Know Before 

You Go

U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection Regulations 

for U.S. Residents

Know Before You Go 

Know Before You Go

U.S. Customs and Border

Protection Regulations 

for U.S. Residents

Travelers Checklist.....................................................1

What is CBP?...............................................................2

Your Inspection..........................................................2

Terms Used in This Booklet......................................3

Check Our Website Before You Travel!....................3

Preparing to Return to the United States .................3

Documents You Will Need to Enter 

the United States........................................................4

Visa Waiver Program – Participating Countries......... 7

What You Must Declare .............................................7

Tip: Register Items Before You Leave 

the United States........................................................8

Duty-Free Exemption.................................................9

Exemptions................................................................. 9

Joint Declaration....................................................... 10

Types of Exemptions................................................10

$200 Exemption ....................................................... 10

$800 Exemption........................................................11

$1,600 Exemption .................................................... 12

For Frequent Travelers.............................................13

Duty-Free or Reduced Rates ....................................13

Items from Certain Countries .................................. 13

Household Effects..................................................... 14

Increased Duty Rates................................................14

Items from Certain Countries .................................. 14

Determining Duty....................................................15

Tobacco Products.......................................................16

Alcoholic Beverages.................................................. 17

Paying Duty ..............................................................18

Sending Items Back to the United States................18

U.S. Mail Shipments................................................. 18

Express Shipments.................................................... 20

Freight Shipments..................................................... 20
ii U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Gifts ..........................................................................22

Gifts you bring back................................................. 22

Gifts you send........................................................... 22

Gifts for more than one person................................ 22

Can I send a gift to myself?...................................... 23

Personal Belongings.................................................. 23

If a package is subject to duty .................................. 23

Sending Purchases from Insular Possessions and 

Caribbean Basin and Andean Countries.................24

Duty-Free Shops.......................................................26

Prohibited and Restricted Items..............................26

Absinthe (Alcohol) .................................................. 27

Automobiles.............................................................. 27

Biologicals ................................................................ 28

Ceramic Tableware ................................................... 28

Cultural Artifacts and Cultural Property (Art/

Artifacts)................................................................... 29

Dog and Cat Fur ....................................................... 30

Drug Paraphernalia................................................... 30

Firearms.................................................................... 30

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................31

Food Products (Prepared) ........................................ 33

Prior Notice for Food Importation........................... 33

Fruits and Vegetables................................................ 34

Game and Hunting Trophies.................................... 35

Gold.......................................................................... 35

Meats, Livestock, and Poultry................................... 36

Medication................................................................ 36

Merchandise from Embargoed Countries ................ 37

Pets ........................................................................... 38

Plants and seeds........................................................ 40

Soil............................................................................ 40

Textiles and Clothing ............................................... 41

Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles.................... 41

Money and Other Monetary Instruments ..............43

Photographic Film....................................................43

CBP’s Pledge to Travelers........................................ 44

Other Travel-Related Information .........................45

Key Travel-Related Websites ...................................45

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

Mission Statement....................................................47

Glossary of Terms ....................................................48
Know Before You Go

Travelers Checklist

Do I have:

☐	U.S. Passport or other recommended ID for U.S. 

citizens? (Carry it; do not pack it)

www.travel.state.gov

☐	Green Card or document for Lawful Permanent 

Residents? (Advance Parole if LPR status is pending)

www.cis.gov

☐ Notarized travel permission letters for minors 

traveling without their parents?

☐	Entry documentation for the country(s) I will be 

visiting? (Is a Visa required?)

www.state.gov/misc/10125.htm

☐	Only the medication that I need for my trip and 

in its original container?

☐	Receipts or registration paperwork (CBP Form 

4457) for any new electronics, such as a camera or 

laptop, that I’m taking with me? (Only suggested 

if traveling with recently purchased goods. Not 

necessary for goods more than six months old.)

☐	Proof of rabies vaccinations for my dogs if they 

are traveling with me? (Not required for cats. 

Check for requirements regarding other pets.)

www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/pettravel.html

☐	Appraisals or receipts if I’m traveling with a lot of 

new jewelry?

☐	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

☐	An envelope to put all the receipts for my purchases? (This will make filling out the CBP 

declaration easier.)

☐	Copy of Know Before You Go brochure?

Information on items that do not have a Website 

address after them can be found in this brochure or on 

www.cbp.gov
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

What is CBP?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), within the 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for keeping America’s borders safe and secure. 

On March 1, 2003, CBP combined the inspectional 

workforces and broad border authorities of the U.S. 

Customs Service with three other agencies: Immigration 

and Naturalization Service, Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service and the Border Patrol.

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. For obvious reasons, this mission 

is vitally important. 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 

• the nature of your citizenship

• your trip, and 

• about anything you are bringing back to the United 

States that you did not have with you when you 

left.

We may also need to examine your baggage 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 

you are unhappy with the way you are being treated, 

ask to speak to a CBP supervisor.
Know Before You Go

Terms Used in This Booklet

“Duty” and “dutiable” are words you will find frequently 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 Website 

Before You Travel!

Please note that the information contained within 

this brochure may change routinely. Visit the travel 

section of the CBP Website at www.cbp.gov for the 

most up-to-date traveler information.

Preparing to Return to the 

United States

When you come back, you will need to declare everything you brought back that you did not take with you 

when you left the United States. If you are traveling by 

air or sea, you may be asked to fill out a CBP declaration 

form. This form is almost always provided by the airline or cruise ship. 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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Documents You Will Need to 

Enter the United States

Important Note: The Western Hemisphere Travel 

Initiative will soon require all travelers to and from the 

Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted form of documentation to enter 

or reenter the United States. The program will be rolled 

out in phases. The proposed timeline is as follows:

• December 31, 2006: Requirement applied to all air 

and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central 

and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. 

• December 31, 2007: Requirement extended to all 

air, sea and land border crossings. 

(NOTE: These dates are not final until the final rul-

ing is published in the Federal Register later this year.)

Until this requirement is in effect as noted above, U.S. 

citizens are currently exempt from the requirement to 

show a passport unless they are returning to the U.S. 

from outside the Western Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, 

Asia, Australia). However, it is highly recommended 

that you be prepared to present documentation such as 

valid U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or naturalization certificate to avoid delays. 

U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) must provide 

one of the following in addition to a valid passport:

• I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”)

• Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa endorsed with a 

CBP Admission Stamp

• Temporary Residence Stamp (ADIT stamp) 

contained in a passport or on Form I-94

• Valid Reentry Permit

• Unexpired Immigrant Visa

Visitors/Non-immigrants must provide:

• Generally, a valid unexpired passport and visa. 

(However, certain people may require specific 

supporting documentation such as an employment 

petition, student authorization, or approval notice.)
Know Before You Go

• Citizens of countries authorized to participate in 

the Visa Waiver Program are required to present 

an unexpired machine-readable passport. (For 

additional information refer to the State Department 

at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/

without_1990.html.)

• Mexicans may provide a valid DSP-150 (BCC) in 

lieu of a valid passport and visa

• Generally, Canadian Nationals must show ID but 

are exempt from passport and visa requirements. 

However presentation of a Canadian passport, 

birth certificate, naturalization certificate or other 

supporting documentation will facilitate the 

inspection and is strongly encouraged.

• Nationals of countries authorized to participate in 

the Visa Waiver Program are required to present an 

unexpired passport.

Advance Parole

Caution

Due to recent changes to U.S. immigration law, travel 

outside of the United States may have severe consequences 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 documentation before leaving the United States.

Aliens who have pending applications for certain immigration benefits need Advance Parole to re-enter the 

U.S. after traveling abroad. 

Aliens applying for advance parole on the basis of a 

pending application for adjustment of status must be 

approved for advance parole prior to leaving the United States in order 

to avoid the termination of their pending application for adjustment.

Note: this does not apply to aliens who have applied 

to adjust to permanent resident status and who maintain 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 nonimmigrants who have a valid V nonimmigrant visa, are in 

valid V nonimmigrant status and have or obtain a valid 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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 

nonimmigrant visa before applying for readmission to 

the US. 

An I-131 application for Advance Parole is filed with 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) pursuant to the instructions found on their Website, www.

uscis.gov.

Aliens in the United States should, prior to departure, 

obtain Advance Parole in order to re-enter the United 

States after travel abroad if they 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 proceedings 

must file to the Department of Homeland Security, 

425 I Street, NW, ATTN: Parole and Humanitarian 

Assistance Branch, 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 residence 

requirement.

Please note that Advance Parole does not guarantee 

admission 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.
Know Before You Go

For more information, please visit the State Department 

Website at www.travel.state.gov or the U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security Website at www.dhs.gov. To 

apply for a passport, U.S. citizens can visit www.travel.

state.gov or call the U.S. Passport Office at 1-877-4USAPPT or TDD/TYY: 1-888-874-7793. Foreign residents 

should contact their respective governments to obtain 

passports.

