Bringing prescription medicine to US

[Lelyze 49]

Hi VJ community

My mom is planning to come for a 2 month visit on her Tourist visa. Due to her heart condition, she has to bring a lot of prescription pills with her. Now I'm worried that this may cause her to have problems at POE. In my country they don't write name on the pill container, so the only thing she can bring, and that can show that she has to take those pills daily, is prescription from her doctor stating her name, heart condition and list of pills she takes. Was anyone in a situation like this? Can this be a problem at POE?

Thanks

Edited October 27, 2015 by Lelyze

[avital 34]

i brought about 10 kinds of medicine with me (stuff like nose spray, cream for bug bites, antibiotics etc. just in case) without a prescription and had no issues at all.

[asisflyer 47]

Hi VJ community

My mom is planning to come for a 2 month visit on her Tourist visa. Due to her heart condition, she has to bring a lot of prescription pills with her. Now I'm worried that this may cause her to have problems at POE. In my country they don't write name on the pill container, so the only thing she can bring, and that can show that she has to take those pills daily, is prescription from her doctor stating her name, heart condition and list of pills she takes. Was anyone in a situation like this? Can this be a problem at POE?

Thanks

As a visitor she only declares what remains in the United States. Millions and millions of visitors have maintenance medications that they travel with.

The medical letter would be reviewed if they cared to look, but it is extremely unlikely in my experience after 200+ times through. I've declared many medications before as a non-resident (even though I wasn't supposed to) and was asked a few times to please NOT list medications if that gives you a sense of it.

I have had discussions with several CBP officers at several airports to clarify this and the answer that comes back is "reasonable quantities" that make sense and that

goes for both controlled substance and non-controlled.

That being said state and local police may have a different opinion if it comes up after you pass through and so the medical letter is always nice.

CBP are human beings. They understand these situations are common. Just be honest and smile. If its a language issue and she is worried, then write a letter on her behalf for her to carry...

[Lelyze 49]

As a visitor she only declares what remains in the United States. Millions and millions of visitors have maintenance medications that they travel with.

The medical letter would be reviewed if they cared to look, but it is extremely unlikely in my experience after 200+ times through. I've declared many medications before as a non-resident (even though I wasn't supposed to) and was asked a few times to please NOT list medications if that gives you a sense of it.

I have had discussions with several CBP officers at several airports to clarify this and the answer that comes back is "reasonable quantities" that make sense and that

goes for both controlled substance and non-controlled.

That being said state and local police may have a different opinion if it comes up after you pass through and so the medical letter is always nice.

CBP are human beings. They understand these situations are common. Just be honest and smile. If its a language issue and she is worried, then write a letter on her behalf for her to carry...

Thank you so much for your quick answer. I was really worried about prescriptions that are controlled substances, but since she is bringing just enough to last her for the visit, I guess she does not have to declare them. And her English is not so great, so the idea of writing a letter on her behalf is great. Thank you so much.

[asisflyer 47]

Thank you so much for your quick answer. I was really worried about prescriptions that are controlled substances, but since she is bringing just enough to last her for the visit, I guess she does not have to declare them. And her English is not so great, so the idea of writing a letter on her behalf is great. Thank you so much.

List the medications here and I'll let you know which are Scheduled Controlled substances vs. regular medications and which are not.

I share my experiences but outcomes are certainly not guaranteed. The CBP does say that controlled are generally prohibited on the declaration, but again, talk to them.

She can say, I have my heart medicine for 2 months visit, I didn't put it down because the instructions said only to write down what is staying here... is that ok......

If she was on high doses of say a Schedule II narcotic pain killer, then I would probably would mention it to them.....

Call CBP Deferred Inspection or CBP Port Director contact number for the airport she's coming into and ask them if you want to be more relaxed.. then at least you can reference that you made a call and tried to clarify....

Edited October 27, 2015 by asisflyer

[cantofla 44]

As long as they're prescribed to her and she has her prescriptions, she's good.. My mom comes here all the time with her blood pressure medication. Just make sure it's clearly labelled that it's prescribed to her

[slronhill 61]

She can ask at the pharmacy to put her name on it and dosage (or print it out), that's what I do each time. Also a written statement from GP works....should contain her name, DOB, diagnosis in latin, name of medicine (plus generic name) and dosage. The ones she use during flight should be in a sealed plastic bag.

I had a medicine that's forbidden in US, carrying it in my purse in a plastic bag, during the security checking I told them about it, they said it's all good. They didn't even look at the GP's letter, but better to have it then not.

[Lelyze 49]

Thank you all so much for your answers, my mom got a letter from her doctor stating her condition and medications she needs to use. She is bringing one week supply in her purse, and the rest will be in checked in bag. Most of the meds are regular, not controlled, so I hope she will be fine.

[slronhill 61]

I'm sure she will good luck

[BlueSteel 3]

Make sure your mom keeps her medication in the original container with the prescription labels still attached. She should be fine.