U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). On March 1, 2003, CBP combined the inspectional workforces and broad border authorities of the U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the entire U.S. Border Patrol.
CBP primary mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while also facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. This mission is vitally important to the protection of America and the American people.
CBP officers inspect all persons arriving at a U.S. port of entry. It is CBP policy to treat you in a courteous, professional manner. Very few travelers actually violate the law, but an examination of your baggage or your vehicle may be required, which, by law, we are allowed to do. You may be asked questions on the nature of your citizenship, your trip, and about anything you are bringing back to the United States that you did not have with you when you left. If your baggage is selected for an examination, you will be responsible for placing it on the exam station and opening it. After the exam is completed, you will be asked to repack and close the baggage. If you feel your examination is not conducted in a professional manner, please ask to speak to a CBP supervisor.
“Duty” and “dutiable” are words you will find frequently throughout this brochure: Duty is the amount of money you pay on items coming from another country. It is similar to a tax, except that duty is collected only on imported goods. Dutiable describes items on which duty may have to be paid. Most items have specific duty rates, which are determined by a number of factors, including where you got the item, where it was made, and what it is made of.
Anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be “declared.” For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired overseas.
The information above may change from time to time. Please visit the travel section of the CBP Website at www.cbp.gov for the most up-to-date traveler information
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