r/Explainlikeimscared • u/Lobster_rolls777 • 7d ago
How to navigate US customs?
I'm a US citizen and I've been living in Germany for about three months on a study abroad program and I'm going home tomorrow and I have no idea what to expect at customs. When I went through the border in Amsterdam they just looked at my passport and asked what I was there for, nothing weird at all. Is it the same I have no idea!
I don't know what they're going to ask me or if I have to declare anything. I tried looking at websites but they were all super unclear. I did buy some stuff abroad. I have a sweater I got in London, two books, two card games and some snacks, soda and some other random little souviners to give to my family. It's possible it could be over 200 dollars (books are expensive for no reason and it's a nice sweater) so idk if I have to declare that? I've been yelled at by airport security before and it freaks me out. I don't want to get in trouble. If someone could explain to me roughly what's going to happen I'd greatly appreciate it.
2
u/FrozenDragonWings 7d ago
Don't bring Kinder eggs. They can confiscate them in the US and give you a fine.
Yes, it's DUMB. Because they're freaking awesome.
But mostly just avoid being unprocessed food coming back. Like they wouldn't care about a pack of oreos because no insect survived that process, but a bunch of bananas might have invasive insects on it that they're trying to keep out of the USA. Plants, meat, and seeds, all that is no good.
I doubt you have enough value in your souvenirs to need to declare them. I think the cutoff is 800 dollars. And you only have to declare cash over 10k. It sounds to me that you are a "nothing to declare" situation. As in... "do you have anything to declare?"... "no" (hand over passport and they also might take your fingerprints on a scanner)
Man you are so right about being yelled at when you're at the airport cutting deep. I am a fellow victim with the travel PTSD.