How Does the Customs Process Work?

Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

Never been through customs before, how is that process?

title changed for clarity - scubachar

Newbie Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 19

It was very easy and uneventful. The one customs agent did try to mess with me by just asking dumb questions that he already had the answers to right in front of him. It took me 11 minutes from door opening to being in a cab.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum, kcobbusa Smile

,

I agree, it's very uneventful. First, you go through Immigration and show your passport and the other documents that you fill out on the plane before you land. Depending on how many other planes have landed at that time, it doesn't take too long to move through the line.

Then, you proceed to the next room where you pick up your luggage.....that's the same room that you will find the Cayman Activity Guide, which you will definitely want to pick up! Lots of great coupons! Once you claim your luggage, you will line up to speak with a Customs agent. That usually goes just fine.....

Char

Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks very much for the feedback, looks like customs will be a breeze

Newbie Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 8

what type of things does customs typically ask?

Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:55 am Post subject:

The customs agents just look over your declaration sheet and then they might ask if you're bringing in any alcohol or food or whatever (even though you've hopefully claimed it on your sheet in their hand). If they see you have scuba equipment or fishing gear, they might ask if you have a speargun (which you can't use).

That's about it.........basically, they're just trying to size you up, same as any Customs agent does when entering any country.

Sometimes if it's really busy, they just wave you through. Rarely do they actually ask you to open your bag and then rifle through your stuff, although they did that to my 18 year old niece about ten years ago when she was traveling alone (coming to stay with me in our timeshare for a week). I guess she looked suspicious Rolling Eyes

- NOT!

No worries - just be sure you claim everything that you are bringing in, even if it's within the duty free allotment, on your declarations sheet (how much alcohol and cigars or cigarettes, etc.)

Char

Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject:

scubachar wrote:

No worries - just be sure you claim everything that you are bringing in, even if it's within the duty free allotment, on your declarations sheet (how much alcohol and cigars or cigarettes, etc.)

Since you mentioned cigars, do you know what the restrictions are regarding bringing Cuban cigars from Cayman into the US? If I'm allowed, I'd like to bring some back for a few co-workers.

Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject:

As far as I know, anything Cuban is still forbidden.

Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject:

I think you're right, DS. My husband is a cigar smoker (small ones, thank goodness), and he says you definitely can not bring back any Cuban cigars! Says they are very serious about it, too!

Char

Newbie Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 8

Forbidden back to the US.

If i'm not mistaken, they are permitted in Canada.

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:19 am Post subject:

Thank you all for the posts. I guess I am not bringing any back for the co-workers. They may be nice people but they're not worth being locked up abroad for.

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:26 am Post subject:

Oh, live on the edge, already! And look on the bright side, if you got caught, you'd be locked up here stateside, not abroad!

Seriously though, good decision! We have been asked pointedly on several occasions about Cuban cigars. And lying to a Customs agent is a losing gamble!

DS

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:26 pm Post subject:

You are right DS, though, for a second I thought maybe being locked up in Cayman might not be that bad. After all, everybody we meet in Cayman is very friendly. However, as you correctly pointed out, US agents would be the ones to catch me.

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject:

We actually got waved right through. The guy in front of us had just come off a jamaican flight and had his bags dug through. The agent then just waved at us to go by without inspection. It was funny, another agent gave him a hard time about it as we were leaving.

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 12:32 pm Post subject:

flaxx wrote:

You are right DS, though, for a second I thought maybe being locked up in Cayman might not be that bad. After all, everybody we meet in Cayman is very friendly. However, as you correctly pointed out, US agents would be the ones to catch me.

Heck, if Her Majesty's Royal Court would sentence me to work-release at a dive shop, I'd break every darn law they've got... BouncingLaugh

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