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
Dec 24, 2017, 1:34 pm
#691
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Vietnam & USA
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 456
Whether GE or not, the form really hastnt changed and neither have the possible outcomes, other than possibly losing GE status.
I always bring some edible, drinkable products of varying amounts. In the days before GE I'd be somewhat indifferent about the form, only listing things if they were in significant quantlty.
Upon giving form to Customs Officer, sometimes he'd ask specifically what I had and I'd tell him and that was it. I've never been extra screened coming into USA (for the most part JFK, which is actually one of the best places to enter for an American).
Now with GE, I am more careful to say yes to the food, sometimes I'm asked, sometimes not, but it's always ended with "have a nice day or welcome home"
Other POEs are different though.
I always bring some edible, drinkable products of varying amounts. In the days before GE I'd be somewhat indifferent about the form, only listing things if they were in significant quantlty.
Upon giving form to Customs Officer, sometimes he'd ask specifically what I had and I'd tell him and that was it. I've never been extra screened coming into USA (for the most part JFK, which is actually one of the best places to enter for an American).
Now with GE, I am more careful to say yes to the food, sometimes I'm asked, sometimes not, but it's always ended with "have a nice day or welcome home"
Other POEs are different though.
Dec 25, 2017, 12:37 pm
#692
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Coming in to MSP from AMS today, I declared "yes" to "seeds, nuts, etc." (and also "more than the free allowance"). I told the agent I had tulip bulbs, bought at the airport. He looked at the box and scribbled on the receipt. He thanked me, mentioning that a lot of Global Entry people don't bother declaring them. That was it; maybe 30 seconds (most of which was finding the bag that had the tulips).
Dec 26, 2017, 10:28 am
#693
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 592
Coming in to MSP from AMS today, I declared "yes" to "seeds, nuts, etc." (and also "more than the free allowance"). I told the agent I had tulip bulbs, bought at the airport. He looked at the box and scribbled on the receipt. He thanked me, mentioning that a lot of Global Entry people don't bother declaring them. That was it; maybe 30 seconds (most of which was finding the bag that had the tulips).
Dec 26, 2017, 4:18 pm
#694
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
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When we came in from LHR To SFO in November, we declared that we have food because we had some chocolates. The agent laughed and said” you know we don’t consider that food right”… But then quickly stopped himself and said “but you should always declare everything that you think might be food. Good job!”
Dec 26, 2017, 4:27 pm
#695
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That was after I (would have) picked up checked bags. The next step was handing the scribbled-on paper to the guard and leaving.
Dec 27, 2017, 12:00 pm
#696
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
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Practical question:
Under new system, the immigration officer collects your customs form and you simply walk through baggage claim and out through customs. Under the old system, the immigration officer stamped your customs form and you then handed that form to the customs officer at the exit from baggage claim. Question: What happens now if you declare something on that customs for (e.g., food)? It used to be that the customs officer at the exit would see your declaration and direct you to a customs officer to look at your items. So, what happens now if you hand the immigration officer a form on which you have checked off that you have food? They cannot ask to see the items right there or direct you off to secondary right then, since the item may well be in your checked luggage (which you have not claimed yet). Any experience?
Under new system, the immigration officer collects your customs form and you simply walk through baggage claim and out through customs. Under the old system, the immigration officer stamped your customs form and you then handed that form to the customs officer at the exit from baggage claim. Question: What happens now if you declare something on that customs for (e.g., food)? It used to be that the customs officer at the exit would see your declaration and direct you to a customs officer to look at your items. So, what happens now if you hand the immigration officer a form on which you have checked off that you have food? They cannot ask to see the items right there or direct you off to secondary right then, since the item may well be in your checked luggage (which you have not claimed yet). Any experience?
Dec 27, 2017, 4:02 pm
#697
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 592
Good question - you mean, for example, you declare "I have a ham in my checked bag" - what then? Do you go get the bag? Do they intercept the bag? Do you wait in some special place until the bag arrives and then you're escorted to it? I don't know the answer, but it's a good question.
Dec 27, 2017, 4:31 pm
#698
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Good question - you mean, for example, you declare "I have a ham in my checked bag" - what then? Do you go get the bag? Do they intercept the bag? Do you wait in some special place until the bag arrives and then you're escorted to it? I don't know the answer, but it's a good question.
Dec 28, 2017, 9:18 am
#699
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It seems that Dulles does. But I also assume that before any bags end up on the carousel, sniffer dogs and agents are identifying bags that deserve scrutiny. The only difference is that the bag isn't in your possession until after you've cleared the formal checkpoint. I imagine if there's something suspicious in your bag, and you claim it, then a CPB official may be there to ask you some more questions, starting with "is that your bag?"
Dec 28, 2017, 9:52 am
#700
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 592
It seems that Dulles does. But I also assume that before any bags end up on the carousel, sniffer dogs and agents are identifying bags that deserve scrutiny. The only difference is that the bag isn't in your possession until after you've cleared the formal checkpoint. I imagine if there's something suspicious in your bag, and you claim it, then a CPB official may be there to ask you some more questions, starting with "is that your bag?"
Dec 28, 2017, 9:58 am
#701
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It seems that Dulles does. But I also assume that before any bags end up on the carousel, sniffer dogs and agents are identifying bags that deserve scrutiny. The only difference is that the bag isn't in your possession until after you've cleared the formal checkpoint. I imagine if there's something suspicious in your bag, and you claim it, then a CPB official may be there to ask you some more questions, starting with "is that your bag?"
Dec 28, 2017, 11:20 am
#703
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 592
I don't know about "in this thread," but there are many anecdotal reports of people either losing GE or being threatened with such for failures to declare items. The general theme is that the penalties are much more severe for GE members than for non-GE members on the theory that CBP "trusted" us and we broke that trust. So, things that might slide with a warning if not GE, might incur a fine if GE.
Dec 29, 2017, 4:50 pm
#704
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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I've been following these threads for a while, and I don't recall anyone reporting that they were "busted" for failing to declare something like candy/chocolate.
Dec 29, 2017, 4:52 pm
#705
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It's also difficult for dogs to catch liquor over the allowance now - that's why the agent asks questions. I assume they've figured it's more efficient to conduct a single interview at passport control than a second one at the exit when people have their bags. The only difference is whether people are less likely to be honest when not in possession of their bags.