AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES
INFORMATION ON U.S. CUSTOMS
The following is information in relation to the most frequently asked questions in regards to U.S. Customs regulations. For additional information visit the U.S. Customs Service's website, or contact the nearest U.S. Customs office (located in Frankfurt), tel. +49 69 7535 3876, fax +49 69 7535 3780. Office hours are between 9AM and 6PM.
Alcohol
Residents and non-residents over 21 years of age may bring no more than one liter of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine or liquor) to the U.S. duty free.
Dogs/Cats
No special documentation or vaccinations are required for dogs or cats traveling directly from Sweden to the United States. A "Health Certificate" from your veterinarian is recommended. Always check with your airline before departure. For further information we refer to the Department of Agriculture at http://www.aphis.usda.gov. Note: Different rules may apply to Hawaii, see http://www.hawaiiag.org
Firearms
It is prohibited for Nonimmigrant aliens to import firearms and ammunition to the U.S. There are, however, certain exceptions, e.g. in regards to hunting and government officials. For more detailed information and the downloading of the application for the permit, please visit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' website at http://www.atf.gov/firearms/022002form6updates.htm.
Food
You are not allowed to bring fresh fruit or vegetables, or meat products to the U.S. If you plan to bring salmon, it must be smoked and vacuum-packed, raw-spiced (gravad) salmon is not permitted. For further information we refer to the Department of Agriculture at http://www.aphis.usda.gov
Mailing food, candy etc. to the U.S.
If you are a private individual who wishes to send beverage and food items to the U.S., you should be aware that some items are highly restricted, particularly food items with meat products, including soup mixes, bullion, sausages, tinned meats, etc., and fresh produce. As a general rule, candies, condiments, spices, coffee and teas that are commercially packaged are ok, however bulk teas or spices, etc. are subject to inspection and if they are found to have insects, they may be seized and destroyed.
Food that is sent to an individual in the U.S. for personal use (i.e. not for resale) by a business is subject to special requirements of the Food and Drug Administration. Businesses that send goods to the U.S. must file prior notice. Prior notice may be filed on-line if the goods are being sent through the postal service. (Foods sent from an individual to an individual for personal use or as a bona fide gift are not subject to the Prior Notice requirement.)
Gifts
A non-resident may bring gifts totaling $100 in value to the U.S. duty free. Any gift items over that amount will be dutiable at the same rates as gifts exceeding $800 for a returning resident (see next paragraph).
As a returning resident, you are entitled to a duty-free exemption for newly purchased goods up to the value of $800 if the goods accompany you when you arrive in the U.S. Goods in excess of $800 that accompany you are dutiable at a flat rate of 3 percent for the next $1000 in value, goods that are not covered by the personal exemption or flat rate of duty (anything over $1800) are assessed duty in accordance with the item's Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification number. (Schedule available on the U.S. Customs Service's website).
Moving to the U.S.
Duty Exemptions for Household and Personal Effects
You may import furniture, dishes, linens, libraries, artwork and similar household furnishings for your personal use free of duty. To be eligible for duty-free exemption, the articles must have either been available for your use, or used in a household where you were a resident for one year. The year of use does not need to be continuous, nor does it need to be the year immediately before the date of importation. Personal and household effects entitled to duty-free entry need not accompany you to the United States; you may have them shipped to your U.S. address at a later time if you choose. Your shipment of personal and/or household goods must be cleared through Customs at its first port of arrival.
Professional Equipment/Tools of Trade
Your professional equipment or tools of trade are entitled to duty-free consideration if they are for your personal use. They do not have to have been in your household for more than 1 year to qualify for this exemption.
Medication
You may bring medication into the U.S. for personal use only. You cannot bring in medicine for friends or family. To be able to bring any kind of medication into the U.S. a doctor's note, or the original prescription, is required. The doctor's note should state the name and quantity of the medicine you are bringing into the U.S. It cannot exceed the quantity needed for your stay in the U.S. The note must also affirm that the medication is only for your personal use. It is also important to keep the medication in the originally dispensed-container.
Money
There is no limit on the total amount of monetary instruments that may be brought into or taken out of the U.S. However, if you transport more than $10.000 in monetary instruments on any occasion into or out of the U.S., a report must be filed with U.S. Customs. The form FinCEN 105 (Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments) may be obtained when entering or leaving the US from a customs official, or it can be downloaded here. Failure to declare currency in amounts over $10,000 may be subject to forfeiture and could result in civil and criminal penalties.
Motor Vehicles
A vehicle registered in another country may be imported for personal use for a period not to exceed one year. The vehicle cannot be sold and it must be exported within one year from the date of entry. A form HS-7 (available at ports of entry or for downloading here)
must be completed as well as Form 3250-1. For more information about importing motor vehicles and conforming cars to U.S. standards, please visit the U.S. Customs website, the website of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
More information may be obtained from the U.S. Customs publication "Importing or Exporting a Car".
Tobacco / Snuff ("Snus")
You are permitted to bring 100 cigars or 200 cigarettes (one carton) into the US duty free, or one roll ("stock") of snuff into the US duty free.
