BBS水木清华站∶精华区
发信人: sunxt (天天＃天天上网天天等奖的天天), 信区: AdvancedEdu
标 题: Know Before You Go(1)
发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Sun Apr 26 13:05:14 1998) WWW-POST
------------------------------------------------------------
Know Before You Go!
------------------------------------------------------------
On behalf of U.S. Customs, let me wish you a wonderful trip. We know you
will be anxious to reach your destination upon your return, so we want to
do everything we can to facilitate your entry into the United States. You
are our customers, and we hope to serve you well by making your Customs
clearance as pleasant and unobtrusive as possible.
I hope this booklet will help you understand our mission to protect your
interests. Please read it carefully and don't hesitate to contact us if
there is anything you would like clarified.
With your help, we can protect our borders and the interests of all
citizens of this great nation. The Customs Service has an effect on nearly
every aspect of American life. We protect industry, trademarks, and
products; interdict illicit drugs; support the American farmer and the
environment by guarding against contaminated products and foodstuffs; and
for every dollar provided to this agency, we return approximately $20
directly to the U.S. Treasury.
I am proud of this agency's heritage and its continued commitment to
serving and protecting you. If you have any suggestions, questions, or
problems with the Customs Service, do not hesitate to contact us. We have
over 300 ports around the country, and they are committed to helping you.
You can find our phone number in the federal government section of your
phone book, listed under the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your support.
Commissioner
U.S. Customs Service
------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS:
* Warning/Penalties
* Undervaluation
* Failure to Declare
* Seizures and Forfeitures
* Your Declaration
* Oral
* Written
* Family
* Your Exemption
* Gifts
* Accompanying You
* Mailed to friends, relatives, business associates, etc.
* Duty on Articles Not Covered by Your Exemption
* Household Effects
* Prohibited and Restricted Articles
* Customs Pointers
* Money/Monetary Instruments
* Duty Free Shopping
* Complaints
* Passenger Service Representative Program
* Passports/Other Country Info
* U.S. Customs Service Locations
WARNING!
If you understate the value of an article you declare, or if you otherwise
misrepresent an article in your declaration, you may have to pay a penalty
in addition to payment of duty. Under certain circumstances, the article
could be seized and retained by Customs if the penalty is not paid.
It is well known that some merchants abroad offer travelers invoices or
bills of sale showing false or understated values. This practice not only
delays your Customs examination, but can result in civil and/or criminal
penalties.
If you fail to declare an article acquired abroad, not only is the article
subject to seizure and/or retention, but you will be liable for a personal
penalty in an amount equal to the value of the article in the United
States. In addition, you may also be liable for criminal prosecution.
Don't rely on advice given by persons outside the Customs Service. It may
be misleading. You could violate Customs laws and incur costly penalties.
Any questions should be directed to the nearest Customs Office before you
leave or upon entry into the United States.
If in doubt about whether an article should be declared, always declare it
first and then direct your question to the Customs inspector. If in doubt
about the value of an article, declare the article at the actual price paid
(transaction value).
Customs inspectors routinely handle tourist items and become acquainted
with the foreign prices. Moreover, current commercial prices of foreign
items are available at all times and on-the-spot comparisons of these
values can be made.
Be wary of an individual who asks you to carry an item back to the United
States. You are responsible for everything in your possession when you
clear Customs. Packages from other individuals have been known to contain
contraband and/or currency. You would be responsible for any penalties that
may be assessed on these packages.
Play it safe - Declare it All
Your Declaration
You must declare all articles acquired during your trip and in your
possession at the time of your return. This includes:
* Articles that you purchased.
* Articles presented to you while abroad, such as wedding and birthday
presents or inherited items.
* Articles purchased in duty-free shops or on board a carrier.
* Repairs or alterations made to any articles taken abroad and returned,
whether or not repairs or alterations were free of charge.
* Items you have been requested to bring home for another person.
* All articles you intend to sell or use in your business. Promotional
items and samples for Customs purposes are only those items that are
valued at $1 or less.
In addition, you must declare any articles acquired in the U.S. Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, Guam or a country of the Caribbean Basin Economic
Recovery Act and not accompanying you at the time of your return.