Visa Waiver Program – Participating Countries

Andorra

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brunei

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Monaco

The Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Portugal

San Marino

Singapore

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United Kingdom

For more information on documentation requirements 

for VWP participating countries, contact your consulate 

or embassy or their Website at http://usembassy.state.

gov/ for further instructions.

What You Must Declare

• Items you purchased and are carrying with you 

upon return to the United States.

• Items you received as gifts, such as wedding or 

birthday presents.

• Items you inherited.

• Items you bought in duty-free shops, on the ship, 

or on the plane.

• Repairs or alterations to any items you took 

abroad and then brought back, even if the repairs/

alterations were performed free of charge.

• Items you brought home for someone else.

• Items you intend to sell or use in your business.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Also, if you acquired items in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 

American Samoa, Guam, or in a Caribbean Basin 

Economic Recovery Act country (see section on $800 

exemption for a list of these countries) and asked the 

merchant to send them to you, you must still declare 

them when you go through customs. This differs from the 

usual procedure for mailed items, which is discussed in the section on Sending Goods to the United States.

You must state on the CBP declaration, in U.S. currency, 

what you actually paid for each item. The price must 

include all taxes. If you don’t know for sure, estimate. 

If you did not buy the item yourself—for example, if 

it is a gift—estimate its fair retail value in the country 

where you received it. 

Remember: Even if you used the item you bought on 

your trip, it’s still dutiable. You must declare the item at 

the price you paid or, if it was a gift, at its fair market 

value.

Tip: Register Items Before You 

Leave the United States

If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for 

instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time 

you brought it back into the United States, unless you 

could prove that you owned it before you left on your 

trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as 

sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof. 

To make things easier, you can register certain items 

with CBP before you depart—including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as 

long as they have serial numbers or other unique, 

permanent markings. Take the items to the nearest CBP 

office and request a Certificate of Registration (CBP 

Form 4457). It shows that you had the items with you 

before leaving the United States and all items listed on 

it will be allowed duty-free entry. CBP officers must 

see the item you are registering in order to certify the 

certificate of registration. You can also register items 

with CBP at the international airport from which you’re 

departing. Keep the certificate for future trips.
Know Before You Go

Duty-Free Exemption

The duty-free exemption, also called the personal exemption, is the total value of merchandise you may bring 

back to the United States without having to pay duty. 

You may bring back more than your exemption, but 

you will have to pay duty on it. In most cases, the personal exemption is $800, but there are some exceptions 

to this rule, which are explained below.

Exemptions

Depending on the countries you have visited, your 

personal exemption will be $200, $800, or $1,600. 

There are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, 

cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products you may 

include in your duty-free personal exemption. The differences are explained in the following section.

The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1,600) 

apply if:

• The items are for your personal or household use or 

intended to be given as gifts.

• They are in your possession, that is, they 

accompany you when you return to the United 

States. Items to be sent later may not be included 

in your $800 duty-free exemption. (Exceptions 

apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin 

Islands.)

• They are declared to CBP. If you do not declare 

something that should have been declared, you risk 

forfeiting it. If in doubt, declare it. 

• You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 

48 hours. For example, if you leave the United 

States at 1:30 p.m. on June 1, you would complete 

the 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3. This 

time limit does not apply if you are returning from 

Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands. (See also 

the section on the $200 exemption.)

• You have not used all of your exemption allowance, 

or used any part of it, in the past 30 days—for 

example, if you go to England and bring back $150 

worth of items—you must wait another 30 days 

before you are allowed another $800 exemption. 

(See the section on the $200 exemption.)
10 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• The items are not prohibited or restricted as 

discussed in the section on Prohibited and 

Restricted Items. Note the embargo prohibitions on 

products of Cuba. 

Joint Declaration

Family members who live in the same home and return 

together to the United States may combine their personal exemptions. This is called a joint declaration. For 

example, if Mr. and Mrs. Smith travel overseas and Mrs. 

Smith brings home a $1,000 piece of glassware, and Mr. 

Smith buys $600 worth of clothing, they can combine 

their individual $800 exemptions on a joint declaration 

and not have to pay duty. 

Children and infants are allowed the same exemption 

as adults, except for alcoholic beverages and tobacco 

products.

Types of Exemptions

$200 Exemption

If you cannot claim other exemptions because:

• you have been out of the country more than once 

in a 30-day period or because 

• you have not been out of the country for at least 48 

hours, 

you may still bring back $200 worth of items free of 

duty and tax. As discussed earlier, these items must be 

for your personal or household use.

If you bring back more than $200 worth of dutiable 

items, or if any item is subject to duty or tax, the entire 

amount will be dutiable. For instance, you were out of 

the country for 36 hours and came back with a $300 

piece of pottery. You could not deduct $200 from its 

value and pay duty on $100. The pottery would be dutiable for the full value of $300.

You may include with the $200 exemption your choice 

of the following: 50 cigarettes and 10 cigars and 150 

milliliters (5 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages or 150 milliliters (5 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol. 
Know Before You Go 11

Note that unlike other exemptions, family members 

may not combine their individual $200 exemptions. 

Thus, if Mr. and Mrs. Smith spend a night in Canada, 

each may bring back up to $200 worth of goods, but 

they would not be allowed a collective family exemption of $400.

Also, duty on items you mail home to yourself will be 

waived if the value is $200 or less. (See the sections on 

Gifts and Sending Goods to the United States.) 

$800 Exemption

If you are arriving from anywhere other than a U.S. 

insular possession (U.S. Virgin Islands, American 

Samoa, or Guam) you may bring back $800 worth of 

items duty free, as long as you bring them with you. 

This is called accompanied baggage. 

For Caribbean Basin or Andean countries, your exemption is also $800. These countries include:

Antigua and Barbuda

Aruba

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia

British Virgin Islands

Colombia

Costa Rica

Dominica

Dominican Republic 

Ecuador

El Salvador

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica

Montserrat

Netherlands Antilles 

Nicaragua

Panama

Peru

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the 

Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

You may include two liters of alcoholic beverages 

with this $800 exemption, as long as one of the liters 

was produced in one of the countries listed above 

(see section on Unaccompanied Purchases from 

Insular Possessions and Caribbean Basin or Andean 

Countries).

Depending on what items you’re bringing back from 

your trip, you could come home with more than $800 
12 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

worth of gifts or purchases and still not be charged 

duty. For instance, say you received a $700 bracelet as 

a gift, and you bought a $40 hat and a $60 color print. 

Because these items total $800, you would not be 

charged duty, since you have not exceeded your dutyfree exemption. If you had also bought a $500 painting 

on that trip, you could bring all $1300 worth of merchandise home without having to pay duty, because 

fine art is duty-free. 

$1,600 Exemption

If you return directly or indirectly from a U.S. insular 

possession (U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or 

Guam), you are allowed a $1,600 duty-free exemption. 

If you travel to a U.S. insular possession and to one 

or more of the Caribbean Basin or Andean countries

listed above, let’s say on a Caribbean cruise, you may 

bring back $1,600 worth of items without paying duty, 

but only $800 worth of these items may come from the 

Caribbean Basin or Andean country(ies). Any amount 

beyond $800 will be dutiable unless you acquired it 

in one of the insular possessions. For example, if you 

were to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jamaica, 

you would be allowed to bring back $1,600 worth of 

merchandise duty free, as long as only $800 worth was 

acquired in Jamaica. 

Also, you may include 1,000 cigarettes as part of the 

$1600 exemption, but at least 800 of them must have 

been acquired in an insular possession. Only 200 cigarettes may have been acquired elsewhere. For example, 

if you were touring the South Pacific and you stopped 

in Tahiti, American Samoa, and other ports of call, you 

could bring back five cartons of cigarettes, but four of 

them would have to have been bought in American 

Samoa.

Similarly, you may include five liters of alcoholic beverages in your duty-free exemption, but one of them must 

be a product of an insular possession. Four may be products of other countries (see section on Unaccompanied 

Purchases from Insular Possessions and Caribbean 

Basin Countries).
Know Before You Go 13

For Frequent Travelers

If you cross the U.S. border into a foreign country and 

reenter the United States more than once in a short 

time, you may not want to use your personal exemption until you have returned to the United States for 

the last time. This is due to the “once every 30 days 

rule”—you can only apply your personal exemption 

once every 30 days.

So as an example, you go to Canada, buy a liter of liquor, 

reenter the United States, then go back to Canada and 

buy $900 worth of merchandise and more liquor. You 

would probably want to save your $800 exemption for 

those final purchases and not use it for that first liter of 

liquor. In this case, on your first swing-back, simply tell 

the CBP officer that you want to pay duty on the liquor, 

even though you could bring it in duty free.

