Hi,

I'm sorry if this isn't the right place to post my question. I searched the forum but didn't find a related topic (could be me though)

Anyway...

My husband and I are spending Christmas in the US for a couple of years now, we are both EU citizens.
This year I went a little overboard with my christmas gifts.
Our friends look forward to products that are not (widely) available in the US so this is what's on the list:

Chocolates, Cheese and a couple of exotic beers (not to be found at total wines)
Total value is about $150

The beer is slightly less than 5L total.

I understood we can bring in $100 duty free. Each? Or for the two of us (since we are a family)
We can each bring 1L of liquor (no difference between 80 proof liquor and a 4% alcohol beer?)

So technically we have to pay for at least 3L of beer at customs.

With a 2h16 layover at Newark for immigrations (as a non resident), pick up bags, customs, recheck bags, go through TSA and walk to the gate, I'm a bit worried that customs will take too long if they want to inspect my bags, fill out all the paper work to collect a few bucks and miss our flight...

Anyone experience with this? Should I leave some of my gifts at home?

Definitely declare it, most likely they'll xray it and send you on your way for such a small amount. If they do charge you, as you said it'll be inconsequential and shouldn't normally take much more time than normal.

Declare it, but sometimes for small amounts they will waive you through.

As others have said, go ahead and declare it and they will likely wave you through without any further inspection. You are talking about very small quantities.

Personal story, last year I brought in 14 bottles of rum to the U.S.A. in my three suitcases. Customs charged me roughly $1 per bottle and accepted payment on my credit card. It was an easy experience and took ten minutes.

CBP accepts credit cards.

Rules 1-10 are to declare everything. Duty tends to be relatively low and it's rarely imposed on what are self-evidently personal gifts.

On the other hand, get caught lying, especially about food, e.g. cheese and the fines can be pretty high and then subject you to extra screening in future.

You may have problems regarding the cheese as it may well prove to be a prohibited item.

If the cheese is contraband and you declare it, CBP (Ag) will simply bin it. If you fail to disclose any foodstuff, even if it is admissible, you have a problem. It's a "yes" or "no" question on the Declaration.

Thank you all for your replies.

If I do bring something I have to declare, I will play by the US it's rules. I always do. Simple as that, I'm a guest
Although I was considering leaving a couple liters of beer at home, but then my american friends would be very very disappointed

I was worried about having to wait in an office for 30 to 45 minutes in order to get my stuff inspected, fill out some paperwork and miss my flight, all to collect a dollar

PS. The cheese is ok. As long as it's pasteurised it's fine to import. I brought cheese many times before and did got some extra screening on that.

It's mainly gouda-style cheeses that I'm bringing

I knew the beer was too much, so I was worried about timings, not the amount I have to pay

Anyone knows if the duty free exemption is per person or per family in case of a non resident?

and one more thing... I did forget to declare a muesli bar in the past that I had in my purse but haven't eaten on the plane. Fruits & co I discard before I leave the plane, for some reason I never forget... but wrapped snacks like a candy bar, protein bar or muesli bar is something else.

Could I get in trouble even for that?

Not if you declare the muesli bar

I took 22 liters of beer with me last year and was sent on my way at customs because the amount of duty owed was too small to justify processing it. It's just a few cents/liter.
Just be extra careful with wrapping the bottles. I bring beer on a regular basis and definitely experienced the occasional spill. Avoid flip top bottles - those have a nasty tendency to open by themselves while traveling by air

I've brought gouda (some really nice aged stuff) back from the Netherlands and declared it and was waved through. That was a while ago, but I doubt it's changed.

I thought the duty free limit was closer to $800.

The duty free limit is residency dependent - if you are a US resident coming from Europe, then yes, it is $800. If you are an EU resident visiting the US it is $100. That is per person, not per family, is my understanding, so OP should be fine with $150 between the two of them.

And duty on personal items tends to be relatively minimal and is rarely collected when declared. Don't stint on what you bring as it's unlikely that the cost will be much, if anything.