I'm waiting to receive a used computer I bought from China (where it was made) and it is now "Inbound into Customs." This worries me as I was under the impression laptop fell under code 8471, and were import tax exempt. Is this right? If not what are the customs officials going to ask for? Also if duty is charged, will the value be based on the declared value or...?
posted by SamSugar on Dec 19, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm traveling to Dallas on Northwest Airlines from Montreal Pierre Trudeau Airport tomorrow morning. I just bought three pounds of smoked meat that is NOT shrink wrapped. Can I take it? Can I carry it on? [more inside]
posted by nosila on Dec 14, 2009 - 8 answers

I currently live in Brazil but shall be returning to my country of origin, the UK, for a month or so in December. I recently managed to get a prescription for Ritalin from a psychiatrist here in Brazil and was wondering whether I'd have any complications in bringing this back into the UK. [more inside]
posted by Zé Pequeno on Nov 21, 2009 - 4 answers

Miraclefilter: help me get my lost engagement ring back from Vietnam. [more inside]
posted by snickerdoodle on Nov 2, 2009 - 5 answers

I live in Vancouver, Canada and I am going to the U.S. for the day this weekend. I want to know if it's in fact true, that you can bring groceries back into Canada without paying duty or customs fees? [more inside]
posted by ninefour on Oct 21, 2009 - 7 answers

Canadian citizen with American green card. Traveling with no passport? [more inside]
posted by ttyn on Oct 2, 2009 - 18 answers

Mrs L (US passport) and I (UK passport) are flying from Orlando to Gatwick (Virgin Atlantic)arriving 0845, then on to Nice, France on Easyjet departing 1125. [more inside]
posted by lungtaworld on Sep 28, 2009 - 7 answers

Can I bring a leg of ham though Hong Kong customs from Canada? [more inside]
posted by mushroom_tattoo on Sep 27, 2009 - 3 answers

My perfectly boring package from Sweden has been listed as "Inbound Into Customs" since September 4. How can I find out what the problem is? Can I get it cleared somehow? [more inside]
posted by gemmy on Sep 15, 2009 - 10 answers

Advice on bringing a small quantity of legally prescribed Ritalin (methylphenidate) and other prescriptions for personal use into Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and the Philippines? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 12, 2009 - 7 answers

At what point during the customs process did they decide I was a "red flag" and how do I avoid it happening again? [more inside]
posted by nostrich on Aug 11, 2009 - 65 answers

Flying back to Canada via US - from Amsterdam. Will US Customs hassle me about coffeeshop visits? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 8, 2009 - 18 answers

CustomsFilter: I shipped something to Canada and messed up the declared value. How do I calculate what the recipient will have to pay? [more inside]
posted by fogster on Jul 27, 2009 - 4 answers

Have you ever successfully brought French cheeses into the US? Did you declare them, or not? Also, seeking recommendations on the raw milk cheeses I shouldn't miss, and wrapping/packing advice.
posted by CunningLinguist on Jun 30, 2009 - 23 answers

How do you answer questions about livestock proximity when coming back to the US? [more inside]
posted by RajahKing on Jun 22, 2009 - 3 answers

Returning to the States from Austria with electronic equipment: What to worry about at customs? [more inside]
posted by dunkadunc on Jun 22, 2009 - 7 answers

Just married, and moving from San Diego to join my husband (non-resident, living in CA on a work visa) in Toronto, Canada. Customs forms? Tips? Advice? Help! [more inside]
posted by routergirl on Jun 4, 2009 - 9 answers

Outside of porn which I am not concerned about what does UK/US customs look for on laptop computers? Specifically, I have some movies that I have 'ripped' from dvd and I wanted to know if those are something they get finicky about.
posted by occidental on May 11, 2009 - 47 answers

Is a Health Canada card considered government issued photo ID? [more inside]
posted by ascetic on May 5, 2009 - 29 answers

My Greek uncle has been deported from the US for overstaying his visa last year by one month. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by ooklala on Mar 23, 2009 - 12 answers

What can I expect from a US border guard if I go into the USA from Canada carrying packages of things I've sold on ebay to mail in the USA? [more inside]
posted by crazylegs on Mar 23, 2009 - 7 answers

How do you ship an electronic item (iPhone) with a non-removable battery out of India? It's labelled as a "dangerous item." [more inside]
posted by smersh on Mar 16, 2009 - 6 answers

Will I have trouble with customs bringing homemade Indian food spice mixes (made in Australia) into Japan? [more inside]
posted by teem on Mar 8, 2009 - 7 answers

How paranoid do I need to be about crossing the US border to get married? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 5, 2009 - 18 answers

EatingOutFilter: With the denominations that we have in the US, is it rude to leave coinage in addition to dollar bills when you're leaving tip? [more inside]
posted by ayerarcturus on Dec 30, 2008 - 37 answers

International travel with multiple connections: what's it like? And inside: declaring, connection time, and things I will probably get confiscated. [more inside]
posted by troika on Dec 19, 2008 - 14 answers

I love my Peugeot, but I might be moving to the USA. Can I bring it with me or am I just stupid to want to? [more inside]
posted by xanthippe on Dec 17, 2008 - 15 answers