Duty-Free or Reduced Rates

Items from Certain Countries

The United States gives duty preferences—that is, free 

or reduced rates—to certain developing countries

under a trade program called the Generalized System 

of Preferences (GSP). Some products that would otherwise be dutiable are not when they come from a GSP 

country. (For details on this program, as well as the 

complete list of GSP countries, please look for it on our 

Website.) 

Similarly:

• Many products of Caribbean and Andean 

countries are exempt from duty under the 

Caribbean Basin Initiative, Caribbean Basin Trade 

Partnership Act, Andean Trade Preference Act and 

the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication 

Act. 

• Many products of certain sub-Saharan African 

countries are exempt from duty under the African 

Growth and Opportunity Act. 

• Most products of Israel, Jordan, Chile and 

Singapore may also enter the United States either 

free of duty or at a reduced rate under the U.S. free 
14 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

trade agreements with those countries. Check with 

cbp.gov for details on these programs.

• The North American Free Trade Agreement 

(NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are 

returning from Canada or Mexico, your goods are 

eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were 

grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or 

Mexico, as defined by the Act.

Access the CBP Website for further details.

Household Effects

Household effects are duty-free. These include such 

items as furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings; tools of 

the trade, professional books, implements, and instruments. 

You may import household effects you acquired abroad 

duty-free if:

• You used them for at least one year while you were 

abroad.

• They are not intended for anyone else or for sale. 

Clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable 

radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and 

cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. 

However, duty is usually waived on personal effects 

over 1 year of age. 

All vehicles are dutiable.

Increased Duty Rates

Items from Certain Countries

Under what is known as its “301” authority, the United 

States may impose a much higher than normal duty 

rate on products from certain countries. Currently, the 

United States has imposed a 100 percent rate of duty 

on certain products of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, 

Finland, France, The Federal Republic of Germany, 

Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, 

Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Ukraine. If you should 

bring more of any of these products back with you than 

fall within your exemption or flat rate of duty, (see 
Know Before You Go 15

below) you will pay as much in duty as you paid for the 

product or products.

While most of the products listed are not the type of 

goods that travelers would purchase in sufficient quantities to exceed their exemption, diamonds from the 

Ukraine are subject to the 100 percent duty and might 

easily exceed the exemption amount.

For information on countries that may become subject 

to a higher than normal duty rate, check the Department 

of Commerce Website at www.commerce.gov.

Determining Duty

The CBP officer will place the items that have the highest rate of duty under your exemption. Then, after 

subtracting your exemptions and the value of any dutyfree items, a flat rate of duty will be charged on the 

next $1,000 worth of merchandise. Any dollar amount 

beyond this $1,000 will be dutiable at whatever duty 

rates apply. The flat rate of duty may only be used 

for items for your own use or for gifts. As with your 

exemption, you may use the flat rate provision only 

once every 30 days. Special flat rates of duty apply to 

items made and acquired in Canada or Mexico. The 

flat rate of duty applies to only to those purchases that 

accompany you on your return to the United States.

The following is an example of the different rates if you 

acquire goods valued at $3,500 from various different 

places:

Country Total 

declared 

value

Personal 

exemption 

(duty-free)

Flat duty 

rate

Various 

duty rates

U.S. insular 

possessions

$3,500 $1,600 $1,000 at 

1.5 percent

$900

Caribbean 

Basin 

countries

$3,500 $800 $1,000 at 

3 percent

$1,700 

Other 

countries or 

locations

$3,500 $800 $1,000 at 

3 percent

$1,700

The flat duty rate will be charged on items that are 

dutiable but that cannot be included in your personal 

exemption, even if you have not exceeded the exemp-
16 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

tion. The best example of this is liquor. If you return 

from Europe with $200 worth of items, including two 

liters of liquor, one liter will be duty-free under your 

exemption; the other will be dutiable at 3 percent, plus 

any Internal Revenue Service tax.

Family members who live in the same household and 

return to the United States together can combine their 

items to take advantage of a combined flat duty rate, no 

matter which family member owns a given item. The 

combined value of merchandise subject to a flat duty 

rate for a family of four traveling together would be 

$4,000.

Tobacco Products

Travelers may import previously exported tobacco 

products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts 

specified in exemptions for which the traveler qualifies. 

Any quantities of previously exported tobacco products 

not permitted by an exemption will be seized and 

destroyed. These items are typically purchased in dutyfree stores, on carriers operating internationally, or in 

foreign stores. These items are usually marked “Tax 

Exempt. For Use Outside the United States,” or “U.S. 

Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States.” 

For example, a returning resident is eligible for the 

$800 exemption, which includes not more than 200 

cigarettes and 100 cigars:

• If the resident declares 400 previously exported 

cigarettes, the resident would be permitted 200 

cigarettes, tax-free under the exemption and the 

remaining 200 previously exported cigarettes 

would be confiscated. 

• If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 

200 are previously exported and 200 not 

previously exported, the resident would be 

permitted to import the 200 previously exported 

cigarettes tax free under the exemption and the 

resident would be charged duty and tax on the 

remaining 200 foreign-made cigarettes. 

The tobacco exemption is available to each adult. Except 

for information and informational materials, no travel-
Know Before You Go 17

er (whether traveling legally under an Office of Foreign 

Asset Control (OFAC) license or traveling illegally without an OFAC license) may import Cuban-made goods, 

including Cuban cigars, unless authorized to do so by a 

specific license issued by OFAC.

Alcoholic Beverages

One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be 

included in your exemption if:

• You are 21 years old.

• It is for your own use or as a gift.

• It does not violate the laws of the state in which 

you arrive. 

Federal regulations allow you to bring back more than 

one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but, 

as with extra tobacco, you will have to pay duty and 

Internal Revenue Service tax. 

While Federal regulations do not specify a limit on the 

amount of alcohol you may bring back for personal use, 

unusual quantities are liable to raise suspicions that you 

are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as 

for resale. CBP officers are authorized by the Bureau 

of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to 

make on-the-spot determinations that an importation 

is for commercial purposes, and may require you to 

obtain a permit to import the alcohol before releasing it to you. If you intend to bring back a substantial 

quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should 

contact the port through which you will be re-entering 

the country, and make prior arrangements for entering 

the alcohol into the United States. 

Also, you should be aware that state laws might limit the 

amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If 

you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount 

of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state 

law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be 

more restrictive than federal regulations. We recommend that you check with the state government before 

you go abroad about their limitations on quantities 

allowed for personal importation and additional state 

taxes that might apply.
18 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

In brief, for both alcohol and tobacco, the quantities 

discussed in this booklet as being eligible for duty-free 

treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 

exemption, just as any other purchase would be. But 

unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond 

those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even 

if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal 

exemption. For example, if your exemption is $800 

and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing 

else, two of those liters will be dutiable. Federal law 

prohibits shipping alcoholic beverages by mail within 

the United States.

Paying Duty

If you owe duty, you must pay it when you arrive in 

the United States. You can pay it in any of the following ways:

• U.S. currency. Foreign currency is not acceptable.

• Personal check in the exact amount, drawn on 

a U.S. bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection. You must present identification, 

such as a passport or driver’s license. CBP does not 

accept checks bearing second-party endorsements.

• Government check, money order, or traveler’s 

check if the amount does not exceed the duty owed 

by more than $50. 

• In some locations, you may pay duty with credit 

cards, either MasterCard® or VISA®.

Sending Items Back to the 

United States

Unaccompanied baggage is anything you do not bring 

back with you. These may be items that were with 

you when you left the United States or items that you 

acquired (received by any means) while outside the 

United States. In general, unaccompanied baggage falls 

into three categories: U.S. mail, express shipments, and 

freight.

U.S. Mail Shipments

Shipping through the U.S. mail, including parcel post, 

is a cost-efficient way to send items to the United States. 
Know Before You Go 19

The Postal Service sends all foreign mail shipments to 

CBP for examination. CBP officers then return packages 

that do not require duty to the Postal Service, which 

sends them to a local post office for delivery. The local 

post office delivers them without charging any additional postage, handling costs, or other fees.

Packages that contain fruits, vegetables, meat or other 

items of agricultural interest are inspected to ensure that 

items meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, 

Plant Protection and Quarantine. The CBP agriculture 

specialist encloses a Mail Interception Notice, PPQ 

Form 287, to document any agriculture items that are 

removed from the package. The package is returned 

to the U.S. Postal Service for delivery. (Information 

on importing agriculture items is located on the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture Website at www.aphis.usda.

gov.)

