Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CUSTOMS
What You Can Bring
into the U.S.
Every visitor more than 21 years of age
may bring in, free of duty, the following:
(1) 1 liter of wine or hard liquor; (2) 200
cigarettes, 100 cigars (but not from Cuba),
or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco; and (3)
$100 worth of gifts. These exemptions are
offered to travelers who spend at least 72
hours in the United States and who have
not claimed them within the preceding 6
months. It is forbidden to bring into the
country almost any meat products (includ-
ing canned, fresh, and dried meat products
such as bullion, soup mixes, and so on).
Generally, condiments including vinegars,
oils, spices, coffee, tea, and some cheeses
and baked goods are permitted. Avoid rice
products, as rice can often harbor insects.
Bringing fruits and vegetables is not
advised, though not prohibited. Customs
will allow produce depending on where
you got it and where you're going after you
arrive in the U.S. International visitors
may carry in or out up to $10,000 in U.S.
or foreign currency with no formalities;
larger sums must be declared to U.S. Cus-
toms on entering or leaving, which
includes filing form CM 4790. For details
regarding U.S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection, consult your nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate, or
U.S. Customs
(www.
customs.gov).
39
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithu-
ania, Malta, Republic of Korea, and Slova-
kia are soon to be admitted to the VWP.
(
Note:
This list was accurate at press time;
for the most up-to-date list of countries in
the VWP, consult http://travel.state.gov/
visa.) Even though a visa isn't necessary, in
an effort to help U.S. officials check travel-
ers against terrorist watch lists before they
arrive at U.S. borders, visitors from VWP
countries must register online through the
Electronic System for Travel Authorization
(ESTA) before boarding a plane or a boat to
the U.S. Travelers will complete an elec-
tronic application providing basic personal
and travel eligibility information. The
Department of Homeland Security recom-
mends filling out the form at least 3 days
before traveling. Authorizations will be
valid for up to 2 years or until the traveler's
passport expires, whichever comes first.
Currently, there is no fee for the online
application.
Note:
Any passport issued on
or after October 26, 2006, by a VWP coun-
try must be an
e-Passport
for VWP travel-
ers to be eligible to enter the U.S. without
a visa. Citizens of these nations also need to
present a round-trip air or cruise ticket
upon arrival. E-Passports contain computer
chips capable of storing biometric informa-
tion, such as the required digital photo-
graph of the holder. If your passport doesn't
have this feature, you can still travel with-
out a visa if it is a valid passport issued
before October 26, 2005, and includes a
machine-readable zone, or between Octo-
ber 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, and
includes a digital photograph. For more
information, go to
http://travel.state.gov/
visa
. Canadian citizens may enter the
United States without visas; however, they
will need to show passports (if traveling by
air) and proof of residence.
Citizens of all other countries must
have (1) a valid passport that expires at
least 6 months later than the scheduled
end of their visit to the U.S., and (2) a
tourist visa.
3
What You Can Take
Home from the U.S.
For information on what you're allowed to
bring home, contact one of the following
agencies:
Canadian Citizens:
Canada Border
Services Agency (
&
800/461-9999
in
Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.
gc.ca).
U.K. Citizens:
HM Customs & Excise
at
&
0845/010-9000
(from outside the
U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their
website at
www.hmce.gov.uk
.