The price actually paid for each article must be stated on your declaration
in U.S. currency or its equivalent in the country of acquisition. The
stated price must include any "value added tax" (VAT) if it was not
refunded prior to arrival. If the article was not purchased, obtain an
estimate of its fair retail value in the country in which it was acquired.
Note: The wearing or use of any article acquired abroad does not exempt it
from duty. It must be declared at the price you paid for it.
Oral Declaration
Customs declaration forms are distributed on vessels and planes and should
be prepared in advance of arrival for presentation to Immigration and
Customs inspectors. You may declare orally to the Customs inspector the
articles you acquired abroad if the articles are accompanying you and have
not exceeded the duty-free exemption allowed. A Customs officer may,
however, ask you to prepare a written list of the articles.
Written Declaration
A written declaration will be necessary when:
* The total fair retail value of articles acquired abroad exceeds your
personal exemption.
* More than one liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages, 200
cigarettes (one carton), and 100 cigars are included.
* Some of the items are not intended for your personal or household use,
such as commercial samples, items for sale or use in your business, or
articles you are bringing home for another person.
* Articles acquired in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam or
a Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act country are being sent to the
United States.
* A Customs duty or Internal Revenue Tax is collectible on any article
in your possession.
* A Customs officer requests a written list of articles acquired.
* You have used your exemption in the last 30 days.
Family Declaration
The head of a family may make a joint declaration for all members residing
in the same household and returning together to the United States. Family
members making a joint declaration may combine their personal exemptions.
For example, Mrs. Smith purchased an item for $600, but Mr. Smith only
purchased $200 worth of merchandise. Mr. and Mrs. Smith may combine their
$400 exemptions and will not have to pay duty on the items they acquired.
Infants and children returning to the United States are entitled to the
same exemptions as adults (except for alcoholic beverages). Children born
abroad, who have never resided in the United States, are entitled to the
Customs exemptions granted nonresidents.
Visitors to the United States should obtain the leaflet Visiting the U.S.,
Customs Requirements for Non-Residents.
Military and civilian personnel of the U.S. Government should obtain the
leaflet Customs Highlights for Government Personnel for information about
their Customs exemptions when returning from an extended duty assignment
abroad.
Your Exemptions
In clearing U.S. Customs, a traveler is considered either a "returning
resident of the United States" or a "nonresident."
Generally speaking, if you leave the United States for purposes of
traveling, working or studying abroad and return to resume residency in the
United States, you are considered a returning resident by Customs.
However, U.S. residents living abroad temporarily are entitled to be
classified as nonresidents, and thus receive more liberal Customs
exemptions, on short visits to the United States, provided they export any
foreign-acquired items at the completion of their visit.
Residents of American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, who are
American citizens, are also considered as returning U.S. residents.
Articles acquired abroad and brought into the United States are subject to
applicable duty and Internal Revenue Tax, but as a returning resident you
are allowed certain exemptions from the payment of duty on items obtained
while abroad.
Exemptions
Articles totaling $400, $600 or $1200, depending on your trip, may be
entered free of duty, subject to the limitations on liquors, cigarettes,
and cigars, if:
* Articles were acquired during your trip for your personal or household
use.
* You bring the articles with you at the time of your return to the
United States and they are properly declared to Customs. Articles
purchased and left for alterations or other reasons cannot be applied
to your $400 exemption when shipped to follow at a later date. The
flat rate of duty does not apply to mailed articles. Duty is assessed
when received.
* You are returning from a stay abroad of at least 48 hours. Example: A
resident who leaves United States territory at 1:30 p.m. on June 1st
would complete the required 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3rd.
This time limitation does not apply if you are returning from Mexico
or the Virgin Islands of the U.S.
* You have not used either the $400, $600 or $1200 exemption, or any
part of it, within the preceding 30-day period. Also, your exemption
is not cumulative. If you use a portion of your exemption on entering
the United States, then you must wait 30 days before you are entitled
to another exemption, other than a $200 exemption.
* Articles are not prohibited or restricted.
$400 Exemption
Residents of the U.S. who meet the above conditions are entitled to a $400
dollar exemption from paying duty on goods that would otherwise be
dutiable. This means that articles acquired abroad with a total value of up
to $400 will be admitted duty-free, as long as they accompany you.
(Purchases you mail home have a different exemption, see the sections on
Gifts and Customs Pointers for more information.)