If the package does require payment of duty, CBP 

attaches a form called a mail entry, CBP Form 3419Alt, 

which indicates how much duty is owed and charges a 

$5 processing fee as well. When the post office delivers 

the package, it will also charge a small handling fee.

Commercial goods—goods intended for resale—may 

have special entry requirements. Such goods may 

require a formal entry in order to be admitted into the 

United States. Formal entries are more complicated 

and require more paperwork than informal entries. 

Generally, informal entries are personal packages or 

commercial items worth less than $2,000. CBP employees may not prepare formal entries for you; only you or 

a licensed customs broker may prepare one. For more 

information on this subject, please see the brochure 

U.S. Import Requirements.

If you believe you have been charged an incorrect 

amount of duty on a package mailed from abroad, you 

may file a protest with CBP. You can do this in one of 

two ways. You can accept the package, pay the duty, and 

write a letter explaining why you think the amount was 

incorrect. You should include with your letter the yellow copy of the mail entry (CBP Form 3419Alt). Send 
20 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

the letter and the form to the CBP office that issued the 

mail entry, located on the lower left-hand corner of 

the form. 

The other way to protest duty is to refuse delivery of the 

package. Then within five days, send your protest letter 

to the post office where the package is being held. The 

post office will forward your letter to CBP and will hold 

your package until the protest is resolved. 

For additional information on international mailing, 

please see the brochure International Mail Imports, or visit 

the CBP Website at www.cbp.gov.

Express Shipments

Packages may be sent to the United States by privatesector courier or delivery service from anywhere in the 

world. The express company usually takes care of clearing your merchandise through customs and charges a 

fee for its service. Some travelers have found this fee to 

be higher than they expected.

Freight Shipments

Cargo, whether duty is owed on it or not, must clear 

customs at the first port of arrival in the United States. 

If you choose, you may have your freight sent, while 

it is still in CBP custody, to another port for clearance. 

This is called forwarding freight in bond. You, or someone 

you appoint to act for you, are responsible for arranging 

to clear your merchandise through CBP or for having it 

forwarded to another port. 

Frequently, a freight forwarder in a foreign country 

will take care of these arrangements, including hiring 

a customs broker in the United States to clear the merchandise through CBP. Whenever a third party handles 

the clearing and forwarding of your merchandise, that 

party charges a fee for its services. This fee is not a CBP 

charge. 

There are several ways a traveler can find a broker: 

• Phone book - in the Yellow Pages under "Customs 

Brokers"

• Internet - search for "Customs Brokers"
Know Before You Go 21

• CBP Website - click the "ports" button, click the 

state of interest and click on a city within the state. 

Under each city is a listing of brokers. Click "view 

list" for a listing of brokers in that area.

The phone book listings as well as the Internet listings 

are limited to brokers that submit the information. It is 

not all-inclusive.

The listing of brokers on the CBP Website is updated 

on a regular basis. Listed brokers have a current permit 

in that port. This list is the only broker information 

provided by CBP.

When a foreign seller entrusts a shipment to a broker 

or agent in the United States, that seller usually pays 

only enough freight to have the shipment delivered to 

the first port of arrival in the United States. This means 

that you, the buyer, will have to pay additional inland 

transportation, or freight forwarding charges, plus broker 

fees, insurance, and possibly other charges. 

If it is not possible for you to secure release of your 

goods yourself, another person may act on your behalf 

to clear them through CBP. You may do this as long as 

your merchandise consists of a single, noncommercial 

shipment (not intended for resale) that does not require 

a formal entry—in other words, if the merchandise is 

worth less than $2,000 and you must give the person a 

letter that authorizes that person to act as your unpaid 

agent. 

Once you have done this, that person may fill out the 

CBP declaration and complete the entry process for you. 

Your letter authorizing the person to act in your behalf 

should be addressed to the “Officer in Charge of CBP” 

at the port of entry, and the person should bring the letter with them when they go to clear your package. 

CBP will not notify you when your shipment arrives, as 

this is the responsibility of your carrier. If your goods 

are not cleared within 15 days of arrival you could 

incur expensive storage fees.
22 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Gifts

Gifts you bring back

Gifts you bring back for your personal use must be 

declared, but you may include them in your personal 

exemption. This includes gifts people gave you while 

you were out of the country, such as wedding or 

birthday presents, and gifts you have brought back for 

others. 

Gifts intended for business, promotional, or other commercial purposes may not be included in your duty-free 

exemption.

Also note that by federal law, alcoholic beverages, 

tobacco products, and perfume containing alcohol and 

worth more than $5 retail may not be included in the 

gift exemption. 

Gifts you send

Gifts worth up to $100 may be sent, free of duty and 

tax, to friends and relatives in the United States, as long 

as the same person does not receive more than $100 

worth of gifts in a single day. If the gifts are mailed 

or shipped from an insular possession, this amount is 

increased to $200. 

Unless returning to the United States from an insular 

possession, you don’t have to declare gifts you sent 

while you were on your trip, since they won’t be 

accompanying you. 

Gifts for more than one person

Gifts for more than one person may be shipped in the 

same package, called a consolidated gift package, if 

they are individually wrapped and labeled with each 

recipient’s name. Here’s how to wrap and label a consolidated gift package.

Be sure to mark the outermost wrapper with the:

• Words “UNSOLICITED GIFT” and the words 

“CONSOLIDATED GIFT PACKAGE;”

• Total value of the consolidated package;

• Recipients’ names and
Know Before You Go 23

• Nature and value of the gifts inside. For example, 

tennis shoes, $50; shirt, $45; toy car, $15. For 

instance:

To John Jones—one belt, $20; one box of candy, 

$5; one tie, $20.

To Mary Smith—one skirt, $45; one belt, $15; one 

pair slacks, $30.

If any item is worth more than the $100 gift allowance, 

the entire package will be dutiable. 

Can I send a gift to myself?

You, as a traveler, cannot send a gift package to yourself, and people traveling together cannot send gifts to 

each other. But there would be no reason to do that 

anyway, because the personal exemption for packages 

mailed from abroad is $200, which is twice as much as 

the gift exemption. 

Personal Belongings

Your personal belongings can be sent back to the 

United States duty-free if they are of U.S. origin and 

if they have not been altered or repaired while abroad. 

Personal belongings like worn clothing can be mailed 

home and will receive duty-free entry if you write the 

words “American Goods Returned” on the outside of 

the package.

If a package is subject to duty

If a package is subject to duty, the United States Postal 

Service will collect it from the addressee along with any 

postage and handling charges. The sender cannot prepay duty; the recipient must pay duty when a package 

is received in the United States.

For more information about mailing packages to the 

United States, visit “Sending Goods to the United 

States” at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/

kbyg/send_to_us.xml.
24 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Sending Purchases from Insular 

Possessions and Caribbean 

Basin and Andean Countries

Unaccompanied purchases are goods you bought on 

a trip that are being mailed or shipped to you in the 

United States. In other words, you are not carrying 

the goods with you when you return. If your unaccompanied purchases are from an insular possession or 

a Caribbean Basin country and are being sent directly 

from those locations to the United States, you may enter 

them as follows:

• Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your 

personal exemption if the merchandise is from an 

insular possession.

• Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from 

a Caribbean Basin and Andean country.

• An additional $1,000 in goods will be dutiable at a 

flat rate if they are from an insular possession, or 

from a Caribbean Basin country. (See chart under 

Paying Duty.)

• If you are sending more than $2,600 from an 

insular possession or more than $1,600 from a 

Caribbean Basin country, the duty rates in the 

Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States 

will apply. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule 

describes different rates of duty for different 

commodities. For example, linen tablecloths will 

not have the same duty rates as handicrafts or 

plastic toy trucks.

To take advantage of the duty-free exemption for unaccompanied tourist purchases from an insular possession 

or a Caribbean country:

Step 1. At place and time of purchase, ask your merchant to hold your item until you send him or her a 

copy of CBP Form 255 (Declaration of Unaccompanied 

Articles), which must be affixed to the package when 

it is sent.

Step 2. (a) On your declaration form (CBP Form 6059B), 

list everything you acquired on your trip, except the 

things you already sent home as gifts. You must also 
Know Before You Go 25

complete a separate Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles form 

(CBP Form 255) for each package or container that will be sent to you 

after you arrive in the United States. This form may be available 

where you make your purchase. If not, ask a CBP officer 

for one when you clear the customs area.

Step 3. When you return to the United States, the CBP 

officer will: (a) collect duty and tax on the dutiable 

goods you have brought with you; (b) check to see 

that your list of unaccompanied articles, which you 

indicated on the CBP Form 255, agrees with your sales 

receipts; (c) validate the CBP Form 255 as to whether your purchases are duty-free under your personal 

exemption ($1,600 or $800) or whether they are subject to a flat rate of duty. 

