Non-resident bringing engagement ring to US
Nov 23, 2013, 1:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4
Flying to the US with engagement ring.
Hey,
I will be flying to the US early next month and will be proposing to my girlfriend over there. She's an american citizen and I'm not. I'm simply flying there on a tourist visa and have every intension of flying back to Hong Kong.
For some reason I'm finding it pretty hard to get a straight answer to the following question and people give me different answers all the time..
What Is the best way to bring an engagement ring through US customs once arriving in the United States?
The following thoughts came to mind... Is it considered a gift cause I'm giving it to someone? Do I have to declare it cause it's over $100USD in value and then pay a certain percentage of duty? Or should I just try and walk through without declaring and hope for the best?
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
I will be flying to the US early next month and will be proposing to my girlfriend over there. She's an american citizen and I'm not. I'm simply flying there on a tourist visa and have every intension of flying back to Hong Kong.
For some reason I'm finding it pretty hard to get a straight answer to the following question and people give me different answers all the time..
What Is the best way to bring an engagement ring through US customs once arriving in the United States?
The following thoughts came to mind... Is it considered a gift cause I'm giving it to someone? Do I have to declare it cause it's over $100USD in value and then pay a certain percentage of duty? Or should I just try and walk through without declaring and hope for the best?
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
Nov 23, 2013, 5:08 pm
#2
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Hey,
I will be flying to the US early next month and will be proposing to my girlfriend over there. She's an american citizen and I'm not. I'm simply flying there on a tourist visa and have every intension of flying back to Hong Kong.
For some reason I'm finding it pretty hard to get a straight answer to the following question and people give me different answers all the time..
What Is the best way to bring an engagement ring through US customs once arriving in the United States?
The following thoughts came to mind... Is it considered a gift cause I'm giving it to someone? Do I have to declare it cause it's over $100USD in value and then pay a certain percentage of duty? Or should I just try and walk through without declaring and hope for the best?
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
I will be flying to the US early next month and will be proposing to my girlfriend over there. She's an american citizen and I'm not. I'm simply flying there on a tourist visa and have every intension of flying back to Hong Kong.
For some reason I'm finding it pretty hard to get a straight answer to the following question and people give me different answers all the time..
What Is the best way to bring an engagement ring through US customs once arriving in the United States?
The following thoughts came to mind... Is it considered a gift cause I'm giving it to someone? Do I have to declare it cause it's over $100USD in value and then pay a certain percentage of duty? Or should I just try and walk through without declaring and hope for the best?
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
Visitors: the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S. ... is:
If you are planning to leave the ring in the USA, then you must declare it. Be sure to bring cash and credit to pay the duty. CBP prefers credit, but just in case your foreign credit card doesn't work ...
Hopefully she accepts your proposal. Be a bummer to pay a few dollars duty for nothing.
I hope you've budgeted a ton of time. You will get a secondary customs inspection to pay the duty, and you will get a secondary immigration inspection because of why you are paying duty.
I would (and did when I was in your exact situation) buy your American girlfriend a ring in the USA.
Walking it through without paying duty is foolish, especially if she does accept your proposal. At minimum, if you plan to have a long distance marriage, you will want to visit her in the USA, and one customs violation of this magnitude could ban you from the USA for life. If you think she will live with you in your country, then you will have trouble visiting the USA to see her family. And if you think you will be living in the USA, getting a green card could be complicated. And it will prevent you from getting Global Entry, might impact your ability to become a U.S. citizen, work a federal job, etc.
All this for a few dollars duty?
Welcome to FT.
Last edited by mre5765; Nov 23, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Nov 23, 2013, 6:02 pm
#3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmaxtor
Hey,
I will be flying to the US early next month and will be proposing to my girlfriend over there. She's an american citizen and I'm not. I'm simply flying there on a tourist visa and have every intension of flying back to Hong Kong.
For some reason I'm finding it pretty hard to get a straight answer to the following question and people give me different answers all the time..
What Is the best way to bring an engagement ring through US customs once arriving in the United States?
The following thoughts came to mind... Is it considered a gift cause I'm giving it to someone? Do I have to declare it cause it's over $100USD in value and then pay a certain percentage of duty? Or should I just try and walk through without declaring and hope for the best?
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
The form is pretty simple. You can google for it. It says:
Visitors: the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S. ... is:
If you are planning to leave the ring in the USA, then you must declare it. Be sure to bring cash and credit to pay the duty. CBP prefers credit, but just in case your foreign credit card doesn't work ...
