Sep 6, 2018, 11:23 am
Last edit by: seawolf
Global Entry kiosks typically ask a yes/no question about whether you are bringing "food" into the country. The question is broader than on the deprecated blue form that asked about fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.
CBP answers the question of whether you must declare all "food" on its website:
CBP expects declaration to be made even if not asked by kiosk or explicitly asked by CBP officer
Yes, all food items and products must be declared when entering the U.S.
You may be able to bring in food such as fruits, meats or other agricultural products depending on the region or country from which you are traveling.
General consensus is that the best practice is to declare any "food", include candies, cookies, snacks, etc. and then inform the CBP agent about your food. Experience has been that in nearly all cases the agent will wave you through with extremely minimal delay. As explained elsewhere, the primary focus of the question is to prevent importation of fruits, vegetable, and meats that could cause harm to the American food supply, but it is safest to allow the CBP agent to make the determination.
There is some debate as to whether items one can ingest for non-nutritive reasons (e.g., gum, toothpaste, medicine) should qualify as food. There does not appear to be an answer from CBP or experience showing the proper categorization of such items.
CBP answers the question of whether you must declare all "food" on its website:
CBP expects declaration to be made even if not asked by kiosk or explicitly asked by CBP officer
Link to TTP Interview guidance letter - Thanks hourglass
Must I declare food items or products when using the Global entry kiosk?
Yes, all food items and products must be declared when entering the U.S.You may be able to bring in food such as fruits, meats or other agricultural products depending on the region or country from which you are traveling.
There is some debate as to whether items one can ingest for non-nutritive reasons (e.g., gum, toothpaste, medicine) should qualify as food. There does not appear to be an answer from CBP or experience showing the proper categorization of such items.
Global Entry Kiosks Declarations and Food Questions
Jul 21, 2017, 4:11 pm
#616
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Jul 23, 2017, 6:54 pm
#618
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Same here.
The US Customs and Border Protection Declarations (Form 6059B) were not passed out on my flight. On the contrary, the purser made an announcement that at LAX, paper declarations are no longer used. Instead, all arriving international passengers electronically complete the customs declarations at the kiosks.
Of course, as I was done at the GE kiosk - no wait, plenty of available kiosks - I saw a long line of people with X's on their slips waiting at the CBP counter at the exit from the GE kiosk area. I heard at least one being instructed to fill out a paper declaration.
Another CBP officer noticed me standing and holding a printed slip from the kiosk (with no X's or O's); he just waved me though. At the exit from the customs hall, I was just asked whether I had any food with me. I said that I didn't and that was the end of it. The slip was collected and I was free to go.
Total time from entering the FIS facility to exiting it was under 5 minutes (as usual, I traveled with carry on luggage only).
Jul 25, 2017, 1:15 pm
#619
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2 recent experiences declaring food on the GE kiosk @sfo (both times arriving from Mexico)-
(1) The CBP officer carefully reviewed all the forms and passports (my kids aren't tall enough for the kiosk photo booth) and proceeded to tell me that I did not need to check "yes" for the type of food I had (all prepackaged cookies, etc.) but that I should always tell the CBP about any such food whn they take my form otherwise I could lose my GE status. Okaaay ....
We then proceeded to baggage claim, and then to customs where I was directed to secondary. At that point I was asked what food I had and I proceeded to have a conniption, telling them that all my food was in a plastic bag which I thrust at them and told them were welcome to waste their time inspecting. Mrs. B thought I was inviting a cavity search but they kind of looked at me funny and then sent us on our way without an xray. ^
(2) I arrived in the afternoon and was quickly through GE to customs, where I explained (more calmly this time) that I only had packaged candy and "a cliff bar that I exported and then re-imported" - and once again was sent on my way without an x-ray.
So maybe things have loosened up a bit @sfo or the customs guys see me coming now and grimace
(1) The CBP officer carefully reviewed all the forms and passports (my kids aren't tall enough for the kiosk photo booth) and proceeded to tell me that I did not need to check "yes" for the type of food I had (all prepackaged cookies, etc.) but that I should always tell the CBP about any such food whn they take my form otherwise I could lose my GE status. Okaaay ....
