registering equiptment for travel??

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I am planning on overseas travel with the M kit. Several bodies, lenses and accessories. What is the proceedure for registering with US Customs, is it necessary, do the experienced on this forum suggest it? Thank you.

-- Richard Hoag (wpcdallas@aol.com), April 16, 2002

Answers

you can get it registered at the customs agency located in most large int'l terminals, takes about 30 min. or you can go to a regional office. the only benefit is to avoid paying duty on your way back stateside. since leica looks old, customs never thinks i bought it o'seas for import (no boxes, et al). it also provides your ins. co. proof of ownership. i already have proof, so it's not worth the time for me.

-- Steve (leitz_not_leica@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.

I have travelled overseas frequently for a couple of decades and have never had any problem taking my Leicas (and Nikons) back and forth. (If I bought them overseas, of course, I would have to declare them; if the amount was more than the exemption, there might be some duty due.)

-- Jack Matlock (jfmatlo@attglobal.net), April 16, 2002.

oh, and when handed the form they just rubber stamped it, didn't even bother to check the ser. nos. i guess they profiled me as honest, as i took the effort to register. btw, my paperwork is out of date, and i won't reregister.

-- Steve (leitz_not_leica@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.

I use to register my stuff, i.e. valuables such as cameras, watches,other items that might appear to be NEW AND PURCHASED WHILE OUT OF THE COUNTRY. Never did any customs officer inquire or care if the stuff was registered. I viewed having the registration as a convenient receipt to show US and foreign customs, immigration, & police if a problem ever happened (which it didn't). As the stuff got older and looked not so new, I stopped registering the stuff. Realistically, insurance is all you need.

-- Barbano (joseph.barbano@symmetron.com), April 16, 2002.

I registered equipment in the 70's when I was traveling, but not any more. I carry a list of the equipment and serial numbers with me in case of loss or theft and plan on using that in the event customs questions me. I have not had a problem in 15 years and 4 international trips.

FWIW

-- Mark A. Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), April 16, 2002.



Before any overseas travel I make a printed list of the major items I am bringing, including serial #'s, and have the list notarized (there's always one in every bank). I have never had to show it to any customs officer anywhere, ever.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 16, 2002.

We take a list, written on our Bank's stationery, to our bank (Make, Model, Serial #s) and have it notarized, along with the descriptions of our watches and Pat's necklace and scarf pins. We were "nailed" by an overzealous Customs agent at Dulles on our return from a French Countryside tour. The notarized list - - on our Bank's letterhead - - did the trick.

-- George C. Berger (gberger@his.com), April 16, 2002.

I periodically update the customs form and have found that the agents do check the serial numbers when you prepare the form. I must confess that in over 40 international trips in the past decade or so, only twice did agents ask to see the form. What a pleasure/relief it was to have the declaration handy and presentable. It is definitely worth the aggravation.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), April 16, 2002.

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