+1

If enough agents decide it's a 'waste of time' (as one agent told me), they can work to have the questions clarified, website updated, phone and desk and GE agents all trained to the same standard.

I see them all the time but don't remember all the wording and after 12+ hours on a flight from Tokyo with no sleep by me I wasn't paying too much attention but dairy was mentioned specifically in question 1 as was meat
anohter was about the cash, and one about over the limit of 800$ exemption and finally about being on a farm.

The questions are different.

On the printed form, candy, cookies, and such would generate a yes, but on the kiosk, a no.

If GE generated an X for every breath mint a member carried, it would be a useless program.

I'm curious: Can anyone opine as to why there is not a single post with the exact wording of the GE Kiosk questions, and --as far as I can tell--why there is no link to these questions anywhere on the internet?

When I first started using GE the questions were different from what they are NOW--also, if all your answers were NO, you still had to separately check each box, now you can click "NO TO ALL".
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Since the kiosk gives one but two minutes to process, there is no time to write the questions down. Thus to get the exact wording posted would require taking a photo of the kiosk or someone with a photographic memory. Doing the former is a quick path to having ones GE revoked, and being charged with federal crime (use of cameras or cell phones in the CBP hall is illegal). There are apparently few of the latter.

So until the CBP posts the questions, or someone files a successful foia request, you aren't getting them.

<deleted by moderator>.

I always answer yes regardless and then when they ask I just say, "Processed food still sealed in its packaging - junk food, chocolate and stuff like that. Stuff you can't get in the US." They've never once taken a look at it. It adds maybe an extra 30 seconds to the exit process so I think it's an easy solution that covers all eventualities.

This is the closest I can find to what the screen question actually means:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/gen..._allowed.shtml

I followed links from the GE site to the above FAQ about 'Generally allowed food items'. Among them are:

The most important statement for me:

I suspect what this really comes down to is fear of losing GE. If you don't have GE, you probably don't really worry too much about the consequences of not declaring boxes of chocolates or a pack of gum, even if you hit a by-the-book hardline agent. If you do have GE and take a chance and hit a hardline agent, you might lose your GE privilege permanently, not to mention probably getting a serious black mark on your record for the future.

Nah. I answer the kiosk questions. Won't get a black mark for answering truthfully.

For my first Kiosk entry, I have to admit that I did not read the questions and selected "No to All", as I was so tired and my eyes hurt. Mainly, I am aware and always careful about the agriculture/food thing and always check No on the paper form anyway.

I was anticipating a question of total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad, but I did not remember seeing it. Instead, the machine spat the receipt. Maybe I hit the screen too fast.

So, is the aforementioned question asked on the kiosk?

The kiosk asks you if you have exceeded your duty free allowance, yes or no.

You need to be careful, because as you should have been taught when you had your GE interview the allowance is not per trip but is per 30 days. With the non GE system, the onus is on the CBP to keep track of your 30 day exemption. With GE, members are on the honor system.

So when answering the question, if you entered a week ago with $700 in purchases, and today have $200 in purchases, you answer yes to question, get your X, get directed to secondary at customs, explain that you are $100 over exemption, and pay your $3 if they decide to bother collecting.

Good to know and thanks. ^ I am pretty sure that I wasn't taught about this during interview. The whole interview was around 4 minutes plus 6 minus video-watching. Not enough time talking about this stuff. I will for sure read every words on the GE machine at the upcoming entry. Phew!

Well given the inconsistency of the CBP, as often reported on FT, I am unsurprised this was not explained to you. It is an easy way to ensnare the unsuspecting GE member.

My interview was about an hour.

I'm... I'm feeling that our relationship just isn't based on trust anymore. We should probably talk...

Sorry to resurrect a rapidly aging thread, but I believe the questions can be seen at about 0:34 in the below video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbbZWXlJKQ0

Very helpful. Thanks!

When I had my interview (nearly 4 years ago), nothing was mentioned about an aggregate purchase limit every 30 days [it is not that clearly noted on CBP's website either]--but I knew this from other sources.
Since your duty free purchases are not declared (only excess amounts) for GE pax, there is NO way for CBP to know if you exceeded $800 (in 30 days).
PS: I've priced duty free liquor at several European airports (CDG, LHR, ZRH) and they are NOT bargains. AA (American Airlines), sells duty free on the plane for trips back to the US, and their prices were (much) better than those airport df.
But, I've found that there are liquor shops in the US, which are much cheaper than AA's df.
Hence, I quit dealing with duty free liquor purchases.:D

Exactly re: the booze, and for those with uniformed services access base liquor stores are also great plus no tax :D ^ but I digress.