Hopefully she accepts your proposal. Be a bummer to pay a few dollars duty for nothing.
I hope you've budgeted a ton of time. You will get a secondary customs inspection to pay the duty, and you will get a secondary immigration inspection because of why you are paying duty.
I would (and did when I was in your exact situation) buy your American girlfriend a ring in the USA.
Walking it through without paying duty is foolish, especially if she does accept your proposal. At minimum, if you plan to have a long distance marriage, you will want to visit her in the USA, and one customs violation of this magnitude could ban you from the USA for life. If you think she will live with you in your country, then you will have trouble visiting the USA to see her family. And if you think you will be living in the USA, getting a green card could be complicated. And it will prevent you from getting Global Entry, might impact your ability to become a U.S. citizen, work a federal job, etc.
All this for a few dollars duty?
Welcome to FT.
Originally Posted by rmaxtor
Hey,
I will be flying to the US early next month and will be proposing to my girlfriend over there. She's an american citizen and I'm not. I'm simply flying there on a tourist visa and have every intension of flying back to Hong Kong.
For some reason I'm finding it pretty hard to get a straight answer to the following question and people give me different answers all the time..
What Is the best way to bring an engagement ring through US customs once arriving in the United States?
The following thoughts came to mind... Is it considered a gift cause I'm giving it to someone? Do I have to declare it cause it's over $100USD in value and then pay a certain percentage of duty? Or should I just try and walk through without declaring and hope for the best?
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance.
The form is pretty simple. You can google for it. It says:
Visitors: the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S. ... is:
If you are planning to leave the ring in the USA, then you must declare it. Be sure to bring cash and credit to pay the duty. CBP prefers credit, but just in case your foreign credit card doesn't work ...
Hopefully she accepts your proposal. Be a bummer to pay a few dollars duty for nothing.
I hope you've budgeted a ton of time. You will get a secondary customs inspection to pay the duty, and you will get a secondary immigration inspection because of why you are paying duty.
I would (and did when I was in your exact situation) buy your American girlfriend a ring in the USA.
Walking it through without paying duty is foolish, especially if she does accept your proposal. At minimum, if you plan to have a long distance marriage, you will want to visit her in the USA, and one customs violation of this magnitude could ban you from the USA for life. If you think she will live with you in your country, then you will have trouble visiting the USA to see her family. And if you think you will be living in the USA, getting a green card could be complicated. And it will prevent you from getting Global Entry, might impact your ability to become a U.S. citizen, work a federal job, etc.
All this for a few dollars duty?
Welcome to FT.
Nov 23, 2013, 9:16 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4
Thank you for the quick response. Do you happen to know how much customs in the US charge for duty on jewellery? I have already purchased the ring here so will have to bring it through customs.
Last edited by rmaxtor; Nov 23, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Nov 24, 2013, 1:55 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CEB & LAS
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Posts: 734
Why would you be denied? Because the US will assume that if you are flying there to propose (and possibly get married) that you are automatically attempting to avoid the immigration rules for foreign spouses. They will tell you that you need to get a fiance "K" visa instead of a tourist visa, even if you qualify for a tourist visa waiver at the border.
Sound hard to believe? Check out this story from a Canadian in a similar situation (visiting fiance, carrying a ring, came within inches of being sent back).
What to do instead?
If you ask her to marry you and she says "No", you will be bringing the ring home with you, right? So instead of assuming she will say "Yes" why don't you assume she will say "No" and then you will return home with the ring?
Wear the ring on a chain around your neck as jewelry with the intention of returning home with it. And after you've been here and popped the question, if you get lucky and she says "YES" then you can return home with it and she can pick it up later.
Don't bring the ring box with you. Mail it to her (or someone else in the US) instead. Or leave it at home and buy a new ring box from a jeweler in the states.
And I personally wouldn't tell them anything about having a girlfriend/fiance here. When they ask what you are doing just tell them you are visiting a friend (the truth) and you will be doing X, Y and Z on your vacation (fill in whatever you like to do together, going to museums, concerts, libraries, whatever).
Last edited by RevJim; Nov 27, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Nov 24, 2013, 12:13 pm
#10
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Truly bad advice. You are suggesting he commit a crime.
You are likely to be denied entry into the US if you declare that ring.
Why would you be denied? Because the US will assume that if you are flying there to propose (and possibly get married) that you are automatically attempting to avoid the immigration rules for foreign spouses. They will tell you that you need to get a fiance "K" visa instead of a tourist visa, even if you qualify for a tourist visa waiver at the border.
