Got an "A" in customs declaration form
 

I got a big "A" on my customs declaration form for marking "no" for bringing any food when I was carrying 2 homemade sandwiches (no meat) for my 2nd flight since they don´t feed you at all.
The customs agent told me I should have marked "yes" and if what I was bringing was illegal (I assume he was referring to any ham/meat) I could get a $300 fine. I was sent to Agriculture screening and let me go but I know they typed something into their computer.

Does that mean that from now on I am going to be thoroughly screened every time I come back? Does anybody know if there are any repercussions?

Thanks.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

I've had the "A" before and been searched at the secondary counter. It hasn't affected my other transits through immigration/customs in any manner that is apparent to me.

That said, I'd have marked "yes" and explained when asked, not marked "no" and hope they don't notice. No need to lie if you aren't doing anything illegal.

I agree I should have said "yes". I totally forgot about my stupid sandwiches. Lesson learned, from now on even a pack of M&Ms.

Wouldn't worry about the future transits, other than to remember to mark the correct box the next time.

If you got the fine, you probably would need to worry. But in this case, you got off easy.

My initial interpretation of this thread's title was a lot more amusing than its contents. I was ready to get all parental and ask what happened to the "+".

Sounds like an "A" for agricultural inspection -- that's better than some of the other alternatives for having failed to appropriately declare something.

You may get flagged down a bit more in the relative near term for Ag inspections than you otherwise would have (if over-declaring rather than under-declaring/omitting), but what you did is nothing to worry about for the longer term.

I got an "A" at SFO when I declared some almonds and cashews I had brought back from Asia. When I got to the agriculture people, the inspector told me he couldn't figure out why the CBP agent singled me out for further inspection, and that there was no need for it. Hasn't affected me on subsequent flights.

I travel across the Canada / USA border very often, and find the reaction to food is different form customs agent to customs agent. The best time, is when I take the megabus to the BUF airport, and the K9 walks the line and finds everything! As long as your not bringing meat or fruit, you have nothing to worry about. But check yes, and share the whole story to be safe.

I have received an "A" on my customs form when I declared food that they wanted to inspect. I don't think it's a scarlet letter or anything. :D

My experience was that once I went through one Ag inspection, that it happened more frequently after your first. That said, I always bring food home from trips, normally sweets for the office. I got the Ag inspection the first time when I brought home foie gras from France (which I did declare and was admitted). I have now had a couple of inspections when I didn't declare (and didn't have) any questionable products).

We have been sent to Ag when we had no food items declared and other instances, this past Jan, when we have declared food items we are sent on without the detour to Ag. Either CBP doesn't know what they are doing, it was a new agent, or like the TSA, they are trying to keep the terrorists off guard. Go figure. :confused:

This happened to me once after I had visited a dairy farm - Ag wanted to inspect my shoes.

I don't think they care that much about meat. They are more interested in fruits and other produce which might carry fruit flies and similar dangers to US agriculture.
I hope you didn't blow your chance to enroll in Global Entry, which is the best thing since sliced bread.

I got the "A" when I asked them not to stamp my passport in MCO since it is filling up quickly. The guy was convinced I was a drug mule at that point and didn't believe that I only had $20 on me. They searched my bag for drugs and cash, though the secondary agent laughed when I explained why it happened and it was more of a cursory check than anything worrisome.
Had this a couple times; nothing more than a quick glance or question.

Been on a farm outside the USA?
 

Interesting forum. Great discussions.

I'm just wondering... Has anyone has ever checked the yes box when asked on the customs form if they had been on a farm or near livestock?

I've never been to a farm (or been around livestock) in a foreign country, but certainly anything is possible in the future. So I'm just wondering what happens when a person checks this box? I'm just curious.

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Update: Oh... I see (when I posted my question) that someone replied to an earlier post that the inspectors wanted to inspect their shoes after being on a farm. That's what I was wondering. Thanks.