Hello all, I have a question I need the collective wisdom answered. My mother-in-law was just issued a Visa to visit my wife and I. However, she does not speak any english. So after doing a quick search I was able to find and download a fillable version of the US customs form 6059B with all questions in Russian, as that is one of the languages she does speak.

She will be traveling KBP - CDG - CVG, with the last flight operated by Delta. I talked to Delta and they said it was possible they will have a Russian version of the form but cannot say for sure.

So my question is if I send her the PDF copy for the customs form in Russian, have her fill it out, and print it out; will the Customs Officers in CVG accept the print out or not?

http://www.cbp.gov/document/forms/fo...ssian-fillable

According to the page that you linked, "then print and take with you as your official Customs Declaration".

So, I would say, yes, CBP will accept it since it's considered an official form.

When i landed in JFK a few weeks ago, there was a section with CBP declarations in different languages, which can be done there, Im not sure if its the same in all places, but may be a suitable answer

Should be fine as others have already said. If she would like to hand in a CBP form from the flight on the CBP card-stock, she can use the english version and match up the fields with the Russian version. The fields will be in the same order as that is how a CBP officer reads a foreign language form. I give it a low probability the FA will have a Russian form. Also since your mother in law does not speak english and a Delta flight from France will not have a Russian or Ukrainian (guessing that is her native language) speaking FA, having her ask for a form might not work out.

You also might want to make sure she has your phone number so CBP can call you if they need translation.

They might accept it, or they might not. One customs officer in ATL did not accept the (German, in this case) printouts back in August, claiming "We do not accept copies of forms".

I'm still waiting for a response from CBP about whether the officer should have accepted the forms printed out at home.

She doesn't speak English. She should not submit a form she transcribes from Russian into English. That can lead to problems in a secondary when someone asks her how she managed to fill out an English-language form, but can't answer English questions.

Two things:

1. Fill out the Russian language form and hand it in.
2. Have with her a card which OP or someone else who reads/writes English and which says, in English, "I am Russian-speaking. I do not speak English. Please find an interpreter. You may also reach my daughter and son-in-law at the following numbers...." I presume that you will be at CVG to greet her and, if called, can simply meet as directed by CBP.

This is a routine issue, it always gets solved. It's harder when it's an obscure dialect of an obscure language. Russian is not that. CBP has easy access to interpreters on the ground, by phone and video.

On a separate note, I would make certain that the MIL has the same card in French in case there are IRROPS at CDG. Again, finding a Russian-speaker won't be that hard, but it's a lot easier for her to walk up to anybody who looks "official" and hand them the card than to have people guessing.

Finally, she should have a mobile with her. There are many other bits & pieces which can go wrong on a long journey with a connection. Far better that she call you than panic.