Additional acquisitions may qualify for duty-free treatment under other
exemption authorities, such as the Generalized System of Preferences, which
awards duty-free treatment to many goods from developing countries. Fine
art (not handicrafts) and antiques over 100 years old are commonly acquired
items that also do not require the payment of duty.
This means that a resident could spend more than $400 and still not be
charged duty on any purchases when reentering the U.S. For instance, a
traveler buys a $300 gold bracelet, a $40 hat, and a $60 purse. Duty would
not be charged on these items, because they qualify for the $400 exemption.
In addition, this same traveler buys a $200 unframed painting. Because fine
art is not subject to duty, the traveler will be able to bring in $600
worth of goods without paying any duty. (Be aware, if the painting is
framed, duty may be charged on the value of the frame.)
$1200 Exemptions
If you return directly or indirectly from a U.S. insular possession -
American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands - you may receive a
Customs exemption of $1200. You may also bring in 1,000 cigarettes, but
only 200 of them may have been acquired elsewhere.
$600 Exemption
If you are returning directly from any of the following 24 beneficiary
countries, your customs exemption is $600:
Antigua and Barbuda El Salvador Netherlands, Antilles
Aruba Grenada Nicaragua
Bahamas Guatemala Panama
Barbados Guyana Saint Kitts and Nevis
Belize Haiti Saint Lucia
Costa Rica Honduras Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Dominica Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago
Dominican Republic Montserrat Virgin Islands, British
In the case of the $1200 exemption, up to $600 worth of the merchandise may
have been obtained in any of the beneficiary countries listed above, or up
to $400 in any other country. For example, if you traveled to the U.S.
Virgin Islands and Jamaica and then returned home, you would be entitled to
bring in $1200 worth of merchandise duty-free. Of this amount, $600 worth
may have been acquired in Jamaica.
In the case of the $600 exemption for the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery
Act countries, up to $400 worth of merchandise may have been acquired in
other foreign countries. For instance, if you travel to England and the
Bahamas, and then return home, your exemption is $600, $400 of which may
have been acquired in England.
$200 Exemption
If you cannot claim the $400, $600, or $1200 exemption because of the
30-day or 48-hour minimum limitations, you may bring in free of duty and
tax articles acquired abroad for your personal or household use if the
total fair retail value does not exceed $200. This is an individual
exemption and may not be grouped with other members of a family on one
Customs declaration.
You may include any of the following: 50 cigarettes, 10 cigars, 150
milliliters (4 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages, or 150 milliliters (4 fl.
oz.) of perfume containing alcohol.
If any article brought with you is subject to duty or tax, or if the total
value of all dutiable articles exceeds $200, no article may be exempted
from duty or tax.
Cigars and Cigarettes: Not more than 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes (one
carton) may be included in your $400 exemption. (See other exemption levels
for exceptions.) Products of Cuban origin may be included if purchased in
Cuba. This exemption is available to each person. Your cigarettes, however,
may be subject to a tax imposed by state and local authorities.
Liquor: One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in
the $400 exemption if:
* You are 21 years of age or older.
* It is for your own use or for use as a gift.
* It is not in violation of the laws of the state in which you arrive.
(See other exemption levels for exceptions.)
Note: Most states restrict the quantity of alcoholic beverages you may
import. If the state in which you arrive permits less liquor than you have
legally brought into the United States, that state's laws prevail.
Information about state restrictions and taxes should be obtained from the
state government as laws vary from state to state.
Alcoholic beverages in excess of the one-liter limitation are subject to
duty and Internal Revenue Tax.
Shipping alcoholic beverages by mail is prohibited by United States postal
laws. Alcoholic beverages include wine and beer as well as distilled
spirits.
Gifts
Gifts accompanying you are considered to be for your personal use and may
be included in your exemption. This includes gifts given to you by others
while abroad and those you intend to give to others after you return. Gifts
intended for business, promotional or other commercial purposes may not be
included.
Bona fide gifts of not more than $100 in fair retail value may be shipped
and received by friends and relatives in the United States free of duty and
tax, if the same person does not receive more than $100 in gift shipments
in one day. The "day" in reference is the day in which the parcel(s) are
received for Customs processing. This amount is increased to $200 if
shipped from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam. You do not
declare these gifts upon your return to the United States.