Step 4. Two copies of this three part CBP Form 255 

will be returned to you. Send the yellow copy of the 

CBP Form 255 to the foreign shopkeeper or vendor 

holding your purchase, and keep the other copy for 

your records. 

Step 5. When the merchant gets your CBP Form 255, 

he or she will put it in an envelope and attach the envelope securely to the outside wrapping of the package or 

container. The merchant must also mark each package 

“Unaccompanied Purchase.” Please remember that each package or container must have its own CBP Form 255 attached. This is 

the most important step to follow in order to gain the 

benefits allowed under this procedure.

Step 6. If your package has been mailed, the U.S. Postal 

Service will deliver it after it clears customs. If you owe 

duty, the Postal Service will collect the duty along with 

a postal handling fee. If a freight service transports your 

package, they will notify you of its arrival so you can 

go to the CBP office holding the shipment and complete 

the entry procedure. If you owe duty or tax, you can 

pay it at that time. You could also hire a customs broker to do this for you. However, be aware that brokers 

are not CBP employees, and they charge fees for their 

services.

If freight or express packages from your trip are 

delivered before you return and you have not made 
26 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

arrangements to pick them up, CBP will authorize their 

placement in storage after 15 days. This storage will be 

at your risk and expense. If they are not claimed within 

six months, the items will be sold at auction.

Packages sent by mail and not claimed within 30 days 

will be returned to the sender unless the amount of 

duty is being protested.

Duty-Free Shops

The term “duty-free” shops confuses many travelers. 

Travelers often think that what they buy in duty-free 

shops will not be dutiable when they return home 

and clear customs. But this is not true. Articles sold 

in a duty-free shop are free of duty and taxes only for 

the country in which that shop is located. So if your 

purchases exceed your personal exemption, items you 

bought in a duty-free shop, whether in the United States 

or abroad, will be subject to duty. 

Articles purchased in American duty-free shops are also 

subject to U.S. duty if you bring them into the United 

States. Therefore, if you buy liquor in a duty-free shop 

in New York before entering Canada and then bring it 

back into the United States, it may be subject to duty 

and Internal Revenue Service tax. 

Prohibited and Restricted Items

CBP has been entrusted with enforcing hundreds of 

laws for 40 other government agencies, such as the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture. These agencies need to know what people bring into the United States, but they are not always 

at ports of entry, guarding our borders. CBP officers 

are always at ports of entry—their primary mission is to 

safeguard America’s borders.

The products we need to prevent from entering the 

United States are those that would injure community 

health, public safety, American workers, children, or 

domestic plant and animal life, or those that would 

defeat our national political interests. Sometimes the 

products that cause injury, or have the potential to 
Know Before You Go 27

do so, may seem fairly innocent. But, as you will see 

from the material that follows, appearances can be 

deceiving.

Before you leave for your trip abroad, you might want 

to talk to CBP about the items you plan to bring back 

to be sure they’re not prohibited or restricted. Prohibited

means the item is forbidden by law to enter the United 

States. Examples of prohibited items are dangerous toys, 

cars that don’t protect their occupants in a crash, or 

illegal substances like absinthe and Rohypnol. Restricted

means that special licenses or permits are required 

from a federal agency before the item is allowed to 

enter the United States. Examples of restricted items 

include firearms, certain fruits, vegetables, and some 

animals.

Absinthe (Alcohol) 

The importation of Absinthe and any other liquors 

or liqueurs that contain Artemisia absinthium is 

prohibited.

Automobiles

Automobiles imported into the United States must meet 

the fuel-emission requirements of the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) and the safety, bumper, and 

theft-prevention standards of the U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT). Trying to import a car that 

doesn’t meet all the requirements can be a frustrating 

experience for the following reasons. (See the CBP brochure, Importing a Car)

Almost all cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and so on 

that are bought in foreign countries must be modified to meet American standards except most late 

model vehicles from Canada. Passenger vehicles that 

are imported on the condition that they be modified 

must be exported or destroyed if they are not modified 

acceptably. Also under these circumstances, the vehicle 

could require a bond upon entry until the conditions 

for admission have been met.

And even if the car does meet all federal standards, 

it might be subject to additional EPA requirements, 

depending on what countries it was driven in. You are 
28 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

strongly encouraged to contact EPA and DOT before 

importing a car.

Information on importing vehicles can be obtained from 

visiting the Environmental Protection Agency Website 

at www.epa.gov, by writing to Attn.: 6405J, Washington, 

DC 20460, or by telephone at 202.564.9240, for EPA 

forms call 202.564.9660. You may also contact the 

U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Vehicle 

Safety Compliance (NEF 32) NHTSA, Washington, DC 

20590, by telephone at 1.800.424.9393, or by visiting 

the DOT Website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

Copies of the brochure Importing or Exporting a Car can 

be obtained by writing to U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection, P.O. Box 7407, Washington, DC 20044; 

or visiting the CBP Website at www.cbp.gov. The EPA 

Automotive Imports Fact Manual can be obtained by writing 

to the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 

DC 20460; or by visiting www.epa.gov.

Cars being brought into the United States temporarily, 

by nonresidents, (for less than one year) are exempt 

from these restrictions. It is illegal to bring a vehicle 

into the United States and sell it if it was not formally 

entered on a CBP Form 7501.

Biologicals

You may need a U.S. Department of Agriculture permit 

to import biological specimens including bacterial cultures, culture medium, excretions, fungi, arthropods, 

mollusks, tissues of livestock, birds, plants, viruses, 

vectors for research, biological or pharmaceutical use. 

Permit requirements are located under “Permits” on 

the USDA Website at www.aphis.usda.gov. For some permits you may have to contact the Centers for Disease 

Control at www.cdc.gov.

Ceramic Tableware

Although ceramic tableware is not prohibited or restricted, you should know that such tableware made in 

foreign countries may contain dangerous levels of lead 

in the glaze, which can seep into foods and beverages. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends 

that if you buy ceramic tableware abroad—especially 
Know Before You Go 29

in Mexico, China, Hong Kong, or India—you have it 

tested for lead release when you return, or use it for 

decorative purposes only.

Cultural Artifacts and Cultural Property 

(Art/Artifacts)

Most countries have laws that protect their cultural 

property: art/artifacts/antiquities; archaeological and 

ethnological material are also terms that are used. Such 

laws include export controls and/or national ownership of cultural property. Even if purchased from a 

business in the country of origin or in another country, 

legal ownership of such artifacts may be in question if 

brought into the United States. Therefore, although they 

do not necessarily confer owner ship, you must have 

documents such as export permits and receipts when 

importing such items into the United States. 

While foreign laws may not be enforceable in the United 

States, they can cause certain U.S. laws to be invoked. 

For example, under the U.S. National Stolen Property 

Act, one cannot have legal title to art/artifacts/antiquities that were stolen—no matter how many times 

such items may have changed hands. Articles of stolen 

cultural property from museums or from religious or 

secular public monuments originating in any of the 

countries party to the 1970 UNESCO Convention specifically may not be imported into the United States.

U.S. law may also restrict the importation of specific 

categories of art/artifacts/antiquities. For example, U.S. 

laws restrict the importation of: 1) Any pre Columbian 

monumental and architectural sculpture and murals 

from Central and South American countries; 2) Native 

American artifacts from Canada; Mayan pre Columbian 

archaeological objects from Guatemala; pre Columbian 

archaeological objects from El Salvador and Peru; 

archaeological objects like terracotta statues) from 

Mali; Colonial period objects such as paintings and 

ritual objects from Peru; 3) Byzantine period ritual and 

ecclesiastic objects such as icons from Cyprus; and 4) 

Khmer stone archaeological sculpture from Cambodia.

Importation of items such as those listed above is 

permitted only when an export permit issued by the 
30 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

country of origin, where such items were first found 

accompanies them. Purveyors of such items have been 

known to offer phony export certificates. 

As additional U.S. import restrictions may be imposed 

in response to requests from other countries, it is wise 

for prospective purchasers to visit the State Department 

cultural property website. This website also has images 

representative of the categories of cultural property for 

which there are specific U.S. import restrictions.

Merchandise determined to be Iraqi cultural property or 

other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare 

scientific and religious importance illegally removed 

from the Iraq National Museum, the National Library 

and other locations in Iraq, since August 6, 1990, are 

also prohibited from importation.

Dog and Cat Fur

It is illegal in the United States to import, export, 

distribute, transport, manufacture, or sell products 

containing dog or cat fur in the United States. As of 

November 9, 2000, the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 

2000 calls for the seizure and forfeiture of each item 

containing dog or cat fur.

The Act provides that any person who violates any 

provision may be assessed a civil penalty of not more 

than $10,000 for each separate knowing and intentional 

violation, $5,000 for each separate gross negligent violation, or $3,000 for each separate negligent violation.

