Customs Regulations that Green Card Holders Should Know

Many U.S. residents are hesitant to leave the country once they obtained their permanent residency. They fear that if they go abroad or visit their native country, it might affect their status and revoke their green cards.

The fact is, as a lawful permanent resident, you are indeed bound to specific rules. Among these rules, it is the traveling part that is really sensitive. You can't stay abroad longer than the days and months you have stayed in the United States. If you do the Department of Homelands can revoke your green card and may deport you to your country of origin. By then you would have to re-apply for U.S. Visa all over again, so keep good track of the days while you're away.

When you return to the United States you will need to declare everything that you brought back that you did not take with you when you left. Whether you are traveling by air or sea, you have to fill the U.S. Customs Declaration form.

So, let's get to know U.S. Customs Service. To begin with, here's their mission:

"We are the guardians of our Nation's borders-America's frontline. We serve and protect the American public with integrity, innovation, and pride. We enforce the laws of the United States, safeguard the revenue, and foster lawful international trade and travel."

U.S. Customs is mandated and empowered to protect the country from drugs smuggling and all other prohibited goods; track "dutiable" goods; enforce and collect "duty".

Duty is the amount of money you pay on items coming from another country. It is the tax that U.S. collects from imported items. While,dutiable describes the items on which duty may have to be paid.

Under the U.S. law, customs officials are authorized to inspect and examine luggage, cargo and travelers. They are duly mandated to thoroughly check on all passengers/travelers who crosses borders and all of their belongings. But, they ought to treat everyone with respect; in courteous, professional manner. So, if you are searched and you feel you were treated in such a manner, you are encouraged to contact:

Director, Passenger Operations
U.S. Customs Service
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Room 5.4D
Washington, DC 20229.

And for allegations of criminal or grave misconduct, you may report and complain at 1-877-IA CALLS, or write at:

Office of Internal Affairs
P.O. Box14475
Washington D.C. 20044.

Under the U.S. law you are required to declare:

- Items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States;

- Items you received as gifts, such as wedding or birthday presents;

- Items you inherited;

- Items you bought in duty-free shops, either on the ship or plane;

- Items you bought from home for someone else;

- Items you intend to sell or use in your business;

- Items you acquired (regardless if you bought it or it was given to you as a present) in the U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa, Guam, or in the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act country that are not in your possession. In the simplest words, if you acquired anything in any of the above mentioned island nations and have asked a merchant to send them to you; you are still required by the law to declare it when you go through customs.

You must state on the declaration form, how much you actually paid for those items (in U.S. dollars). For gifts, you have to indicate the retail value, computed in dollars and must be inclusive of tax. In the event that you understated the value or misrepresent anything in the form, you may be assessed penalties or fine, in addition to duty.

Register items before you leave the United States

For you to avoid hassles in coming back, declare what you are bringing out that is of value; like electronic gadgets like laptops, or any gaming systems (e.g. Sony PSP, Nintendo D.S.) and tape recorders. Make sure you carry receipts of purchase. Take those items in the nearest customs office and fill form 4457. Inspectors must check all the items in order to certify the Certificate of Registration. Keep all the certificates for future trips.

Exemptions

Exemptions may vary from each country. It may range from $600, $800, or $1200.

Your duty-free exemptions will apply if:

- The items are for your personal or household use;

- The items are in your possession when you return to the United States (items to be sent later may not be included in your $800 duty free exemption);

- That you have not used your exemptions or any part of it;

- The items are not prohibited or restricted;

- Items are declared to customs.

Failure to declare anything dutiable could result to confiscation. If in doubt, just declare it.

Tobacco: A returning resident is eligible for $800 exemption, which may include 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars.

Alcohol: One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your exemption, only if you are at least 21 years of age; it is for your own use or as gift and it does not violate the laws of the state of destination.

Please take note that with bringing extra tobacco and one liter of alcoholic beverage together, you will have to pay IRS tax.

Gifts

Gifts you bring from your trip are considered for personal use. However, you are still required by the U.S. law to declare them. They may include in your personal exemptions but gifts intended for business, promotional or other commercial purposes are not duty-free exempt items.

You are not allowed by law to declare gifts that you sent it while you were on a trip, since they won't be in your possession. However, you can't send a "gift" to yourself.

Friends and relatives that live in the United States can receive gifts but, it shouldn't exceed $100 worth in a single day.

Personal Belongings

Your personal belongings can be sent to the United States duty-free, only if they are U.S. made and that no alterations were made. Your worn clothing can be mailed too (duty free), provided the package is labeled with "American Goods Returned."

Duty-Free Shops

Travelers most of the times think that when they shop to a duty-free store, they can literally buy everything they want to bring home, without worrying about the duty. That is certainly a misconception! Those items are only tax or duty free from the place, or country where you are buying them. So, if a U.S. Border Official says you have exceeded your personal exemptions, you would then have to pay.

List of Prohibited and Restricted Items

- Absinthe

- Automobiles

- Ceramic Tableware

- Cultural Artifacts & Cultural Property

- Dog and Cat Fur

- Drug Paraphernalia

- Firearms

- Fish and Wildlife

- Food Products

- Fruits and Vegetables

- Games and Hunting Trophies

- Gold (coins, medals and bullion)

- Meat, livestock and Poultry

- Merchandise from Embargoed Countries

- Pets

- Plants

- Textiles and clothing

- Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles

- Money and other Monetary Instruments (exceeding $10,000)

- Photographic Film

- Medications

Narcotics and prescription drugs with a high potential for addiction, may not be brought to the United States; to name a few of these drugs are cough medicines, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, anti-depressant or stimulants and many more others. Severe penalties, or prosecution and even imprisonment await all violators. So, if you are under a medical condition and the drugs were duly prescribed to you, you will have to:

- Declare all drugs that you have in your possession; all medicinal and similar products;

- Carry the substance in their original containers and should be properly labeled;

- Carry only the quantity of such substances that a person would normally carry for personal use;

- Be ready to show custom officials the prescription issued to you by your doctor. The prescription should identify you as the patient, of whom the medicines where prescribed to; attestation of the physician that you are under his/her supervision and the medicines are necessary to your physical well-being while you are traveling.

Please keep in mind only medications that can be legally prescribed here in the United States are the ones that are most likely to get cleared. You also have to consider that it may violate state laws.

Warning: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strictly prohibits the importation of fraudulent prescription and non-prescription drugs and medical devices. Regardless, if it's by mail or in person, these may include unorthodox "cures" for any medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/aids, arthritis or multiple sclerosis. Even if it is considered legal elsewhere but FDA doesn't approve it, it can't enter the United States.

If you cross a U.S. border into a foreign country, in such a short period of time; you might not want to use your personal exemptions. Because if customs officials noticed that you violated the "once every 30 days" rule, you would subject you for interrogation and pay duty.

The key is just paying the duty right away and keep the receipt with you. If you need assistance clearing the customs, please do not hesitate to ask for it.

For more information, please visit www.customs.gov

This article was also featured at www.helium.com:

http://www.helium.com/items/1679773-customs-regulations-for-us-residents