Travel to the United States

Customs Information, the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94), and Traveling with Pets

Customs Information

Trouble, an agriculture detector dog working for U.S. Customs. Visit the Detector Dog Gallery to see his "co-workers" and learn about their jobs.

Below please find brief customs information on the most frequently asked items. For detailed information on these and on other items, please read the publication of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Welcome to the United States (pdf, 470KB), and visit the Find Answers Section of the CBP web site, where you can also ask specific questions.

Alcoholic Beverages:

Nonresidents who are at least 21 years old may bring in, free of duty and internal revenue tax, up to one liter of alcoholic beverage -beer, wine, liquor- for personal use. Quantities above the one-liter limitation are subject to duty and internal revenue tax. In addition to federal laws, you must also meet state alcoholic beverage laws, which may be more restrictive than federal laws. For more information, please read the relevant answer in the Q&A section of CBP.

Food:

• Meat: Meats, poultry and their by-products (e.g., sausage, pâté) are either prohibited or restricted entry into the United States, depending upon the animal disease condition in the country of origin. Fresh meat is generally prohibited from most countries. Canned meat is permitted if the inspector can determine that it is commercially canned, cooked in the container, hermetically sealed, and can be kept without refrigeration. Other canned, cured, or dried meat is severely restricted.
  
  
• Fruits and Vegetables: Many fruits, vegetables, plants, cuttings, seeds, unprocessed plant products, and certain endangered plant species are either prohibited from entering the country or require an import permit. Every single plant, plant product, fruit, or vegetable must be declared to the CBP officer/CBP agriculture specialist and must be presented for inspection no matter how free of pests it appears to be. Most commercially canned or processed items are admissible.
  
  
• Bakery items, candy, chocolate, and cured cheese are generally admissible. However, chocolates with alcoholic filling are NOT admissible.

For more information, please read the relevant answer in the Q&A section of CBP.

Medicine and Narcotics:

A traveler requiring medicines that contain habit-forming drugs or narcotics (e.g. cough medicine, diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, stimulants, etc.) should:

• Have all drugs, medicines, and similar products properly identified.
• Carry only such quantity as would normally be used by an individual having a health problem requiring the drugs or medicines.
• Obtain either a prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicine is for use under a doctor's direction and that it is necessary for your physical well being while traveling.
• Declare such drugs or medications to the CBP officer.

Narcotics and dangerous drugs are prohibited entry. There are severe civil and/or criminal penalties if imported.

For more information, please read the relevant answer in the Q&A section of CBP.

Tobacco Products:

You may include in your personal exemption not more than 200 cigarettes (one carton) or 50 cigars or two kilograms (4.4 lbs.) of smoking tobacco, or proportional amounts of each. Cigars of Cuban origin are prohibited entry.

Money and Monetary Instruments:

There is no limit on the total amount of monetary instruments that may be brought into or taken out of the United States, nor is it illegal to do so. However, if you transport or cause to be transported (including by mail or other means) more than $10,000 in negotiable monetary instruments on any occasion into or out of the United States or if you receive more than $10,000, you must file a Report of International Transportation of International Currency or Monetary Instruments (FinCen 105) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal penalties, including seizure of the currency or monetary instruments. Monetary instruments include U.S. or foreign coin, currency, travelers' checks, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form.

Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94)

The Arrival-Departure Record is a form used to document a traveler's admission into the United States. The form includes the date of arrival, visa classification and the date the authorized stay expires.

Instructions to complete Form I-94 (with an image of the form) and Frequently Asked Questions about the Form can be found on the I-94 Instructions page of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Traveling with Pets

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulations govern the importation of dogs, cats, turtles, monkeys, other animals, and animal products capable of causing human disease.

The CDC does not require general certificates of health for pets for entry into the United States. However, health certificates may be required for entry into some states, or may be required by airlines for pets. You should check with officials in your state of destination and with your airline prior to your travel date.

Cats:

• Cats must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to man. Cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a cat appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense might be required at the port of entry.
• Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States. However, some states require vaccination of cats for rabies, so it is a good idea to check with state and local health authorities at your final destination.
• All pet cats arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements.
• If you are bringing your cat to the U.S. on an airplane, you should check with the airline about their requirements for transporting animals. Many airlines require a certificate of health from a veterinarian.

Dogs:

• Dogs must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to man and must be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to arrival. Dogs are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a dog appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense might be required at the port of entry.
• A valid rabies vaccination certificate must accompany the animal. The certificate should identify the animal, the dates of vaccination and expiration, and bear the signature of a licensed veterinarian. If no expiration date is specified, the certificate is acceptable if the date of vaccination is no more than 12 months prior to arrival in the United States.
• Following importation, all dogs are subject to state and local vaccination or health certificate requirements.
• All pet dogs arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements.

For further information, please visit the Importation of Pets, Other Animals, and Animal Products into the United States page of CDC.

Last updated: 06/06/2008