This may be a stupid question, but where it says 'Exemption allowance' and mentions $800 for US Residents, $100 for non-Residents, what does that relate to? Goods you intend to leave in the country, such as gifts, or Duty Free purchases? I guess my confusion is that if it relates to the latter and I was to purchase a bottle of liquor (over $100 value), I would have to answer 'Yes' to that even though it's no exceeding my ordinary DF allowance?

Global Entry Kiosks Declarations / Food Questions
 

At MSP within the last month, the GE kiosks have reworded the question about whether one is carrying any food.

Previously the GE kiosk asked specifically whether one had meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, etc.

The new question contains the word food, thus requiring a yes if one has any food, presumably broadly defined to include coffee, mints, hard candy, water, chewing gum, etc. Previously you could honestly say no if you had instant coffee, chocolate candy, cookies and other baked goods, etc.

The new form of the question looked exactly like the food question on the blue paper forms.

Answering yes produces a receipt with a big O or circle, not the X. It instructs you to report to secondary customs inspection. However, before going to baggage claim people are called over to cut the line to speak to an immigration officer briefly.

GE kiosks have changed the question about food
 

Came through GE at pre-clearance at YYZ on Monday, and the same kiosk question as always popped up for me - no mention of the word "food". If the question is re-worded like on the paper form, this would be a step backwards for trusted travelers.

Has anyone seen what the question on the automated passport reader kiosks in the regular line ask? I assume it would be what the paper form says, but thought I might see if anyone knows.

GE kiosks -- at JFK yesterday too -- now say "food".

The APC kiosks last month at least had far fewer words in each question and had fewer questions than what is on the printed declaration form that is written on by passengers.

I'm also wondering about:

- Cough Drops.... I often have a few rolling around in my briefcase somewhere. Are they "food" or medication?

- Tea bags.....I travel with a few decaf Lipton's and Chamomile tea because it is hard to fine on board (I prefer to ask for hot water and brew my own). Would the tea bags have to be declared as food?



I guess the days are over of picking up some cookies and other goodies at the duty free (or airport grocery store, like at FRA)....*sigh*

Here is what I found:


Food Products (Prepared)
You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into the United States. The APHIS Web site features a Travelers Tips section and Game and Hunting Trophies section that offers extensive information about bringing food and other products into the U.S. Many prepared foods are admissible. However, bush meat made from African wildlife and almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are admissible. Because rice can often harbor insects, it is best to avoid bringing it into the United States. Some imported foods are also subject to requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.


And from APHIS directly:


Generally Allowed Food Items

The following food items are generally allowed entry:

Condiments such as oil, vinegar, mustard, catsup, pickles, syrup, honey without honey combs, jelly, and jam.
Foodstuffs such as bakery items, candy, and chocolate.
Hard cured cheeses without meat, such as parmesan or cheddar.
Canned goods and goods in vacuum- packed jars (except those containing meat or poultry products) for personal use.
Fish or fish products for personal use.
Powdered drinks sealed in original containers with ingredients listed in English.
Dry mixes containing dairy and egg ingredients (such as baking mixes, cocoa mixes, drink mixes, instant cake mixes, instant pudding mixes, liquid drink mixes containing reconstituted dry milk or dry milk products, potato flakes, and infant formula) that are commercially labeled, presented in final finished packaging, and require no further manipulation of the product are generally allowed.
Remember, you must declare all food and agricultural products, including those listed above, to a CBP agriculture specialist or officer when you arrive in the United States.


Emphasis mine.

I got the "food" question at IAD today. Answered yes, and got an "O" and a notation to "proceed to baggage control" or something like that. At IAD, the only one to check your receipt is the guy you hand it to on your way out after claiming your luggage. He asked me what i was declaring, I told him (chocolate), and he waved me on. I barely had to slow down.

I appreciate those of you who blaze this trail. The more experiences like this that I read about, the more comfortable I will feel about answering "Yes" to this question.

Yeah, they're fine with it. I've shown them chocolate I bought at the duty free, they don't send me off to secondary. I've never been scolded.

Are you sure that a "yes" entry on the computer for "food" doesn't open up a secondary menu which asks additional questions?

On a related question, does anyone know about a iOS App for APHIS. (I found one dealing with commercial cattle). My wife and I cross the US/Canadian land border a fair amount and it would be real handy to have.

Stop complaining!!! :rolleyes:

At MSP on 1/1/14, I answered "yes" to the food question as I was bringing in jam. No additional questions by the machine were asked. The receipt had a circle around the the phrase proceed to "Baggage Control." However, in MSP, the "immigration" officers review all receipts with circles, which caught me by surprise. (At IAD, all GE members pass through "immigration" booths with no one monitoring them.)

