Foreign citizen bringing medicine to the US for own use

[Gringo-Expat 0]

My Nicaraguan fiancee finally got her K-1 visa to come to the US. She'll arrive next month. She takes anti-allergy medicine regularly, and she's on birth control pills. These are medicines that require a prescription in the US but not in Nicaragua. She can get a doctor to write her a prescription for the medicines. How many month's supply can she bring into the US when she flies here? It will take us a few months to set her up on my medical insurance and find her a good doctor, so we'd like to bring 3- or 4-month supply. If we keep all pills in their original containers and bring a copy of the prescriptions with us, will Customs let us through with the mdeicine?

[kissjo 2]

Yes, that is not a problem. It's her own supply. Those meds are not controlled substances (Morphine, ercocet, etc..), it will not raised any red flag. She can bring one year supply if she wishes as long as it is not expired... Gd luck.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml#Medication

Medication

Rule of thumb: When you go abroad, take the medicines you will need, no more, no less. Narcotics and certain other drugs with a high potential for abuse - Rohypnol, GHB and Fen-Phen, to name a few - may not be brought into the United States, and there are severe penalties for trying to do so. If you need medicines that contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics (e.g., some cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants or stimulants), do the following:

Declare all drugs, medicinals, and similar products to the appropriate CBP official;

Carry such substances in their original containers;

Carry only the quantity of such substances that a person with that condition (e.g., chronic pain) would normally carry for his/her personal use; and

Carry a prescription or written statement from your physician that the substances are being used under a doctor's supervision and that they are necessary for your physical well being while traveling.

U.S. residents entering the United States at international land borders who are carrying a validly obtained controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD), are subject to certain additional requirements. If a U.S. resident wants to bring in a controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD) but does not have a prescription for the substance issued by a U.S.-licensed practitioner (e.g., physician, dentist, etc.) who is registered with, and authorized by, the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe the medication, the individual may not import more than 50 dosage units of the medication into the United States. If the U.S. resident has a prescription for the controlled substance issued by a DEA registrant, more than 50 dosage units may be imported by that person, provided all other legal requirements are met.

Please note that only medications that can be legally prescribed in the United States may be imported for personal use. Be aware that possession of certain substances may also violate state laws. As a general rule, the FDA does not allow the importation of prescription drugs that were purchased outside the United States. Please see their Web site for information about the enforcement policy for personal use quantities.

Warning: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits the importation, by mail or in person, of fraudulent prescription and nonprescription drugs and medical devices. These include unorthodox “cures” for such medical conditions as cancer, AIDS, arthritis or multiple sclerosis. Although such drugs or devices may be legal elsewhere, if the FDA has not approved them for use in the United States, they may not legally enter the country and will be confiscated, even if they were obtained under a foreign physician’s prescription.

Additional information about traveling with and importing medication can be found at the FDA's Drugs page. ( Drugs )

[Jojo92122 1,924]

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/publications/travel/moving_goods.ctt/moving.doc

http://thehague.usembassy.gov/faqs/u.s.-customs#Medicins

Medicine/Narcotics

Narcotics and dangerous drugs are prohibited entry. There are severe civil and/or criminal penalties if imported. Concerta and Ritalin are approved medicines. Declare all medications to Customs when entering the United States.

A traveler requiring prescribed medicines (e.g. cough medicine, diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, stimulants, diabetes medication etc.) should:

Have all drugs, medicines, and similar products properly identified

Carry only such quantity as would normally be used by an individual having the health problem requiring the drugs or medicines in your possession

Have either a current prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicine is being used under a doctor's direction and that it is necessary for your physical well-being while traveling. The doctor’s note should state the name and the exact quantity of the medicine you are bringing into the U.S.

Carry all medication in your hand luggage (including needles for diabetics) also in case of loss of luggage

It is recommended to ask for a medical passport from your pharmacy/physician.

Medication can be sent by post if the prescription or doctor's letter is included. A notation should be placed on the outside of the parcel stating, for example, "DOCTOR'S LETTER ATTACHED."

Not all medicines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or allowed into the United States.

More information, including a list of approved medicines, can be found in the FDA Orange Book.

[Gringo-Expat 0]

Thanks for the advice and the primary sources. My fiancee is currently getting the exact names of the medicines she uses. We'll confirm through a local doctor whether these medicines can be brought into the US with or without a prescription.

Worst case scenario: If we bring in something we think is permitted but actually isn't (say, a painkiller that's OTC in Nicaragua but prescription-required here). As long as we declare on the Customs form and present it to CBP, they'll see that we weren't hiding it. Will they simply confiscate it, or can they actually press charges even if we declare it and surrender it when asked?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Worst case scenario: If we bring in something we think is permitted but actually isn't (say, a painkiller that's OTC in Nicaragua but prescription-required here). As long as we declare on the Customs form and present it to CBP, they'll see that we weren't hiding it. Will they simply confiscate it, or can they actually press charges even if we declare it and surrender it when asked?

As long as you declare they will just take it without issue. I know this for sure because I called and asked them about ibupfrofen with codeine which is over the counter in Aus but not in the US. They told me that if I declared they would just take. If I DIDN'T declare I could be fined/arrested.

[Bsze 50]

Agree with the others - just make sure you declare it. I brought over a year's worth of birth control pills and didn't have a problem.

[EminTX 131]

When I returned to the US, I brought back birth control (Nuva Ring-15$ each in Arequipa, Perú), Viagra (used for certain altitude related illnesses--didn't need to use it, what would be 150$ of it here was 15$ in both Quito, Ecuador and Arequipa, Perú), and some analgesic cream for a person's tender bits that was oh-so-needed after a nasty bout of Tupac-Amaru's-Revenge. It contained some -caine drug, but I am not sure which one. No one even batted an eye. The birth control had been removed from packaging and was only in the foil pouches to save space.

Note: I wouldn't recommend carrying anything on your person, especially if you will be having layover in other countries. There is no telling what their procedures are. I had layovers in San Salvador and was physically searched and wanded 3 times the first layover and once the 2nd time. These searches included going through everything in my bags thoroughly as well and the full patdown. Frankly, it was really weird. (I'll avoid this airport always in the future.)

Now, as for taking something with me, I am taking a supply of Zofran for nausea. Lots of Zofran--can't buy it at all in Perú or Chile. It simply doesn't exist there.

[Danilu 11]

My parents mailed me birth control pills( 5-month supply) recently, along with another medicines and everything arrived home with no issues.