US Customs Declaration Form and Entry Into The US

Immigration and Customs (you might want to print this off)

Customs form will be provided on the aircraft when travelling to the US

• Below you will find a copy of the customs declaration form all families must complete on entry into the US.  I have listed the notes from the form along with any of my own comments in red.
• Only one form per family group needs completing.
• Do not include yourself in the count in section 3, Family Members travelling with you.
• Country of residence is UK
• If you make any mistakes, complete a new form, immigration will not take a corrected form.
• The immigration officer will want to see your customs form but will hand it back, you need to hand the form to customs officers, after you have collected your bags. 
• Immigration will take your photo and fingerprints (electronic), just watch the people in front of you when they speak to the officer to see how it's done.
• On arrival the sequence of events is 

1. Immigration
2. Collect bags
3. Customs

US Immigration Site with sample forms

Customs Declaration Form (Front)

Sections to complete (All must be printed and in ballpoint pen)

1. Print your Family (Surname) name. Print your first (Christian) name. Print the first letter of your middle name (if you have one)

2. Print your date of birth in the appropriate day/month/year boxes.

3. Print the number of family members travelling with you (do not include yourself).

4. Print your address in the United States. If you are staying at a hotel, include the hotel's name and street address. Print the city and the state (PA is enough) in the appropriate boxes.

5. Print the name of the country that issued your passport. (enter UK)

6. Print your passport number.

7. Print the name of the country where you currently live. (UK for those of us coming from UK)

8. Print the name of the country(ies) that you visited on your trip prior to arriving to the United States. (None)

9. Print the airline's name and flight number.

10. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you traveling on a business (work-related) trip?

11. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you bringing with you:

12. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Have you or any family members traveling with you been in close proximity of (such as touching or handling) livestock outside the United States?

13. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing $10,000 or more in U.S. dollars or foreign equivalent in any form into the United States? (if yes then you must declare it on a separate form which you can complete in advance)

Currency in excess of $10,000 form

Read definition of monetary instruments on the reverse side of the form.

Examples: coins, cash, personal or cashier's check, traveler's checks, money orders, stocks, bonds.

14. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing commercial merchandise into the United States?

Examples: all articles intended to be sold or left in the United States, samples used for soliciting orders, or goods that are not considered personal effects.

15. If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.

Note: U.S. residents are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $800 on items accompanying them.

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.

Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

Declare all articles on this form. For gifts, please indicate the retail value. Use the reverse side of this form if additional space is needed to list the items you will declare.

The U.S. Customs officer will determine duty. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1,000 above the exemption. (this will generally be 0, Immigration will ask the purpose of your visit, if you say wedding they may ask if you have brought anything into the USA as gifts, they may not.)

· Read the notice on the reverse side of the form.

· Sign the form and print the date.