What awesome gifts should I bring to India from the US in 2008? [more inside]
posted by nessahead on Nov 11, 2008 - 16 answers

Are there any *traditional* positive menstruation myths or customs? [more inside]
posted by xetere on Nov 9, 2008 - 13 answers

I'm in Germany for the next few months. Had one of my hard drives shipped to me by a friend so I could get to some of my files. DHL have it now and won't give it to me without a fee and a receipt! What's up with that? [more inside]
posted by mooza on Nov 4, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm putting together a large care package box for my boyfriend, located at an FPO AP address. My plan is to fill it a ton of random stuff to keep him surprised and delighted, from funny shirts to little plastic toys to letters and pictures to CDs. It's been ages since I sent anything that required a customs form, and I definitely want this package to survive all scrutiny - how specific do I need to get when I'm listing the box contents, especially if I'm sending such a variety of items? [more inside]
posted by Bakuun on Oct 22, 2008 - 8 answers

I'd like to have my brother ship an item I bought in the US to me (I'm in the UK.) I'd also like not to have to hand over my first born child to UK Customs. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by -1 on Oct 22, 2008 - 6 answers

A friend from China is planning a trip to Puerto Rico. She is now in the US on an F1 visa, but it is not multiple-entry. If she flies directly from the US mainland to PR and back, does she need to show her passport and visa? Is there a possibility she will be denied entry to PR, or back to the mainland? [more inside]
posted by Wet Spot on Sep 25, 2008 - 4 answers

How is Houston International Airport for connecting international flights? [more inside]
posted by hylaride on Jul 21, 2008 - 6 answers

What is sex like in Romania? [more inside]
posted by crazylegs on Jun 18, 2008 - 3 answers

Wondering if any Canadians have experience doing this... I am moving next month from Winnipeg to Vancouver. I will be having most of my possessions shipped, and will be driving my car west. In my car, I will just have my clothes, a small LCD-TV and my computer. Everything else will be shipped. My question is .. I want to drive through the U.S. on I-94 and I-90 (from Grand Forks, ND to Seattle, WA) and then cross back into Canada towards Vancouver. Does anyone know if the border officials (US or Canadian) are going to give me any hassle moving this way? I am just worried about them thinking that the stuff in my car is things I bought in the states, even though I am just moving them via the US. I have done the Manitoba-B.C. drive a few times and I want to go through the northern U.S. for a change. Thanks!
posted by ninefour on Apr 16, 2008 - 10 answers

How did US customs know he had a ham in his carry-on bag? [more inside]
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy on Apr 14, 2008 - 23 answers

What can a person who brings 2 Cuban cigars into the US and has them seized at US Customs expect? [more inside]
posted by j1950 on Apr 3, 2008 - 19 answers

What do governments do with seized contraband that cannot legally be bought or sold, cannot be set free, but ought not be simply destroyed? I'm thinking elephant tusks and rain forest hard woods, that sort of thing.
posted by IndigoJones on Mar 10, 2008 - 9 answers

Please: recommend a lawyer in Vancouver, BC? [more inside]
posted by Meatbomb on Feb 26, 2008 - 9 answers

How do I avoid paying customs on a package I'm shipping back home? [more inside]
posted by Deathalicious on Jan 26, 2008 - 7 answers

Can I, a Canadian citizen, get through the American border, by car, with the following pieces of ID: [more inside]
posted by ITheCosmos on Jan 13, 2008 - 19 answers

US J1 Visa (DS-2019 form) held up by DHL, plane ticket already booked for tomorrow. Now what? [more inside]
posted by BeaverTerror on Dec 24, 2007 - 14 answers

The father of a close business associate has died and I would like to behave appropriately and honor my associate's loss. They're Catholics in NYC. There is a wake which seems to be scheduled for several different time periods over the weekend. Then there is a funeral mass on Monday during business hours, followed by burial at the cemetery. [more inside]
posted by JimN2TAW on Nov 16, 2007 - 20 answers

My Professor this week brought up that she thinks the use of the word "actually" is unique to Boston. [more inside]
posted by pwally on Nov 11, 2007 - 46 answers

Taking a little vacation in Mexico City ... what am I allowed to bring into Mexico? The information that I'm finding online is either contradictory or stale. Obviously, I'd like to avoid any situation where I'll be fined or imprisoned. [more inside]
posted by kindachris on Oct 25, 2007 - 5 answers

Has anyone living in Canada bought cameras from B&H? [more inside]
posted by reformedjerk on Oct 10, 2007 - 10 answers

I'm an American traveling to Cuba legally (under a general license). What are the restrictions on what I can/cannot bring back into the U.S.?
posted by cookie googleman on Sep 17, 2007 - 3 answers

CustomsFilter - Bringing home the bacon? Irish bacon (rashers), that is. [more inside]
posted by HeyAllie on Aug 23, 2007 - 20 answers

My lovely wife is planning a hiking trip in New Zealand. This will be her first hiking adventure out of North America. Recently she has started to dehydrate her own food for her multi-day hikes. No preservatives, more tasty, less expensive, and all that. Can she pack this in her luggage and expect to clear customs? Thanks in advance for all your help!
posted by HappyHippo on Aug 11, 2007 - 27 answers