Sound hard to believe? Check out this story from a Canadian in a similar situation (visiting fiance, carrying a ring, came within inches of being sent back).
What to do instead?
If you ask her to marry you and she says "No", you will be bringing the ring home with you, right? So instead of assuming she will say "Yes" why don't you assume she will say "No" and then you will return home with the ring?
Wear the ring on a chain around your neck as jewelry with the intention of returning home with it. And after you've been here and popped the question, if you get lucky and she says "YES" then you can change your mind about the ring and give it to her.
Don't bring the ring box with you. Mail it to her (or someone else in the US) instead. Or leave it at home and buy a new ring box from a jeweler in the states.
And I personally wouldn't tell them anything about having a girlfriend/fiance here. When they ask what you are doing just tell them you are visiting a friend (the truth) and you will be doing X, Y and Z on your vacation (fill in whatever you like to do together, going to museums, concerts, libraries, whatever).
Why would you be denied? Because the US will assume that if you are flying there to propose (and possibly get married) that you are automatically attempting to avoid the immigration rules for foreign spouses. They will tell you that you need to get a fiance "K" visa instead of a tourist visa, even if you qualify for a tourist visa waiver at the border.
Sound hard to believe? Check out this story from a Canadian in a similar situation (visiting fiance, carrying a ring, came within inches of being sent back).
What to do instead?
If you ask her to marry you and she says "No", you will be bringing the ring home with you, right? So instead of assuming she will say "Yes" why don't you assume she will say "No" and then you will return home with the ring?
Wear the ring on a chain around your neck as jewelry with the intention of returning home with it. And after you've been here and popped the question, if you get lucky and she says "YES" then you can change your mind about the ring and give it to her.
Don't bring the ring box with you. Mail it to her (or someone else in the US) instead. Or leave it at home and buy a new ring box from a jeweler in the states.
And I personally wouldn't tell them anything about having a girlfriend/fiance here. When they ask what you are doing just tell them you are visiting a friend (the truth) and you will be doing X, Y and Z on your vacation (fill in whatever you like to do together, going to museums, concerts, libraries, whatever).
You are better off being honest and truthful when you arrive at the U.S. port.
Return your ring to the HK jeweler and buy one in the USA, because you seem very tempted to make a mistake that could ruin your life.
Last edited by mre5765; Nov 24, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Nov 24, 2013, 12:59 pm
#11
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I agree with this assessment.
with the caveat you MAY be denied entry....
You are likely to be denied entry into the US if you declare that ring.
Why would you be denied? Because the US will assume that if you are flying there to propose (and possibly get married) that you are automatically attempting to avoid the immigration rules for foreign spouses. They will tell you that you need to get a fiance "K" visa instead of a tourist visa, even if you qualify for a tourist visa waiver at the border.
Sound hard to believe? Check out this story from a Canadian in a similar situation (visiting fiance, carrying a ring, came within inches of being sent back).
What to do instead?
If you ask her to marry you and she says "No", you will be bringing the ring home with you, right? So instead of assuming she will say "Yes" why don't you assume she will say "No" and then you will return home with the ring?
Wear the ring on a chain around your neck as jewelry with the intention of returning home with it. And after you've been here and popped the question, if you get lucky and she says "YES" then you can change your mind about the ring and give it to her.
Don't bring the ring box with you. Mail it to her (or someone else in the US) instead. Or leave it at home and buy a new ring box from a jeweler in the states.
And I personally wouldn't tell them anything about having a girlfriend/fiance here. When they ask what you are doing just tell them you are visiting a friend (the truth) and you will be doing X, Y and Z on your vacation (fill in whatever you like to do together, going to museums, concerts, libraries, whatever).
Why would you be denied? Because the US will assume that if you are flying there to propose (and possibly get married) that you are automatically attempting to avoid the immigration rules for foreign spouses. They will tell you that you need to get a fiance "K" visa instead of a tourist visa, even if you qualify for a tourist visa waiver at the border.
Sound hard to believe? Check out this story from a Canadian in a similar situation (visiting fiance, carrying a ring, came within inches of being sent back).
What to do instead?
If you ask her to marry you and she says "No", you will be bringing the ring home with you, right? So instead of assuming she will say "Yes" why don't you assume she will say "No" and then you will return home with the ring?
