At U.S. customs, answer the officer’s questions accurately and declare the goods the rules require. Common questions concern where you traveled, what you acquired abroad, food or agricultural products, and cash or monetary instruments. The declaration process may be electronic; every traveler is not necessarily required to complete a paper form. [1]
What purchases and gifts should I disclose?
CBP’s guidance calls for declaring goods purchased, received as gifts, or repaired or altered abroad. Keep receipts and an understandable list of the items and values. A gift is not automatically excluded from declaration simply because you paid nothing for it. Whether duty is owed is a separate calculation. [1]
If you are unsure how to describe an item, tell the officer what it is and ask. Concealing it because you think it might exceed an allowance can create a more serious problem than an ordinary duty assessment.
Do packaged foods count?
Declare agricultural and wildlife products, including relevant foods, plants, seeds, meat, and animal products. USDA explains that admissibility depends on the product and its origin. Original packaging and receipts can help the inspector determine what you are carrying. Declaring an item does not guarantee admission; it allows the inspector to make the decision. [3]
Also disclose relevant farm visits or contact with livestock. Soil on footwear and equipment can carry agricultural risks even when no food is in the bag. [3]
Is carrying more than $10,000 illegal?
No. The reporting requirement is not a general ban on carrying that amount. CBP requires reporting currency and covered monetary instruments exceeding $10,000 in aggregate when entering or leaving the country, generally using FinCEN Form 105. Family or group aggregation rules matter; dividing money among relatives does not automatically avoid reporting. [2]
Before joining the inspection line
- Have travel documents and receipts accessible.
- List purchases, gifts, and repaired items.
- Separate foods and agricultural products for inspection.
- Review cash and covered instruments together.
- Correct misunderstandings promptly and truthfully.
Admission questions and customs questions can overlap but involve different rules. See customs seizure and forfeiture provisions and airport inspection and detention questions for issues that go beyond a routine declaration.
Primary sources
- CBP: Declaring Goods and Food Through Global Entry
- CBP: Currency and Monetary Instrument Reporting
- USDA APHIS: Traveling With Agricultural Products
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.