Information for Visitors to the U.S.

Arrival Procedures for Visitors to the U.S.

If you are traveling by aircraft, the flight attendants on board will distribute CF-6059 Customs Declaration Forms and Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record for immigration, before you land at your initial point-of-entry in the U.S.  Complete these forms while you are on the aircraft and submit them to the appropriate Customs and Border Protection Officer upon your arrival.  If you do not understand a form, ask the flight attendant for assistance.

Upon arrival at the port-of-entry, proceed to the terminal area for arriving passengers for inspection.  As you approach the inspection station, ensure that you have: your passport, completed Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record, and, CF-6059 Customs Declaration Form available for presentation to the CBP Officer.  The Form I-94 should reflect the address where you will reside.

Like all entering visitors, you will be asked to state the reason you wish to enter the United States.  You will also be asked to provide information about your final destination.

SECONDARY INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

If the inspector cannot automatically verify your information or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be escorted to an interview area known as “secondary inspection.”  Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information.  Verifications are done apart from the primary inspection lines so that an individual case will not cause delays for other arriving passengers.

WHAT YOU ARE PROHIBITED TO CARRY WITH DURING YOUR TRAVEL TO U.S.

Books, Video Tapes, Computer Programs & Cassettes

Pirated copies of copyrighted articles, such as unlawfully made reproductions or articles produced without the copyright owner's authorization are prohibited from importation into the United States. Pirated copies will be seized and destroyed.

Firearms & Ammunition

If your travel to the United States is primarily for the purpose of hunting or lawful sporting activities, firearms and ammunition may be entered under the stipulation that such firearms and any remaining unfired ammunition are taken out of the United States upon departure.

If hunting or a sporting event is a secondary reason for coming to the United States because the travelers will establish residence whether temporarily or permanently, the firearms and ammunition are subject to restrictions and import permits. Fully automatic weapons and semi-automatic assault-type weapons are prohibited.

For complete information and to obtain the necessary permits to import firearms, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Department of Justice; Firearms and Explosives Import Branch; Washington, D.C. 20226, USA.

Food Products

Bakery items and all cured hard cheeses are admissible. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) publishes a pamphlet called Travelers Tips, which offers detailed information on bringing food, plant, and animal products into this country. Imported foods are also subject to requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Fruits, Vegetables, Plants

Many fruits, vegetables, plants, cuttings, seeds, unprocessed plant products, and certain endangered plant species are either prohibited from entering the country or require an import permit. Endangered or threatened species of plants and plant products, if not prohibited from importation, will require an export permit from the country of origin. Every single plant, plant product, fruit, or vegetable must be declared to the CBP officer/CBP agriculture specialist and must be presented for inspection no matter how free of pests it appears to be. Most commercially canned or processed items are admissible.

Meats, Livestock, Poultry

Meats, livestock, poultry and their by-products (e.g., sausage, pâté) are either prohibited or restricted entry into the United States, depending upon the animal disease condition in the country of origin. Fresh meat is generally prohibited from most countries. Canned meat is permitted if the inspector can determine that it is commercially canned, cooked in the container, hermetically sealed, and can be kept without refrigeration. Other canned, cured, or dried meat is severely restricted.

Medicines

Narcotics and dangerous drugs are prohibited entry. There are severe civil and/or criminal penalties if imported.

A traveler requiring medicines that contain habit-forming drugs or narcotics (e.g., cough medicine, diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, stimulants, etc.) should:

• Have all drugs, medicines, and similar products properly identified.
• Carry only such quantity as would normally be used by an individual having a health problem requiring the drugs or medicines.
• Obtain either a prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicine is for use under a doctor's direction and that it is necessary for your physical well being while traveling.
• Declare such drugs or medications to the CBP officer.

Money

There is no limit on the total amount of monetary instruments that may be brought into or taken out of the United States, nor is it illegal to do so. However, if you transport or cause to be transported (including by mail or other means) more than $10,000 in negotiable monetary instruments on any occasion into or out of the United States or if you receive more than $10,000, you must file a Report of International Transportation of International Currency or Monetary Instruments (FinCen 105) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection denoted in the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, 31 U.S.C. 1101, et. seq. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal penalties, including seizure of the currency or monetary instruments. Monetary instruments include U.S. or foreign coin, currency, travelers’ checks, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form.

Liquids

Air travelers may now carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bag when going through security checkpoints.

With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula and breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.

• All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.
• All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.
• Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.

For more detailed information please visit Transportation Security Administration web page at http://www.tsa.gov/311.