to declare or not to declare

[Nylah]

someone clear this up for me please.

I always hestitate as to which customs lines I must stand in when I arrive in JA.

u know the options: those with something to declare and those with nothing to declare.

When I go down I take very little for my family - maybe a couple of toys for the kids or a few t-shirts but that is it.

so far, I always go to the nothing to declare line cause I think, I have only a couple of cheap items to decaare and standing in line behind the woman with 3 barrels seems like as waste of my time

I get questioned in the nothing to declare line if I am telling the truth but I feel like I am. They always let me continue on thru but I am worried my luck will run out one day.

So, is there a cut off to how much you can declare if you are a foreign national? Or are you supposed to declare every little thing and must wait in that horrendous line up even if you just have 2 t-shirts?

never been able to get a straight answer on this.

[Nanook]

Re: to declare or not to declare

I would never try to sneak in a suitcase full of stuff but if I bring a few small items like you mention I wouldn't declare them either. It would just be too embarrassing at customs to get caught with a big load and you would think they would throw the proverbial book at you! I might be mistaken but I think there is a dollar amount that's legal, kind of like when you leave. I can't remember though! I have CRS.

[Nylah]

Re: to declare or not to declare



CRS

yeah, if I had a ton of stuff that would be different. Then I would wait in line like everyone else. But I never have a pile of stuff with me so that is why I was curious if there is a dollar amount that is acceptable. Then I would feel more comfortable with the whole process.

[Seveen]

Re: to declare or not to declare

Imports:

<span style="font-weight: bold">200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; 1l of spirits (excluding rum) and 1l of wine and 1l of other alcoholic beverages (for passengers aged over 18 years); 150g of perfume; personal and household effects up to a value of J$500. </span>

Restricted Imports:
Meat Obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture, contact number- (876) 927-1731
Ground Provisions Obtain a Phyto Sanitary Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture, contact number- (876) 927-1731
Fruits &amp; Vegetables Obtain a Phyto Sanitary Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture, contact number- (876) 927-1731
Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Herbal teas Certificate Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Division (PRAD), Ministry of health. (876) 967-1100-3
Firearms Obtain a Permit/Licence to Import from the Police/ Commissioner of Customs/Trade Board
(876) 927-4421,(876) 922-5140-8, (876) 926-3130
Used Tyres Obtain a Certificate from the Bureau of Standards, contact number: (876) 926-3140-6
Radios (two-way) Obtain a Permit from the Post Master General, contact number: (876) 922-9430
Coconut derivatives, oil producing seeds, edible oils, detergents (liquid or solid form) Permit Coconut Industry Board (876) 926-1770
Motor Vehicles, explosives Licence Trade Board (876) 969-0883, (876) 969-3184
Alcohol in Bulk, Sugar Spirit Pool permit-Spirits Pool Association Limited (876) 968-4455
Human Remains Permit from Kingston and St. Andrew Association (KSAC) (876) 922-2587
Pesticides Permit from Pesticides Control Authority (876) 906-6939
Live Animals Permit from Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Prohibited Imports:

Prohibited Items

Prohibited items are absolutely forbidden from entering Jamaica, some of which include:
Indecent and obscene prints

Indecent and obscene prints, paintings, photographs, cinematograph films, lithographs, engravings, books, cards or written communications or any indecent or obscene articles whether similar to the above or not and any parcels, packages or packets having thereon, or on the cover thereof, any words, marks or designs which are grossly offensive or of an indecent or obscene character.
Coin &amp;#65533; base or counterfeit coin of any country.

The following and similar publications:


1. All publications of de Laurence Scott and Company of Chicago in the
United States of America relating to divination, magic, cultism or
supernatural arts.

2. All publications of the Red Star Publishing Company of Chicago in the
United States of America relating to divination, magic, cultism or
supernatural arts.

[Nylah]

Re: to declare or not to declare

<span style="font-weight: bold">personal and household effects up to a value of J$500</span>

what?!! that's like $2.50 CDN

[RichD]

Re: to declare or not to declare

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1. All publications of de Laurence Scott and Company of Chicago in the
United States of America relating to divination, magic, cultism or
supernatural arts.

</div></div>

is long time mi a look a delaurence book yuh know....nevah know sey yuh can still get dem

[nattydreadgirl]

Re: to declare or not to declare

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Empress_Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">personal and household effects up to a value of J$500</span>

what?!! that's like $2.50 CDN </div></div>

Looks like you have been in the wrong line!

