CBP Preclearance at non-US airports
Jul 11, 23, 1:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 94
CBP Preclearance at non-US airports
I have a question regarding CBP's Preclearance program in which they clear travelers for immigration and customs before they board a flight to the US. For example, I was precleared today in Dublin before flying to Seattle.
How should travelers handle food items that they intend to take onto the plane but consume on board and NOT bring into the US? I would assume those items don't need to be declared. After all. the airline itself probably serves food items that can't be brought into the US. On the other hand, I didn't see any way to subsequently declare food items when I landed in Seattle, nor any practical enforcement there (though I know CBP has the right to conduct enforcement there). We just landed at a normal gate as if we had flown in domestically.
I can't find information about this, or really much about the details of Preclearance, online.
How should travelers handle food items that they intend to take onto the plane but consume on board and NOT bring into the US? I would assume those items don't need to be declared. After all. the airline itself probably serves food items that can't be brought into the US. On the other hand, I didn't see any way to subsequently declare food items when I landed in Seattle, nor any practical enforcement there (though I know CBP has the right to conduct enforcement there). We just landed at a normal gate as if we had flown in domestically.
I can't find information about this, or really much about the details of Preclearance, online.
Jul 11, 23, 3:29 am
#2
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How should travelers handle food items that they intend to take onto the plane but consume on board and NOT bring into the US? I would assume those items don't need to be declared. After all. the airline itself probably serves food items that can't be brought into the US. On the other hand, I didn't see any way to subsequently declare food items when I landed in Seattle, nor any practical enforcement there (though I know CBP has the right to conduct enforcement there). We just landed at a normal gate as if we had flown in domestically.
Jul 11, 23, 11:25 am
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 94
(a) Should I have declared these to CBP in Dublin since I was taking them past screening, even if I had no intention of taking them off the plane into the US?
(b) Since I didn't declare them to CBP in Dublin, IF I had subsequently decided to try to take them off the plane, was there any way I could have declared them upon arrival in Seattle?
You seem to be saying the answers are no and no, and that's what I assumed, and that would make sense, but I can't find this info anywhere online.
Jul 11, 23, 7:14 pm
#4
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I have a question regarding CBP's Preclearance program in which they clear travelers for immigration and customs before they board a flight to the US. For example, I was precleared today in Dublin before flying to Seattle.
How should travelers handle food items that they intend to take onto the plane but consume on board and NOT bring into the US? I would assume those items don't need to be declared.
How should travelers handle food items that they intend to take onto the plane but consume on board and NOT bring into the US? I would assume those items don't need to be declared.
Jul 11, 23, 9:43 pm
#5
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
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I believe this is incorrect. They do need to be declared as there is no way of separating them from items brought into the US, nor is there any way of verifying your intent to consume them on board.
Jul 13, 23, 4:27 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 94
Your reasoning makes sense. On the other hand, wouldn't this preclude going through Preclearance, then buying a meal from a restaurant to take on the plane if the meal contained anything you couldn't take into the US (e.g., many fruits and fresh vegetables)?
Jul 13, 23, 4:29 pm
#7
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It's my understanding that the things for sale after you pre-clear have been specifically approved by the US.
Jul 23, 23, 3:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
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You are expected to declare all items, including any food items when going through CBP pre-clearance, just as you would when arriving in the US from an international flight.
Some years ago, had to dispose a bag full of home made sandwiches because they had meat and we weren’t allowed to take them into the Toronto pre-clearance area.
Some years ago, had to dispose a bag full of home made sandwiches because they had meat and we weren’t allowed to take them into the Toronto pre-clearance area.
