Questions tagged [customs-and-immigration]

Customs and immigration covers a range of border control procedures (referred to as 'immigration' in most countries) and import of goods. Prefer a more specific tag where appropriate, some examples of which are listed under tag info.

  • immigration / passport control
    • which deals with people, such as checking of passports and in some cases visas
  • customs
    • which deals with goods, such as imports taxes or contraband

Customs is generally the term used when dealing with the import and export of goods; issues such as taxes, prohibited items, etc.

Immigration is the process by which people are authorized to cross international borders. This includes checks such as travel documents (passports, travel passes) and the ability to entry a country or territory (visas, and visa exceptions).

This tag should be used when your question involves general issues with customs and immigration. Customs and immigration covers border control issues and types of goods allowed to be brought into a country and taxation rules related to them, if any.

More specific tags currently in use include:

4059 questions
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Traveling with friend/roommate, do we go through Immigration separately or together?

I will be traveling to Thailand and Japan with my friend/roommate. We booked our tickets together. My question is, when going through Immigration and Customs at our destination, do we go through together as a 'single family' or is it okay to go…
Nicee Chapin
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Do you go through customs when returning to your country if you never entered any others (by sea)?

For example, if I as a Canadian took a sail boat with infinite supplies, left Halifax, NS and did a giant loop of the Atlantic Ocean never getting within 200 NM of any other country (thereby leaving both territorial waters and the exclusive economic…
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Did not declare jewelry from Aruba

I bought a set of rings in Aruba. I traded my wedding rings in on the set. They told me not to declare them they were going to send the paper work to me in the mail. I got a receipt, and we got back on the ship. Meanwhile, they had told the…
Brenda
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Do immigration officers have the authority to inspect your electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops)?

Do immigration officers have the authority to inspect your electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops)? I've heard that ever since the 9/11 attacks, immigration officers in many countries (in particular Anglophone nations) have being granted…
Eric Hernandez
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Are United Airlines employees authorized to ask TSA screening questions?

While I was waiting at my gate (after security check) to fly to San Francisco from Europe, the gate agent asked me to go to a "Document Check" station manned by other United Airlines employees. At this station, the employee asked me to show not just…
Heisenberg
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Which line at British airports serves British National (Overseas) passport holders?

Jul 22 2020. Britain unveils details of citizenship offer for Hongkongers with BN(O) passports | South China Morning Post “At the same time, it is not an unconditional offer,” Patel said, as BN(O) holders will need to be self-sufficient in the…
nuyhik
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Does Customs still check anyone?

I have done plenty of international travel in my lifetime. In the last 12 months alone, I have flown over 75,000 miles, all international, at least 10 countries (I've lost count). I've crossed countless borders, passports control, all of that. And…
Unknown Coder
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If denied boarding, can the official check via computer if your visa is up to date ? For example when you last entered that country?

My friend was travelling from Dar Es Salaam to the UK and does this annually. He is African and has "An indefinite leave to remain" visa. His wife and children live in the UK. He used Turkish Airlines and was denied boarding the Manchester plane…
Chris Knibbs
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Is it subject to customs if I buy something and go to next country?

I want to purchase a new Mac in Hong Kong, which is above the threshold of filing for customs in Japan. However, how about the case of buying it in Hong Kong, and then moving to another country? In this case, do I have to file at the next country,…
Blaszard
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Permanent residence elsewhere as a condition for entry with a tourist visa

My wife and I have this plan: retire, sell our home, and travel abroad indefinitely. We'll have no permanent physical residence. We are US citizens, and our legal residence and domicile will be in Florida, where we'll have driver's licenses and…
FlanMan
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In the US customs declaration form, is H1 B visa holder resident or visitor

The cbp.gov website doesn't have clear instructions on who is considered a resident vs visitor for customs purposes. There is limited information online regarding the same. Can somebody please clarify?
Sri
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What's the likelihood that CBP checks my phone with advanced techniques such as seeing deleted files?

A few months ago a Palestinian guy was seized his phone and then denied entry to the US because an agent saw anti-US propaganda posts shared by his friends on FB, so from this stance one should log out from any account he rebukes or makes fun of the…
us er
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Canadian customs exception: shipping?

While Process for valuing items for customs purposes at the Canadian border discusses how an item is valued and one of the answers has if you recently bought it, determining the value is simple: look on the receipt, perform a currency conversion,…
user4188
6
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Passing immigration & going straight back

I have two questions pertaining to immigration. I'm asking this because I want to pick up my son who lives in another country and go right back. If I have a ticket returning on the same flight as I came. Can I board that flight without passing…
dan-klasson
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Leaving the USA after the visa waiver expired?

I came to the USA to see my long-distance partner. I am from Australia, 21 and came on the visa waiver program (the 90 days period) in March 2014. It was meant to be a visiting trip, but he proposed to me out of the blue and I accepted. Being…
Kate
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