USA Customs Declaration Form query

benjus

I think the worst that will happen is that they will want to ask lots of questions, possibly search your baggage and disinfect your shoes. Unless you're deliberately trying to smuggle illegal agricultural produce over the border it's not something they are likely to refuse entry over.

From another forum:

I recently came back from a trip to France where I had scratched a friendly horse (gratuitous photo of said horse) on the nose for a minute, as I rode past a fenced pasture on a bike trail. I answered "Yes" on the customs form, in the interest of total honesty & literal interpretation. The customs agent who read through my form inquired matter-of-factly, "And you've been in contact with livestock?" I explained my encounter. He gave me a look of "Are you kidding me?" I replied that I felt like I should be honest. He chuckled and sent me along my merry way.

jackieblack

benjus wrote: »

I think the worst that will happen is that they will want to ask lots of questions, possibly search your baggage and disinfect your shoes. Unless you're deliberately trying to smuggle illegal agricultural produce over the border it's not something they are likely to refuse entry over.

Yes, this is what I'm thinking, but I thought that maybe someone who'd been in this position could confirm/correct this

scottishminnie

Hi

Both hubby and I have to answer "YES" to this on every visit (3 or 4 times a year) as my parents have a farm and we are both around there most days. In most cases it results in a very thorough examination of our shoes and probably 50% of the time our luggage will be searched. Generally we are asked about the type of farm, number of livestock, crops etc if there has been any record of disease etc.

The length of the "delay" tends to vary dependent on airport. Newark is always the longest whereas if our point of entry is Chicago/Dallas or Tampa it seems to be much quicker and less intrusive.

I don't think we've had our shoes disinfected for a couple of years now.

It's never really caused an issue for us - just part of the process now.

jackieblack

scottishminnie wrote: »

Hi

Both hubby and I have to answer "YES" to this on every visit (3 or 4 times a year) as my parents have a farm and we are both around there most days. In most cases it results in a very thorough examination of our shoes and probably 50% of the time our luggage will be searched. Generally we are asked about the type of farm, number of livestock, crops etc if there has been any record of disease etc.

The length of the "delay" tends to vary dependent on airport. Newark is always the longest whereas if our point of entry is Chicago/Dallas or Tampa it seems to be much quicker and less intrusive.

I don't think we've had our shoes disinfected for a couple of years now.

It's never really caused an issue for us - just part of the process now.

Thank you, that is very helpful and exactly the kind of information I was hoping for
We'll be flying into Tampa next trip so it's good to know that you've had good experiences there

dannny_2

jackieblack wrote: »

Do I? :huh:

Its one of those questions that is a pain with no way out as its succinct in the fact you either have or haven't.

Its can't be as bad as bringing a dirty tent into Australia or New Zealand though!

jackieblack

dannny wrote: »

Its one of those questions that is a pain with no way out as its succinct in the fact you either have or haven't.

So you're of the opinion that the timescale is 'ever, in your whole life'?
In which case there are an awful lot of people not answering that question truthfully!

claire16c

I think you'll be fine, Ive answered yes to similar questions in NZ & oz, and yes to the food question in the US & never had any hassle, they just checked anything they were interested in.

Plus in the US when you get to customs you've already gone through immigration so that's good.

jackieblack

claire16c wrote: »

I think you'll be fine, Ive answered yes to similar questions in NZ & oz, and yes to the food question in the US & never had any hassle, they just checked anything they were interested in.

Plus in the US when you get to customs you've already gone through immigration so that's good.

Thanks, yes, I'm sure you're right.
We've found a wide variety in the thoroughness of Customs Officers in different US airports/borders.
Mostly it's been just a quick glance and a question or two as to whether we've bought any food, but the officer collecting forms at Dulles in April didn't bother taking even a cursory glance at anyone's form.

dannny_2

jackieblack wrote: »

So you're of the opinion that the timescale is 'ever, in your whole life'?

The question seems to be worded that way. If they wanted to ask if you had ever been in contact with farm animals in the last 6 months it would have been worded differently.

k12479 wrote: »

I'd suggest you contact the US embassy and enquire, the long wait and expense of the call is better than the risk of being refused entry.

You can't speak to the embassy, you speak to a Glasgow based outsourcing company that handle these calls.

Now, as advice from embassy staff isn't legally binding, I very much doubt advice from a call centre operative would be either.


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