We then proceeded to baggage claim, and then to customs where I was directed to secondary. At that point I was asked what food I had and I proceeded to have a conniption, telling them that all my food was in a plastic bag which I thrust at them and told them were welcome to waste their time inspecting. Mrs. B thought I was inviting a cavity search but they kind of looked at me funny and then sent us on our way without an xray. ^
(2) I arrived in the afternoon and was quickly through GE to customs, where I explained (more calmly this time) that I only had packaged candy and "a cliff bar that I exported and then re-imported" - and once again was sent on my way without an x-ray.
So maybe things have loosened up a bit @sfo or the customs guys see me coming now and grimace
Jul 25, 2017, 3:00 pm
#620
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
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2 recent experiences declaring food on the GE kiosk @sfo (both times arriving from Mexico)-
(1) The CBP officer carefully reviewed all the forms and passports (my kids aren't tall enough for the kiosk photo booth) and proceeded to tell me that I did not need to check "yes" for the type of food I had (all prepackaged cookies, etc.) but that I should always tell the CBP about any such food whn they take my form otherwise I could lose my GE status. Okaaay ....
(1) The CBP officer carefully reviewed all the forms and passports (my kids aren't tall enough for the kiosk photo booth) and proceeded to tell me that I did not need to check "yes" for the type of food I had (all prepackaged cookies, etc.) but that I should always tell the CBP about any such food whn they take my form otherwise I could lose my GE status. Okaaay ....
Jul 27, 2017, 7:47 am
#621
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I thought there was provision for an amended declaration when they tell you that they'd like to go through your bag?
Jul 27, 2017, 8:21 am
#622
Join Date: Jul 2003
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After flying 10+ hours with a jet lag, you may not remember. If you forget to declare verbally and a food item is found, what are you going to say then? This is how people get fined and lose their Global Entry privileges permanently. To me, it is better to play it safe than sorry.
Jul 27, 2017, 8:22 am
#623
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I don't want to be in the awkward situation of trying to tell 'Agent B' that I technically lied on the kiosk because 'Agent A' (who naturally will be nowhere to be seen) told me to do something that conflicted with the instructions given to all GE members.
YMMV.
Jul 27, 2017, 9:30 am
#624
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While you are allowed to amend declaration before baggage inspection begins but it could become a grey area if officer don't believe it was an honest oversight.
Jul 27, 2017, 1:28 pm
#625
Join Date: May 2009
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Indeed! On the times I haven't declared food, my interaction with CBP is so brief that I probably couldn't "declare" it anyway. I'll stick with the declare and explain approach . . . "better safe than sorry".
Jul 30, 2017, 5:42 pm
#626
Join Date: Jul 2015
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I always declare, even something as trivial as a bag of candy. The program is so unforgiving of transgressions that I try to make it a point to always follow the rules to the letter, even if officials feel I'm wasting their time.
Jul 30, 2017, 8:40 pm
#627
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Jul 30, 2017, 8:45 pm
#628
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
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Me as well
Jul 31, 2017, 1:15 pm
#629
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 70
A few weeks ago at JFK, I declared about $10 worth of German chocolate. The agent politely told me not to declare anything processes in the future, otherwise I would end up in a back room wasting everyone's time.
What sucks is that I don't want to risk my GE status and not declare in the future only to be told DECLARE EVERYTHING!!!
What sucks is that I don't want to risk my GE status and not declare in the future only to be told DECLARE EVERYTHING!!!
Jul 31, 2017, 1:35 pm
#630
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
A few weeks ago at JFK, I declared about $10 worth of German chocolate. The agent politely told me not to declare anything processes in the future, otherwise I would end up in a back room wasting everyone's time.
What sucks is that I don't want to risk my GE status and not declare in the future only to be told DECLARE EVERYTHING!!!
What sucks is that I don't want to risk my GE status and not declare in the future only to be told DECLARE EVERYTHING!!!
I will always declare food if applicable. On the other hand, I try not to bring anything edible in.