohibited from being imported or exported. All ivory and
ivory products--except antiques--made from elephant ivory are
prohibited. Ivory antiques may be imported provided they can be
documented as being 100 years old. (Certain other requirements
for antiques may apply.) If you contemplate purchasing articles
made from wildlife, such as tortoise shell jewelry, leather
goods, or other articles made from whalebone, ivory, skins, or
fur, please contact--before you go--the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240
which also 'prescribes the limits on migratory game birds,
prior to each hunting season. Ask for their pamphlet "Fish and
Wildlife."
If you plan to import fish or wildlife, or any product,
article or part, check with Customs or Fish and Wildlife
Service first, as only certain ports are designated to handle
these entries. Additional information is contained in our
leaflet Pets, Wildlife, U.S. Customs.
Federal regulations do not authorize the importation of
any wildlife or fish into any state of the United States if the
state's laws or regulations are more restrictive than any
applicable Federal treatment. Wild animals taken, killed, sold,
possessed, or exported to the United States in violation of any
foreign laws are not allowed entry into the United States.
Customs Pointers
Traveling Back and Forth Across Border
After you have crossed the United States boundary at one
point and you swing back into the United States to travel to
another point in the foreign country, you run the risk of
losing your customs exemption unless you meet certain
requirements. If you make a "swing back" don't risk your
exemptions--ask the nearest Customs officer about these
requirements.
"Duty-Free" Shops
Articles bought in "duty-free" shops in foreign countries
are subject to U.S. customs duty and restrictions but may be
included in your personal exemption.
Articles purchased in U.S. "duty-free" shops are subject
to U.S. customs duty if reentered into the U.S. Example: Liquor
bought in a "duty-free" shop before entering Canada and brought
back into the United States will be subject to duty and
internal revenue tax.
Note: Many travelers are confused by the term "duty-free"
as it relates to shops. Articles sold in duty-free shops are
free of duty and taxes only for the country in which that shop
is located. Articles sold in duty-free shops are intended for
export and are not to be returned to the country of purchase.
Thus, for example, if you were to buy a Hermes scarf in Orly
Airport's duty-free shop, the price you pay will not include
the tax you would have to pay if you bought that same scarf at
Hermes in Faubourg St. Honore. So if your purchases exceed
your personal exemption, that scarf may not be duty free for you.
Keep Your Sales Slips
You will find your sales slips, invoices, or other
evidence of purchase not only helpful when making out your
declaration, but necessary if you have unaccompanied articles
being sent from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam
or any of the Caribbean Basin Countries listed p. 6.
Packing Your Baggage
Pack your baggage in a manner that will make inspection
easy. Do your best to pack separately the articles you have
acquired abroad. When the Customs officer asks you to open
your luggage or the trunk of your car, please do so without hesitation.
Photographic Film
All imported photographic films, which accompany a
traveler, if not for commercial purpose, may be released
without examination by Customs unless there is reason to
believe they contain objectionable matter.
Films prohibited from entry are those that contain obscene
matter, advocate treason or insurrection against the United
States, advocate forcible resistance to any law of the United
States, or those that threaten the life of or infliction of
bodily harm upon any person in the United States.
Developed or undeveloped U.S. film exposed abroad (except
motion-picture film to be used for commercial purposes) may
enter free of duty and need not be included in your customs
exemption.
Foreign film purchased abroad and prints made abroad are
dutiable but may be included in your customs exemption.
Shipping Hints
Merchandise-acquired abroad may be sent home by you or by
the store where purchased. As these items do not accompany
you on your return, they cannot be included in your customs
exemption and are subject to duty when received in the United
States. Duty cannot be prepaid. There are, however, special
procedures to follow for merchandise acquired in and sent from
the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam or Caribbean
Basin countries. See page 6.
All incoming shipments must be cleared through U.S.
Customs. Customs employees cannot, by law, perform entry
tasks for the importing public, but they will advise and give
information to importers about customs requirements.
Customs collects customs duty (if any) as provided for in
the tariff schedule, certain Internal Revenue taxes and several
user fees amounting to less than one percent of the value. Any
other charges paid on import shipments are for handling by
freight forwarders, commercial brokers, or for other delivery
services. Some carriers may add other clearance charges that
have nothing to do with Customs duties.
Note: Custombrokers are not U.S. Customs employees. Fees
charged by the brokers are based on the amount of work done,
not on the value of the personal effects or of the tourist
purchase you shipped. The fee may seem excessive to you in
relation to the value of the shipment. The National Customs
Brokers & Forwarders Association is well aware of the
difficulties and excessive expense incurred by tourists
shipping items home. Their advice is "Ship the easy way--take
it with you in your baggage or send it by parcel post prepaid."
Mail Shipments (including parcel post) have proven to be
more convenient and less costly for travelers. Parcels must
meet the mail requirements of the exporting country as to
weight, size, or measurement.
The U.S. Postal Service sends all incoming foreign mail
shipments to Customs for examination. Packages free of
customs duty are returned to the Postal Service for delivery to
you by your home post office without additional postage,
handling costs, or other fees.
For packages containing dutiable articles, the Customs
officer will attach a mail entry showing the amount of duty to
be paid and return the parcel to the Postal Service. The duty
and a postal handling fee will be collected when the package is
delivered. In addition, there is a $5 Customs processing fee on
dutiable packages.
Formal entry may be required for some shipments (some
textiles, wearing apparel and small leather goods) regardless
of value. Customs employees cannot prepare this type of entry
for you. Only you or a licensed customs broker may prepare a
formal entry.
If you pay the duty on a package but feel that the duty
was not correct, you may file a protest. This protest can be
acted on only by the Customs office which issued the mail entry
receipt--Customs Form 3419--attached to your package. Send a
copy of this form with your protest letter to the Customs
office at the location and address shown on the left side of
the form. That office will review the duty assessment based on
the information furnished in your letter and, if appropriate,
authorize a refund.
Another procedure would be to not accept the parcel. You
would then have to provide, within 30 days, a written statement
of your objections to the Postmaster where the parcel is being
held. Your letter will be forwarded to the issuing Customs
office. The shipment will be detained at the post office until
a reply is received.
