It has been over 15 years since I have traveled internationally, and I will be flying United Airlines from SLC to Dulles (Wash DC) where we change planes and then fly to Rome. We will only have carry on luggage. On the way back we follow the same pattern in reverse. Will we have to go through customs in the US to Rome, or just when we land in Rome? If so, will they make us go through customs in Dulles? On the way back, would we have to go through customs in Dulles or wait until our final destination in SLC? When will we have to go through customs, and are there any tricks to make it easier with just carry ons? Thanks for the help!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
US to Rome you go through Immigration (passport check) and Customs (the stuff you're carrying with you) only in Rome. On the way back to the US you will go through Immigration at Rome and Immigration and Customs when you arrive at Dulles.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16232 posts
What Michael said above is correct. However when you depart from Rome, you don't go through "immigration" to exit the country in Rome, it's just a passport check where an officer checks your passport when you leave before you go to the US bound flight gate. In the United States when you exit the country (in your case at Dulles on your way to Rome) the passport control function on exit is not done by an officer, but it has been delegated to the airline carriers agents, who, as part of the check-in process will check your passport and (if you are a foreign visitor) will collect the I94 form from the departing passenger on behalf of the Customs & Border Protection agency. Since you are an American, there is no I-94 to surrender, therefore the agent will only control your passport at Dulles.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
"...However when you depart from Rome, you don't go through "immigration" to exit the country in Rome, it's just a passport check where an officer checks your passport when you leave before you go to the US bound flight gate...." It is Immigration. An immigration officer stamps your passport when you enter Italy, then an Immigration officer stamps your passport when you exit Italy. Next thing you know you'll want us all to believe you can't send an envelope of paper to Europe in under 24 hours;)
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
Just a little warning! If you're arriving into the U.S. from Italy with just carry on luggage, into Dulles -- do not buy a bottle of wine, olive oil, truffle oil, etc. in the duty free shops on your way out, and expect to take it with you to SLC. Any liquids will have to be in checked bags. They will take it at Dulles unless you decide to check your carry ons. We lost all of our duty free oils and wines when we landed at JFK enroute to ATL because we didn't have time to check bags.
Posted by
Alachua, FL, USA
238 posts
I just want to commend you for doing carry-on only. After several trips to Italy, I can tell you it's the best way to travel! If we find something we really want to buy that can't be carried on, we buy it and have it shipped to us.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
8 posts
when we returned to the US from a 3 week trip with only carryons, we did get a question and a squished up face look from the customs agent in Seattle. Mostly wondering how we could travel for so long with so little. Um, it's called Laundry. That said, we had no problems at the end of the day. have a great trip!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4418 posts
How 'bout Emmigration ;-)
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
When I fly from Chicago, there is a passport check, completely independent of, and after, security and airline check-in. The airlines check your passport to make sure you are entitled to enter the country you are going to - they don't want to get stuck with you if you are denied entry. My guess is that you will also have a passport check when you get to Dulles, since that is where you will be going into the international terminal.