It took me just 1-2 minutes talking with an "immigration" officer to explain what "food" I was bringing in and to explain to him that the questions had been modified. At first he asked me why I answered "yes" when all I had was jam, as jam wasn't considered an agricultural, etc. product. After pointing out the "food" wording on the receipt, he then stamped my GE receipt and wrote his badge number, telling me that the machines had changed the wording to his surprise, and apologized.

Instead of heading to the exit, I went to Baggage Control, as the receipt had instructed. There, the "customs" officer just told me to head to the exit, immediately after seeing my receipt with the previous officer's annotation. He didn't even bother reading what I answered "yes" to.

My only criticism about this is that CBP needs to be trained about the GE machines asking different questions and that the machines should print receipts with "Proceed to Nearest CBP Agent" as opposed "Proceed to Baggage Control" for situations like mine.

Summary:
* Total additional time inconvenienced: 2 minutes. :rolleyes:
* Improvements required: Staff training and modification of wording on receipts to match local airport's CBP procedures.

My rules world-wide:
1. Declare any food or beverage substance (chocolate, jam, teabags, coffee beans...) (I draw the line at things like chewing gum or breath mints, though.)
2. Be prepared to be accused of wasting their time, for which I will offer my profuse apologies. :rolleyes:
Lather, rinse, repeat.

Seriously, you can't win this one.

My honest-as-the-day-is-long young colleague was mercilessly excoriated at SYD for not declaring a (commercially packaged) box of tea bags from the UK. In his mind, tea is a drink, not a food, and the bags aren't even a drink until you add water. They let him keep it, but he was extremely - and unnecessarily - embarrassed.

At the same airport, I regularly declare Swiss chocolate. 20% of the time, I'm told "you don't need to declare that". 20% of the time, they ask to look at the package to "make sure." 60% of the time, I'm told "Okay, no problem." One time they located it on the (random) baggage x-ray (I had declared it) and asked me to get it out. I pulled out a flat gift-wrapped box, they glanced at it and said, "Okay, fine." There's no rhyme or reason.

Just noticed this at SEATAC today. They still had the old, more specific question last week.

Tea is generally from tea leaves/plants. I always declare tea, in the interest of helping the agricultural industry in my destination country.

Just had this at IAD. Checked yes to food (no additional question). Got circle around "baggage control", which is the customs exit point. Showed her slip and told her I had some candy. "Anything else?" "No." On my way. Added time about 15 seconds.

I don't disagree - and I would have declared it myself - but to my colleague, the question using the word "food" did not cover "tea bags".

Playing devil's advocate for a moment, the issue is surely not just "made from a plant" but how much processing the plant material has received (ie, whether the processing has been sufficient to eliminate the risk of carrying disease or insects). If it's an entire freshly-plucked green plant with dirt still clinging to the roots, that's clearly a problem. But does anyone declare clothing made of cotton or linen (or hemp :eek:)? Or a book or stationery kit because the paper came from a tree? Wooden buttons? Pencils?

I mentioned above the quarantine people who said I was "wasting their time" with chocolates. Imagine someone declaring every linen, cotton and paper item in their bag!

Tea leaves have been processed more than a freshly harvested plant, but not as much as the cotton in my shirt. They've probably been processed LESS than the wood in a box of pencils. This sort of question requires the passenger to make a judgement call as to whether the item has been processed enough to be no longer considered "made from a plant" or not. And it's to be expected that different people would make different conclusions. In fact, my colleague might well have thought differently about loose tea leaves that had been measured out for him into a paper bag in a village in a developing country versus a shrink-wrapped box of name brand tea bags from a gift shop in Yorkshire.

At MIA on my latest arrival I was asked and reported the food items as I passed through the staffed kiosk after receiving my GE kiosk receipt - completely approved by APHIS, in this case some granola bars. Politely welcomed to the US. Both times, arriving from HAV and SXM.

Did the officer in the kiosk stamp your GE receipt, so the officer at the exit would know to not ask you about the food?

Just a data point here...

I just entered at MSP declaring food using the kiosk and receiving the "circle receipt". The officer at the desk then proceeded to (apparently) process my entry manually, scanning my passport twice and typing information in to the computer before asking what I had. He then stamped my passport book and the BACK of the receipt so that the officer at the exit didn't see I had already been questioned before asking himself what food I had. It would have been quicker to use the regular line!

Does the layout at MSP allow you to skip the primary inspection officer? Since the receipt with the circle tells you to proceed to "baggage control," skipping primary inspection and reporting to the customs officer at the exit seems to be the best course of action, but that is not possible at all airports.

Got circle @ SFO. CPB sent me to baggage screening, with bags going through X-ray. Told those agents about my turkish delights and black truffles, both of which are OK. They still wanted to see the truffles. Agent says, "Those are expensive!," then sends me on my way. Total extra time in processing: 5 min. No big deal.