Express shipments may be sent to the United States from
Canada and Mexico and by air freight from other countries. The
express company usually provides or arranges for customs
clearance of the merchandise for you. A fee is charged for this
service.
Freight shipments, whether or not they are free of duty at
the time of importation, must clear Customs at the first port
of arrival into the United States, or, if you choose, the
merchandise may be forwarded in Customs custody (in bond)
from the port of arrival to another Customs port of entry for
customs clearance.
All arrangements for customs clearance and forwarding in
bond must be made by you or someone you designate to act for
you. Frequently, a freight forwarder in a foreign country will
handle all the necessary arrangements, including the clearance
through Customs in the United States by a customs broker. A fee
is charged for this service. This fee is not a Customs charge.
If a foreign seller consigns a shipment to a broker or agent in
the United States, the freight charge is usually paid only to
the first port of arrival in the United States. This means
there will be additional inland transportation or freight
forwarding charges, brokers' fees, insurance, and other items.
An individual may also effect the customs clearance of a
single, noncommercial shipment not requiring formal entry for
you, if it is not possible for you to personally secure the
release of the goods. You must authorize and empower the
individual in writing to execute the customs declaration and
the entry for you as your unpaid agent. The written authority
provided to the individual should be addressed to the "Officer
in Charge of Customs" at the port of entry.
Unaccompanied tourist purchases acquired in and sent
directly from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or
a Caribbean Basin country, may be entered, if properly declared
and processed, as follows:
* Up to $1200 free of duty under your personal exemption if
from an insular possession; $600 if from a Caribbean Basin
country. Remember that if up to $400 of this amount was
acquired elsewhere than these countries, those articles
must accompany you at the time of your return in order to
claim duty-free entry under your personal exemption.
* An additional $1,000 worth of articles, dutiable at a flat
five percent rate if from an insular possession, or a fiat
10 percent rate (based on the fair retail value in the
country where purchased) if the merchandise is from a
Caribbean Basin country.
* Any amount over the above, dutiable at various rates of duty.
The procedure outlined below must be followed:
Step 1.
You will:
a) list all articles acquired abroad on
your baggage declaration (Customs Form 6059B) except
those sent under the $50 or the $100 bona fide gift provision
described on p. 7 to friends and relatives in the U.S.;
b) indicate which articles are unaccompanied;
c) fill out a Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles (Customs
Form 255) for each package or container to be sent. This
form may be obtained when you clear Customs if it was not
available where you made your purchase.
Step 2.
Customs at the time of your return will:
a) collect duty and tax if owed on goods accompanying you;
b) verify your unaccompanied articles against sales slips,
invoices, etc.;
c) validate Form 255 as to whether goods are free of duty under
your personal exemption or subject to a flat rate of duty. Two
copies of the three-part form will be returned to you.
Step 3.
You will return the yellow copy of the form to the
shopkeeper (or vendor) holding your purchase and keep the
other copy for your records. You are responsible for advising the
shopkeeper at the time you make your purchase that your
package is not to be sent until this form is received.
Step 4.
The shopkeeper will place the form in an envelope
and attach the envelope securely to the outside of the package
or container, which must be clearly marked "Unaccompanied
Tourist Purchase." Please note that a form must be placed on
each box or container. This is the most important step to be
followed in order for you to receive the benefits allowed under
this procedure.
Step 5.
The Postal Service will deliver the package, if
sent by mail, to you after Customs clearance. Any duty owed
will be collected by the Postal Service plus a postal handling
fee; or
You will be notified by the carrier as to the arrival of
your shipment at which time you will go to the Customs office
processing your shipment and make entry. Any duty or tax owed
will be paid at that time. You may employ a customs broker to
do this for you. A fee will be charged by the broker.
Storage charges. Freight and express packages delivered
before you return (without prior arrangements for acceptance)
will be placed in storage by Customs after five days, at the
expense and risk of the owner. If not claimed within one year,
the items will be sold.
Mail parcels not claimed within 30 days will be returned
to the sender unless a duty assessment is being protested.
Notice to California Residents:
California residents should know that merchandise
purchased abroad and brought back to California may be
subject to a "use tax." On October 1, 1990, California began to
assess a use tax on these purchases, using information from
Customs declarations completed by returning travelers at ports
of entry. The use-tax rate is the same as the sales-tax rate in
the traveler's California county of residence.
For more information about the use-tax program, contact
the California Board of Equalization's Occasional Sales Use Tax
Unit, (916) 445-9524.
For Further Information
Every effort has been made to indicate essential
requirements; however, all regulations of Customs and other
agencies cannot be covered in full.
Customs offices will be glad to advise you of any changes
in regulations which may have occurred since publication of
this leaflet.
District Directors of Customs are located in the following cities:
Anchorage, Alaska 99501 ...................907/271-2675
Baltimore, Md. 21202 ...................301/962-2666
Boston, Mass. 02222-1059 .........617/565-6147
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202 ....................716/846-4373
Charleston, S.C. 29402 ...................803/724-4312
Charlotte, N.C. 28219 ....................704/329-0770
Charlotte Arealie;
St. Thomas-V.I. 00801 ...................809/774-2530
Chicago, Ill. 60607 ...................312/353-6100
Cleveland, Ohio 44114 ...................216/522-4284
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Tex. 75261 ...................214/574-2170
Detroit, Mich. 48226-2568 .........313/226-3177
Duluth, Minnesota 55802-1390 .........218/720-5201
El Paso, Texas 79985 ...................915/540-5800
Great Falls, Montana 59405 ...................406/453-7631
Honolulu, Hawaii 96806 ...................808/541-1725
Houston, Texas 77029 ...................713/671-1000
Laredo, Texas 78041-3130 ........ 512/726-2267
Los Angeles/Long Beach, Ca.
