Today, international travel is easier than ever, but that doesn't mean there are no challenges. One challenge divers face is clearing customs after traveling abroad. Once the fun is over, you've got to ensure you dot every "i" and cross every "t" to ensure you're not penalized. Here are some tips for ensuring your trip home is hassle-free.
Must Haves for Clearing U.S. Customs and Immigration
There are several items you'll need to have to get back into the United States. While we're providing a number of quick tips to make planning easier, you should always review regulations before traveling. With this in mind, here are items you'll need to have ready.
Proof of citizenship - keep your passport easily accessible. In some cases, you'll need an original birth certificate, or a certified copy of your birth certificate.
A written declaration of everything you've brought back with you, that was not in your possession when you departed. If you're traveling by cruise ship or via commercial airliner, then you will probably be provided with a customs declaration form. Make the declaration process easier by keeping a detailed list of items you pick up along the way. That way, you can simply transfer information to the form. If you have purchased more than your personal exemption allows (usually between $400 and $1200, depending on where you've traveled), you can elect to mail some items home to yourself before heading home. You can mail as much as $200 worth of items home without paying extra duties on it.
For every item you must declare, include a sales receipt, or make an educated estimate of the fair market value for every item, in U.S. currency values. If you can, bring a separate bag with you to pack any items which you'll need to declare. Though this will take a little time, it ultimately pays to be well-organized.
Pre-Registering Personal Items
Many items you'll be bringing with you on vacation are valuable, and in order to prevent any question about whether you owned them before you left, it's a great idea to fill out a form called a Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad before you leave. Computers, dive gear, camera equipment, watches, and jewelry are all good things to list. Anything manufactured in the country you're visiting ought to be pre-registered too, since these items can bring extra scrutiny.
Other Considerations
In most cases, regulations pertaining to food items purchased overseas are strict. Most fruits and vegetables, along with meat products and some cheese products, are prohibited.
If you use medications, be sure you carry them in their original containers, and bring along only the quantity you will need while traveling. Be sure to bring your prescription with you, and if possible, get a written statement from your doctor, explaining the need for prescription medications. Do not try to bring any medications or drugs not approved by the FDA back into the United States.
Finally, understand that the U.S. Customs agents you will encounter are simply doing their jobs as they ask questions and inspect your luggage. While you may feel that such questioning is intrusive, it can be helpful to remind yourself that the agents are tasked with protecting the American public from various threats, including illnesses and threats to national security. By being well-prepared, and by not attempting to bypass regulations, you'll find that getting through customs and back to your hometown is a simple process.