Should I declare chocolate as “food” when entering the US?
It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?
It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):
I am (We are) bringing:
fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects
I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.
usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
add a comment |
It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?
It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):
I am (We are) bringing:
fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects
I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.
usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
Related question, same foodstuff, different country, slightly different question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/…
– Andrew Grimm
5 mins ago
add a comment |
It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?
It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):
I am (We are) bringing:
fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects
I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.
usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?
It is under the following entry in the form (yeah, together with insects, right):
I am (We are) bringing:
fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects
I've been always checking it but that just gets us into more lines and triggers extra questions after getting to the baggage check.
usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs
usa customs-and-immigration food-and-drink local-customs
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
asked 5 hours ago
alecxe
19416
19416
Related question, same foodstuff, different country, slightly different question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/…
– Andrew Grimm
5 mins ago
add a comment |
Related question, same foodstuff, different country, slightly different question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/…
– Andrew Grimm
5 mins ago
Related question, same foodstuff, different country, slightly different question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/…
– Andrew Grimm
5 mins ago
Related question, same foodstuff, different country, slightly different question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/…
– Andrew Grimm
5 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.
Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.
As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
3
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
add a comment |
a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."
b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.
Your choice.
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.
Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.
As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
3
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.
Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.
As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
3
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.
Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.
As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
Yes, according to US CBP officers, you should declare it as food. I'm bringing chocolate every time I fly from Europe.
Generally what happens next, is they ask what exactly do you bring, you say "chocolate" and they let you go.
As a general rule, if you are not sure whether something need to be declared or not, declare it. There are no penalties for declaring something which doesn't need to be declared.
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
answered 5 hours ago
George Y.
18.9k13077
18.9k13077
3
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
add a comment |
3
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
3
3
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
This is my experience as well. I sometimes volunteer that it’s prepackaged chocolate when I hand in the paperwork at customs, and they usually wave me through.
– Zach Lipton
5 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
If you say anything reasonable (e.g. "canned fish", "chocolate", "nuts", etc.) the CBP people will hardly raise their eyebrows.
– xuq01
4 hours ago
add a comment |
a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."
b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.
Your choice.
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
add a comment |
a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."
b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.
Your choice.
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
add a comment |
a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."
b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.
Your choice.
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
a) Chocolate, being a thing eaten by humans, is indeed "food."
b) If you say you're not carrying food, and your baggage is searched by Customs and the chocolate discovered, then they have you for lying on your Customs forms. That would be uncomfortable, possibly expensive, and could result entry to the US being delayed or denied.
Your choice.
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
answered 5 hours ago
David
1,7401315
1,7401315
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
The point a) is hilarious! You got me there :D Thanks!
– alecxe
5 hours ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
That's an important point that many people do not seem to know. If you do not declare something which you should have declared, you may be fined (or worse), sometimes even if the item is allowed! But if you declare it, then you won't be fined (or worse) even if the item is not allowed to enter the country. (Of course this doesn't include illegal things like weapons or drugs...) You might still have to pay tax or duty sometimes though.
– Michael Hampton
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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Related question, same foodstuff, different country, slightly different question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/…
– Andrew Grimm
5 mins ago