90731 .................. 310/514-6001
Miami, Florida 33131 ................... 305/536-5791
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53237-0260 .........414/297-3925
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 ..................612/348-1690
Mobile, Alabama 36602 .................. 205/690-2106
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 ...................504/589-6353
New York, New York
New York Seaport Area
New York, New York 10048 ...................212/466-5817
Kennedy Airport Area,
Jamaica, New York 11430 ...................718/917-1542
Newark Area,
Newark, New Jersey 07114 ....................201/645-3760
Nogales, Arizona 85621 ....................602/761-2010
Norfolk, Virginia 23510 ....................804/441-6546
Ogdensburg, New York 13669 .....................315/393-0660
Pembina, North Dakota 58271 ....................701/825-6201
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 ................215/597-4605
Port Arthur, Texas 77642 ....................409/724-0087
Portland, Maine 04112 .....................207/780-3326
Portland, Oregon 97209 .....................503/326-2865
Providence, Rhode Island 02905 .................401/528-5080
St. Albans, Vermont 05478 ....................802/524-1521
St. Louis, Missouri 63105 ....................314/425-3134
San Diego, California 92188 ...................619/557-5455
San Francisco, California 94126 ..................415/465-4340
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901 ...................809/729-6950
Savannah, Georgia 31401 ...................912/652-4256
Seattle, Washington 98174 ...................206/442-0554
Tampa, Florida 33605 ...................813/228-2381
Washington, D.C. 20041
Washington Dulles Intl. Airport
Chantlily, Va. 22021 ...................703/318-5900
Preclearance Offices
Montreal ..................................514/636-3859
Toronto ...................................416/676-3399
Winnipeg ...............................204/783-2206
Calgary ...................................403/221-1733
Edmonton ...............................403/890-4514
Vancouver ..............................604/278-1825
Bermuda ................................809/291-2560
Nassau ..................................809/327-8461
Freeport .................................809/352-7256
Customs Assistance Abroad. Should you need Customs
assistance while abroad, you can visit or telephone our
representatives located at the American Embassy or consulate in...
Bangkok ...................................662/252-5040
Bonn .........................................49/228/339-2207
The Hague. ...............................31/70/924-651
Hermosillo .................................52/621-75258
Hong Kong ................................852/5/214-552
London ......................................44/1/499-9000
Merida ......................................52/99/258235
Mexico City .............................(525) 211-0042
Milan ........................................39/2/29035-218
Monterrey ................................52/83/42-7972
Montevideo ............................598/223-6061
Ottawa ....................................(613) 238-5335
Panama City ...........................507/257-562
Paris ........................................33/1/4296-1202
Rome .......................................39/6/4674-2475
Seoul .......................................822/732-2601
Singapore ...............................65/338-0251
Tokyo .......................................81/3/3224-5433
Vienna .....................................43/222/31-55-11
Ask for the U.S. Customs Service.
Frequently, We Are Asked Questions which are not Customs
matters. If you want to know about...
Passports. Contact the Passport Agency nearest you at the
following Zip Codes: Boston 02222-0123; Chicago 60604-1564;
Honolulu 96850, Houston 77002-4874; Los Angeles 90024-36
14, Miami 33130-1680, New Orleans 70113-1931; New York
10111-0031; Philadelphia 19106-1684; San Francisco 94105-
2773; Seattle 981741091; Stamford, CT 06901-2767;
Washington, D.C. 20524-0002. Some Clerks of Court and
Postal Clerks also accept passport applications.
Baggage Allowance. Ask the airline or steamship line you
are traveling on about this.
Currency of Other Nations. Your local bank can be of assistance.
Foreign Countries. For information about the country you
will visit or about what articles may be taken into that
country, contact the appropriate Embassy, consular office, or
tourist information office.
Report Drug Smuggling to U.S. Customs Service 1(800)BE-ALERT
GPO: 1992 0 - 333-244 QL 3
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U.S. CUSTOMS
International Mail Imports
Department of the Treasury
Customs Publication No. 514
Revised March 1994
Introduction
I've ordered commemorative plates from Europe before and
never paid duty. Why did I have to pay duty this time ?
I received a gift package from my aunt who was traveling
abroad. Am I required to pay duty on a gift?
I need to send a foreign-made watch to Switzerland for
repair. Will I have to pay duty when it comes back?
We get lots of questions like these, so we have prepared
this leaflet to explain U.S. Customs procedures and
requirements for parcels mailed to the United States from
abroad. If you follow the suggestions offered here, you will
get your packages through the customs process as efficiently as
possible.
The fastest way to inquire about a particular mail
shipment is to communicate directly with the Customs
international mail branch that processed your shipment. You
will find these mail branches, as well as Customs district
offices, starting on page 10 of this pamphlet. Should you need
to contact Customs headquarters, you may write to: U.S.
Customs Service, Office of Cargo Enforcement and Facilitation,
Washington, D.C. 20229.
Mail parcels must meet United States and international postal
requirements regarding weight, size, and measurement.
Contents
Clearance and Delivery
Missing or Lost Parcels
Protest of Duty
Duty Exemptions
Articles from Insular Possessions
Articles Damaged, Replaced or Returned for Repair
Need for Proper Declaration
Customs International Mail Branches
Location of Customs Offices
What mail is subject to Customs examination?
In general, all mail originating outside the Customs
territory of the United States (the 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico), which is to be delivered within
U.S. Customs territory, is subject to Customs examination. All
mail arriving from outside the U.S. Virgin Islands that is to
be delivered inside the U.S. Virgin Islands is also subject to
Customs examination. The U.S. Postal Service sends all
incoming foreign mail packages to Customs for examination and
assessment of any applicable duty. This includes international
(civilian) mail parcels and those originating at overseas military
postal facilities (APO/FPO).
Free of Duty
Packages that Customs has passed free of duty
will be endorsed on the outer wrapper: "Passed Free--U.S.
Customs." These packages receive minimal Customs handling
and are returned immediately to the Postal Service for delivery
by the local post office. In these cases, there will be no
additional postage, handling costs or other fees required of
the addressee.
Dutiable
Packages that require payment of duty will have a Customs
form CF 3419A attached to the outer wrapper. This form is the
Customs mail entry, and it will have been filled out by the
examining Customs officer indicating the tariff item number,
rate of duty, processing fee, and total amount to be paid for
that shipment.
The package is then returned to the Postal Service for
local delivery and collection of both duty and a postal
handling fee, which is assessed by the Postal Service. Some
mail importations valued at more than $1,250 will require a
formal entry by the importer, rather than the procedure just
described.
The Postal Service fee will appear on the package in the
form of postage-due stamps. This procedure has been
authorized by international postal convention. An exception to
this is made for dutiable material mailed from U.S. military post
offices located abroad; in these cases, postal handling fees
are not charged. A Customs processing fee of $5.00 will be
assessed on all dutiable mail shipments.
