How does going through customs work

Many restrictions exist for transporting fresh products like fruit, vegetables or meat across international lines; your trip through customs will usually go faster if you ditch the food entirely. Still, even if the food you have is legal, failing to declare it can net you some hefty fines. Therefore, honesty is always the best policy. Each country allows you to transport a certain dollar amount of purchases across the border without paying "duty" — basically, a tax levied on purchases made or gifts received while you're abroad.

Keep your receipts, or track how much you've spent at the very least. This way, you can prove whether you fall under the duty limit or how much you may be over the limit.

Customs won't deny you re-entry to the country if you've visited a farm, but you may lose some time in customs while they clean your footwear to make sure you're not accidentally bringing any biological contaminants into the country.

However, customs people don't clean your boots for the fun of it. Invasive species and illnesses like foot and mouth disease are very real hazards. If you have visited any farms, admit it and accept the possible delay. Want to have an up-close-and-personal visit with a customs agent? Just whip out a camera and start taking pictures; it'll get their attention quickly. If you'd rather have a quick and hassle-free experience, leave your phone and cameras tucked away until you're all the way through customs.

If you want to make everyone else in the customs line turn green with envy, consider applying for the Global Entry program. Nevertheless, if you're accepted into the program and traveling through a major airport, your trip through customs boils down to a quick stop at an automated kiosk to confirm your identity and make any necessary declarations. If your flight into the United States doesn't take you directly to your final destination, then you might have to retrieve your checked bags after passing through immigration and before going through customs.

After that, you'll need to recheck the bags again before you catch your connecting flight. Check with your airline beforehand to find out whether you'll have to retrieve and recheck your bags or not. Be prepared to tell officials where you're staying in the country you're visiting. They may ask you to provide the address of your hotel, so keep a copy of your reservation on hand.

Sometimes they also ask you for proof of your departure ticket and date, so those copies need to stay in your carry-on bag as well. Some travelers take being first in the customs line very seriously. It's true that if there's a long walk to customs, moving quickly can get you out ahead of the pack. Still, there's no need to turn a trip through customs into a race or a competition.

No matter where you end up in line, we guarantee that the experience will be more pleasant if you relax and enjoy the experience. If you're concerned about making tight connections, having Allianz Travel Insurance can give you extra peace of mind. Type the country where you will be spending the most amount of time.

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CBP takes this information from all visitors for their biometric database. The agent will slide a small pad towards you. Put your fingers on the electronic pad to upload your fingerprints.

Then, stand by as they take your picture. The CBP agent will guide you through the steps. Part 3. Move to the baggage claim area to retrieve your luggage. Continue walking down the hallway, reading the signs as needed to get to the nearby baggage claim carousels. You need to claim your baggage even if you are going to board a connecting flight. Check the screen in the baggage area to find the carousel number assigned to your flight, then wait for your bags to appear.

Give yourself plenty of time to get through security. If you're traveling by boat or bus, you still need to claim your bags. For bus trips, the staff needs to move your bags back onto the vehicle after CBP is done checking them. Take your bags to the correct line in customs. Walk down the hallway from the baggage area to the customs security checkpoint.

If you try to sneak through the faster line, security may stop you. Refer back to your customs form to know what you need to declare. Hand the officer your customs form. After a short wait, you will reach the next checkpoint.

Make sure your form is filled out correctly before you get to the CBP officer. They will ask you a few basic questions, such as where you went and what you purchased on your trip. They look for items on the restricted list, contraband, or anything left off the customs form. That way, you can get through this checkpoint as quickly as possible.

Slow or vague answers make the officers curious and ask more questions. Listen to the officers if you are chosen for a random search. The CBP officers may pick you out of the line for a more thorough inspection. This is rarely personal. The officers can search your bags by hand or with an X-ray machine.

They may also ask you more questions about your trip. Turn your bags over to them graciously. Remember, they are doing their jobs, not trying to give you a hard time. Continue your trip or leave the facility.

After the CBP agent waives you through the checkpoint, walk down the hall to end up in the facility lobby. After putting your luggage on the conveyor belt, you need to pass through a nearby security checkpoint to enter the flight hub.

Be sure to place any liquids, gels, and aerosols over 3 oz 85 g in your checked luggage, along with any other items restricted by the TSA. Not Helpful 1 Helpful Approximately how long does it take to go through customs and catch a connecting flight?

If it is not busy and there are no other flights in the room, then minutes. If the room is full with other arriving passengers, it can take up to an hour to 2 hours. It really depends on which airport you land at, though, so if you search for "customs wait time at [your airport code]," you can often find more specific estimates. Not Helpful 0 Helpful Will I go through customs in my departure country or when I land in the United States?

Some countries now have U. Customs abroad, like Canada, Dubai, etc. They are pre-cleared to arrive in the U. Customs in the United States. If there is no Pre-Clearance, then you would go through Customs in the U. Does a U. Brett Gilbert. You do need to go through TSA screening when you arrive at the airport, but you don't go through customs until you come back.

If it is my first trip to the USA using an immigrant visa, how do I proceed? For example, which line would I join for immigration? With some rare exceptions, an US immigrant visa holder is typically a foreign citizen, and thus should proceed to the foreigner lane. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7. The entry depends on your passport, not your marital status. If you have a valid USA passport, you have no problem.

If your current passport is from another country, you will have to enter as a tourist with the specific visa requirements. Check with a lawyer about your status. I am leaving from Sacramento with a connecting flight to Dubai in Seattle.

Do I have to go through customs in the US? The U. This includes traveling during domestic flights, such as Sacramento to Seattle. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7. You get an allowance of 1 liter duty-free. Anything more than that and you will have to pay a tax. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4. Candy for personal use isn't usually an issue as long as it is in its original packaging. You could probably bring as much as you can fit into your luggage. You could probably even arrange for large shipments if you wanted to and had proper documentation.

When you see everything that customs agencies do, it's clear that they are one of the most essential pieces of a nation's government. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots.

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