{"id":35943,"date":"2025-07-10T10:14:27","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/?p=35943"},"modified":"2025-07-10T13:21:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:21:07","slug":"my-reentry-experience-in-usa-after-traveling-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/my-reentry-experience-in-usa-after-traveling-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"“My US Re-entry Experience is Insightful for You,” Shares Indian American KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

\"US<\/a>

This AI generated picture (not KrishnaKumar’s) is for illustration purpose only<\/p><\/div>\n

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><\/span>, <\/strong>a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians in America.<\/strong>\u00a0After 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWhat is the value of jewelry?\u201d the CBP officer wanted to know immediately. \u201cIt\u2019s USD 3000,\u201d said Krishna Kumar. \u201cAre you sure? It\u2019s 3K worth?<\/strong> Is it plain jewelry or diamonds?\u201d 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<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n

The CBP officer\u2019s interrogation continued, as KrishnaKumar was referred to a secondary check<\/strong>. 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, \u201cThere is a tax for any foreign purchases above US$ 800.\u201d 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).<\/p>\n

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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is a way to avoid paying the US\u2019 customs duty on gold jewelry and other valuables if you travel in a group<\/strong>. $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.<\/p>\n

Despite being a US citizen, his US re-entry experience at Dulles IAD Airport<\/a><\/span> went beyond what is considered normal.<\/strong> 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, \u201cAre you sure? You didn\u2019t bring any meat pickles.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about clothes and gift articles?\u201d was the CBP officer\u2019s next question to him. KrishnaKumar said, \u201cNo gift articles and new clothes. I just brought back the clothes that I carried during my onward journey.\u201d The CBP officer clarified his question, \u201cI am asking about designer clothes or bags.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThese days CBP officers are more vigilant about counterfeit brand imports into the United States. International arrivals at US airports,<\/strong> 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<\/a><\/span>,\u201d said Sourav Agarwal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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