What happens to my parcel if it is not claimed?
Mail parcels not claimed within 30 days will be returned
to the sender unless a duty assessment is being protested.
How do I locate a missing or overdue mail parcel?
If your parcel is long overdue, or if you think it may be
lost in the mail, you should contact your local post office and
request that a parcel tracer action be initiated to locate it.
This is a matter over which Customs has no control.
If a parcel has been detained by Customs for a specific
reason, such as the lack of a proper invoice, bill of sale, or
other documentation; a possible trademark violation; or if a
formal Customs entry is required, the Customs office holding
your shipment will notify you immediately of the reason for
detention and how you can obtain release of the shipment.
How do I protest the Customs duty on my mail package?
If you think the amount of duty has been assessed
incorrectly, you may obtain a reconsideration of the duty in
either of two ways:
(1) Pay the assessed duty and take delivery of the
merchandise. Then, send the yellow copy of the mail entry
receipt, CF 3419A, which accompanied the parcel when it was
delivered, to the issuing Customs office identified on the
form. Include with the yellow copy a statement as to why you
believe the assessment is incorrect and copies of any invoices,
bills of sale, or other evidence you may have. Requests for an
adjustment must be made within 90 days after you have received
the package and paid the duty.
(2) Decline to pay the duty and postpone acceptance of the
shipment. Then, provide the postmaster, within five days of
your refusal, a written statement of your objections to the
duty assessment. The postmaster will forward your statement,
along with the mail entry (form CF 3419A), any invoices, bills
of sale, or other evidence you choose to furnish, to the
international mail branch that issued the mail entry.
The postmaster retains custody of the shipment until
informed by the international mail branch of the disposition to
be made of your protest. No postal storage charges will accrue
during this period.
If you are located near one of Customs' international mail
branches, the postmaster may send the CF 3419A to that branch
instead, along with your statement and evidence for
reconsideration of duties or tariffs.
If consideration of your protest results in a refund, the
refund check must be made payable to the addressee shown on
the mail entry.
Will the same rate of duty apply on future shipments?
The rate of duty assessed on a mail entry is not binding
for future importations. A binding ruling on tariff
classification may be obtained by writing to the Commissioner
of Customs, Attn: Office of Regulations and Rulings,
Washington, D.C. 20229.
U.S. Postal Service Regulations prohibit sending alcoholic
beverages through the mail (18 U.S.C. 1716(f)).
Am I entitled to any exemptions from duty?
Bona fide gifts.
Bona fide, unsolicited gifts are allowed to enter duty
free as long as their fair retail value does not exceed $50,
and if the recipient does not receive more than $50 worth of
such gifts in the same day. (See 19 CFR Section 10.152.) There
is no duty exemption for shipments containing alcohol-based
perfume, tobacco products or alcoholic beverages unless the
entire shipment has a retail value of less than $5.00. On bona
fide gifts sent to the United States from the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, the limitation is $100 fair
retail value. To qualify for a duty exemption under this
provision, the gifts must be sent by persons already outside
the United States to persons in the United States.
The gift exemption does not apply to gifts mailed to
oneself or mail-ordered from the United States. It also does
not apply where two or more persons traveling abroad together
mail home gifts to each other.
Gifts intended for more than one person may be
consolidated in the same package provided:
* They are individually wrapped,
* They are labeled with the name of the recipient, and
* The value of each gift does not exceed $50 ($100 if sent
from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam).
Following these simple instructions will insure quick
Customs clearance of gift packages.
Gift Packages, including consolidated gift packages,
should be clearly marked on the outside of the package:
"Unsolicited Gifts" with 1 ) the name of the donor, 2) nature
of the gifts, if there is more than one in a consolidated
package, 3) the accurate fair retail value of each gift, 4) the
name of each recipient.
Here is an example of the correct way to mark a
consolidated package:
Christmas gifts:
* To John Jones--One belt, $20; one box of candy, $5; one tie, $5.
* To Bill Jones--two shirts, $25; one belt, $5; one pair of trousers,
$15.
Customs duty will be collected on all improperly marked
consolidated packages and individual gifts worth more than $50.
Should any single gift within a consolidated package
exceed the $50 value limit, then all the gifts making up the
consolidated package will be dutiable. Each gift shall be
dutiable at the rate that would normally be assessed on it,
unless the sender has not marked all gifts so that the quantity
and value of each can be readily ascertained. In such a case,
the duty rate shall be based on the highest rate of duty for
any gift in the consolidated package.
All foreign-made merchandise that enters the United
States, whether new or used, is subject to duty.
United States Products Returned.
Articles which are the growth, manufacture, or product of
the United States and have not been processed or enhanced in
value while abroad are not subject to duty upon their return to
the United States. Packages containing only products of the
United States should be clearly marked on the outside wrapper
"American Goods Returned."
Personal and Household Effects.
The personal and household effects of any person (military
or civilian) employed by the United States Government are
eligible for duty-free entry if that person is returning to the
United States after completing an assignment of extended duty
abroad. The articles must have been in the returnee's
possession prior to departure for the United States. A sealed
envelope containing a copy of the Government orders
terminating the assignment must accompany the articles. This
envelope should be attached securely to the outer wrapper of the
parcel. The parcel should also be clearly marked on the outside,
"Returned Personal Effects--Orders Enclosed."
Articles ordered from military exchanges prior to
departure for the United States and mailed from the exchange to
a service member's home address after departure do not qualify
under this exemption and are dutiable. Goods of foreign origin
are subject to duty, even if purchased in military exchanges
(PX, AAFEX, NEX).
Will articles acquired while traveling abroad and mailed home
be duty-free under my personal exemption?
Travelers returning from abroad are allowed an exemption
from Customs duty on $400 worth of foreign merchandise that
accompanies them upon their return to the United States. Except
as noted below under the $1,200 exemption, all merchandise to
be entered under the traveler's personal exemption must
accompany that individual when reentering the United States.
Foreign-made articles purchased during a trip abroad and
mailed home are subject to duty.
