International travel
US customs: what to expect when you land from abroad
By the TSA Wait Times team · Updated · Published June 2026
Every traveler returning to the US from an international destination must clear Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — regardless of citizenship. The process takes 30–90 minutes on average and is straightforward if you know what to declare.
The full arriving international traveler process
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Passport control | Your first stop after deplaning. A CBP officer reviews your passport (and visa if required). US citizens use the US Passport line or Global Entry kiosks. Foreign nationals use their designated lines. |
| 2. Collect your checked bags | After passport control, pick up your checked bags from the carousel. Screens show your flight number and carousel assignment. |
| 3. Customs declaration | Fill out the CBP Declaration Form (or complete it digitally in the VisitUSA app or the airplane's in-seat screen if available). Each family/household submits one form together. |
| 4. CBP officer review | Hand your completed declaration and passport to a CBP officer. They review, may ask questions about your trip, and direct you to either the "Nothing to Declare" exit or secondary inspection. |
| 5. Exit and connect | Once cleared, you exit the federal inspection zone. If connecting to a domestic flight, re-check your bags at the airline re-check counter and go through domestic security. |
The CBP Declaration Form — what to declare
Every arriving traveler completes a CBP Declaration Form (CBP Form 6059B) or the digital equivalent (Mobile Passport Control app or VisitUSA). One form covers your entire household — spouses, children, and family members traveling together submit one combined form.
Always declare:
- All goods you acquired abroad (purchased, gifted, or won) — clothing, jewelry, electronics, art, food, alcohol, and tobacco.
- Food, plants, animals, and soil — even seemingly innocent items like fresh fruit, meat, seeds, or potted plants.
- Cash and monetary instruments over $10,000 per family (not per person). There is no tax on cash amounts, but failure to declare is a federal crime.
- Merchandise you are bringing in for resale or as commercial samples.
Duty-free exemptions
- $800 exemption — US residents returning after 48+ hours abroad.
- $200 exemption — residents returning after less than 48 hours.
- Up to 1 liter of alcohol and 200 cigarettes (1 carton) included in the $800 exemption.
- Items over the exemption assessed at a flat 3% duty up to $1,000 over the exemption; beyond that, rates vary by item category.
False declaration is a federal crime and results in fines, seizure of goods, and potential arrest. Always declare everything — CBP is generally reasonable about personal-use items brought in for honest purposes.
Prohibited and restricted items
Prohibited — cannot bring into the US at all:
- Fresh fruits, vegetables, and plants without USDA permits
- Most meats, poultry, and eggs from foreign countries
- Soil
- Live plants with roots (some exceptions with phytosanitary certificate)
- Counterfeit goods of any kind
- Narcotics not personally prescribed (even if legal where purchased)
- Certain weapons and firearms without pre-approval
Restricted — may bring with documentation, permits, or within limits:
- Prescription medications (carry your prescription)
- Alcohol — duty applies over 1 liter; 5-liter maximum per person in most cases
- Tobacco — over 200 cigarettes (one carton) or 50 cigars is subject to duty
- Cultural artifacts from some countries (may require an export permit from the country of origin)
- Game trophies — a CITES permit may be required for certain species
- Large amounts of cash — no upper limit, but you must declare amounts over $10,000 per family
What is secondary inspection?
If a CBP officer directs you to secondary inspection, do not panic — it is not automatically a sign of a problem. Reasons include:
- Random selection (CBP does this routinely with all traveler categories)
- Your passport flagged for follow-up — expired visa, prior overstay, or prior violation
- Your declaration or a verbal answer prompted further questions
- Agricultural items that need a closer inspection
In secondary, officers may search your bags, ask more questions about your trip and declaration, and process any duties owed. Most secondary inspections take 15–45 minutes and end without any issue.
During secondary: be cooperative and honest. False statements made in secondary inspection are federal crimes. Having receipts for purchased items is helpful if duties are owed.
Global Entry — skip the line
Global Entry members bypass the main CBP queue entirely and use dedicated kiosks:
- Step 1 — Scan your passport at the Global Entry kiosk (blue-and-white machines with CBP branding).
- Step 2 — Look at the camera for facial recognition.
- Step 3 — Answer the declaration questions on the touchscreen.
- Step 4 — Print your receipt and proceed to the exit — hand the receipt to the CBP officer at the lane exit (a brief 5–10 second interaction).
Total Global Entry process: 5–10 minutes versus 30–90 minutes in the standard line. See Global Entry interview: what to expect and how to prepare for enrollment steps.
Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app
US citizens and eligible foreign nationals (from about 30 countries) can use the Mobile Passport Control app to pre-fill their CBP declaration on their phone before landing. Show the QR code at a dedicated MPC lane — faster than the standard passport line, though slower than Global Entry.
Available at most major international airports. No enrollment required — just download the free app before your flight.
Connecting to a domestic flight after international arrival
Important: you must re-clear security
You must clear customs and re-check your bags before connecting to any domestic flight — even if your entire itinerary is on one ticket.
- Allow extra time — plan at least 2.5–3 hours at major international airports (JFK, LAX, ORD, MIA) for international-to-domestic connections. Peak immigration lines can take 60–90 minutes alone.
- Re-check your bags— after claiming your bags at the international carousel, take them to the airline's re-check counter before proceeding to domestic security.
Answers to the most common customs questions:
What do I have to declare at US customs?
All goods acquired abroad, food and agricultural items, cash over $10,000 per family, and any restricted items. The duty-free exemption is $800 per person (after 48 hours abroad).
What happens if I forget to declare something?
If caught with undeclared items, CBP may assess a penalty plus duties. For honest mistakes on minor items, officers typically collect the duty. Intentional false declarations are treated more seriously.
How long does US customs take?
Standard passport control + customs typically takes 30-90 minutes at major airports during peak arrival times. Global Entry reduces the customs kiosk step to 5-10 minutes.
Can I bring food back from abroad?
Some processed foods are allowed (packaged commercially). Fresh fruits, vegetables, and most meats are prohibited without USDA documentation. Declare all food items regardless — CBP will make the final determination. Not declaring food and having it found is an automatic $10,000 fine.
Related guides
- Global Entry interview: what to expect and how to prepare — enroll in Global Entry to reduce customs to 5 minutes on every international return.
- International travel checklist — everything to do before you leave, including passport validity and ESTA.
- How to renew your passport — step-by-step guide including standard and expedited timelines.
Check your airport wait before you fly out
Customs slows down your arrival. For your departure, check today's live TSA security wait at your airport — so you know exactly when to leave home.