Re: [Leica] U.S. Customs

["Bob Walkden" <bobwalkden@hotmail.com>]

Hi,

I have. I always get searched wherever I go, even across the little border 
between France and Spain at Hendaya. I must look like a drug dealer.

First time I went to the US I was with a Bangladeshi woman, landing in 
Charlotte, NC. They went through all our bags, including my camera bags, and 
were most intrigued when they found a tub full of suspect brown powder in 
one of them. It took a considerable length of time to convince them that it 
was my gf's special blend of curry powder.

When they'd finished they very politely said goodbye and 'Thanks for 
supporting American agriculture' ?!

Cheers,

Bob


>From: Nathan Wajsman <wajsman@webshuttle.ch>
>
>Has any of the LUGgers here ever actually been questioned about the content 
>of
>their camera bag when entering the U.S.? I have done so several times, both
>when I lived there and since moving to Europe; mostly via JFK or Newark but
>also Orlando on one occasion. None of the customs officers ever expressed 
>any
>interest in anything beyond getting the white form you fill out on the 
>plane.
>
>Nathan
>
>"Richard E. Baznik" wrote:
>
> > Never have, though I take steps to minimize the possiblity. Before 
>leaving,
> > I make up a list of the gear I'm going to carry, complete with serial
> > numbers for all items. I ask Customs to stamp it before I leave (they've
> > never actually asked to see the gear before stamping the list, since
> > they're not really certifying that the list actually matches my gear --
> > though the opportunity to check it is clearly there). This is not a
> > guarantee that I won't be grilled on my return, of course, but the
> > authority of an official Customs date stamp is considerable within the
> > organization.
>
>--
>Nathan Wajsman
>Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland
>
>e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch
>
>General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/
>Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/
>Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/
>
>

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