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
Jan 13, 2014, 2:35 pm
#76
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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.
Jan 13, 2014, 3:25 pm
#77
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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.
Jan 18, 2014, 3:40 pm
#78
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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!
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!
Jan 18, 2014, 4:45 pm
#79
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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!
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!
Jan 20, 2014, 9:43 am
#80
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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.
Jan 22, 2014, 2:51 pm
#81
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I did the declare the harmless non-'fresh' food thing at BOS, I think I had some potato chips. The agent said if I want to play that game, use the paper form, write down what I have, and declare it to the officer when you present the electronic form, that way I'm covered, but select no all on the machine...
Jan 22, 2014, 3:55 pm
#82
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Does the blue form have a space to declare the type of food? I thought it was basically the same question, and if you check yes then they ask you "what type of food" and go from there.
Sounds like an agent that's annoyed by the new question and the circles it has resulted in.
Sounds like an agent that's annoyed by the new question and the circles it has resulted in.
Jan 22, 2014, 9:02 pm
#83
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Does the blue form have a space to declare the type of food? I thought it was basically the same question, and if you check yes then they ask you "what type of food" and go from there.
Sounds like an agent that's annoyed by the new question and the circles it has resulted in.
Sounds like an agent that's annoyed by the new question and the circles it has resulted in.
Jan 23, 2014, 7:14 am
#84
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Does the blue form have a space to declare the type of food? I thought it was basically the same question, and if you check yes then they ask you "what type of food" and go from there.
Sounds like an agent that's annoyed by the new question and the circles it has resulted in.
Sounds like an agent that's annoyed by the new question and the circles it has resulted in.
For me, personally, I would rather answer yes to the food question and get the why are you wasting my time, go on, by an agent then get GE (well, Nexus) potentially revoked if they found it and I didn't.
Actually, I did have that happen to me about a year ago in pre-clearance YYZ, where I had cheese bagels (literally - bagels filled with cottage cheese as opposed to, say a Brueggers type bagel with a little cheese on top). I answered yes on the kiosk, and at secondary, said I had cheese bagels, and before I could say another word, the agent did the why are you wasting my time, get out of here, thing. I certainly had no interest in completing the explanation - I got told to go on, so that's what I did.
Jan 23, 2014, 7:25 am
#85
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Yes. On the opposite side of the blue form, there is a table for specifying your declaration (food items, or all items if you are over your allowed amount). Table has a spot to describe the item and for the amount. In practice, I think most people either don't realize its there.
For me, personally, I would rather answer yes to the food question and get the why are you wasting my time, go on, by an agent then get GE (well, Nexus) potentially revoked if they found it and I didn't.
For me, personally, I would rather answer yes to the food question and get the why are you wasting my time, go on, by an agent then get GE (well, Nexus) potentially revoked if they found it and I didn't.
My answer to the time wasting question would be "Not trying to waste your time, but I know how seriously CBP takes the important of illegal items and I wanted to be on the safe side."
Jan 23, 2014, 7:59 am
#86
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This week I had the opportunity to use the GE kiosks for the first time (new Nexus/GE member). As I was bringing cheese back from Europe, I marked the food question with a 'yes.'
To my surprise, I did receive a big 'X' on my slip, but rather a large circle around the words 'proceed to baggage inspection.'
I ended up spending about 20 minutes in secondary, with the agent typing away my reason for travel (a Mileage Run, where I only spent 24 hours on the ground). He also inspected my bags.
This would probably NOT have happened if I had waited in the non-existent line, and spoke to a CBP officer. So, so far, GE actually hurt me more than it helped me...
To my surprise, I did receive a big 'X' on my slip, but rather a large circle around the words 'proceed to baggage inspection.'
I ended up spending about 20 minutes in secondary, with the agent typing away my reason for travel (a Mileage Run, where I only spent 24 hours on the ground). He also inspected my bags.
This would probably NOT have happened if I had waited in the non-existent line, and spoke to a CBP officer. So, so far, GE actually hurt me more than it helped me...
Jan 24, 2014, 2:14 am
#87
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Consumable foodstuff is always declared by me when I have such stuff.
Jan 24, 2014, 3:23 am
#88
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Chocolates and cookies haven't always been ok for import into the US, and so I always declare them. I follow CBP actions very closely but I don't assume that I'm always on top of changes or all developments on what goodies are not generally permissible at the time of my return to the US.
Consumable foodstuff is always declared by me when I have such stuff.
Consumable foodstuff is always declared by me when I have such stuff.
Have no idea if the list goes beyond that. However, they want to inspect the stuff, determine where it comes from, and then decide whether you get to keep it or not based on that. If they can't determine, I guess it doesn't come in.
AFAIK, you don't get notes/revocation of the program for declaring fruit that can't be imported. You delcare it, the agriculture officer inspects it, and says yes or no. If no, they take it and that's the end of it. Now if you don't declare it on the other hand, that's where you get into trouble.
Last edited by emcampbe; Jan 24, 2014 at 3:28 am
Jan 24, 2014, 11:29 am
#89
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AFAIK, you don't get notes/revocation of the program for declaring fruit that can't be imported. You delcare it, the agriculture officer inspects it, and says yes or no. If no, they take it and that's the end of it. Now if you don't declare it on the other hand, that's where you get into trouble.
He recommended marking NO to that question, then verbally advising the customs officer that I have X or Y food items.
He said it's OK to verbally change a declaration. I asked him if he really recommends lying to the machine, and he said that changing a declaration is not lying...
Sounded a bit strange to me.
Jan 26, 2014, 6:09 am
#90
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I just passed through in ATL and got sent to full blown secondary at the exit. I had to argue with the AirServ employee taking the CBP files to put mine towards the front of the queue being GE, which she confirmed with the CBP officers was the correct process - why an AirServ employee is working in an FIS Secondary Facility, I have no clue.
Waited about 10 minutes, and got sent on my way without opening my bags. Both of my friends traveling without GE beat me through, however.
Waited about 10 minutes, and got sent on my way without opening my bags. Both of my friends traveling without GE beat me through, however.