Traveling and US Customs
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Ray,
I guess it has changed a lot since the time I flew to Winnipeg from Minneapolis in 1999. I specifically telephoned the Canadian customs in Winnipeg to check requirements since I was bringing along a radio to a conference. That is when I discovered the main issue was returning to the US. At that time it was recommended to have invoices showing proof of ownership. But, alas, Homeland Security did not yet exist. So I wonder if there is a Custom's Office in Anchorage or will I have to fly to Seattle to find one? Hopefully, the form 4457 is valid for more than one trip! My point about having a passport for travel into Canada should be noted. Used to be only a US Drivers license was needed. A K3 would not, but the discussion had folks talking about smaller radios like the KX3, FT-817, HT's which could be taken to look like cell phones. I've never had a HT or my FT-817 questioned by TSA. But I stopped taking my home-built 10-GHz portable station in Pelican case as the mass wires and HB switches and lights likely would not pass. I cannot take that chance after traveling 4-hours by road to the airport and parking my vehicle off airport. So I ship it ahead by Fedex if I travel with it. 73, Ed - KL7UW --------------------------------------------- Just remember folks...when you are traveling inside the USA, you probably won't run into any problems. I have to question how much my K3 looks like a cell phone...but I digress. Ed's right...it's probably not a bad idea to have your license with you. Ed's advice on going into Canada and returning through US Customs is a little shaky. As a US Customs Agent in Bermuda told me, "anybody with a scanner and a color printer can dummy up an invoice." To extend that thinking, and remember you are dealing with Homeland Security, your license means that you have a license...period. It means absolutely nothing to the Customs Agent regarding what you are bringing into the US. Officially, your papers, as they say, are not in order. If you are planning on taking your gear out of the good ol' US of A (even to Canada)...the only way to guarantee that you'll clear US Customs with no problems, is by showing the agent a Department of Homeland Security CPB Form 4457 aka Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad. This form is available the the web...you can Google it. You complete the form describing the articles you're taking overseas including serial numbers...then you have to go to a Customs Office to have the items inspected. I live near Youngstown, Ohio...the nearest Customs Office was at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Pain in the ass? Certainly! But remember, US Customs has the right to impound anything they deem as questionable...it's up to YOU to prove it's not. *73, Ray-ND8L, occasionally ND8L/VP9* 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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I did this once with a camera. It was good forever. What I have to say here is my belief and I am not a lawyer.
The signature has to be by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official. I have not tried this at a Canadian crossing, but if you stop before the Canadian barrier and go to the US post there they should be able to sign it for you. The intent of this form is to certify that it had legally entered the US and by implication all duty had been paid. Note that the form refers to dutiable items. Elecraft equipment is manufactured in the US and so by its very nature is not dutiable on its return to the US thus this form is not applicable. Proof of US origin would be. When I registered a camera at O'hare customs office they rather treated me as a pain in the donkey but signed it anyway. I have traveled many times with groups where many people had expensive Japanese cameras and never saw one challenged. Again I am not a lawyer, but I have never heard of this being a problem. But it would not hurt to have the paper. David K0LUM On Mar 13, 2014, at 11:32 AM, Edward R Cole wrote: > Ray, > > I guess it has changed a lot since the time I flew to Winnipeg from Minneapolis in 1999. I specifically telephoned the Canadian customs in Winnipeg to check requirements since I was bringing along a radio to a conference. That is when I discovered the main issue was returning to the US. At that time it was recommended to have invoices showing proof of ownership. > > But, alas, Homeland Security did not yet exist. So I wonder if there is a Custom's Office in Anchorage or will I have to fly to Seattle to find one? Hopefully, the form 4457 is valid for more than one trip! > > My point about having a passport for travel into Canada should be noted. Used to be only a US Drivers license was needed. > > A K3 would not, but the discussion had folks talking about smaller radios like the KX3, FT-817, HT's which could be taken to look like cell phones. I've never had a HT or my FT-817 questioned by TSA. But I stopped taking my home-built 10-GHz portable station in Pelican case as the mass wires and HB switches and lights likely would not pass. I cannot take that chance after traveling 4-hours by road to the airport and parking my vehicle off airport. So I ship it ahead by Fedex if I travel with it. > > 73, Ed - KL7UW ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by Edward R Cole
I forgot to add that there is a customs office anywhere people on flights or in cars get admitted to the US.
At O'Hare I just went to where the passengers from foreign flights came out into the terminal. David K0LUM On Mar 13, 2014, at 11:32 AM, Edward R Cole wrote: > But, alas, Homeland Security did not yet exist. So I wonder if there is a Custom's Office in Anchorage or will I have to fly to Seattle to find one? Hopefully, the form 4457 is valid for more than one trip! ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by David Christ
On 3/13/2014 11:38 AM, David Christ wrote:
> Again I am not a lawyer, but I have never heard of this being a problem. But it would not hurt to have the paper. Sometimes even the paper doesn't help. Many years ago, when I worked for the Feds, I had to ship agency-owned Japanese-made electronic equipment to Guam on a job - Guam is outside the US for customs purposes. Shipping the stuff back to San Francisco, I went to the airline's air freight office with the proper paperwork showing that it has been purchased in the US and was owned by "the gov'ment" but they refused to release the shipment to me unless I used the services of a registered Customs broker! Fortunately I noticed that the Customs duty officer on the floor was someone who I recognized by sight (our offices were in the downtown Customs House) so he was able to get that requirement waived. I had never heard of the "must use a Customs broker" requirement before and yes, I am a lawyer.... :) -- -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by David Christ
On 3/13/2014 11:42 AM, David Christ wrote:
> I forgot to add that there is a customs office anywhere people on flights or in cars get admitted to the US. Some are only staffed part-time even though the field is called an "International Airport". > At O'Hare I just went to where the passengers from foreign flights came out into the terminal. Was that outside or inside the TSA - controlled area? My recollection of airports is that no one gets "inside" the TSA departure area without a ticket and no one from outside gets into the TSA/CBP - controlled arrival area. -- -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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The setup at O'Hare was a final door from the customs area a short corridor to where you would meet anyone expecting you. There was a door in the corridor to the customs office area. I asked and they let me go in that door. This was not the area where any passenger processing was done. They may well have remodeled by now.
David K0LUM On Mar 13, 2014, at 2:24 PM, Phil Kane wrote: > On 3/13/2014 11:42 AM, David Christ wrote: > >> I forgot to add that there is a customs office anywhere people on flights or in cars get admitted to the US. > > Some are only staffed part-time even though the field is called an > "International Airport". > >> At O'Hare I just went to where the passengers from foreign flights came out into the terminal. > > Was that outside or inside the TSA - controlled area? My recollection > of airports is that no one gets "inside" the TSA departure area without > a ticket and no one from outside gets into the TSA/CBP - controlled > arrival area. > -- -- > 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane > Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 > > From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest > Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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