pay attention on here

[Nicole_Michel2007 0]

Last summer when we came back from Morocco we were able to bring back EVERYTHING, including lots of food (homemade cookies, maybe 4 kilos of olives, some preserved lemons, harissa, even some clarified butter/ghee/I can't think of the Arabic name for it).

This spring, however, immigration threw away ALL of Simo's food--even his mother's homemade cookies!

What was the difference? Last summer I put the stuff in MY bags (not Simo's)--I did have to beg, but the JFK security people seemed to respond well to a white American woman.

This spring, Simo was by himself. He was held in immigration for several hours and they repeatedly interviewed him in a not-so-nice way. Then the guy spitefully threw away all of his food items. He went through US immigration at the Toronto airport--I'm not sure why they were so rude (maybe they were bored?), but he almost missed his plane, they didn't get his luggage onto his flight, and he arrived home a frazzled mess.

My conclusion: pack any food items in your checked luggage, but don't pack anything that might upset you if they confiscate it at customs or immigration.

Bon voyage!

I realize its a different country but I just came back from Syria in June - and my uncle and his family just came back on Sunday - for a total of 17 suit cases for 7 people (not including carry -ons and all well over the 50lb weight limit). You can bring just about anything that was not live at one point - is how the people at the airport explained. We brought back tons and tons of olives, olive oil, arak, sweets, figs in many many styles, cheese, la vech carre cheese, herbs and spices, candy, nuts of all kinds, halawe, teas, coffee etc etc etc. The key is packing. Things that come from a manufacturer or are packaged from a store - as long as they are closed are allowed in your carryon. The other stuff - in your suit cases and securing them is key. Of all the things we brought back all that broke was my bottle of perfume!! even the olives smelled of versacci!!

Although all this being said I already warned my family that my fiance will not be bringing anything with him so he does not get hassled at customs!!

Good luck and Mabrook.

Inshallah allah b haneekun!

[eviee567 0]

insha'allah iam going to america, next week,i am from morocco,i hear from someone,i cant take with me cake i mean something like candy,and real honey.

so plzz if someone have that expreinece before xcan help me,plzz .

thank you for everyone

U can pack that stuff into ur luggage not ur carryon.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Without me knowing it Waleed put the 60oz water thing in my carry on back from Egypt. I got stopped in the Egypt airport and they searched my bag but didn't take the water jug which I still didn't know I had until I got to the US. LOL. I made it through the lay over and transfer in England even, and the immigration x-rays in Seattle with that big thing. Odd huh? Especially since they say you can't bring more than 4oz. of a fluid on board.

[PetraPerson101 0]

General no-no's are unroasted seeds, things with bugs in them, *uncooked* livestock products (meat, eggs, etc).

Check the TSA list, You might be surprised. Although, you should check your country's list too ... :\ Because some of the things allowed coming into the USA in your baggage ... aren't allowed on-flight (or even in-country) in foreign countries! ( Wow? Yes, I was shocked by that list too. )

Declaring food ... um ...

But you can declare up to $800.00 personal import into the USA for a US Citizen without paying taxes - so declare away. Foreign & immigrant ... dang, I'm not sure.

As for toothpaste, a travel size (sample size) bought in the country of the origin flight - is the best choice to even attempt to bring in-flight.

Edited September 18, 2007 by KyanWan

[terrie/kamal 0]

yum talking about morocco's goodies is getting me hungry. lol I was hoping kamal could bring some of those wonderful moroccan oranges. But not so right? i can't wait for the cookies and candies. Tell me should he put them in his checked luggage. And the silly man talks about bringing an orange tree, (don't know if he is serious or not)!!!!

[rclouse 0]

On one return trip we declared the produce my MIL packed for us but I forgot about the orange. Since this was LAX (California), they confiscated it but otherwise we were OK.

[Sino's Suga 0]

i just returned home from Morocco in November and i brought cheese and sausage and cookies from my husbands family...

i put them all in my checked bags... i made sure i had no food or drink in my carry on and everything went perfectly

welcome to US!!!!

Mabroke!!

Shokranleila!

[Nutty 2]

insha'allah iam going to america, next week,i am from morocco,i hear from someone,i cant take with me cake i mean something like candy,and real honey.

so plzz if someone have that expreinece before xcan help me,plzz .

thank you for everyone

Of course you can take candy or honey....BUT, we have plenty of candy and wonderful honey here (from all different kind of flowers).

If you decide to bring some food items, don't bring much. Then make sure to DECLARE the food (red line at customs), tell the officer the food items "are for personal consumption" (for you only to eat).

[sarah and hicham 3]

i just returned home from Morocco in November and i brought cheese and sausage and cookies from my husbands family...

i put them all in my checked bags... i made sure i had no food or drink in my carry on and everything went perfectly

welcome to US!!!!

Mabroke!!

Shokranleila!

Sausage and cheese? Those are two items that I wouldn't be excited to eat after they have been on a plane for a day.

[Jenn! 918]

i just returned home from Morocco in November and i brought cheese and sausage and cookies from my husbands family...

i put them all in my checked bags... i made sure i had no food or drink in my carry on and everything went perfectly

welcome to US!!!!

Mabroke!!

Shokranleila!

Sausage and cheese? Those are two items that I wouldn't be excited to eat after they have been on a plane for a day.

Where's your sense of adventure?

When I came back from Morocco, they sent me with all these homemade candies that took Wadi's sister and mom hours and hours to make. By the time I got back, they were a melted hunk of mess - they ended up in the trash.

[sarah and hicham 3]

i just returned home from Morocco in November and i brought cheese and sausage and cookies from my husbands family...

i put them all in my checked bags... i made sure i had no food or drink in my carry on and everything went perfectly

welcome to US!!!!

Mabroke!!

Shokranleila!

Sausage and cheese? Those are two items that I wouldn't be excited to eat after they have been on a plane for a day.

Where's your sense of adventure?

When I came back from Morocco, they sent me with all these homemade candies that took Wadi's sister and mom hours and hours to make. By the time I got back, they were a melted hunk of mess - they ended up in the trash.

I guess I must have left my sense of living on the edge at home today, shucks!

That stinks that the candy didn't make it. You should have eaten it all on the plane probably.