POE and US customs

[geowife10 0]

Hello again, need info again.. my point of entry will be in LA . What to expect at the LA point of entry? what forms should i fill up and where to get those forms if there is any? ..i will be traveling alone and i am bet nervous .

next question about the US customs, I read there website and look at there sample declaration forms ,here is what i found that makes me a bit worried:

15. If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.

Note: U.S. residents are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $800 on items accompanying them.

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.

Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

Declare all articles on this form. For gifts, please indicate the retail value. Use the reverse side of this form if additional space is needed to list the items you will declare.

The U.S. Customs officer will determine duty. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1,000 above the exemption.

Questions:

1.which category i belong. US residents or non US-residents? I am holding IR1 visa

2.If the value of the goods that i am going to brings with me is over USD 1000 , how much would you think the tariff fee?

3. my husband purchase a laptop in US and he brings it to PI , now that i will be going to US, i will also bring the laptop with me, will i include the value of the laptop in the declaration form or it is exempted coz it is purchace in US?

hope someone can help me and give some info..thanks in advance...

Edited June 23, 2009 by ilovemyDirtdoctor

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hello again, need info again.. my point of entry will be in LA . What to expect at the LA point of entry? what forms should i fill up and where to get those forms if there is any? ..i will be traveling alone and i am bet nervous .

next question about the US customs, I read there website and look at there sample declaration forms ,here is what i found that makes me a bit worried:

15. If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.

Note: U.S. residents are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $800 on items accompanying them.

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.

Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

Declare all articles on this form. For gifts, please indicate the retail value. Use the reverse side of this form if additional space is needed to list the items you will declare.

The U.S. Customs officer will determine duty. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1,000 above the exemption.

Questions:

1.which category i belong. US residents or non US-residents? I am holding IR1 visa

2.If the value of the goods that i am going to brings with me is over USD 1000 , how much would you think the tariff fee?

3. my husband purchase a laptop in US and he brings it to PI , now that i will be going to US, i will also bring the laptop with me, will i include the value of the laptop in the declaration form or it is exempted coz it is purchace in US?

hope someone can help me and give some info..thanks in advance...

The only thing I can help you with is the laptop. Have your husband give you a copy of the reciept to prove it was bought in the US. Bring any receipts you have for the rest, so you get assessed the Filipino value which may be less that the US value, and when you bought the stuff, if you had some of it a while.

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

Look at it in a different way.....and be creative.

Personal Items versus gifts....

Gifts still in original boxes with labels still attached...gift wrapped....etc

Personal items NOT in any boxes, labels removed, already used , maybe a little wrinkled.....now would you declare the value of every socks, pants,shirts that have been used ?

I have been thru customs many times and always declare the value of gifts

but never had any issues with personal used items....

Be creative and you see the value to be declared will be less of what you think....

[Jose Rizal 1]

Questions:

1.which category i belong. US residents or non US-residents? I am holding IR1 visa

2.If the value of the goods that i am going to brings with me is over USD 1000 , how much would you think the tariff fee?

3. my husband purchase a laptop in US and he brings it to PI , now that i will be going to US, i will also bring the laptop with me, will i include the value of the laptop in the declaration form or it is exempted coz it is purchace in US?

hope someone can help me and give some info..thanks in advance...

Brought a laptop trhough LAX with no problems. But make sure you do not have pirated software just in case they decide to inspect the contents of your laptop.

[TripleG 3]

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.

Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100

The phrase print the total value of all goods is a pretty loose term to me. It doesn't say retail value on this non-gift portion of the form.

Then it says: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100 (normally being the key word)

My guess is the customs officials will look at the type of Visa you have and even if it doesn't give you legal resident status, it shows intent to stay in the U.S.A as a resident therefore allowing you the $800.00 exemption. I would think a K-1 visa would fall under these same circumstances, and thats why they put the word "normally" in there. This is just a guess. My fiance will not be bringing her laptop with her, but she will bring other personal belongings. I will get creative with derteming a value to these items.

I wouldn't worry about it too much....Good luck, happy trip.

[geowife10 0]

thank you everyone for the info and sugestion ... hopefully things goes smooth in POE and customs...I am bit nervous and excited..