$1,200 Exemption
If you return directly or indirectly from the Virgin
Islands of the U.S., American Samoa, or Guam, you may receive
a Customs exemption of $1,200, based upon the fair retail value
of the articles in the country where you acquired them. Of this
$1,200, not more than $400 may be applied to merchandise not
obtained in these islands. This duty-free exemption is
increased to $600 if the merchandise was acquired in a
Caribbean Basin Initiative beneficiary country (listed on page
13 of this pamphlet).
Tourist purchases acquired in and sent directly from a
U.S. insular possession to the United States may be entered
free of duty under your $1,200 exemption if the items are
properly declared and processed. Articles acquired elsewhere
must accompany you at the time of your return for duty-free
entry under your personal exemption.
An additional $1,000 worth of articles acquired in these
islands may also be sent to the United States as unaccompanied
tourist purchases and entered at a flat 5% rate of duty. Any
amount over this will be dutiable at the various rates of duty
applicable to the articles.
The procedures outlined below must be followed.
Step 1. At the time of your return:
a) list all articles
acquired abroad on your baggage declaration (CF 6059B)
except those sent under the bona fide gift provision to friends
and relatives in the United States;
b) indicate which articles are unaccompanied;
c) fill out a Declaration of Unaccompanied
Articles (CF 255) for each package you are sending. This
three-part form should be available where you make your
purchase; if it is not, ask for a copy when you clear U.S.
Customs.
Step 2. When you return to the United States, Customs will:
a) collect duty and tax on goods accompanying you, if tax
or duty is owed;
b) verify your unaccompanied articles against sales slips, invoices,
etc.;
c) validate form 255 as to whether goods are free of duty under your
personal exemption or subject to a flat rate of duty. Two copies of
the 255 (a yellow and a white) will be returned to. you.
Step 3. Return the yellow copy of the form to the
shopkeeper or vendor holding your purchase and keep the other
copy for your records. The traveler is responsible for
informing the shopkeeper at the time of purchase not to send
the merchandise until the shopkeeper has received this yellow copy.
Step 4. The shopkeeper then puts the yellow copy of the
255 into an envelope and attaches the envelope securely to the
outside of the package. The merchant must also label the
package, on the outside wrapper near the envelope if possible,
"Unaccompanied Tourist Purchase." NOTE: This is the most
important step to follow in order to receive the benefits
allowed under this procedure.
Step 5. The Postal Service will deliver your package after
it has cleared Customs. The Postal Service will also collect
any duty or other Customs fees that may be owed, along with
package handling fees.
Are articles from the U.S. insular possessions dutiable other
than tourist purchases mailed to the U.S.?
While the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam
are insular possessions of the United States, they are outside
the Customs territory of the United States. Articles imported
into the United States from these insular possessions are
subject to duty. However, articles which are the growth or
product of these islands, and articles which are manufactured
or produced there, are duty free if they: 1) do not contain
foreign materials to the value of more than 50 percent of the
appraised value of the manufactured article, as determined by
Customs, 2) come directly to the Customs territory of the
United States from these islands, and 3) are not prohibited by
quota limitations or otherwise.
How do I return an article for repair or alteration?
If you are sending foreign-made merchandise abroad for
repairs or alterations, you should register the item with
Customs before mailing it in order to avoid paying duty twice.
(Foreign-made merchandise is dutiable when entering the
United States unless the owner has demonstrated prior
ownership, and foreign-made repairs may also be dutiable.) You
can get a Certificate of Registration, Customs form 4455, for this
purpose at any local Customs office.
To export articles for repair, you should bring the
merchandise to your nearest Customs office for certification,
which simply means that the Customs officer will verify that
the article(s) described on the 4455 form are indeed those
being shipped abroad. After doing so, the Customs officer will
complete the CF 4455 in duplicate and will enter the Date,
Port, and his or her Signature on the forms. The officer will
then give both forms to you.
Enclose the original 4455 with the merchandise you are
shipping abroad to facilitate Customs processing after the
repaired merchandise has been mailed back to you. Keep the
duplicate copy just in case something goes awry and you need to
assure that you are liable only for duty on the repairs and not
on the complete article. Also, be sure to instruct your foreign
supplier to return the CF 4455 with the repaired article and to
mark on the outside of the return package "Repaired/Altered
Merchandise--CF 4455 Enclosed." Goods that have been
repaired or altered free of charge may still be subject to Customs
duty depending upon the Customs officer's determination after
examining the return shipment.
The Customs Service has an arrangement with the U.S.
Postal Service for those who live more than 20 miles from a
Customs office. In such cases, you may bring your merchandise
to the nearest post office, where the postmaster can certify
the articles on the CF 4455 in the manner described above. It
will still be necessary, however, to get copies CF 4455 from
the Customs Service.
How is a duty refund obtained on a damaged article
Parcels in transit from abroad undergo much handling and
processing by foreign and domestic post offices as well as by
Customs. Customs has possession of a parcel for only a short
time out of that entire period and has no control over the
shipment during the remainder of its journey. If your parcel
arrives so damaged that its contents are beyond repair, you may
choose to simply abandon the shipment to the post office. If
you do this and you have already paid the Customs duty, you
should 'obtain a statement from the delivering post office that
you have abandoned the shipment. Send a copy of that
statement along with a copy of your mail entry receipt (CF
3419A) to the issuing Customs office shown on the front of the
mail entry receipt and request a full refund of the duty and postal
handling fee.
Are replacement articles dutiable?
Occasionally, merchandise from a foreign supplier is
unsatisfactory; for example, it may be the wrong size, color,
broken in transit, or simply not according to the order placed
with the supplier. Recipients of these parcels generally return
the item to the foreign firm and request a replacement free of charge.
The replacement article is dutiable. You may, however,
request a refund of duty on the original package--the
unsatisfactory one--by writing to the Customs international
mail branch that first issued the mail entry (CF 3419A) for the
unsatisfactory shipment. This branch will be found on the front
of form 3419A. When you write to the mail branch requesting a
refund on the original package, you must include with your
letter: 1) a copy of the original mail entry (CF 3419A) and 2)
a statement or other evidence from the post office from which
you mailed it back to the supplier showing that the first
article was, in fact, returned. You should also enclose any
supporting correspondence to or from the foreign supplier
concerning the exchange. Upon receipt of this information, the
issuing Customs international mail branch will review the
transaction and issue you a refund of duty, if appropriate.
