"Industry experts tell us that this will be a very busy travel season," said acting CBP Commissioner Deborah J. Spero. "Many summer travelers are inexperienced, but some have never traveled overseas before. I urge all international travelers to take the time to learn what to expect when they return to the United States. It will make the process faster and less stressful for all."

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

CBP officers check individual’s luggage for possible contraband.

At the end of any international destination, parents and children are going to be tired and just wanting to get home. Here are a few things to help everyone get through CBP’s inspection process and get home quicker.

1. Keep key travel documents on you at all times. There is nothing more aggravating than having to wait at a port of entry because a necessary document is misplaced. A good rule of thumb is to always carry your passport on your person - never pack it.

2. Declare everything that you obtained outside the United States. Err on the side of caution-if you’re not sure, declare it. One good thing to do is find out the difference between prohibited merchandise - illegal drugs, counterfeit merchandise, ivory, Cuban cigars, and tortoise shell products - and restricted items, like wine or cigarettes.

3. Don’t forget to declare any food that you have with you. This reminder especially is for our international visitors, who may bring preferred food items from home and are not aware of all the rules about bringing food into this country. A general guideline is that bakery items and cured hard cheeses are fine. However, fruits and vegetables usually are not, and meat products are only allowed if they are canned and sealed.

4. Don’t automatically believe what people tell you - declare everything you’ve purchased outside the United States. Advice from friends and shopkeepers about “what will clear Customs” is often just plain wrong. Get this information directly from CBP. Remember, you must declare “duty-free goods,” even if you purchased them in a “duty-free store.”

5. Don’t assume if you’re not sure. Check our website at www.cbp.gov or printed materials to make sure that what you are bringing in is OK. For example, many foreign-manufactured medications are not FDA-approved, so you cannot bring them into the United States. When you are traveling abroad, bring only the medications you will need during the trip, and carry them in their original bottles.

One last important note
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will soon require all travelers (including babies) to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted form of documentation to enter or reenter the United States.

The program will be rolled out in phases. All individuals traveling to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by air or sea must have a passport by December 31, 2006. All individuals traveling to or from any country whether by air, sea or land border crossing must have a passport by December 31, 2007.

Even though these dates are not final until the final ruling is published in the Federal Register, travelers should not wait until the last minute to obtain a passport. Apply several months before your planned trip and allow additional time if you need visas from foreign embassies. If you don’t have any specific travel plans - but have family/friends living abroad, or are waiting to find a bargain trip - don’t wait to get your passport! Get it now, so you’re ready in case you may need or want to travel on short notice. Passport demand goes up during the summer months. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you apply early to avoid the rush.

You can find updates and more information on traveling and Know Before You Go on our Website at www.cbp.gov.

Happy traveling.

Pledge to Travelers As always, our CBP officers are committed to the highest standards of professional conduct. We want to assist the millions of legitimate travelers, who pose no threat, to gain entry into the U.S. quickly and efficiently, as exemplified by our Pledge to Travelers: We pledge to cordially greet and welcome you to the United States. We pledge to treat you with courtesy, dignity, and respect. We pledge to explain the CBP process to you. We pledge to have a supervisor listen to your comments. We pledge to accept and respond to your comments in written, verbal, or electronic form. We pledge to provide reasonable assistance due to delay or disability.