I sat on a flight to the US next to a lady who didn't speak much English. She was a lovely smiley lady dressed in rather cheap and worn clothes.
She was struggling to fill out the customs declaration form and kept pointing to a section on the back. Since that was the part requiring declaration of cash above a certain amount ($10k? can't remember) I kept telling her not to worry. I thought she'd misunderstood that she'd have to declare ANY cash.
Imagine my consternation when she hauled up her handbag and from its depths brandished the largest wad of cash I've ever seen. She announced to me (and anyone else around) that it was $18k. I was astonished and quite concerned she'd get mugged so tried to shush her and persuade her to put it back quickly. She didn't understand that either, and by the time the money went back in her bag, I reckon half the plane knew about it.
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I think you're supposed to declare these at LHR, assuming you're carrying them and not checking them in. There is allegedly a red phone point after the photo capture booth, but I've never seen it.
Well you clear customs at your final point of arrival (hence why at EDI, if you are a on a flight from London with a lot of connections, the bags come out on belt 6). The red channel is unlikely to be manned, but there is usually a telephone to call someone to tell them you have something to declare.
Never had to do it, don't know what happens at that point.
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Unlike some other airports such as EDI, your baggage won't be segregated at NCL.
There is indeed a red customs phone in T5. It is just after conformance / passports / e-photo on the back wall immediately before you go up the escalator to North Security. It's actually easier to see if transiting internationally, if on UK Fast Track it's easy to miss.
If all else fails, once in the baggage hall in NCL, pick up one of the phones on the side of the wall, dial 0 and ask to put through to HMRC.
I am travelling to NCL tomorrow (UUA to CW! ) and need to declare:
* some items purchased under the VAT refund scheme within the past twelve months
* > EUR 10k in cash with supporting documents.
What is the procedure for declaring these items? I have not seen a red channel at NCL before.
Also, how long will it take?
Many thanks in advance!
Wouldn't this question be best asked in another forum - it's not specific to BA and rather specific to HMRC
As has been discussed, you can declare these at LHR by picking up any of the Red HMRC telephones you will see around various points of T5. There is a VAT/HMRC Point on the Ground Level. Ask a BAA Rep/BA Customer Services for information in finding these points. Failing that, when you get to NCL, you can also use a red phone also in the baggage claim area.
If customs require coming out and stamping your form you may be in for a wait. Same at heathrow though.
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Unlike some other airports such as EDI, your baggage won't be segregated at NCL.
There is indeed a red customs phone in T5. It is just after conformance / passports / e-photo on the back wall immediately before you go up the escalator to North Security. It's actually easier to see if transiting internationally, if on UK Fast Track it's easy to miss.
If all else fails, once in the baggage hall in NCL, pick up one of the phones on the side of the wall, dial 0 and ask to put through to HMRC.
It's not segregated at EDI, all the bags from BA flights usually get the belt 6 treatment
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sixth Freedom
I am travelling to NCL tomorrow (UUA to CW! ) and need to declare: * some items purchased under the VAT refund scheme within the past twelve months
A word of warning if you're normally an EU resident that a condition of the scheme is that at the time you claim the refund you effectively declare that you will remain resident outside the EU for at least 12 months, so be prepared to explain, if asked, why you're returning sooner.
) and need to declare:
