The last thing you want to deal with after carefullyplanning an international trip by thoroughly researching your cheap traveloptions such as cheapairplane tickets, cheapfares, cheapdeals, cheap auto rentals, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages, isto get pulled into a dreaded detention room when going through customs.
Residents returning from an overseas trip should alwaysfollow the advice of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) which recommendsIf in doubt, declare it.
The following are unexpected reasons that could get someoneflagged when going through customs, according to Caroline Morse:
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Spendinglots of money is an easy way to attract attention. There is a limit to the amount travelers canspend duty free that varies by country visited and length of stay. Vacationers returning from certain countriesare allowed to bring back up to $800 worth of goods without having to pay taxes(with the exception of Caribbean countries and U.S. territories).
Travelers returning from a foreign countrywhere they spend less than 48 hours (with the exception of Mexico) are onlygiven a $200 duty free exemption. Checkout the rules on the CBP website before departure and spend accordingly. Purchases in excess of the allowed duty freeamount will delay your path through customs.
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Visitingcertain countries attracts customs attention. Some countries are more notorious for drug smuggling than others. For example, flights from Panama are oftenmet by numerous CBP officers who watch everyone get off the plane and thenbring drug sniffing dogs to the luggage claim to check bags. College students returning from overseas areoften more likely to be questioned by customs.
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Usinga cell phone or camera while going through customs results in additionalscrutiny. CBP forbids the use ofcameras, including cell phone cameras in the customs processing areas. Use of cell phones while in the area canresult in them being confiscated and not returned.
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If youvisited a farm or were in close proximity to livestock in your trip, you willhave to check yes on your customs declaration form and you will be pulledaside for a separate screening and often have the shoes you wore on the farmsprayed with a disinfectant. Ironicallysometimes the agricultural inspection line is shorter than the general customsline, so you may get through more quickly.
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Havingpassport stamps from certain countries may cause you trouble at customs at homeor abroad. For example, trying to entercertain Middle Eastern countries with an Israeli passport stamp on yourpassport can create problems. This hasbecome a big enough problem that Israel began a pilot program whereby visitorsget a separate entry card rather than a physical mark on their passport. Having a stamp in your passport from Cuba mayresult in additional attention at the American border.
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Travelingwith a pet is a sure way to be flagged at customs. Animals are subject to inspection uponarrival in the United States. Check therequirements about the vaccinations or health certificates your pet may needprior to departure as well as the rules about which animals are not allowed inthe country you will be visiting.
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Carryingfruit in your bag is strictly forbidden and likely to be detected bywell-trained customs dogs that sniff out the aroma of fruit, even if you usedyour purse to carry an apple a week before your flight. While you wont get in trouble so long as youdo not try to bring in any fruit, lingering aromas of fruit might get youdelayed and/or searched.
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Wearinghiking boots is a big concern for nations concerned about biosecurity. Hiking boots are a concern for certaincountries, as they can easily be contaminated with soil, seeds, or water from ahike in another country. For example, ifyou are traveling to Australia or New Zealand, you will need to declare yourhiking boots and may have to wait while they are cleaned or even thrown away.
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Notknowing where you will be staying is a sure way to raise a red flag atcustoms. If you are a non-residentplanning on being spontaneous and booking a last minute hotel in the U.S. afteryou land, or forget the exact address of a friend that you will be stayingwith, count on drawing extra scrutiny from the CBP. Every traveler arriving in the U.S. who is nota citizen must state on a customs declaration from where he or she will bestaying. If you do not know, CBP agentscan deny you entry into the country.
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Bringingin food, even an in-flight snack, must be declared or thrown away before youdisembark from your flight. Failing todeclare a food item can result in a minimum $300 fine. All food, including processed food, must bedeclared.
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