Point of Entry Inspection

[keyboard 1]

Hi everyone!

I just recently attended the CFO seminar and I'd say it was worth attending because the speaker was able to discuss things that I would not have known had I not attended.

There were two things that were discussed that particularly caught my attention:

1. At the immigration section at POE, the immigration officers have the right to check the contents of your laptop, usb, hard drive, phones, mp3 players etc. for items that violate copyright laws. These include your music files, movie files, and the like.

My question is, do they really do this? How will they be able to accurately determine whether or not these files were legitimately purchased (from iTunes/Amazon, or burned from a CD) or illegally downloaded? To all the VJers who brought their laptops with them to the US, did you experience such rigorous inspection?

2. The food you can bring to the US as pasalubong is so limited. Basically, the speaker said that anything that can be bought at a supermarket is allowed because items bought at supermarkets are of high quality. However, she mentioned that pastries such as ensaymada is not allowed.

How true is this? I would not want to bring items that can be bought at the Philippine groceries as pasalubong. I'm sure they all have it there already. What I'd like to bring are food like ensaymada that cannot be bought just anywhere (but of course, in good packing). My relatives who visit the PH always bring ensaymada back to the US as pasalubong. Do they just "get away" with brining ensaymada or is it really not allowed? I would really like to bring Mary Grace ensaymada to the US as pasalubong, so please share your experiences on food that you brought and whether or not it was confiscated.

Thank you!

Edited September 16, 2013 by keyboard

[stevie b 141]

Hi everyone!

I just recently attended the CFO seminar and I'd say it was worth attending because the speaker was able to discuss things that I would not have known had I not attended.

There were two things that were discussed that particularly caught my attention:

1. At the immigration section at POE, the immigration officers have the right to check the contents of your laptop, usb, hard drive, phones, mp3 players etc. for items that violate copyright laws. These include your music files, movie files, and the like.

My question is, do they really do this? How will they be able to accurately determine whether or not these files were legitimately purchased (from iTunes/Amazon, or burned from a CD) or illegally downloaded? To all the VJers who brought their laptops with them to the US, did you experience such rigorous inspection?

2. The food you can bring to the US as pasalubong is so limited. Basically, the speaker said that anything that can be bought at a supermarket is allowed because items bought at supermarkets are of high quality. However, she mentioned that pastries such as ensaymada is not allowed.

How true is this? I would not want to bring items that can be bought at the Philippine groceries as pasalubong. I'm sure they all have it there already. What I'd like to bring are food like ensaymada that cannot be bought just anywhere (but of course, in good packing). My relatives who visit the PH always bring ensaymada back to the US as pasalubong. Do they just "get away" with brining ensaymada or is it really not allowed? I would really like to bring Mary Grace ensaymada to the US as pasalubong, so please share your experiences on food that you brought and whether or not it was confiscated.

Thank you!

yes they have the authority to check every crevice on your body or in your belongings, but doesn't go that far especially with these kind of visas

most food products with beef or pork will get seized at the border... ensure you have no problems by claiming your foods.. you may have them taken at entry, but most get through.. whatever you do don't hide food products or anything else for that matter.. minimize your risk of confiscating your goods by using generic descriptions

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi everyone!

I just recently attended the CFO seminar and I'd say it was worth attending because the speaker was able to discuss things that I would not have known had I not attended.

There were two things that were discussed that particularly caught my attention:

1. At the immigration section at POE, the immigration officers have the right to check the contents of your laptop, usb, hard drive, phones, mp3 players etc. for items that violate copyright laws. These include your music files, movie files, and the like.

My question is, do they really do this? How will they be able to accurately determine whether or not these files were legitimately purchased (from iTunes/Amazon, or burned from a CD) or illegally downloaded? To all the VJers who brought their laptops with them to the US, did you experience such rigorous inspection?

2. The food you can bring to the US as pasalubong is so limited. Basically, the speaker said that anything that can be bought at a supermarket is allowed because items bought at supermarkets are of high quality. However, she mentioned that pastries such as ensaymada is not allowed.

How true is this? I would not want to bring items that can be bought at the Philippine groceries as pasalubong. I'm sure they all have it there already. What I'd like to bring are food like ensaymada that cannot be bought just anywhere (but of course, in good packing). My relatives who visit the PH always bring back to the US as pasalubong. Do they just "get away" with brining ensaymada or is it really not allowed? I would really like to bring Mary Grace ensaymada to the US as pasalubong, so please share your experiences on food that you brought and whether or not it was confiscated.

Thank you!

1) Can they? Yes. Do they? Rarely. I have traveled with my laptop all the time, along with a variety of memory stiks and even brought some DVDs back this last time... no issue. Of course there was nothing illegal in any of it.

2) No meats, no vegetables or fruit.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/sample_declaration_form.xml

[stevie b 141]

I brought something called kava with me .. it is basically the root of a plant pounded into powder .. I claimed it upon entry

they did not take it

bring what you want and make sure you claim it, I have many friends who regularly get through the secondary check with food products .. yes even meat, veggies and fruit, but be prepared to lose them if they pull you aside

[Hank_ 9,174]

CBP restricted list:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml