Know Before
You Go
Regulations for International Travel
by U.S. Residents
Know Before You Go
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Regulations for International Travel by
U.S. Residents
Traveler's Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What is CBP? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Your Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
CBP Inspection Process Graphic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Terms Used in This Booklet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Check Our Web Site First! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Preparing to Return to the U .S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Documents You Will Need to Enter the U .S . . . . . . . 5
Frequent Traveler Programs
FAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Global Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
NEXUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SENTRI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Global Online Enrollment System . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
What You Must Declare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Tip: Register Items Before You Leave the U .S . . . . . . 11
Duty-Free Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Exemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
J oint Declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Types of Exemptions
$200 Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
$800 Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
$1,600 Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
For Frequent Travelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Duty-Free or Reduced Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Items from Certain Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Household Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Increased Duty Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Determining Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Tobacco Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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Alcoholic Beverages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Paying Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Sending Items Back to the United States . . . . . . . .22
U .S . Mail Shipments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Express Shipments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Freight Shipments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Gifts You Bring Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Gifts You Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Gifts for More Than One Person . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Can I Send a Gift to Myself? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Personal Belongings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
If a Package is Subject to Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Sending Purchases from Insular Possessions and . .27
Caribbean Basin and Andean Countries
Duty-Free Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Prohibited and Restricted Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Absinthe ( Alcohol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Automobiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Biologicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Ceramic Tableware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Cultural Artifacts and Cultural Property ( Art Artifacts) .33
Defense Articles or Items with Military or
Proliferation Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Dog and Cat Fur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Drug Paraphernalia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Fish and Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Food Products ( Prepared) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Prior Notice for Food Importation . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Fruits and Vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Game and Hunting Trophies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Haitian Animal Hide Drums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
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Meats, Livestock, and Poultry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Medication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Merchandise from Embargoed Countries . . . . . . .44
Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Document and Quarantine Reports . . . . . . . . . . . 47
USDA Quarantine Centers and Ports of Entry . . . .48
Plants and seeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Textiles and Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles . . . . . . . . .50
Money and Other Monetary Instruments . . . . . . .51
Photographic Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
CBP’s Pledge to Travelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program . . . . . . . . .53
Other Travel-related Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Helpful Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
U .S . Customs and Border Protection
Declaration Form (Front) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
U .S . Customs and Border Protection
Declaration Form (Back) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Note: Should you have questions
please visit help.cbp.gov or
call 1-877-227-5511 or 703-526-4200 .
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TRAVELER'S CHECKLIST
Do I have:
q U .S . Passport or other recommended ID for U .S .
citizens? (Carry it; do not pack it) . www.travel.state.
gov.
q Green Card (Form I-551) or document for Lawful
Permanent Residents? (Advance Parole if LPR
status is pending) www.uscis.gov . Failure to have
Form I-551 or document for lawful permanent
residents could result in a $545 waiver fee .
q Notarized travel permission letters for minors
traveling without their parents?
q Entry documentation for the country(s) I will be
visiting? (Is a Visa required?) www.state.gov. and
search for "visa" .
q Only the medication that I need for my trip and
in its original container?
q Receipts or registration paperwork (CBP Form
4457) for any new electronics, such as a camera
or laptop, that I’m taking with me? (Only sug-
gested if traveling with recently purchased goods .
Not necessary for goods more than 6 months
old .)
q Proof of Rabies vaccinations for my dog if they
are traveling with me? (Recommended but not
required for cats . Check for requirements regard-
ing other pets .) www.aphis.usda.gov and search for
"pet travel" .
q Permits and/or certificates if bringing restricted
animal and plant commodities regulated by the
U .S . Department of Agriculture, Animal and plant
Health Inspection Service .
q Appraisals or receipts if I’m traveling with a lot of
new jewelry?
q Valid driver’s license? Do I need an international
driver’s license in the country I am visiting? www.
thenac.com/international_driving_permit.pdf or www.aaa.
com.
q An envelope to put all the receipts for my pur-
chases? (This will make filling out the CBP
declaration easier .)
q Copy of this Know Before You Go brochure?