Drug Paraphernalia

It is illegal to bring drug paraphernalia into the United 

States unless they have been prescribed for authentic 

medical conditions such as diabetes. CBP will seize any 

illegal drug paraphernalia. Law prohibits the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale, or transportation 

of drug paraphernalia. If you are convicted of any of 

these offenses, you will be subject to fines and imprisonment. 

Firearms

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

(ATF) regulates and restricts firearms and ammunition; 
Know Before You Go 31

and approves all import transactions involving weapons and ammunition. If you want to import or export 

weapons or ammunition, you must do so through a 

licensed importer, dealer, or manufacturer. Also, if 

the National Firearms Act prohibits certain weapons, 

ammunition, or similar devices from coming into the 

country, you will not be able to import them unless the 

ATF provides you with written authorization to do so.

You do not need an ATF permit if you can demonstrate that you are returning with the same firearms or 

ammunition that you took out of the United States. To 

prevent problems when returning, you should register 

your firearms and related equipment by taking them to 

any CBP office before you leave the United States. The 

CBP officer will register them on the same CBP Form4457 used to register cameras or computers. (See the 

section on Register Items Before You Leave the United 

States).

For further information about importing weapons, 

contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 

Explosives, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 

20226; or call 202.927.8320; or visit www.atf.gov.

Many countries will not allow you to enter with a firearm even if you are only traveling through the country 

on the way to your final destination. If you plan to take 

your firearms or ammunition to another country, you 

should contact officials at that country’s embassy to 

learn about its regulations. 

Fish and Wildlife

Certain fish and wildlife, and products made from 

them are subject to import and export restrictions, 

prohibitions, permits or certificates, and quarantine 

requirements. We recommend that you contact the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you depart if you 

plan to import or export any of the following:

• Wild birds, land or marine mammals, reptiles, fish, 

shellfish, mollusks, or invertebrates.

• Any part or product of the above, such as skins, 

tusks, bone, feathers, or eggs.

• Products or articles manufactured from wildlife or 

fish.
32 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Endangered species of wildlife, and products made 

from them, generally may not be imported or exported. You will need a permit from the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service to import virtually all types of ivory, 

unless it is from a warthog. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service has so many restrictions and prohibitions on 

various kinds of ivory—Asian elephant, African elephant, whale, rhinoceros, seal, pre-Endangered Species 

Act, post-CITES (Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species), and many others—that they urge 

you to contact them before you even think of acquiring 

ivory in a foreign country. You may contact them at 

800.358.2104. 

You may import an object made of ivory if it is an 

antique. To be an antique the ivory must be at least 100 

years old. You will need documentation that authenticates the age of the ivory. You may import other 

antiques containing wildlife parts with the same condition, but they must be accompanied by documentation 

proving they are at least 100 years old. Certain other 

requirements for antiques may apply. 

If you plan to buy such things as tortoiseshell jewelry, 

or articles made from whalebone, ivory, skins, or fur, 

contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division 

of Law Enforcement, P.O. Box 3247, Arlington, VA 

22203-3247, or call 800.358.2104 or visit www.fws.

gov. Hunters can get information on the limitations for 

importing and exporting migratory game birds from 

this office as well. Ask for their pamphlet, Facts About 

Federal Wildlife Laws.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated specific ports of entry to handle fish and wildlife entries. If 

you plan to import anything discussed in this section, 

please contact CBP. CBP will tell you about designated 

ports and send you the brochure Pets and Wildlife, which 

describes the regulations CBP enforces for all agencies 

that oversee the importation of animals.

Some states have fish and wildlife laws and regulations 

that are stricter than federal laws and regulations. If you 

are returning to such a state, be aware that the stricter 

state laws and regulations have priority. Similarly, the 
Know Before You Go 33

federal government does not allow you to import wild 

animals into the United States that were taken, killed, 

sold, possessed, or exported from another country if 

any of these acts violated foreign laws.

Food Products (Prepared)

You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into 

the United States. The APHIS website features a Travelers 

Tips section and Game and Hunting Trophies section 

that offers extensive information about bringing food 

and other products into the country. Many prepared 

foods are admissible. However, almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, 

etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, 

vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea 

are admissible. Because rice can often harbor insects, it 

is best to avoid bringing it into the United States. 

Some imported foods are also subject to requirements 

of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Prior Notice for Food Importation

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism 

Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism 

Act or BTA), Public Law 107-188, established the 

requirement that food items, imported (or offered for 

import) for commercial use, including hand-carried 

quantities, be properly reported to the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration (FDA) prior to arrival of those 

items in the United States. The FDA prior notification 

timeframes (by transport mode) are two hours by land, 

four hours by rail or air, eight hours by vessel and prior 

to the “time of mailing” for international mail.

Food that was made by an individual in his/her personal 

residence, or food purchased by an individual from a 

vendor that is sent by that individual as a personal gift 

(for non-business reasons) to someone in the United 

States is not subject to BTA requirements. However, 

food that is sent to an individual in the United States 

by a business is subject to special requirements of the 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For instance, if you 

go to a food shop in England and buy a gift basket, then 

take it to the post office or a courier service to send to a 

friend, the shipment is not subject to BTA requirements. 
34 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

But if you go to that same shop and ask them to send 

the gift basket for you, the shipment is subject to 

BTA requirements, and the vendor will have to file 

Prior Notice. Many travelers are finding that vendors 

will not ship food directly to U.S. residents because 

the reporting requirements can be time-consuming to 

complete.

In general, failure to provide complete, timely and 

accurate prior notice for BTA regulated items, can result 

in refusal of admission of the merchandise, movement 

of the goods to an FDA registered facility (at importer 

expense) and/or civil monetary penalty liabilities for 

any party that was involved in the import transaction.

For full details regarding the latest FDA BTA requirements, including those food items exempt from these 

requirements, access the FDA Website at www.fda.gov/

oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html.

Fruits and Vegetables

Bringing fruits and vegetables can be complicated. For 

instance, consider the apple you bought in the foreign 

airport just before boarding and then did not eat? 

Whether or not CBP will allow the apple into the United 

States depends on where you got it and where you are 

going after you arrive in the United States. The same 

would be true for those magnificent Mediterranean 

tomatoes. Fresh fruits and vegetables can carry plant 

pests or diseases into the United States.

One good example of problems imported fruits and 

vegetables can cause is the Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak during the 1980s. The outbreak cost the state of 

California and the Federal Government approximately 

$100 million to get rid of this pest. The cause of the 

outbreak was one traveler who brought home one 

contaminated piece of fruit. It is best not to bring fresh 

fruits or vegetables into the United States. However, if 

you plan to, contact either CBP or check the Permits 

section on the USDA-APHIS Website at http://www.

aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantproducts/index.html for 

a general approved list on items that need a permit.
Know Before You Go 35

Game and Hunting Trophies

If you plan to import game or a hunting trophy, please 

contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you 

leave at 800.358.2104. Currently, 14 ports of entry are 

designated to handle game and trophies; other ports 

must get approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service to clear your entry.

Depending on the species you bring back, you might 

need a permit from the country where the animal was 

harvested. Regardless of the species, you are required to 

fill out a Fish and Wildlife Form 3-177, Declaration for 

Importation or Exportation.

Trophies may also be subject to inspection by CBP for 

sanitary purposes. General guidelines for importing 

trophies can be found on APHIS Website under the 

APHIS Import Authorization System (IAS) at https://

web01.aphis.usda.gov/ias.nsf/Mainform?OpenForm; or by 

writing to USDA, APHIS, VS, NCIE Products Program, 

4700 River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 

or by calling 301.734.3277.

Also, federal regulations do not allow the importation 

of any species into a state with fish or wildlife laws that 

are more restrictive than federal laws. If foreign laws 

were violated in the taking, sale, possession, or export 

to the United States of wild animals, those animals will 

not be allowed entry into the United States. 

Warning: There are many regulations, enforced by 

various agencies, governing the importation of animals 

and animal parts. Failure to comply with them could 

result in time-consuming delays in clearing your trophy through CBP. You should always call for guidance 

before you depart.

Gold

Gold coins, medals, and bullion, formerly prohibited, 

may be brought into the United States. However, under 

regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets 

Control, such items originating in or brought from 

Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia, and Sudan are prohibited 

entry. Copies of gold coins are prohibited if not properly marked by country of issuance. 
36 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Meats, Livestock, and Poultry

The regulations governing meat and meat products are 

very strict. You may not import fresh, dried, or canned 

meats or meat products from most foreign countries 

into the United States. Also, you may not import food 

products that have been prepared with meat. 