Perfume containing alcohol and valued at more than $5 retail, tobacco
products, and alcoholic beverages are excluded from the gift provision.
Gifts intended for more than one person may be shipped in the same package
provided they are individually wrapped and labeled with the name of the
recipient.
Be sure the outer wrapping of the package is marked: 1) unsolicited gift,
2) nature of the gift, and 3) its fair retail value. In addition, a
consolidated gift parcel should be marked as such on the outside with the
names of the recipients listed and the value of each gift. This will
facilitate Customs clearance of your package.
If any article imported in the gift parcel is subject to duty and tax, or
should any single gift within a consolidated package exceed the bona fide
gift allowance, then that gift will be dutiable.
You, as a traveler, cannot send a "gift" parcel to yourself nor can persons
traveling together send "gifts" to each other. Gifts ordered by mail from
the United States do not qualify under this duty-free gift provision and
are subject to duty.
If a parcel is subject to duty, the United States Postal Service will
collect the duty plus handling charges. Duty cannot be prepaid.
Duty on Articles Not Covered by Your Exemption
Duty preferences are granted to certain developing countries under the
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Some products from these countries
have been exempted from duty which would otherwise be collected if imported
from any other country. For details, obtain the leaflet GSP & The Traveler
from your nearest Customs office. Many products of certain Caribbean and
Andean countries are also exempt from duty under the Caribbean Basin
Initiative and Andean Trade Preference Act. Most products of Israel may
enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced duty rate.
Check with Customs.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented on January
1, 1994. U.S. residents returning directly or indirectly from Canada or
Mexico are eligible for free or reduced duty rates as applicable, on goods
originating in Canada or Mexico as defined in the Agreement.
Personal belongings of United States origin are entitled entry free of
duty. Personal belongings taken abroad, such as worn clothing, etc., may be
sent home by mail before you return and receive free entry provided they
have not been altered or repaired while abroad. These packages should be
marked "American Goods Returned." When a claim of United States origin is
made, marking on the article to so indicate facilitates Customs processing.
Foreign-made personal articles taken abroad are dutiable each time they are
brought into our country unless you have acceptable proof of prior
possession. Documents which fully describe the article, such as a bill of
sale, insurance policy, jeweler's appraisal, or receipt for purchase, may
be considered reasonable proof of prior possession.
Items such as watches, cameras, tape recorders, or other articles which may
be readily identified by serial number or permanently affixed markings, may
be taken to the Customs office nearest you and registered before your
departure. The Certificate of Registration (CF 4457) provided will expedite
free entry of these items when you return. Keep the certificate as it is
valid for any future trips as long as the information on it remains
legible.
Registration cannot be accomplished by telephone nor can blank registration
forms be given or mailed to you to be filled out at a later time.
Vehicles, boats, planes, or other vehicles taken abroad for noncommercial
use may be returned duty free by proving to the Customs officer that you
took them out of the United States. This proof may be the state
registration card for an automobile, the Federal Aviation Administration
certificate for an aircraft, a yacht license or motorboat identification
certificate for a pleasure boat, or a Customs certificate of registration
obtained before departure.
Dutiable repairs or accessories acquired abroad for articles taken out of
the United States must be declared on your return.
Warning: Catalytic-equipped vehicles (1976 or later model years) driven
outside the United States, Canada, or Mexico will not, in most cases, meet
EPA standards when brought back to the United States. As unleaded fuel
generally is not available in other countries, the catalytic converter will
become inoperative and must be replaced. Contact Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, D.C. 20460, for details and exceptions.
Your local Customs office has the following leaflets which will be of
interest - "Importing a Car" and "Pleasure Boats." You may purchase Customs
Guide for Private Flyers from your local Government Printing Office
bookstore. Consult your local telephone book under "U.S. Government."
Household effects and tools of trade or occupation which you take out of
the United States are duty free at the time you return if properly declared
and entered.
All furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, linens, and similar household
furnishings acquired abroad may be imported free of duty, if:
* They are not imported for another person or for sale.
* They have been used abroad by you for at least one year or were
available for use in a household in which you were a resident member
for one year. This privilege does not include articles placed in
storage outside the home. The year of use need not be continuous nor
does it need to be the year immediately preceding the date of
importation. Shipping time may not be included when you compute the
"one year of use."
