bringing Jewelry and designer handbags - in on K1 visa

[Unknown Guest 15]

My fiancee will be coming into the country soon. I will be fetching her and coming back on the same flight. My fiancee has a lot (6 or so) of high-end designer handbags (LV, Dior, Gucci, etc...) that are all in very good condition along with a lot of yellow-gold jewelry (guessing about $15k worth)and also a $40,000 Cartier watch (that is already slightly scratched - so at least it doesn't look new). Is this going to be a problem when leaving China or when entering the U.S.? will she have to pay duties on it? She has some of the old receipts for a few of the handbags when she purchased them about a year ago.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to General Immigration-Related Discussion Forum~

~Inquiry is applicable to many visa processes~

[Boiler 46,121]

Personal effects are allowed to be brought into the US, no idea about China.

Begs the question how they would know they are genuine and not made in China anyway.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Personal effects are allowed to be brought into the US, no idea about China.

Begs the question how they would know they are genuine and not made in China anyway.

Lol

I presume importation of counterfeit goods is illegal. Most fakes are easy to detect with a bit of close inspection, if they're worried about that, though. My guess is they wouldn't be overly bothered if the goods are for personal use anyway.

[srvman 38]

They have spotters at airports. My dad is a jeweller, and always warns against showing or bringing any counterfit goods through any airport.

They will fine you the cost of the real item, so if you buy a 10 dollar gucci bag, which is imitating a $2000 bag, then expect to be fined, and have your bag destroyed.

Not inferring you are bringing in any illegal goods, but please think of first the fine, and second the dead seven year old child floating down the nile, because they developed arthritis, becoming useless to the sweat shop, so they throw the kids on to the streets, or just kill them.

Think of where your fake goods are coming from, whether you have fake items or not, that is not for me to judge, but maybe someone will read this one day and think twice before buying a fake bag, or glasses, or watch.

In all seriousness, I can spot a fake watch the second I see it, and can confirm it the second I touch it. Don't think that they don't treat it seriously at airports.

Edited February 18, 2014 by srvman

[Unknown Guest 15]

They have spotters at airports. My dad is a jeweller, and always warns against showing or bringing any counterfit goods through any airport.

They will fine you the cost of the real item, so if you buy a 10 dollar gucci bag, which is imitating a $2000 bag, then expect to be fined, and have your bag destroyed.

Not inferring you are bringing in any illegal goods, but please think of first the fine, and second the dead seven year old child floating down the nile, because they developed arthritis, becoming useless to the sweat shop, so they throw the kids on to the streets, or just kill them.

Think of where your fake goods are coming from, whether you have fake items or not, that is not for me to judge, but maybe someone will read this one day and think twice before buying a fake bag, or glasses, or watch.

In all seriousness, I can spot a fake watch the second I see it, and can confirm it the second I touch it. Don't think that they don't treat it seriously at airports.

trust me....these are not fakes. she has receipts for almost all the items (bags & watch....but not the gold). But I am worried that since there is so much, she may be forced to pay some kind of duty or tax?

[srvman 38]

trust me....these are not fakes. she has receipts for almost all the items (bags & watch....but not the gold). But I am worried that since there is so much, she may be forced to pay some kind of duty or tax?

As I said, not for one moment was I inferring they were fakes. Someone just brought up fakes, so I thought I would attempt to give information for people thinking of bring fakes in general.

Last time I traveled to America, I carried pretty much all my jewellery over ( I have a lot of jewellery, and it isn't cheap, as I said my family's business is jewellery) , including her engagement ring. You are overthinking it, but rightly so. As long as you answer the questions accurately on the forms they give you, they wont care.

Although there is a maximum amount for the amount of literal cash you can bring into the country, but that is more to do with money laundering.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

I've known people bring whole containers of goods over when they immigrate, I'm sure a few handbags and some jewelry won't be an issue. I'd be more worried, to be honest, about doing it without the stuff going missing en route. Obviously she will carry the jewelry on her, but I guess the handbags will go in checked luggage. Hopefully the baggage handlers in China have less nifty fingers than those in my country of origin.

[nightingalejules 678]

I think that there's no duty on anything that you've owned for a year or more. It's just "your stuff" then.

[Boiler 46,121]

I thought the Beagles were checking my bags for illicit substances, I never realised they were so well trained.

[Boiler 46,121]

Not inferring you are bringing in any illegal goods, but please think of first the fine, and second the dead seven year old child floating down the nile, because they developed arthritis, becoming useless to the sweat shop, so they throw the kids on to the streets, or just kill them.

The Nile?

They would be made in the same places that supply all your High Street goods. Certainly would be offering similar conditions.

[DJ&L 83]

You should have absolutely no problem bringing this stuff over.

[No name 88 48]

You'll have no problem bringing your stuff over. Just check nothing to declare. If you had 20 of the same hand bags in your luggage that would be a problem.

[Shiobhan 235]

This is a none issue.People are allowed to move with personal effects

now, unless you are bringing dozens of one item, a few bags does not

matter as one personal effects especially coming from China. the not

very smart thing to do is travel with these receipts, who goes about with

with receipts for pocketbooks & watches really, now if that's found it may

seem as if recently purchased, I have Michael Kors & Gucci purchased at

Niemans and I sure do not walk with the receipts, of course finding the receipts

can result in questions depending on the officer, they don't try to charge

people with even a few personal knock-offs. You should have no problem

[Sirdaniel42 86]

I thought the Beagles were checking my bags for illicit substances, I never realised they were so well trained.

Now this is funny!!