Q&A for How to Go Through U.S. Customs

They may ask your origin and destination, the length and/or purpose of your intended stay, your job and financial situation, if you know anyone in the United States or other questions like that.

If it is not busy and there are no other flights in the room, then 10-15 minutes. If the room is full with other arriving passengers, it can take up to an hour to 2 hours. It really depends on which airport you land at, though, so if you search for "customs wait time at [your airport code]," you can often find more specific estimates.

Some countries now have U.S. Customs abroad, like Canada, Dubai, etc. They are pre-cleared to arrive in the U.S. without having to see U.S. Customs in the United States. If there is no Pre-Clearance, then you would go through Customs in the U.S.

You do need to go through TSA screening when you arrive at the airport, but you don't go through customs until you come back.

With some rare exceptions, an US immigrant visa holder is typically a foreign citizen, and thus should proceed to the foreigner lane.

The entry depends on your passport, not your marital status. If you have a valid USA passport, you have no problem. If your current passport is from another country, you will have to enter as a tourist with the specific visa requirements. Check with a lawyer about your status.

No. The U.S. has a free exit policy, so you do not need to go through customs until you return. This includes traveling during domestic flights, such as Sacramento to Seattle.

Yes. You get an allowance of 1 liter duty-free. Anything more than that and you will have to pay a tax.

Candy for personal use isn't usually an issue as long as it is in its original packaging. You could probably bring as much as you can fit into your luggage. You could probably even arrange for large shipments if you wanted to and had proper documentation. Remember to declare it to avoid issues.

No, Customs is only looking for food from other countries and of course drugs and weapons.

You fill out a form asking if you have any of various types of items with you (e.g., food, animal products).

Your exemption is $800 per person. $50 over your exemption is what you would pay duty on.

No. Customs is considered a high-security area, so leave your phone in your pocket to avoid trouble.

If you are bringing prescription drugs, particularly those with dangerous components like narcotics, you need a doctor's note. Have the doctor explain your condition and why you need the medication.

No, the driver's license is irrelevant. All you need is your passport and custom form.

Yes, they do look at your criminal record when they take your passport, so you will know right away if you can get into the country.

The U.S. is very strict when it comes to criminal records. If you're honest, you may be able to get in. Make sure you list prior offenses when you apply for your passport. The rules are always changing, but in general officials are prone to refusing you entry for even very minor offenses.

Cheese is typically safe as long as it doesn't include meat. Liquid cheese is restricted from some countries, but not Spain.

You may get in trouble with TSA for bringing the pot honey on the plane. You won't be able to bring it back. The pipe should be fine. Customs doesn't have much to do with paraphernalia.

You will only need the customs form given out on the plane unless you stay out of the country for over a year. If you're gone for a while, get a reentry permit or returning resident visa.

You can bring up to $10,000 without declaring it. You actually can bring any amount of money if you declare the amount in customs.

Baked goods and chocolate are generally safe to bring into the U.S. Keep them in their packaging and declare them.

You shouldn't have any problems. Bring what you expect you'll need so you're not carrying large quantities of pills around.

If you have time to spare between flights, you should probably give yourself at least an hour. If you stay inside the airport, you can go to the flight gate at any time but may need to wait for the boarding call. If you leave the airport, give yourself plenty of time to go back through security.

Yes, keep it in its original bottle to avoid problems. Also bring a doctor's note explaining the medication and your condition.

Bring documentation showing the pet is yours and is healthy. Regular pets like dogs and cats are the easiest to get in, followed by commonly imported pets. Pets like birds may need to stay in quarantine for a month before they can be released to you.

You can ask for help. There is no clear, consensus rule in place for helping senior citizens, but usually someone will give you a hand if you need it.

It depends on what the officers want to do. They usually prefer to handle 1 person at a time. If you give them all the documents they need, they might just speak with the head of the family. Don't be surprised though if they pull aside other adults to ask some questions.

Most things are fine. The only things you need to watch out for are fresh foods, particularly meats, fruits, and vegetables. Prepared foods, alcohol, souvenirs, and most other things are okay.

This depends on if you need to retrieve your baggage when you arrive at the airport. Usually, you can opt to have the luggage transferred to your connecting flight, but you have to indicate this when you check in at the airport. Never leave your luggage at the airport unless you know it has already been checked in for your next flight.