In the current socio-political climate of America, the re-entry process at major US airports after a foreign trip holds surprises not just for non-immigrant visa holders. US citizens and Green Card holders are not exceptions to it. Re-entry into the US is a smooth experience for some travelers returning from a month-long trip to India or some other country, while some reported facing intense scrutiny on arrival. Precisely, the experience varies from person to person.
KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli, an Indian-origin US citizen from Virginia, shared his US re-entry experience at Washington Dulles Airport, with Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor at Indian Eagle, a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians in America. After a trip to his native place in Andhra Pradesh, he returned on Qatar Airways flights from New Delhi to Washington DC, IAD Airport. His re-entry was neither smooth nor complicated. Rather, it is insightful for many immigrants who would fly back to USA after summer travel.
At Washington Dulles IAD Airport, CBP officers asked him about his trip duration and the places he visited during the trip. They went on to ask whether his cabin bag had food packets, pickles, and/or jewelry. KrishnaKumar told them that he brought two small packets of Indian sweets and a small piece of jewelry in the handbag, no pickles.
“What is the value of jewelry?” the CBP officer wanted to know immediately. “It’s USD 3000,” said Krishna Kumar. “Are you sure? It’s 3K worth? Is it plain jewelry or diamonds?” said the CBP officer with raised eyebrows, trying to ascertain the jewelry value. Krishna Kumar courteously replied he was absolutely sure about the jewelry piece having no diamonds and the worth being not more than $3K. He was further asked whether he purchased the jewelry in transit (during the layover in Doha).
The CBP officer’s interrogation continued, as KrishnaKumar was referred to a secondary check. He was taken to a room where he was told to open the carry-on bag and show the jewelry along with the receipt. On seeing the receipt of about USD 3300, the CBP officer said, “There is a tax for any foreign purchases above US$ 800.” It took him aback, as he was under the impression that any foreign import, cash or jewelry, under $10K is tax free in the US. He ended up paying 5.5% tax on $2500 ($3300-$800).
This is, indeed, an eye opener for many Indians who bring valuables to USA from India and make duty-free purchases at airports in transit during return trips. For anything above US$ 800, you need to submit a declaration to the CBP and pay customs duty at US airports. However, no customs duty for gold coin imports into USA if the value is under $10K.
There is a way to avoid paying the US’ customs duty on gold jewelry and other valuables if you travel in a group. $800 is the tax-free limit to the worth of imports per individual entering the US. If you are four, including your spouse and two children, flying back to the US with gold jewelry worth $3500, you would have to pay taxes only on $300 ($3500 – $800 x 4). Since KrishnaKumar was alone, he had to pay taxes on $2500.
Despite being a US citizen, his US re-entry experience at Dulles IAD Airport went beyond what is considered normal. He also declared that he purchased a couple of perfume bottles and a chocolate box as part of duty-free shopping in transit. Thereafter, the CBP officer asked him, “Are you sure? You didn’t bring any meat pickles.” He denied outright reiterating that he did not bring any such food items except two packets of sweets from India and one chocolate box from Doha.
“What about clothes and gift articles?” was the CBP officer’s next question to him. KrishnaKumar said, “No gift articles and new clothes. I just brought back the clothes that I carried during my onward journey.” The CBP officer clarified his question, “I am asking about designer clothes or bags.”
“These days CBP officers are more vigilant about counterfeit brand imports into the United States. International arrivals at US airports, especially from China, India, Philippines and a few other Asian countries, are facing the law enforcement against counterfeit luxury items if found in their bags. In FY 22 alone, the CBP seized more than 25 million fake goods of various brands, mostly from non-immigrants. Check out the US policy for international travelers carrying items with fake brand tags into USA,” said Sourav Agarwal.
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Disclaimer: KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli shared his US re-entry experience through Travel Beats, the Indian Diaspora and Travel News portal, with the message that people returning from abroad should not act smart with CBP officers. They must declare to CBP their imports from abroad and politely give honest answers during the entry inspection. We used an AI-generated picture to represent KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli for the sake of his digital privacy.