Just teasing you

[Bizzy]

Re: to declare or not to declare

I go thru nothing to declare ALL de time.
If mi a carry tings as gift fi give weh..could be a whole suitcase full, I am still going thru nothing to delcare.

only time mi did go theu declare is when mi did have store dung deh an a carry dung mi merchandise dem...mi en up mek couple linkage inna customs so dem neva do mi too bad pon de fee

if mi naw mek no profit pon wah mi a carry down, mi nuh si why mi should claim it

[RichD]

Re: to declare or not to declare

always go thru the nothing to declare line and if dem ask yuh if yuh nah carry down no gifts is &quot;yes im bringing cash&quot;

[Bizzy]

Re: to declare or not to declare

den what would someone do if de agent decide fi check de bags an dem si dat is not cash but other items??

mi used to carry dung ooman apparel an accessories so mi coodan easily pack it inna mi suitcase an pass it off as my ting dem ..

but when de man a travel an mi beg him carry tings fimi, him cyaan go tell de ppl dem say is only cash an dem go do a quick search an si pure ooman clothes

[Nylah]

Re: to declare or not to declare

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nattydreadgirl</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Empress_Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">personal and household effects up to a value of J$500</span>

what?!! that's like $2.50 CDN </div></div>

Looks like you have been in the wrong line!

Just teasing you </div></div>


funny

RichD I think I will say the cash part next time cause I honestly dont bring in alot of stuff for my family. They dont ask for stuff and the few little cousins I like to buy for have more stuff and things than most kids here so it make no sense buying them things from Canada. Those rugrats do perfer cold hard cash anyways for their trips to Florida

The agents always look at me suspiciously when I say nothing to declare but they wave me thru. I just wanted to have some idea of what is actually acceptable.

I'm gonna stick with the nothing to declare line then.

[Nylah]

Re: to declare or not to declare



just realized <span style="font-weight: bold">NONE </span>of you have a straight answer


you all need to turn in your jamaicaholics cards

[Laurel]

Re: to declare or not to declare

OK Empress ... I will chat to ya ~ who knows if it will seem straight to you tho ~

I have carried as many as 5 cases stuffed to bursting (checked) along with massive carry-ons stuffed to bursting.

I got in several times the first 3 years with Mr. with no issues coming thru customs (a little fib I would chat ... the rest of my family is joining me traveling from England - I have all our summer things with me) then - the reach before immigration got automated - I stood in the &quot;nothing to declare&quot; line as usual ... with my overstuffed carry-ons and a big plastic bag with lamp-shades ~

BUSTED ... they sent me over the declare and sifted thru every case, every item, every crease in every item. had me flustered - distracting me on purpose ... and helped themselves to whatever they wanted - several items missing pon reaching Negril ~

so - the next reach - I automatically went over to 'declare' ... again - ripped thru all my cases ... altho I had pared down to only two checked cases ...

I figured I was &quot;labeled&quot; for &quot;DECLARE&quot; for the duration.

then - pon arriving once things were all automated via computer, me now carrying a passport, and the customs section all new and advanced ... they wave me right thru ~ no more declaring.

so - if it was me ... carrying only a couple little bits of toys / clothing ... I would &quot;not declare&quot;

I will carry two cases at 50 pounds ( so no more overstuffed at 70 pounders) along with one carry-on (not stuffed) and enter the 'Nothing to declare' ... and hope they do not catch me up ... cuz - I will only be carrying a few bits - to give away up a bush ... and only a couple bits for BabyGirl.

before I got caught - I have carried in TV's (13&quot; w/ video), car stereo (carried for a boardie to their friend), pot sets, yada yada ... some pretty biggish piles of stuff ... with no problems.

when I was caught - I carried household items for our own house use, plastic floaties for kids play ... candy ... personal care items .... that annoyed me!!! have had to pay nuff - but only twice ~

[Nylah]

Re: to declare or not to declare


<span style="font-weight: bold">OK Empress ... I will chat to ya ~ who knows if it will seem straight to you tho ~
</span>

havent read past this point yet because I am laffing too hard.

alright, let me wipe my eyes and try to read the rest of what you have so kindly typed

[Nylah]

Re: to declare or not to declare

<span style="font-weight: bold">when I was caught - I carried household items for our own house use, plastic floaties for kids play ... candy ... personal care items .... that annoyed me!!! have had to pay nuff - but only twice ~</span>

so they made you pay duty on personal care items?

that aint right atall.... Well, what you said makes sense Laurel. Since I dont carry in any big ticket items and stuff for others, I think I should be safe going thru the &quot;nothing to delcare&quot; line. If they ever do search me, I am not worried about being caught with a bunch of stuff I didnt declare.

I find it easier to just buy what someone wants when I am down there than to bring it in. I hate travelling with a bunch of stuff anyways.

thanks. I'll let you keep your card