Items such as wearing apparel, jewelry, photograph equipment, tape
recorders, stereo components, and vehicles are considered personal articles
and cannot be passed free of duty as household effects, although the duty
rate on them will be assessed on. devalued basis according to age of the
item.
Articles imported in excess of your Customs exemption will be subject to
duty unless the items are entitled to free entry or prohibited.
The inspector will place the items having the highest rate of duty under
your exemption, and duty will be assessed on the lower-rated items.
After deducting your exemptions and the value of any articles duty free, a
flat 10 percent rate of duty will be applied to the next $1,000 worth (fair
retail value) of merchandise. Any dollar amount of an article or articles
over $1,000 will be dutiable at the various rates of duty applicable to the
articles.
Articles to which the flat rate of duty is applied must be for your
personal use or for use as gifts. You cannot receive this flat-rate
provision more than once every 30 days, excluding the day of your last
arrival.
There are special flate rates of duty for articles made in and acquired in
either Canada or Mexico.
The flat rate of duty is 5% for articles purchased in the U.S. Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, or Guam, whether the articles accompany you or are
shipped.
Example: You acquire goods valued at $2,500 from:
U.S. insular possessions:
Total Declared Value: $2,500
Personal Exemption up to: $1,200
Flat duty rate at 5%: next $1,000
Various rates of duty: remaining $300
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act:
Total Declared Value: $2,500
Personal exemption (free of duty) up to: $ 600
Flat duty rate at 10%: next $1,000
Various rates of duty: remaining $ 900
Other countries or locations:
Total Declared Value: $2,500
Personal exemption (free of duty) up to: $ 400
Flat duty rate at 10%: next $1,000
Various rates of duty: remaining $1,100
The flat rate of duty will apply to any articles which are dutiable and
cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not
exceeded the dollar amount of your exemption. Example: you are returning
from Europe with $200 worth of articles which includes 2 liters of liquor.
One liter will be free of duty under your exemption, the other dutiable at
10%, plus any Internal Revenue Tax.
Members of a family residing in one household traveling together on their
return to the U.S. will group articles for application of the flat duty
rate, no matter which family member may be the owner of the articles.
Rates of duty on imported goods are provided for in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States. There are two duty rates for each item,
known as "column 1" and "column 2." Column 1 rates vary from free (prism
binoculars, books, antiques) to 34.6% (man-made fiber wearing apparel) and
are applicable to most favored nations. Column 2 rates are higher and apply
to products from the following countries:
Afghanistan North Korea
Cuba Laos
Note: The tariff duty status accorded these countries is subject to change.
Please check with Customs for updated information.
Products of the above-listed column 2 countries are dutiable at the column
2 rates of duty, even if purchased in or sent from another country.
Example: A crystal vase made in Laos and purchased in Switzerland would be
dutiable at the column 2 rate. If the article accompanies you, however, it
may be entered under your duty-free personal exemption or the flat rate of
duty allowance.
Payment of duty, required at the time of your arrival on articles
accompanying you, may be made by any of the following ways:
* U.S. currency (foreign currency is not acceptable).
* Personal check in the exact amount of duty, drawn on a national or
state bank or trust company of the United States, made payable to the
"U.S. Customs Service."
* Government check, money orders or traveler's checks are acceptable if
they do not exceed the duty amount by more than $50. [Second
endorsements are not acceptable. Identification must be presented;
e.g. traveler's passport or driver's license.]
* In some locations you may pay duty with credit cards from Mastercard
or VISA.
Goods covered by an ATA Carnet: Residents returning to the U.S. with goods
covered by an ATA Carnet are reminded to report to a Customs inspector upon
their arrival. The inspector will examine the covered goods against the
carnet and certify the appropriate reimportation counterfoil and voucher.
The carnet will serve as the Customs control registration document and no
entry or payment of duty will be necessary as long as the goods qualify as
U.S. goods returned and are being brought back into the United States
within the validity period of the carnet. (See Customs pamphlet "ATA
Carnet").
※ 来源:·BBS 水木清华站 bbs.net.tsinghua.edu.cn·[FROM: w205wzs.nju.edu.cn]
BBS水木清华站∶精华区