The regulations on importing meat and meat products 

change frequently because they are based on disease 

outbreaks in different areas of the world. APHIS, which 

regulates meats and meat products as well as fruits 

and vegetables, invites you to contact them for more 

information on importing meats. You may write to 

USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services National Center for 

Import/Export (NCIE), 4700 River Road, Unit 40, 

Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; or call 301.734.7830.

Medication

Rule of thumb: When you go abroad, take the medicines you will need, no more, no less. Narcotics and 

certain other drugs with a high potential for abuse—

Rohypnol, GHB, and Fen-Phen, to name a few—may not 

be brought into the United States, and there are severe 

penalties for trying to do so. If you need medicines that 

contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics (e.g., 

some cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, 

antidepressants, or stimulants), do the following:

• Declare all drugs, medicinals, and similar products 

to the appropriate CBP official.

• Carry such substances in their original containers.

• Carry only the quantity of such substances that 

a person with that condition (e.g., chronic pain) 

would normally carry for his/her personal use.

• Carry a prescription or written statement from your 

physician that the substances are being used under 

a doctor's supervision and that they are necessary 

for your physical well being while traveling.

U.S. residents entering the United States at international land borders, who are carrying a validly obtained 

controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD), are subject to certain 

additional requirements. If a U.S. resident wants to 

bring in a controlled substance (other than narcotics 

such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD) but does 
Know Before You Go 37

not have a prescription for the substance issued by 

a U.S.-licensed practitioner (e.g., physician, dentist, 

etc.) who is registered with, and authorized by, the 

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe 

the medication, the individual may not import more 

than 50 dosage units of the medication into the United 

States. If the U.S. resident has a prescription for the 

controlled substance issued by a DEA registrant, more 

than 50 dosage units may be imported by that person, 

provided all other legal requirements are met.

Please note that only medications that can be legally 

prescribed in the United States may be imported for 

personal use. Be aware that possession of certain substances may also violate state laws. As a general rule, 

the FDA does not allow the importation of prescription drugs that were purchased outside the United 

States. Please see their website for information about the 

enforcement policy for personal use quantities.

Warning: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) prohibits the importation, by mail or in person, 

of fraudulent prescription and nonprescription drugs 

and medical devices. These include unorthodox “cures” 

for such medical conditions as cancer, AIDS, arthritis, or 

multiple sclerosis. Although such drugs or devices may 

be legal elsewhere, if the FDA has not approved them 

for use in the United States, they may not legally enter 

the country and will be confiscated, even if they were 

obtained under a foreign physician’s prescription. 

For specifics about importing controlled substances, call 

202.307.2414. For additional information about traveling with medication, contact your nearest FDA office 

or write to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 

Division of Import Operations and Policy, Room 12-8 

(HFC-170), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

Merchandise from Embargoed Countries

Generally, you may not bring in any goods from the 

following (if not followed by an asterisk or where 

specified that the embargo only applies to diamonds): 

Cuba, Iran*, Iraq*, Serbia and Montenegro*, North 

Korea*, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Liberia and Sierra 

Leone (diamonds only) and Sudan. The Office of 
38 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department 

of Treasury enforces this ban. 

*The embargo on Iranian goods has been revised to 

allow the importation of food stuffs intended for human 

consumption, carpets and other textile floor coverings. 

Please check with your local port for further details. 

*Only certain Iraqi cultural property or other items of 

archaeological, historical/cultural, rare scientific and 

religious importance illegally removed from the Iraq 

National Museum, the National Library and other locations in Iraq is prohibited. 

*There is a general lifting of the embargo on Serbia 

and Montenegro (exception relates to certain “Specially 

Designated Nationals” and “Blocked Persons” involving transactions prior to January 19, 2000). For more 

information visit OFAC Website at http://www.treas.

gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/.

*The importation of merchandise from North Korea 

requires a letter of approval issued by the OFAC.

You may, however, may bring in information and informational materials—books, magazines, films, posters, 

photographs, microfilms, tapes, CDs, records, works 

of art, etc. Blank tapes and blank CDs are not informational materials. 

If you want to import merchandise from any of these 

countries, you will first need a specific license from 

the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Such licenses are 

rarely granted. 

There are strictly enforced restrictions on travel to these 

countries. Therefore, before making plans to visit any 

of the countries on this list, you should write to the 

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the 

Treasury, Washington, DC 20220, or visit their Website 

at www.treas.gov/ofac.

Pets

If you plan to take your pet abroad or import one on 

your return, please get a copy of the CBP brochure Pets 
Know Before You Go 39

and Wildlife. You should also check with state, county, 

and local authorities to learn if their restrictions and 

prohibitions on pets are stricter than federal requirements. 

Importing animals is closely regulated for public health 

reasons and also for the well being of the animals. 

There are restrictions and prohibitions on bringing 

many species into the United States. 

Cats must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to humans when they are examined at the port of 

entry. If the cat does not seem to be in good health, the 

owner may have to pay for an additional examination 

by a licensed veterinarian. As a rule, both cats and dogs 

must be free of fleas and ticks, and have a health certificate that was issued by the country of residence.

Dogs must also be free of evidence of diseases that 

could be communicable to humans. Puppies must be 

confined at a place of the owner’s choosing, which can 

be a private residence, until they are three months old 

and then they must be vaccinated against rabies. The 

puppy will then have to stay in confinement for another 

30 days following the vaccination. 

Dogs older than three months must get a rabies vaccination at least 30 days before they come to the United 

States and must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate if coming from a country that is 

not rabies-free. This certificate should identify the 

dog, show the date of vaccination, the date it expires 

(there are one-year and three-year vaccinations), and 

be signed by a licensed veterinarian. If the certificate 

does not have an expiration date, CBP will accept it as 

long as the dog was vaccinated 12 months or less before 

coming to the United States. Dogs coming from rabies 

free countries do not have to be vaccinated.

Birds may be imported as pets as long as you comply 

with APHIS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife requirements. 

These requirements may include quarantining the birds 

at one of the three APHIS Animal Import Centers at 

your expense. You must make advance reservations at 

the quarantine facility. If you intend to import a bird, 
40 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

call the APHIS National Center for Import and Export at 

301.734.8364 for more information. 

In any case, birds may only be imported through ports 

of entry where a USDA port veterinarian is on duty; and 

you must make arrangements in advance to have the 

bird examined by a USDA port veterinarian at the first 

U.S. port of entry. There is a minimum user fee for this 

service based on an hourly rate. For more information, 

contact the USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services, National 

Center for Import and Export (NCIE), 4700 River Road, 

Riverdale, MD 20737; call 301.734.8364; or visit the 

APHIS Website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/subjects/

animal_health/index.shtml.

Other common pets such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, 

gerbils, and guinea pigs may be imported if they are 

in good health. The importation of reptiles and invertebrates is restricted, please contact the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service for additional guidance. Most species 

of snails are not admissible. Contact APHIS for additional information.

Plants and seeds

Some plants, cuttings, seeds that are capable of propagation, unprocessed plant products, and certain 

endangered species are allowed into the United States 

but require import permits; some are prohibited entirely. Threatened or endangered species that are permitted 

must have export permits from the country of origin. 

Every single plant or plant product including handicraft 

items made with straw, must be declared to the CBP 

officer and must be presented for CBP inspection, no 

matter how free of pests it appears to be. For information write to USDA-APHIS-PPQ, 4700 River Road, 

Riverdale, MD 20737; call 301.734.8645; or visit the 

APHIS Website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantproducts/index.html. 

Soil

Soil is considered the loose surface material of the 

earth in which plants, trees, and scrubs grow. In most 

cases, the soil consists of disintegrated rock with an 

admixture of organic material and soluble salts. Soil 
Know Before You Go 41

is prohibited entry unless accompanied by an import 

permit. Soil must be declared and the permit must be 

verified.

Textiles and Clothing

In general, there is no limit to how much fabric and 

clothing you can bring back as long as it is for your 

personal use or as gifts. If you have exceeded your 

personal exemption, you may have to pay duty on the 

items. Unaccompanied personal shipments (packages 

that are mailed or shipped), however, may be subject to 

limitations on amount.

On January 1, 2005, quotas for all countries that are 

part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) were 

eliminated. There are still some countries, like Vietnam, 

that are not part of the WTO that have quotas in place 

for commercial shipments. These countries may require 

an additional document called a “visa” accompany the 

shipment. 

China could have limits on particular garments called 

“safeguards.” It is recommended that you contact a CBP 

import specialist in your area or at the port where you 

plan to import to determine what countries are subject 

to quotas and what products from China are subject to 

safeguards.

There may be additional documentation required for 

textiles from other countries such as the African countries that require a visa to be placed on a commercial 

invoice in order to get duty-free treatment. There may 

also be a certificate of eligibility document requirement to get duty-free treatment under many of the 

free trade agreements that are negotiated between the 

United States and the foreign government. These are 

not admissibility documents, but allow you to import 

your garments duty-free, provided certain conditions 

are met.

Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles

CBP enforces laws relating to the protection of trademarks and copyrights. Articles that infringe a federally 

registered trademark or copyright or copyright protected by the Berne Convention for the Protection of 
42 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Literary and Artistic Works are subject to detention 

and/or seizure. Infringing articles may consist of articles that use a protected right without the authorization 

of the trademark or copyright owner or articles that 

copy or simulate a protected right.

Articles bearing marks that are counterfeit or inappropriately using a federally registered trademark are 

subject to seizure and forfeiture. The importation of 

articles intended for sale or public distribution bearing 

counterfeit marks may subject an individual to a civil 

fine if the registered trademark has also been recorded 

with CBP. Articles bearing marks that are confusingly 

similar to a CBP recorded registered trademark, and 

restricted gray market articles (goods bearing genuine 

marks not intended for U.S. importation for which CBP 

granted gray market protection) are subject to detention 

and seizure.

However, travelers arriving in the United States may 

be permitted an exemption and allowed to import one 

article of each type, which must accompany the person, 

bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar or restricted 

gray market trademark, provided that the article is for 

personal use and is not for sale. 

This exemption may be granted not more than once 

every 30 days. The arriving passenger may retain one 

article of each type accompanying the person. For 

example, an arriving person who has three purses, 

whether each bears a different infringing trademark, or 

whether all three bear the same infringing trademark, 

is permitted only one purse. If the article imported 

under the personal exemption provision is sold within 

one year after the date of importation, the article or its 

value is subject to forfeiture.

In regard to copyright infringement, articles that are 

determined by CBP to be clearly piratical of a protected 

copyright, i.e., unauthorized articles that are substantially similar to a material protected by a copyright, are 

subject to seizure. A personal use exemption for articles, 

similar to that described above also applies to copyrighted articles for the personal, non-commercial use of 

the importer and are not for sale or distribution.
Know Before You Go 43

You may bring back genuine trademarked and copyrighted articles (subject to duties). Products subject to 

copyright protection most commonly imported include 

software on CD-ROMs, sound recordings, toys, stuffed 

animals, clothing with cartoon characters, videotapes, 

DVDs, music CDs, and books. Products subject to trademark protection most commonly imported include 

handbags and accessories, and clothing.

Money and Other Monetary 

Instruments

You may bring into or take out of the country, including by mail, as much money as you wish. However, if 

it is more than $10,000, you will need to report it to 

CBP. Ask the CBP officer for the Currency Reporting 

Form (FinCen 105). The penalties for non-compliance 

can be severe. 

“Money” means monetary instruments and includes 

U.S. or foreign coins currently in circulation, currency, 

travelers’ checks in any form, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer 

form.

Photographic Film

CBP will not examine film you bought abroad and 

are bringing back unless the CBP officer has reason to 

believe it contains prohibited material, such as child 

pornography.

You will not be charged duty on film bought in the 

United States and exposed abroad, whether it is developed or not. But film you bought and developed abroad 

counts as a dutiable item.
44 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CBP’s Pledge to Travelers

• We pledge to cordially greet and welcome you to 

the United States.

• We pledge to treat you with courtesy, dignity, and 

respect.

• We pledge to explain the CBP process to you.

• We pledge to have a supervisor listen to your 

comments.

• We pledge to accept and respond to your comments 

in written, verbal, or electronic form.

• We pledge to provide reasonable assistance due to 

delay or disability.

If you have a concern or need help understanding 

CBP regulations and procedures, ask to speak with the 

passenger service representative on duty. There are passenger service representatives available to travelers on 

a full-time basis at selected international airports. The 

representatives’ major purpose is to help travelers clear 

CBP. Photos of the passenger service representatives are 

posted wherever the program is operating, to make it 

easy for you to recognize them if you need assistance. 

If you have any questions about CBP procedures, requirements, or policies regarding travelers, or if you have any 

complaints about treatment you received from CBP officers or about your CBP processing, please write to:

Customer Service Center

Office of Public Affairs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20229

Or call 1.877.CBP.5511 (1.877.227.5511).

Allegations of criminal or serious misconduct may 

be reported to the Joint Intake Center by telephone 

at 1.877.2INTAKE (1.877.246.8253), by email to Joint.

Intake@dhs.gov, by fax to 202.344.3390, or by mail to:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

P.O. Box 14475

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20044
Know Before You Go 45

Other Travel-Related 

Information

Passports are issued by the U.S. Department of State 

Passport Agency. Please contact the Passport Agency 

nearest you for more information. Postal clerks also 

accept passport applications. Additional information 

can be found at www.travel.state.gov.

Baggage allowance: Ask the airline or steamship line on 

which you are traveling for more information. Contact 

the Transportation Security Administration at www.tsa.

gov for a list of prohibited and permitted items.

Currency of other nations: Your local bank can be of 

assistance.

Foreign countries: For information about the country 

you will visit or about what articles may be imported 

or brought into that country, contact that country’s 

embassy, consular office, or tourist information office.

Key Travel-Related Websites

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

protects U.S. citizens and their way of life by 

securing the borders, airports, waterways and 

critical infrastructure. 

www.dhs.gov

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs

serves Americans traveling or residing abroad, 

issues passports to U.S. citizens and visas to 

citizens of foreign countries for travel to the U.S.

www.travel.state.gov

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

the border agency preventing terrorists and their 

weapons from entering the U. S., while facilitating 

the flow of legitimate trade and travel.

www.cbp.gov/travel

US-VISIT Program

combining technology and processes to establish 

biometrically-enhanced security measures that 
46 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

enhance security, ensure the integrity of the 

immigration system, facilitate legitimate travel 

and trade and protect the privacy of visitors.

www.dhs.gov/us-visit

Transportation Security Administration

responsible for security at the nation’s airports by 

screening all passengers and baggage. 

www.tsa.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

protects and promotes U.S. agricultural health.

www.aphis.usda.gov/subjects/importing/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

Food and Drug Administration

protects the public health by assuring the safety, 

and security of human and veterinary drugs, 

biological products, medical devices, our nation’s 

food supply, and cosmetics.

www.fda.gov

U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

conducts research and investigations, and applies 

results to improve people’s daily lives. Provides 

travelers with health information.

www.cdc.gov

Fish and Wildlife Service

conserves, protects and enhances fish, wildlife, 

and plants and their habitats.

www.fws.gov

Office of Foreign Assets Control

administers and enforces economic and trade 

sanctions.

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/

index.shtml
Know Before You Go 47

The U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection Mission Statement

We are the guardians of our 

Nation’s borders. We are America’s 

frontline.

We safeguard the American 

homeland at and beyond our 

borders.

We protect the American public 

against terrorists and the 

instruments of terror.

We steadfastly enforce the laws 

of the United States while fostering 

our Nation’s economic security 

through lawful international trade 

and travel.

We serve the American public 

with vigilance, integrity, and 

professionalism.
48 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Glossary of Terms

Accompanied baggage

Baggage that you have with you when you return 

to the United States

CBP

U.S. Customs and Border Protection was created 

in 2003, by combining the U.S. Customs Service, 

Immigration Inspection Service, Animal Plant and 

Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Border 

Patrol into one border agency.

DHS

Department of Homeland Security is the parent 

agency of CBP and was also created in 2003, after 

the 9/11 attacks on the United States. 

Dutiable

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.

Duty-free

Also called the personal exemption, is the total 

value of merchandise you may bring back to the 

United States without having to pay duty.

Duty-free exemption

See Personal exemption

Flat duty rate

When determining the duty of the items a traveler 

brings with them upon their return to the U.S.: 

after the personal exemption of $200, $800 or 

$1,600; the next $1000 of merchandise will be 

charged a flat rate of duty of 1.5 percent or 3 

percent.

GSP

Generalized System of Preferences, a trade 

program that gives duty preferences—that is, free 

or reduced rates—to certain developing countries.
Know Before You Go 49

Joint declaration

Family members who live in the same home and 

return together to the United States may combine 

their personal exemptions instead of each family 

member filing an individual declaration.

Personal exemption

The total value of merchandise you may bring 

back to the United States without having to pay 

duty

Prohibited Items

Items that are not allowed into the United States 

under any circumstances.

Restricted Items

Items that are allowed into the United States but 

have a condition for importation. They may be 

limited in number or may need a license to bring 

into the United States.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The Visa Waiver Program enables nationals of 

certain countries to travel to the United States for 

tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less 

without obtaining a visa.
50 U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20229

Securing America’s Borders

Report Suspicious Behavior

1(800) BE ALERT

CBP Publication No. 0000-00512

Revised July 2006