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RETURNING TO THE U.S.
U.S. Immigration and Customs
If you leave the U.S. for purposes of traveling, working, or
studying abroad, and return to resume U.S. residence, you are
considered a returning U.S. resident by the U.S. Customs Service.
When you go through immigration and customs at the port of entry,
have your passport ready. Where possible, pack separately the
articles you have acquired abroad to make inspection easy. Have
your receipts handy in case you need to support your customs declaration.
If you took other documents with you, such as an International
Certification of Vaccination, a medical certificate, or a customs
certificate of registration for foreign-made personal articles,
have them ready also. If you are returning to the U.S. by car
from either Mexico or Canada, a certificate of vehicle registration
should be available.
Articles acquired abroad and brought back with you are subject
to duty and internal revenue tax. As a returning U.S. resident,
you are allowed to bring back $400 ($600, if you are returning
directly from a Caribbean Basin Economy Recovery Act country)
worth of merchandise duty free. However, you must have been outside
the United States for at least 48 hours, and you must not have
used this exemption within the preceding 30-day period. The next
$l,000 worth of items you bring back with you for personal use
or gifts are dutiable at a flat 10% rate. (Your duty free exemption
may include 100 cigars, 200 cigarettes, and 1 liter of wine, beer
or liquor.)
Restrictions on Products Entering the U. S.
Fresh fruit, meat, vegetables, plants in soil, and many other
agricultural products are prohibited from entering the United
States because they may carry foreign insects and diseases that
could damage U.S. crops, forests, gardens, and livestock. Other
items may also be restricted, so be sure to obtain details of
regulations before departing for your trip back to the U.S. These
restrictions also apply to mailed products. Prohibited items confiscated
and destroyed at U.S. international postal facilities have almost
doubled in recent years. For more information and to request the
pamphlet, Travelers Tips on Prohibited Agricultural Products
contact the agricultural affairs office at the nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate, or write to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4700 River Road, Unit
51, Riverdale, MD 20737.
Importing A Car
If you plan to bring a car back with you, before purchasing
it, make sure it conforms to U.S. emission standards established
by the Environmental Protection Agency. If your vehicle does not
conform to standards, it may be banned from entering the country.
For further information, obtain the pamphlet, Buying a Car
Overseas? Beware! from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Public Information Center, Mail Code 3406, 401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460.
Wildlife and Wildlife Products
While you were overseas, if you purchased any articles made
from endangered animals and plants or any live wild animals to
bring back as pets, you need to be aware that U.S. laws and international
treaties make it a crime to bring many wildlife souvenirs into
the United States. Some prohibited items include those made from
sea turtle shell, most reptile skins, crocodile leather, ivory,
furs from endangered cat species, and those from coral reefs.
Do not buy wildlife souvenirs if you are unsure of being able
to bring them legally into the United States. The penalties you
risk are severe and your purchases could be confiscated. To learn
more about endangered wildlife and guidelines governing restrictions
on imports into the United States, you can obtain the pamphlet,
Buyer Beware! For a free copy, contact the Publications
Unit, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C. 20240. Additional information on the import of
wildlife and wildlife products can be obtained through TRAFFIC
(U.S.A.), World Wildlife Fund--U.S., 1250 24th Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20037.
OTHER IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS
U.S. Embassies and Consulates
Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Guide for Business
Representatives has names of key officers and addresses for
U.S. embassies, consulates, and missions abroad. Updated 2 times
a year; a 1-year subscription is $5. Order from the Superintendent
of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington,
D.C. 20402, telephone: (202) 512-1800 or fax: (202) 512-2250.
Your Trip Abroad
Your Trip Abroad contains helpful tips on obtaining a
passport, things to consider in preparing for your overseas trip,
other resources for travel and customs information. To obtain
a copy, contact the GPO for price and availability.
Tips for Older Americans
Travel Tips for Older Americans provides general information
on passports, visas, health, currency, and other travel tidbits
for elderly U.S. citizens planning to travel overseas. Copies
are available from the Internet at http://travel.state.gov or
Consular Affairs automated fax at (202) 647-3000.
A Safe Trip Abroad
A Safe Trip Abroad contains helpful precautions to minimize
the chance of becoming a victim of terrorism and also provides
other safety tips for Americans traveling overseas. To obtain
a copy, contact the GPO for price and availability.
Crisis Abroad
Crisis Abroad--What the State Department Does summarizes
the work by the State Department during a crisis and its efforts
to obtain reliable information from local authorities abroad for
concerned relatives and friends of Americans located in the disaster
area. Copies are free by sending a stamped, self-addressed business-size
envelope (SASE) to CA/P, Room 6831, Department of State, Washington,
D.C. 20520-4818.
Overseas Citizens Services
The booklet Office of Overseas Citizens Services contains information
about the assistance that the office provides in four major categories:
deaths, arrests, welfare/whereabouts inquiries, and financial-medical
emergencies. The booklet is free by sending a SASE to CA/P at
the address above.
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