Wear the ring on a chain around your neck as jewelry with the intention of returning home with it. And after you've been here and popped the question, if you get lucky and she says "YES" then you can change your mind about the ring and give it to her.
Don't bring the ring box with you. Mail it to her (or someone else in the US) instead. Or leave it at home and buy a new ring box from a jeweler in the states.
And I personally wouldn't tell them anything about having a girlfriend/fiance here. When they ask what you are doing just tell them you are visiting a friend (the truth) and you will be doing X, Y and Z on your vacation (fill in whatever you like to do together, going to museums, concerts, libraries, whatever).
Nov 24, 2013, 4:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Just because someone is eligible for a tourist visa does not mean they are entitled to one. The burden of proof is always on the tourist visitor to prove that they have strong enough ties to their home country to leave when their visa expires. Although the OP may be fully eligible for a tourist visa, the burden of proof is still his. Even if he already has a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa.
And US immigration authorities have a negative view of anyone using a tourist visa when a fiancé/marriage/spouse is involved because the burden of proof is on the visitor to prove they will leave. Why would you leave your fiancé/spouse at the end if you could instead cheat the system and overstay your tourist visa while you try to "fix" the paperwork later? The burden of proof in this case will probably run against the OP, even if he fully intends to return home immediately.
By the way, I agree with mre5765 and everyone else who said to return the HKG ring to the jeweler and buy a different one inside the US on arrival. That makes the process much simpler. I would only wear it as jewelry with the honest intention of returning home with it as a last resort, and I only brought it up because the OP already rejected the idea of returning it to the jeweler.
Nov 25, 2013, 3:28 pm
#13
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Actually no. The K visa is a nonimmigrant visa that gives your the opportunity to marry your partner, with the intention of adjusting your status to an immigrant visa, and as such the requirements are the same as an immigrant visa (source).
Just because someone is eligible for a tourist visa does not mean they are entitled to one. The burden of proof is always on the tourist visitor to prove that they have strong enough ties to their home country to leave when their visa expires. Although the OP may be fully eligible for a tourist visa, the burden of proof is still his. Even if he already has a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa.
And US immigration authorities have a negative view of anyone using a tourist visa when a fiancé/marriage/spouse is involved because the burden of proof is on the visitor to prove they will leave. Why would you leave your fiancé/spouse at the end if you could instead cheat the system and overstay your tourist visa while you try to "fix" the paperwork later? The burden of proof in this case will probably run against the OP, even if he fully intends to return home immediately.
Just because someone is eligible for a tourist visa does not mean they are entitled to one. The burden of proof is always on the tourist visitor to prove that they have strong enough ties to their home country to leave when their visa expires. Although the OP may be fully eligible for a tourist visa, the burden of proof is still his. Even if he already has a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa.
And US immigration authorities have a negative view of anyone using a tourist visa when a fiancé/marriage/spouse is involved because the burden of proof is on the visitor to prove they will leave. Why would you leave your fiancé/spouse at the end if you could instead cheat the system and overstay your tourist visa while you try to "fix" the paperwork later? The burden of proof in this case will probably run against the OP, even if he fully intends to return home immediately.
Why would he leave after proposing marriage? Because he has ties back to his country of residence. Because overstaying is an immigration violation that will impact future privileges the USA government might grant him, such as GE, citizenship, federal employment, etc.
The burden of proof is always with the alien visitor regardless of purpose of visit.
Nov 25, 2013, 6:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2005
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He intends to return to his own country. So the fiancé visa is N/A.
Why would he leave after proposing marriage? Because he has ties back to his country of residence. Because overstaying is an immigration violation that will impact future privileges the USA government might grant him, such as GE, citizenship, federal employment, etc.
Why would he leave after proposing marriage? Because he has ties back to his country of residence. Because overstaying is an immigration violation that will impact future privileges the USA government might grant him, such as GE, citizenship, federal employment, etc.
If any of that nonsense fluff worked, then people from poor countries in Central America, Africa and Asia would be entering the US on tourist visas by the millions with the intention of getting jobs. Mexico would be empty because everyone would just memorize your few magic words and go get a tourist visa. But immigration doesn't fall for it because they assume every visitor should be denied entry until the visitor proves otherwise.
That ring is strong evidence against his tourist entry. He better have a phenomenal explanation about why he intends to leave or he'll be sent back at the border. At least phenomenal enough to outweigh the fiancé/K/immigrant assumption that the ring creates.
Nov 25, 2013, 9:05 pm
#15
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