In-law immigrating Dec 21

[dcl766 0]

Hi all-

Marina's parent's are moving here and are planning on bringing their personal medications with them with their names on them (prescriptions) but will be bringing like a year's supply. Do you think this will be a problem? Anyone with experience with this they could share?

Thanks, Dave

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi all-

Marina's parent's are moving here and are planning on bringing their personal medications with them with their names on them (prescriptions) but will be bringing like a year's supply. Do you think this will be a problem? Anyone with experience with this they could share?

Thanks, Dave

That's a lot of drugs coming through. They can only bring in 50 doses of each prescription drug at an international land border. Drugs not approved by the FDA cannot be imported.

http://singapore.usembassy.gov/ice.html

21. What requirements are there for bringing Prescription Medication into the United States?

Answer: United States residents may import up to 50 dosage units of a controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international land border. These medications must be declared upon arrival, be for your own personal use and in their original container. However, travelers should be aware that drug products which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may not be acceptable for such importation. Please go to http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/purchasing_medications.htm for further information.

The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. sections 331(d), and 355(a), which is administered by FDA, prohibits the interstate shipment (which includes importation) of unapproved new drugs. Unapproved new drugs are any drugs, including foreign-made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not received FDA approval to demonstrate they meet the federal requirements for safety and effectiveness. It is the importer's obligation to demonstrate to FDA that any drugs offered for importation have been approved by FDA.

Possession of certain medications without a prescription from a physician licensed in the United States may violate Federal, State, and/or local laws. Travelers should check with State authorities, where they reside or are traveling, to verify that a particular prescription does in fact comply with State regulations. In many areas, the local police department and pharmacies can provide additional information.

It is important to have medications in the originally-dispensed container; it is against the law not to properly declare imported medications to U.S. Customs.

Narcotics and dangerous drugs, including anabolic steroids, are prohibited entry and there are severe penalties if imported. A traveler requiring medicines containing habit-forming drugs or narcotics (e.g., cough medicines, diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, stimulants, etc.) should:

* Have all drugs, medicinal and similar products properly identified;

* Carry only such quantity as might normally be carried by an individual having some sort of health problem;

* Have either a prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicinals are being used under a doctor's direction and are necessary for your physical wellbeing while traveling.

[TayRivers 4]

My Parents arrived last Aug and they both brought 12 months supply of their medications, I had phoned the CBP at Boston Logan Airport and asked them what they were allowed to bring. I was told that as long as it was not a controlled drug (like Oxycontin) and it has to be a drug approved for use in the USA they could bring any reasonable amount for their own use. The medication must be in it original container/package and you must have a written prescription or letter from your doctor.

When my parents went through the POE they told the officer that they had medication in their checked baggage he asked what the medication was for, Mom told the officer it was for Diabetes and a thyroid problem. The officer never asked how much they had and he never asked to see it.

Tay

[Nagishkaw 510]

My husband brought with him 110 days supply (he came on a K-1 visa) with him and had a doctor's note and a list of all the medicines and what they were needed for. At POE he was never questioned.

I agree with what Tay said. As long as they are in the original container and you have a prescription and doctor's note, you should be fine.

[Mononoke28 135]

I think it depends on the Immigration officer you have to deal with. My mother is a US citizen but was born in Colombia and two years ago she had to come in through Houston which she described as the worst airport experience of her life. She had a 6 month supply of her high blood pressure medication with a doctor's note but the Immigration officer was less than kind to her for having brought that much medication with her. He kept saying that he didn't believe that it was legal and that he had a suspicion that she was going to sell it here in the US. The only way she got him to back off was by calling his supervisor over and telling them both that if she had any health problems for them not allowing her to bring in her meds, she would sue on top of the discriminating treatment she was getting because she was coming from Colombia. That put a stop to it and they let her go through right away.

So my recommendation is to bring your doctor's note with you and be firm and not back down if that ever happens. And really, the chances of having to deal with these a-holes (for lack of a "better" word) are pretty slim in my opinion.

Diana

[dcl766 0]

Thanks for all the responses!

Ok, now I am in hot water because apparently these are not prescription drugs they want to bring with them, but actually are over the counter medications that are not prescribed. The doctor tells them they need it but there is no written prescription

Does anyone know if there is a limit or if these types of medications are prohibited from bringing into the US?

Dave

[rebeccajo 14]

Thanks for all the responses!

Ok, now I am in hot water because apparently these are not prescription drugs they want to bring with them, but actually are over the counter medications that are not prescribed. The doctor tells them they need it but there is no written prescription

Does anyone know if there is a limit or if these types of medications are prohibited from bringing into the US?

Dave

No I don't know if there is a limit on over the counter meds, but is there no US equivalent for these drugs? As they are moving here, I presume eventually they are going to have procure the medications over here. Might as well start figuring it out now.