At the port of entry, customs officials will inspect the luggage carried by entrants for prohibited items and determine if duties are applicable.
Duty-Free Items
1、 Personal Effects:
Personal clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, hunting or fishing gear, cameras, portable radios, and other similar personal items intended solely for personal use may be exempt from duties. These items may accompany you upon entry and exit.
For those immigrating to the United States, personal items such as jewelry valued at $300 or more intended for personal use that have not been subject to customs duties may not be sold within 3 years. Such items sold before duties are paid will be seized and confiscated.
2、 Alcoholic Beverages:
Non-residents aged 21 or older may bring in 1 liter of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, or spirits duty-free, provided they are for personal use only. Quantities exceeding this limit will be subject to customs duties and internal revenue taxes.
Additionally, in addition to federal law, you must also comply with state laws regarding alcoholic beverages, which may be stricter than federal regulations.
3、 Tobacco Products:
Travelers may bring in duty-free one carton of cigarettes (200 cigarettes), or 50 cigars, or 2 liters (4.4 pounds) of tobacco, or a proportional amount of the aforementioned items.
Cigars produced in Cuba are prohibited from entering the United States, whether for personal use or as gifts.
4、 Household Goods:
Household items such as furniture, tableware, books, and artwork may be imported duty-free.
5、 Duty-Free Gifts:
Non-residents may bring in gifts valued at no more than $100 duty-free. To qualify for this exemption, you must remain in the United States for at least 72 hours, and the gifts must accompany you during this period. To facilitate inspection by customs officials, do not gift-wrap your items.
6、 Mailed Gifts:
Gifts mailed from another country or a Caribbean beneficiary country with a retail value not exceeding $100 are exempt from duties. If the gift is mailed from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam, the duty-free allowance may be up to $200. Gifts exceeding these values will be subject to duties. Note: Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and perfumes containing alcohol are not covered by these provisions.
7、 Items Purchased at Duty-Free Shops:
Items purchased at duty-free shops, on aircraft, or on ships will be subject to customs duties if they exceed the quantity or value limits for duty-free items that an individual may carry.
When non-residents are transiting through the United States, personal items carried, including up to 4 liters of alcoholic beverages, may be exempt from duties if they are being transported to a destination outside the U.S. customs territory and the value of such items does not exceed $200.
Dutiable Items
Items exceeding the aforementioned duty-free allowances will be subject to duties. The calculation method is as follows: after deducting the value of duty-free items, the portion valued up to $1,000 will be subject to a flat duty rate of 3%, and the portion exceeding $1,000 will be taxed at the rate applicable to the specific commodity.
Items taxed at a flat rate must accompany you personally and be for your personal use or intended as gifts.
For items obtained in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, a flat duty rate of 5% applies, regardless of whether the items accompany you or are shipped to the U.S. mainland.
Prohibited or Restricted Items
1、 Biological Products:
The importation of unsterilized human and animal tissues (including blood, human or animal/plant excreta), live bacterial cultures, viruses or similar organisms, animals suspected of being infected with zoonotic diseases, insects, snails, and bats requires an import permit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
2、 Books, Audiovisual Materials, Computer Programs, and Tapes:
Pirated books, computer programs, and audiovisual products are prohibited from entering the United States; pirated products will be confiscated and destroyed.
3、 Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants:
Many fruits, vegetables, plants, cuttings, seeds, unprocessed plant products, and certain endangered species are generally prohibited from importation or require a permit. All plants, plant products, fruits, or vegetables must be declared to customs officials and are subject to inspection.
4、 Meat, Livestock, and Poultry:
Meat, livestock, poultry, and their by-products are generally prohibited from entry or are restricted based on the animal disease status of the country of origin. For canned meat products, entry is permitted if inspection officials can confirm that the product is cooked and commercially packaged. Other canned and cured meat products and dried meat products are strictly restricted from entry.
5、 Hunting Trophies:
If you intend to import hunting trophies or game, you generally need to obtain a permit in advance, and only specific ports of entry are authorized to handle the importation of such items.
6、 Currency:
If you are carrying monetary instruments (including coins and currency of the U.S. or other countries, traveler's checks, money orders, and negotiable securities, etc.) into the country with a total value exceeding $10,000, you must complete Custom Form 4790 and voluntarily declare it to customs. Failure to declare truthfully may result in civil and criminal penalties, including the confiscation of the currency and monetary instruments held.
7、 Pets:
Cats: Upon entry inspection, it must be proven that the animal is free of diseases communicable to humans. If the pet appears to be in poor health, a licensed veterinarian will conduct a further examination, with costs to be borne by the pet owner.
Dogs: Upon entry inspection, it must be proven that the animal is free of diseases communicable to humans and has been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to arrival (this requirement does not apply to puppies under 3 months old).
Privately owned pet birds: May be imported, but only two parrots are allowed. They must also meet the relevant requirements of APHIS and the Public Health Service, such as potential requirements for the pet owner to fund health and quarantine services at an APHIS facility.
Primates such as monkeys and apes are not allowed to be imported.
It is advisable to check with state and local authorities regarding regulations and restrictions on bringing pets. Some locations, such as the state of Hawaii, have strict health and quarantine requirements for pets.
8、 Fish and Wildlife:
Fish and wildlife are also subject to import/export controls and health/quarantine requirements, primarily including: wild birds, mammals, marine mammals, reptiles, crustaceans, fish, and mollusks; any parts or products of the aforementioned animals, such as leather, feathers, eggs, etc.; and products and items made from wildlife and fish.
Wild endangered species and products made therefrom are prohibited from import/export. Ivory or ivory products are generally prohibited from import/export. Antiques containing parts of wildlife may be imported if their history can be proven to be 100 years old.