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Know Before You Go
Information on items that do not have a Web site
address after them can be found in this brochure or at
www.cbp.gov/travel.
What Is CBP?
U .S . Customs and Border Protection, within the
Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for
keeping America’s borders safe and secure . On
March 1, 2003, CBP combined the inspectional
work forces and broad border authorities of the U .S .
Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization
Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service of the Department of Agriculture .
At CBP, our job is to keep terrorists, their weapons,
and other illegal material or individuals from entering
the United States, while also facilitating the flow of
legitimate trade and travel . This mission is vitally
important and we are dedicated to carrying it out to
the best of our abilities .
Your Inspection
To keep our borders secure, we must inspect everyone
who arrives at a U .S . port of entry . We pledge to treat
you courteously and professionally . We do not assume
that you have done anything wrong—because very few
travelers actually violate the law .
As part of your inspection, you may be asked questions
on:
• Your citizenship,
• The nature of your trip, and
• Anything you are bringing back to the United
States that you did not have with you when you
left .
We may also examine your baggage, including elec-
tronic equipment,or your car, which we have the legal
authority to do . If we are checking your baggage, you
will need to place it on the exam station and open
it . (After the exam is completed, you will be asked to
repack and close the baggage .) If at any point you are
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unhappy with the way you are being treated, ask to
speak to a CBP supervisor .
Terms Used In This Booklet
“Duty” and “dutiable” are words you will find frequent-
ly throughout this brochure:
• Duty is the amount of money you pay on items
coming from another country . It is similar to a
tax, except that duty is collected only on imported
goods .
• Dutiable describes items on which duty may have to
be paid . Most items have specific duty rates, which
are determined by a number of factors, including
where you got the item, where it was made and
what it is made of .
Also, anything you bring back that you did not have
when you left the United States must be “declared .”
For example, you would declare alterations made in a
foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any
gifts you acquired overseas .
Check Our Web Site Before You Travel!
Please note that the information contained within
this brochure may change . Visit the travel section of
www.cbp.gov for the most up-to-date information .
Preparing To Return To The United States
When you return, you will need to declare everything
you brought back that you did not take with you
when you left the United States . You may be asked to
fill out a CBP declaration form . You will probably find
it easier and faster to fill out your declaration form
and clear CBP if you do the following:
• Keep your sales slips.
• Try to pack the things you’ll need to declare
separately .
• Read the signs in the arrival area.
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Know Before You Go
Documents You Will Need To Enter The
United States
All persons including citizens of the United States
traveling by air between the U .S ., Canada, Mexico, the
Caribbean and Bermuda will have to present a passport,
Merchant Mariner Document (presented by U .S . citizen
merchant mariners traveling on official business) or
NEXUS Card, NEXUS enrollment is limited to citizens
of the United States and Canada, and lawful permanent
residents of the United States and Canada . Children will
be required to present their own passport .
Beginning June 1, 2009, ages 16 and older will be
required to present documents from one of the options
below when entering the United States at land or sea
ports of entry . Children under may present an original
or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report
of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate .
One of the following documents may be presented to
prove both identity and citizenship:
• U.S. Passport;
• U.S. Passport Card;*
• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST);*
• State issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when avail-
able this secure driver’s license will denote identity
and citizenship);*
• Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available);*
• U.S. Military identification with Military Travel
Orders;
• U.S. Merchant Marine document;
• Form I-872 American Indian Card.
* Frequent Land Border Crossers: To expedite processing into the United
States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends using one of
the above asterisked documents.
Lawful Permanent Residents
U .S . Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), refugees and
asylees will continue to be able to use their Permanent
Resident Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or other
evidence of permanent resident status or refugee or
asylee status to apply for entry into the United States .
