The Customs Declaration Form

The current form is just fine. If it's meant to be eaten, it's food. It's up to the Customs agent as to whether or not it's allowed in the country. What changes would you like? Something like "fruits, plants, food, or insects unless this form inconveniences you"? This is called a Helpline for a reason. It's for people to get help with travel questions, not for people who want to take issue with sensible rules. If you have an issue with the Customs form, write to your Congressman.

Thanks for that very succinct answer, Rick. Got a burr under your saddle tonight, or is it just me you have a problem with?

Also are we to adhere strictly to "Rick's Rules" and not be able to ask questions here?

If so, I think that's a bit dictatorial.

I asked a question and gave an example, and then asked an opinion wondering if anyone else had the same difficulty.

In conclusion, if it is me who's your problem, then contact the web-master and I will abide by his/her decision.

Fair enough?

B~

I do agree with you , Bill, that the form is rather hard to understand. For example, we travel a lot, and I often bring back teas and jams and things like that from France... so I put yes on the form when I never did before because the things I bring in are packaged etc. Well they went through our luggage for about an hour and finally laughed and told me I should not have checked yes or I would have been home and that the things they mean are not in a jar or like teas, etc. I learned my lesson.

I'm always 100% truthful when filling out the forms. If I'm bringing back chocolate, coffee, or tea, I always check "yes" to the food question. The customs officer usually asks what kinds of foods I have, I tell him/her, and its never been a problem. Customs/Immigrations agents have very good BS detectors, so it's always best to be up front, or they won't hesitate to rip open your baggage, and delay you. Many years ago when I was a kid traveling with my family overseas, my father would always declare "nothing" on the forms; no food, and no souvenirs at all. This would always trigger suspicion from the customs agent as there is no way a family of five return from a four week vacation isn't bringing anything back:) Of course they would always go through all the baggage, discover the trinkets, and give my father a lecture. You never can teach and old horse new tricks:)

I'm glad this question was asked as I've always wondered just what they were talking about as so many of us bring back food items. Last trip, passport control asked me about food (I had checked none) & I admitted to the cookies I'd bought at the airport. He said items like that are OK. Wish I'd thought to ask whether I should have checked yes.

The best approach is to accurately list everything you have. Occasionally they will take things that aren't allowed into the country. I haven't ever had anything confiscated, but I really don't bring home a lot of souvenirs. Most souvenirs are okay including chocolates. Beef from a country with mad cow disease, for example, wouldn't be allowed even if it's in a can of ravioli. They might also confiscate a trademark infringement but I think that is mostly done to people bringing in shipments of stuff.

You won't get in trouble unless you are knowingly trying to bring in something illegal. Obviously the worst case scenario is prison for smuggling. If you are honest about what you have, they'll just tell you it's not allowed in the country, confiscate it and let you go.

When the form asks if you have food, you should check yes for chocolates. The customs guy will ask, "What food are you bringing?" You reply, "Chocolate." They say okay and you're on your way.

You can also be fined for not filling out your form correctly but I think that's only applied when someone is obviously trying to sneak something in without decalring it.

I always fill out the form truthfully. As Michael and Brad have said, if they want clarification they will ask. Too much information is better than not enough. Your chocolate would have made it through with no problems even if you had been honest. It wasn't because you hid the fact that you had it.

I go home to NH once a year and always check yes for food because along with the basic cookie and chocolates for the gifts i also bring items to cook with..no meats, all cheese is pasteurized, salts and herbs and spices...but after YEARS of bringing in perfectly legal things my heart still pounds as it remembers the long time ago when the goat cheese didn't make it and both bags "carefully" inspected. When my french husband recently went to see our son in the usa...i told him just check "yes"..and here's the list of what i packed for you...

Recently read that the US is considering using a stress control device at security in airports..I probably wouldn't make it thru because shaking over my packaged puff pastry even if i'd listed it.

When returning home from Italy last year with a suitcase of chocolates, some olive oil, a bottle of wine, and some small "minibar" liquor bottles, I had to figure out how to fill out the customs form for the first time on my own. It really isn't that complicated/difficult, but I think nerves at putting down the "wrong" answer makes it seem worse!

Like Michael and Brad, I figure food is food, and marked my form accordingly. On the back, I listed the chocolate, oil, and wine/liquor--had no idea how much it was so I guessed (it was under the duty limit for sure). The agent looked at the front of the form, asked what food it was, I said chocolate, he flipped it over and read that I wrote chocolate & etc., and sent me on my merry way.