Why are clear and complete Customs declarations so important?
We realize that some of the foregoing paperwork
requirements may sound cumbersome, but millions of parcels
come through Customs international mail branches each year.
Without readily accessible, easy-to-read Customs forms
attached to the outer wrapping--especially forms 3419A and
4455--Customs officers would be forced to do time consuming,
intrusive examinations of almost all packages, which would
seriously delay the arrival of your merchandise.
When items are mailed from abroad, responsibility for
completing and attaching the Customs declaration lies with the
foreign sender, who must provide a full, accurate description
of the package's contents and value. Complete, accurate
Customs declarations attached to the outside wrapping allows
the vast majority to pass Customs unopened, allowing Customs
officers to make accurate duty assessments based strictly on the
information supplied in the "dec."
These are the addresses and telephone numbers for Customs
International Mail Branches:
Mail Branch Location Telephone Number
Anchorage, 605 West Fourth Ave. (907) 248-3373
Alaska Room 205
Anchorage, AK 99501
Atlanta, Foreign Mail Division (404) 763-7602
Georgia P.O. BOX 619050
Hapeville, GA 30320
Boston, U.S. Customs (617) 565-8635
Massachusetts South Postal Annex,
Room 1008, G.M.F.
Boston, MA 02205
Buffalo, 1200 William Street (716) 846-4319
New York Buffalo, NY 14240
Charlotte, Mail Branch Facility, (809) 774-2511
Amalie Sugar Estate Post Office
Charlotte Amalie,
VI 00801
Chicago, U.S. Customs Foreign (312) 353-6140
Illinois Mail Unit
11600 West Irving Park
Road A.M.F. O'Hare
Chicago, IL 60666
Dallas P.O. Box 619050 (214) 574-2128
Texas 2300 West 32nd Street
Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport
Dallas, TX 75261
Detroit, Foreign Mail Section (313) 226-3137
Michigan 1401 West Fort Street
Room 226, G.M.F.
Detroit, MI 48233
Honolulu, 3599 North Nimitz Highway (808) 442-9608
Hawaii Honolulu, HI 96818
Houston, Mail Facility (713) 233-3600
Texas 2929 Air Freight Rd.
Houston, TX 77032
Los Angeles, 300 N. Los Angeles St. (213) 894-4749
California Room B-202
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3391
Miami, Foreign Mail Branch (305) 536-4281
Florida 1751 N.W. 79th Ave.
Miami, FL 33126
Minneapolis/ 180 East Kellog Boulevard (612) 290-3639
St. Paul Room 506
Minnesota St. Paul, MN 55401
Newark, U.S. Customs (201) 714-6371
New Jersey Foreign Mail Center
(NYBFMCE) 80 County Road
(SURFACE Jersey City, NJ 07097 MAIL)
New York, Mail Facility, Bldg. 250 (718) 553-1446
New York J.F.K. Airport
(AIR MAIL) Jamaica, NY 11430
Oakland, 1675 7th Street (510) 273-7560
California Oakland, California 94615
Philadelphia 1000 Tinicum Island Road (809) 766-6006
Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19153
San Juan, G.P.O, Box 12800 (809) 766-6006
Puerto Rico Hato Rey, PR 00936
Seattle, 16601 Air Cargo Rd. (206) 553-5382
Washington Seattle, WA 98158
(AMF)
Washington, 44715 Prentice Drive (703) 406-6499
D.C. Sterling, VA 20101-9998
District Directors of Customs are located in the following cities:
Anchorage, Alaska 99501 907/271-2675
Baltimore, Md. 21202 410/962-2666
Boston, Mass. 0222-1059 617/565-6147
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202 716/846-4373
Charleston, S.C. 29401 803/727-4312
Charlotte, N.C. 28219 704/329-0770
Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00801 809/774-2510
Chicago, Ill. 60607 312/353-6100
Cleveland, Ohio 44114 216/891-3800
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Tex. 75261 214/574-2170
Detroit, Mich. 48226-2568 313/226-3177
Duluth, Minn. 55802-1390 218/720-5201
El Paso, Tex. 79925 915/540-5800
Great Falls, Mont. 59405 406/453-7631
Honolulu, Hawaii 96806 808/541-1725
Houston, Tex. 77029 713/671-1000
Laredo, Tex. 78041-3130 210/726-2267
Los Angeles, Ca. 90731 310/514-6001
Miami, Fla. 33 102 305/876-6803
Milwaukee, Wis. 53237-0260 414/297-3925
Minneapolis, Minn. 55401 612/348-1690
Mobile, Ala. 36602 205/441-5106
New Orleans, La. 70130 504/589-6353
*New York, N.Y. (Seaport) 10048 212/466-5817
*New York, N.Y. (JFK) 11430 718/533-1542
*Newark, N.J. 07 114 201/645-3760
Nogales, Ariz. 85621 602/761-2010
Norfolk, Va. 235 10 804/441-6546
Ogdensburg, N.Y. 13669 315/393-0660
Pembina, N.D. 58271 701/825-6201
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106 215/597-4605
Port Arthur, Tex. 77642 409/724-0087
Portland, Maine 04112 207/780-3326
Portland, Ore. 97209 503/326-2865
Providence, R.I. 02905 401/528-5080
St. Albans, Vt. 05478 802/524-6527
St. Louis, Mo. 63134-3716 314/428-2662
San Diego, Calif. 92101 619/557-5360
San Francisco, Calif. 94126 415/705-4340
San Juan, P.R. 00901 809/729-6950
Savannah, Ca. 31401 912/652-4256
Seattle, Wash. 98104 206/553-0554
Tampa, Fla. 33605 813/228-2381
Washington, D.C. 20166 703/318-5900
* Write to Area Director of Customs.