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U .S . citizens traveling directly between the Unites States,
Guam, Puerto Rico, the U .S . Virgin Islands, American
Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands will continue to be able to
use established forms of identification to board flights
and for entry .
Note: Identification requirements for entering or
re-entering the U .S . may have change based or imple-
mentation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
please check getyouhome.gov for details .
Advance Parole
Caution
Due to recent changes to U .S . immigration law, travel
outside of the United States may have severe conse-
quences for aliens who are in the process of adjusting
their status or applying for an immigrant visa (refugees
and asylees) . Upon return, these aliens may be found
inadmissible, their applications may be denied, or both .
It is important that the alien obtain the proper docu-
mentation before leaving the United States .
Aliens who have pending applications for certain immi-
gration benefits need Advance Parole to re-enter the U .S .
after traveling abroad .
An I-131 Application for Travel Document is filed with
U .S . Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fol-
lowing the instructions found on their Web site, www.
uscis.gov.
Note: this does not apply to aliens who have applied
to adjust to permanent resident status and who main-
tain H-1B (Specialty Worker) or L-1 (Intracompany
Transferee) status, or their dependents, who have
applied to adjust to permanent resident status and who
have valid H-1B or L status and valid visas, V nonim-
migrants who have a valid V nonimmigrant visa, are in
valid V nonimmigrant status and have or obtain a valid
V nonimmigrant visa before applying for readmission
to the US, and K-3/4 nonimmigrants who have applied
to adjust to permanent resident status and who have
a valid K-3/4 nonimmigrant visa, are in valid K-3/4
nonimmigrant status and have or obtain a valid K-3/4
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nonimmigrant visa before applying for readmission to
the United States .
Aliens who have a pending application for adjustment
of status must be approved for Advance Parole prior to leaving
the United States in order to avoid termination for their pending
application for adjustment. This includes aliens who have:
• Filed an application for adjustment of status
but have not received a decision from the U .S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services;
• Hold refugee or asylee status and intend to
depart temporarily to apply for a U .S . immigrant
visa in Canada; and/or
• An emergent personal or bona fide reason to
travel temporarily abroad .
Applicants who are the beneficiary of a Private bill
and applicants who are under deportation proceed-
ings must file with the:
Department of Homeland Security
ATTN: Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
Aliens in the United States are not eligible for Advance
Parole if they are:
• In the United States illegally; or
• An exchange alien subject to the foreign resi-
dence requirement .
Please note that Advance Parole does not guarantee entry
into the United States . Aliens with Advance Parole are
still subject to the U .S . Customs and Border Protection
inspection process at the port of entry .
For more information, please visit the State Department
Web site at www.travel.state.gov or the U .S . Department of
Homeland Security Web site at www.dhs.gov. To apply for
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a passport, U .S . citizens can visit www.travel.state.gov or
call the U .S . Passport Office at 1-877-4USA-PPT or TDD/
TYY: 1-888-874-7793 . Foreign citizens or nationals
should contact their respective governments to obtain
passports .
Frequent Traveler Programs
Applicants must voluntarily undergo a thorough bio-
graphical background check against criminal, law
enforcement, customs, immigration, and terrorist indi-
ces; a 10-fingerprint law enforcement check; and a
personal interview with a CBP officer .
FAST
Free and Secure Trade, or FAST, is a joint initiative
between CBP and its Canadian and Mexico counterparts
that enhances border and trade security while
simplifying the inspection of cross-border commercial
shipments simpler, subjecting them to fewer delays .
When a FAST-approved driver arrives at the border, he
or she presents to the CBP officer . Data declarations
and verifications are done at a later time, away from
the border .
Global Entry
The Global Entry program allows pre-approved, low-
risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival into the
United States . U .S . citizens and U .S . Lawful Permanent
Residents aged 14-years and older may apply to this
program .
Participants will enter the United States by using