Owais Crawford
Customs and immigration are checkpoints that international travellers must pass through before exiting the airport. Immigration checks your passport and right to enter a country, while customs checks the items you're carrying to ensure they're legal and within limits. Customs officers may ask about your trip and search your belongings for contraband. You may be asked for your laptop password or phone unlock code. If you feel your rights are being violated, you can ask to speak to a lawyer or a CBP supervisor.
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What You'll Learn
Declare goods and fill out customs forms
Customs checks the items you're carrying to ensure they're legal and within limits. This includes items like alcohol, tobacco, gifts, meat, produce, and certain plants. Anything you bought, inherited, or received as a gift while travelling may need to be declared at customs. Failing to declare prohibited items could result in fines or penalties, especially for high-value goods.
When arriving at your destination airport, you'll likely be asked a variety of questions by an immigration agent, such as whether your trip is for business or pleasure, how long you'll be staying, and what cities you'll be visiting. You may also be asked similar questions on your way back home, such as where you visited and what you're bringing back.
If you're travelling to the United States, you must complete the CBP Declaration Form 6059B, which provides basic information about who you are and what you're bringing into the country, such as agricultural and wildlife products. If you're travelling with immediate family members, you can complete one form for your entire family. It's important to keep all your purchase receipts handy in your carry-on bag to ease this process.
In some cases, you may not need to speak with a customs officer if you have nothing to declare. However, it's always important to be prepared and understand the regulations of the country you're visiting to ensure a smooth customs process.
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Present your passport
When travelling, it's important to keep your passport handy at all times. You will need to present your passport at various points during your journey, including at airport customs. Customs and immigration are checkpoints that international travellers must pass through before leaving the airport. Immigration checks your passport and your right to enter a country, while customs checks the items you're carrying to ensure they're legal and within limits.
You will typically need to present your passport at customs when arriving in a foreign country and again when returning to your home country. In some cases, you may go through customs before boarding your flight. For example, when flying from Ireland to the United States, you will go through US customs in Ireland. However, when arriving in the US from most other countries, you will go through customs upon your first arrival in the US, even if you have a connecting flight. Sometimes, you won't go through customs until you reach your final destination.
Upon arriving at the customs desk, you may be asked a variety of questions by the customs officer. These questions may include the purpose of your trip, the length of your stay, your occupation, and the cities you plan to visit. You may also be asked about your religious or political beliefs, although you have the right to decline to answer these questions. Customs officers may also search your belongings for contraband or prohibited items, such as certain types of food, plants, alcohol, tobacco, or gifts. It is important to declare any prohibited items to avoid fines or penalties.
In addition to presenting your passport at airport customs, you may also need to show your passport at check-in, baggage claim, security, and when boarding your flight. Each country has its own identification process, so it is important to keep your passport easily accessible throughout your journey.
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Answer questions about your trip
Customs officers are responsible for enforcing immigration and customs laws. They verify identities, determine the purpose of visits, and ensure compliance with entry requirements.
Purpose of the trip
The purpose of a trip could change the type of visa required for entering the country, or subject travellers to different regulations. It is important to be honest about the purpose of your trip. A dishonest answer could result in detention or even expulsion from a foreign country.
Duration of the trip
Customs officers may ask about the length of your stay to assess if you qualify to enter the country, and if the visa you are holding is appropriate for your stay. Knowing your travel dates and when you plan to leave the country is important.
Place of accommodation
Providing the address of where you will be staying is important. Very generic answers such as "at a hostel" or "with a friend" may raise red flags for officers. Having detailed stay information on hand can help travellers clear customs faster.
Occupation and reason for travel
If travelling for work-related reasons, be ready to explain your occupation and the nature of your business in the country. Certain occupations, such as "journalist" or "law enforcement", could result in follow-up questions.
Cities you'll be visiting
Officers may ask about the cities you plan to visit during your stay.
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Know your rights
When entering the United States from abroad, it is important to know your basic constitutional rights. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) claims the authority to search and confiscate electronic devices, such as laptops and mobile phones, upon entry to the United States. They may also request passwords or ask travellers to unlock their devices.
While U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to provide passwords or unlock devices, they may be detained, and their devices may be seized for weeks or months. Lawful permanent residents should also not be denied entry without a hearing before an immigration judge. However, refusing to cooperate may affect travel, and foreign nationals may be denied entry. If your devices are seized, ask for a custody receipt, which officers are required to issue.
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you only need to answer questions establishing your identity, citizenship, or permanent residency, in addition to customs-related questions. You do not have to answer questions about your religious beliefs and practices or political opinions. Officers may not select you for a personal search or secondary inspection based on your religion, race, national origin, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs. If you are a non-citizen visa holder or visitor, you may decline to answer such questions, but this may lead to delays, additional questioning, or denial of entry.
If you are told you cannot enter the country and fear persecution or torture upon return to your country of origin, inform the customs officer and ask for asylum. If the officers' questions become intrusive or improper, you should complain and ask to speak to a supervisor. Although CBP maintains that travellers are not entitled to an attorney during primary and secondary inspection, you can ask to contact one if you feel your rights are being violated or if you have been detained for an extended period. If you are under arrest or suspected of a crime, ask to speak to a lawyer before answering further questions, and exercise your right to remain silent if you wish.
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Ask for asylum if you fear persecution
Asylum is a form of protection granted to individuals who can demonstrate that they are unable or unwilling to return to their country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. To be granted asylum in the US, one must meet the definition of a refugee. Asylum seekers may be of any age, gender, socio-economic status, or nationality, although most come from regions suffering from conflict, disaster, and weak rule of law.
If you are seeking asylum at a US airport, you will likely encounter Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, as well as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, who are part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). You will need to inform the CBP inspections officer that you fear returning to your country and wish to apply for asylum.
It is important to note that various barriers have been erected in recent years, making it challenging to request asylum at a US port of entry. One significant issue is that CBP inspections officers have the power to quickly deem migrants inadmissible and deport them, with a ban on returning to the US for five years. Therefore, it is generally preferable to wait until you are in the US to apply for asylum.
If you are told that you cannot enter the country and fear persecution or torture if returned to your country of origin, you should inform the customs officer. You have the right to request asylum if you fear persecution, and your request will be assessed through a ""credible fear" interview conducted by a trained asylum officer. This interview aims to determine whether your fear of persecution is credible and if you have a significant possibility of winning your case.
If the asylum officer is not convinced of your fear, you can request a hearing before an immigration judge to move forward with your asylum claim. If the officer or judge finds that you have a credible fear of persecution, you will be scheduled for a full hearing. At this stage, it is recommended to seek an attorney to assist with your application and testimony.
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Frequently asked questions
Customs is a checkpoint international travelers must pass through before leaving the airport. Customs checks the items you're carrying to ensure they're legal and within limits.
At customs, an officer will verify your passport and validate your customs form. They may also ask you questions about your trip, such as the nature of your trip, where you're staying, and how long you plan on visiting.
If you feel your rights are being violated, you can ask to speak to a CBP supervisor or contact the CBP INFO Center at 877-227-5511. You can also have the telephone number of an attorney or legal services organization with you.
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