I'm like Regina. I have such a guilty conscience I doubt I'd pass a lie detector test if they asked if I had anything to do with a crime committed before I was born.

On the subject of filling out forms- On the way back to Paris there was an African (from Benin) woman next to me. She slept the whole time, and 20 minutes before landing began filling out her forms. She had NO English and I tried to help with my limited French. We did ok until we got to the amount of cash she was bringing in. It asks if she had more than $10,000 cash. She said she did. I didn't really think that was possible, but she kept saying "oui", cash, not bank funds or cc. I got help from a woman who spoke better French, and we both thought she should tell the truth on the form rather than be found out, but I was concerned about her. She'd slept so soundly that I assumed she'd taken something. We tried to tell her to be very careful when we landed at JFK. The thought of her landing in NYC with $10k in cash, no English...I hope she was wearing her money belt!

I got to spend time with Customs and Immigration officers when I went through travel training. The big thing I learned is that they are human beings just like us yet very few people treat them as such.

I always say "hello," "good morning," whatever, when stopped, comply with their instructions, answer their questions directly while looking them in the eye, and not only have I never had any problems, most of the time I actually get a smile from them. A few times, I even heard them say, "Welcome Home."

I've only been stopped once and the customs guy admitted the only reason was they were stopping every x passenger for random screening. I forgot the number.

Agreeing with Frank..90% of the time it is "enjoy your holidays" or "how long have you lived in France?"....But i do understand the Bill question..Once i brought some roses from our french garden ( a bouquet) and i got all stressed out wondering if they were "plants"..but since i'd already checked yes on the food question..customs tossed the roses...I'll check YES again when i go "home" for the early Dec visit..

I am in the camp that says if it goes in your mouth it is food, check yes, list on back. The customs guy always asks, I tell him, I go on my way. One time anyway, we did get stopped by USDA in a random pick, but everything was good, and declared.

Thanks for all the answers, and you're right, of course: If it goes in your mouth for nutrition, then it's FOOD and henceforth, it shall be so noted on my form.

Even if it's German chocolate-covered ants.

(Y'all didn't think I was gonna pass that one up, didya? ;))

That "fruit, plants, FOOD, and insects", just kinda threw me, I reckon. It's sorta like Sesame Street where they ask "which one of these are not like the others?", and I guess I got hung up on the "food" part, 'cause the other three kinda have a "relationship", don't they?

If you were a customs officer, would you buy the explanation I just gave?

No?

SIGH

I don't think I would either...... ;)

And the thing about the officers not letting you or your spouse actually eat what you/he/she forgot about, well hmmmmm......

Think it might be because it got brought in, wasn't declared, and might just have been contaminated in some way and that way (not letting you eat it, I mean) they absolve themselves of a lawsuit if you happen to get sick or die?

Just a stab in the dark, but it kinda makes sense, doesn't it?

Or did I (as I sometimes will) just point out the "obvious"??? HA-HA! :)

I appreciate the input! Y'all are some savvy travellers, fer sure!

Thanks

B~

I think being pro-active helps. I have told the customs official upfront that I have food, described briefly what it was, and asked him whether I should check yes or no. I don't remember his answer, but the last sentence was: you're fine, just go through.

Chani..you don't just "say" what you've got..and expect them to say "fine"...you should write on the back of the form

Speaking of consuming what you have, there was a story not long ago about a person carrying a bottle of vodka through security. He luggage was already checked and they wouldn't let him carry on so he downed it and was sent to the hospital a short time later. He missed his flight and had an unscheduled trip to the hospital but at least he didn't have to "waste" his vodka.

Happened to me right after 9/11 with a bottle of Sekt.

THIS bottle was in my CHECKED luggage, however. They made me take it out, and I sure as heck wasn't gonna "waste" it, so I had myself a little drinkie.

At 8:30 in the morning. :(

I was a "happy boy" during my three hour wait to board.

SIGH

It's a rough life, ain't it? ;)

B~

A government form that needs revamping? Nah! :)

Man, oh, man, all I can say is next time you return to the US from overseas, fly through Chicago O'Hare and you shouldn't have any problems at all - regardless of whether or not you wrote down you were carrying back a suitcase full of chocolates, automatic weapons, and opiates. In all my trips coming home from overseas I've never seen a customs agent at O'Hare so much as glance at the form before he/she drops it into the vast pile with the others, let alone take the time to actually read it!