Christmas and U.S. Customs - Importing Gifts Made Simple

If you have family or loved ones who live outside of the U.S., chances are, eventually you're going to find yourself becoming an importer, whether you know it or not. This often becomes particularly relevant at Christmas time. Actually, Customs really isn't grinchy at Christmas time, and if you follow some fairly basic guidelines, chances are your packages will arrive in plenty of time to be enjoyed on Christmas day, provided your family or friend ships your gifts in good time!

As a general rule, Christmas gifts sent from overseas should be within a reasonable price range. Gifts up to 100 dollars can be cleared with minimal problems, though there are other details we will discuss momentarily. This doesn't mean that gifts that are over that value can't be cleared. It's just that you may find yourself being asked for additional information or documentation for the shipment. If you are receiving Christmas gifts from overseas and you KNOW someone is sending you something for Christmas, letting them know ahead of time about some of these guidelines will benefit you and them. Not only that, but it could help you avoid your shipper from having to spoil the surprise!

All gifts are not created equal! Even working within the hundred dollar value limit, different goods may require different details for Customs. Let's look at a few common examples of what may be in your Christmas import stocking.

Food and other goodies are always a wonderful gift from abroad, especially if they are treats you can't readily get here in the States. Things like gift baskets, specialty foods, and similar treats you might receive from abroad can be imported as gifts. Nonetheless, there are some restrictions. For example, fruit shouldn't be included in a gift basket at Christmas. USDA has to inspect imports of fruits and vegetables, and that can result in quarantine and possibly even destruction of your gift. At the very least, the cookies will probably get stale! If you live in California, please ask your shipper not to send you wine or other alcoholic beverages. As wonderful as the gift that a nice bottle of wine may be, California has such stringent restrictions on the import of wines into its borders that you will likely lose the whole shipment before you get the wine released.

Cookies and other baked treats, as well as other candies and "specialty" foods that might be particular to the country they are coming from are usually fine, but having your shipper give a great, detailed description of all the food-type goods will make Customs clearance much, much easier. All food and beverage goods coming into the U.S. from abroad are required to have a Prior Notice, given to the FDA, at least 4 hours before the shipment reaches U.S. soil. Having a clear description of those goods will greatly facilitate that Prior Notice.

Clothing is another wonderful gift your shipper might send. Garments, too, are regulated by Customs, though as Christmas gifts, they are a little less scrutinized. However, if your gift is listed on the invoice that Customs has to review as simply "clothing", you will be contacted for further information and your shipment will be delayed. If your shipper should instead describe the article of clothing as a "child's wool sweater" or "3 pair cotton woman's socks", Customs has something to work with, not to mention the carrier who must declare the goods to Customs. I hope you're getting the idea that when it comes to clearing a Christmas package through U.S. Customs, more detail is better than less.

Toys for children are usually fine as well, but again, a generic invoice listing will prompt a need for better detail and potentially delay your shipment. Instead of "toy", "plush stuffed teddybear" will get you a nod from Customs much more easily.

If your shipper is sending something to you that is of higher value, or an item that cannot be cleared with Customs as a general Christmas gift, be prepared to provide your carrier with additional details and documentation. Being prepared for these kinds of gifts will put you ahead of the curve and making your loved ones abroad know this ahead of time will help them as well. In those cases, it will be a great idea to allow more shipping time so you don't get caught in a last minute wrangle with Customs right before Christmas!