Should you need Customs assistance while abroad, you can
telephone our representatives located in the following cities:
Bangkok /662/252-5040
Beijing /86-1-532-3831
Bonn /49/228/339-2207
Caracas /58-2-285-0037
Central America (Miami) (305) 596-6479
Hermosillo /52/621/7-5258
Hong Kong /852/524-2267
London /44/71-493-4599
Merida /52/99/258235
Mexico City /(905) 211-0042
Milan /39/2/29035-218
Monterrey /52/83/42-7972
MonteVideo /598-223-6061
Ottawa /(613) 230/2120
Panama City /507/257-562
Paris /33/1/4296-1202
Rome /39/6/4674-2475
Seoul /822/397-4644
Singapore /65/338-0251
The Hague /31-703-924-651
Tokyo /81/3-3224-5433
Vienna /43/1-310-5896
or our preclearance operations in...
Montreal /514-636-3859
Toronto /905-676-3399
Winnipeg /204-783-2206
Calgary /403-221-1733
Edmonton /403-890-4514
Vancouver /604-278-1825
Bermuda /809-293-2560
Nassau /809-377-8461
Freeport /809-352-7256
Carribean Basin Initiative (CBI)
The following countries and territories have been
designated as beneficiary countries for purposes of the CBI:
Antigua and Barbuda Honduras
Aruba Jamaica
Bahamas Montserrat
Barbados Netherlands Antilles
Belize Nicaragua
Costa Rica Panama
Dominica Saint Kitts and Nevis
Dominican Republic Saint Lucia
El Salvador Saint Vincent and the
Grenada Grenadines
Guatemala Trinidad and Tobago
Guyana Virgin Islands, British
Haiti
The list of beneficiaries may change from time.
Warning
The Food and Drug Administration prohibits the
importation, by mail or in person, of fraudulent prescription
and non-prescription drugs and medical devices. These may
include unorthodox "cures" for medical conditions including
cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis. While these drugs and
devices may be completely legal elsewhere, they may not have
been approved for use in the United States, even under a
prescription issued by a foreign physician or under the
supervision of a domestic physician. They may not legally enter
the United States and may be confiscated upon arrival by mail.
Ceramic tableware sold abroad may contain dangerous levels
of lead in the glaze which may be extracted by acid foods and
beverages. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that
ceramic tableware, especially when purchased in Mexico, the
Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong or India, be tested for
lead release by a commercial laboratory on your return or be
used for decorative purposes only.
For additional information, contact your nearest FDA office or write:
Food and Drug Administration
Division of Import Operations and Policy
Room 12-30, (HFC-170)
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
The United States Customs Service is authorized by law to
prohibit the importation of goods that violate U.S. registered
intellectual property fights-namely, trademarks and copyrights.
This authority extends to articles imported into the United
States through the international mail system. Goods imported in
violation of intellectual property rights are subject to
seizure and forfeiture. In addition, Customs may assess a
monetary penalty, based on the domestic value of the articles,
against the importer. Examples of unlawful merchandise include:
* Articles which bear counterfeit trademarks, such as "fake"
designer or brand-name clothing or watches.
* Toys which are unlawful copies of copy fight-protected designs.
* Unauthorized reproductions of certain sound recordings.
The Customs Regulations governing intellectual property
rights may be found in Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 133.
There are other categories of merchandise whose
importation into the United States also is restricted or
prohibited. These categories of merchandise include certain
foodstuffs; certain domesticated and wild animals; products
made from endangered species; narcotics and certain weapons.
The consequences of the attempted entry of restricted or
prohibited merchandise vary according to which law the
importation violates.
The Customs Regulations governing these classes of
merchandise may be found in Title 19, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 12.
For additional information on the above restrictions,
please contact the nearest U.S. Customs Service office or write
to the U.S. Customs Service, Office of Regulations and Rulings,
Washington, D.C. 20229. ATTN: Intellectual Property Rights Branch.
Report Drug Smuggling to U.S. Customs Service 1 (800) BE-ALERT
Department of the Treasury
U.S. Customs Service
Washington, DC 20229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Passports
Applying for them the EASY WAY
DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 10049
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Revised March 1993
Applying for Your U.S. Passport
The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has
prepared this publication to assist you in applying for your
U.S. passport. This guide will give you information on where to
apply, how to apply, and the best time to apply.
Other Than Passport Agencies, Where Can I Apply for a Passport?
You can apply for a passport at many Federal and state
courts, probate courts, and some post offices.
Over 2500 courts and 900 post offices in the United States
accept passport applications. Courts and post offices are
usually more convenient because they are near your home or
your place of business. You save time and money by not having
to travel to one of the 13 major U.S. cries where passport
agencies are located.
When Do I Have to Apply in Person?
You must always apply in person if you are 13 or older,
and if you do not meet the requirements for applying by mail
(see section "May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?").
Usually, for children under 13, only a parent or legal
guardian need appear to execute a passport application.
What Do I Need to Do to Apply for a Passport at a Courthouse or
Post Office?
Go to a courthouse or post office authorized to accept
passport applications and complete the DSP-11 application
form, but do not sign it until instructed to do so. You must present:
1. PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
That is...
* a previous U.S. passport, or
* If you were born in the U.S., a certified copy of your
birth certificate issued by the state, city, or county of
your birth (a certified copy will have a registrar's
raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal and the
date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office).
If you have neither a passport nor a certified birth
certificate...
* bring a notice from the registrar of the state where you
were born that no birth record exists;
* also, bring as many as possible of the following: a
baptismal certificate, hospital birth record, early
census, school record, or family Bible record. (To be
considered, these documents must show your full name and
date and place of birth.);
* also, bring a notarized affidavit completed by an older
blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth.
* If you were born abroad, bring a Certificate of
Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, Report of
Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen, or a Certification of
Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350). If you do not have these
documents, check with the acceptance office agent for
documents that can be used in their place.
2. TWO PHOTOGRAPHS
* The photos must be recent (taken within the past six
months), identical, 2x2 inches, and either color or black/white;
* they must show a front view, full face, on a plain, light
(white or off-white) background. (Vending machine
photographs are not acceptable.)
3. PROOF OF IDENTITY
That is...
* a previous U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization
or Citizenship, a valid driver's license, government
or military ID, or corporate ID.
4. FEES
* $65 for a ten-year passport;
* $40 for a five-year passport for persons under 18 (these
amounts include a $10 execution fee.)
Make your check or money order payable to Passport
Services. Post offices (and passport agencies) accept cash, but
courts are not required to do so.
5. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Although a Social Security number is not required for
issuance of a passport, Section 603E of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 requires passport applicants to provide this
information. Passport Services will provide this information to
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) routinely. Any applicant who
fails to provide the information is subject to a $500 penalty
enforced by the IRS. All questions on this matter should be
referred to the nearest IRS office.
May I Apply for a Passport by Mail?
Yes, if you already have a passport and that passport is
your most recent passport, and it was issued within the past 12
years, and if you were over 18 years old at the time it was issued.
Ask the court, post office, or your travel agent for a
DSP-82 "Application For Passport By Mail." Fill it out, sign
it, and date it.
Attach to it:
* your most recent passport;
* two identical passport photographs (see previous section
on passport photographs);
* and a $55 fee; make your check or money order payable to
Passport Services. (The $10 execution fee is waived for
those eligible to apply by mail.) If your name has been
changed, enclose the Court Order, Adoption Decree or
Marriage Certificate, or Divorce Decree specifying another
name for you to use. (Photocopies will not be accepted.)
If your name has changed by any other means, you must
apply in person.
Mail the completed DSP-82 application and attachments to:
National Passport Center
P.O. Box 371971
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7971.
Your previous passport will be returned to you with your new passport.
If you need faster service, you can use an overnight
delivery service. If the service of your choice will not
deliver to a post office box, send it to:
Mellon Bank
Attn: Passport Supervisor 371971
3 Mellon Bank Center. Rm. 153-2723
Pittsburgh. PA 15259-0001.
Include the appropriate fee for overnight return of your passport.
Note: If the passport has been mutilated, altered or
damaged in any manner, you cannot apply by mail. You must
apply in person and use Form DSP-11, present evidence of U.S.
citizenship, and acceptable identification.
When Should I Apply for a Passport?
Apply for your passport several months in advance of your
planned departure. If you will need visas from foreign
embassies, allow additional time.
What Happens to My Passport Application After I Submit It?
If you apply at a passport acceptance facility, the day
you apply your application will be forwarded to the passport
agency that services the acceptance office, or, in the case of
marl-in applications, they are forwarded to the National
Passport Center.
Applications are processed according to the departure date
indicated on the application form. If you give no departure
date, the passport agency will assume you are not planning any
immediate travel. Your passport will be returned to you by mail
at the address you provided on your application.
What Should I Do if My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?
If your passport is lost or stolen in the U.S., report the
loss or theft in writing to Passport Services, 1425 K Street,
N.W., Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, or to
the nearest passport agency. If you are abroad, report the loss
immediately to local police authorities and contact the nearest
U.S. embassy or consulate.
What Else Should I Know About Passports?
All persons, including newborn infants, are required to
obtain passports in their own name.
If you need to get a valid passport amended because of a
name change, use Form DSP-19.
Before traveling abroad, make a copy of the identification
page to make it easier to get a new one should it be necessary.
If you require additional visa pages before your passport
expires, submit your passport with a signed request for extra
pages to one of the passport agencies listed on the last page.
(Please allow time for the processing of the request.) If you
travel abroad frequently, you may request a 48-page passport at
the time of application.
Some countries require that your passport be valid at
least 6 months beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport
is expiring in less than the required validity, you will need
to get a new one. Check with the nearest embassy or consulate
of the countries you plan to visit to find out their entry requirements.
In addition to foreign entry requirements, U.S. law must
also be considered. With certain exceptions, it is against U.S.
law to enter or leave the country without a valid passport.
Generally for tourists, the exceptions refer to direct travel
within U.S. territories or between North, South, or Central
America (except Cuba).
Note: If you mutilate or alter your U.S. passport, you may
render it invalid and expose yourself to possible prosecution
under the law (Section 1543 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code).
What If I Need a Passport in a Hurry?
If you are leaving on an emergency trip within five
working days, apply in person at the nearest passport agency
and present your tickets or travel itinerary from an airline,
as well as the other required items. Or, apply at a court or
post office and have the application sent to the passport
agency through an overnight delivery service of your choice
(you should include a selfaddressed, pre-paid envelope for the
return of the passport). Be sure to include your dates of
departure and travel plans on your application.
PASSPORT AGENCIES
Apply Early For Your Passport
Boston Passport Agency
Thomas P. O'Neill Fed. Bldg
Rm. 247. 10 Causeway Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02222
Information: 617-565-6998*
617-565-6990
Chicago Passport Agency
Suite 380,
Kluczynski Federal Office Bldg.
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1564
Information: 312-353-7155
Honolulu Passport Agency
Room C-106, New Federal Bldg.
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850
Information: 808-541-1919
808-541-1918
Houston Passport Agency
Suite 11043,
Mickey Leland Fed. Bldg.
1919 Smith Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Information: 713-653-3153
Los Angeles Passport Agency
Room 13100,
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90024-3615
Information: 213-575-7070
Miami Passport Agency
3rd Floor, Claude Pepper
Federal Office Bldg.
51 Southwest First Avenue
Miami, Florida 33130-1680
Information: 305-536-4681
New Orleans Passport Agency
Postal Service Building
701 Loyola Ave., Rm T-12005
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113-1931
Information: 504-589-6728*
504-589-6161/62
New York Passport Agency
Room 270, Rockefeller Center
630 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10111-0031
Information: 212-399-5290
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Room 4426. Federal Bldg.
600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-1684
Information: 215-597-7480
San Francisco Passport Agency
Suite. 200,
Tishman Speyer Bldg.
525 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94105-2773
Information: 415-744-4444 or 4010*
Seattle Passport Agency
Room 982, Federal Office Bldg.
915 Second Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98174-1081
Information: 205-220-7777*
205-220-7788
Stamford Passport Agency
One Landmark Square
Broad and Atlantic Streets
Stamford, Connecticut 06902-2767
Information: 203-325-3530*
Washington Passport Agency
1425 K Street N.W.
Washington. D.C. 20522-1705
Information: 202-547-0518*
If you are applying by mail see the section "May I Apply
for My Passport by Mail?" for proper mailing addresses. If you
have any questions about an application that was mailed, write
or call:
National Passport Center
31 Rochester Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 003801-2900
(603) 334-0500
* This is a 24-hour information line that includes general
passport information, passport agency location, and hours of
operation and information regarding emergency passport
services during non-working hours.
.
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