WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Register your valuables at the border on your way out. That or a Carnet are the only documents which guarantee you'll be able to bring your items back in without hassle, and/or paying duty. The receipt option will not always work, it's really up to the individual border agent. Custom's officials really don't trust receipts as they are extremely easy to create/forge. Registrations and Carnets are their paperwork, so they do trust that, and other countries do as well, so the foreign customs won't make you bond anything of value you're bringing in.

buenaventura43 Loc: Rockland Co. NY

I just called the US CBP and they said to bring the form and have them check just before departure at the airport JFK for me.

JoeB Loc: Mohawk Valley, NY

I called myself and got the same answer, but they said I could make an appointment and bring my equipment and form in earlier for their inspection and signature.

Thank you for your help.

JoeB

mickley Loc: Schenectady NY

Register them with customs, and you will have no problems.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good idea. Imagine waiting on a long line as the minutes tick away for your plane to depart.

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

Go to the customs office and fill out a Form 4457 before you leave on the trip. Absolutely no need to take proofs of purchase, etc. Just the form. Easy Peasy.

Prairimages

The best way, if you happen to be able to drive to a customs office. Or have the time pre-flight to fill out the forms before departure.

Another approach, which Customs verified for me, is to have a copy of your professional equipment or personal articles insurance policy and itemized list at hand when you return to the US.

bigwolf40 Loc: Effort, Pa.

This is what I said. Years back when I returned from Bermuda I was questioned and when I showed them the insurance policy they let me go right through without any trouble at all. It is the all around best way plus your equipment is cover in case it is lost or stolen and you don't have to spend all that time filling out the custom forms.....Rich

timbambam Loc: Manhattan, NY

I was just in Mexico and carried my camera gear on the plane. I was never asked any questions nor did they look in the bag. I am not sure if it will be tougher returning from Japan or not. Good luck with your trip?

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Problem with this method is that some foreign customs may not accept the insurance document as proof, especially if you are traveling through a few foreign borders on your trip, and thus force you to bond them, or out right pay duty going in, or worse, wait until they can verify the documents. Even the US Customs may do this, it's really up to the individual agent as to how they handle it. On the other hand, a US Customs Registration Doc., or Carnet if you go that route, will be accepted at every border as proof as they can verify authenticity almost instantaneously. The other nice thing about the Registration Doc, once it's done, as long as you take those goods, the document can be reused over and over--and the best part, it's free.

I live on the US/Canada border and go across regularly. I've been using my current camera bag registration doc for about 18 months now. When I go across, whether I use NEXUS or the regular lanes, I just hand them the Doc and my ID, and they typically hand it right back and wish me a nice day.

AndyCE Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

LOL! A very true statement! :thumbup:
Andy

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Thank you! That is the answer I gave on page one of this thread, and, since then, it seems everyone seems to have a simpler or different solution. It's nice to have someone agree that the best way to do it is also one of the easiest ways.

Maybe people would be interested in knowing that, once filed, that form does not have to be changed or renewed unless the information thereon changes. Also, the form is valid in most countries because U.S. Customs makes availability to the information to other countries so convenient. That means that, if you take your new camera to Japan and happen to stop by London on the way back, U. K. Customs will not charge you VAT on your new camera when you arrive at Heathrow. As for using sales receipts, I (and most Customs agents through out the world) know how easy it is to generate a sales receipt on a computer (both MS and Mac have templates, for crying out loud.

And please, everybody else, don't write about how you got away with a receipt or insurance policy on your last trio to Xanadu. Every Customs agent is different on every day depending on the flavor of his/her morning coffee/tea. Also, based on workload, an agent might be expected to thoroughly scrutinize (and even copy) the records of every third or thirteenth person in line. AND, profiling in other countries is not necessarily illegal.

Prairimages

"And please, everybody else, don't write about how you got away with a receipt or insurance policy on your last trio to Xanadu."

Hey, Mogul, lighten up. A 4457 is the best way, but it isn't always simple or convenient to obtain one if you don't have ready access to a customs office. Nor does every country offer convenient on-line access to and compatibility with the US Customs database. So it isn't "getting away" with something if alternative proof is substantive and sufficient--sometimes it may be all you can offer. (BTW, I schlepped my cameras around the planet, on and off for nearly 30 years, and my assignments seldom took me to "Xanadu." )

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I'm sorry you've had problems obtaining 4457's. If you will write to the nearest customs office, they will send you a supply of them which you can complete in advance and have verified/endorses/filed at your point of departure. It is difficult, however, to give specific advice to someone who is in hiding.

Incidentally, there is one minor disadvantage to the 4457. If the information on yours changes (an addition or deletion, change of address, even the change of a serial number because you upgraded exactly the same lens for a new one with one digit difference on the S/N), you will have to resubmit a new form.

Oh and don't include anything on the list you're not taking with you. I listed a 50mm I had replaced in addition to the new lens. At a certain South American country, when I was unable to produce the old lens (I had, after all, declared that I had it with me), it cost me cash in South America and a lot of explaining when I returned to the U. S. Everyone thought I had sold it.

jefflantzimages Loc: Seattle

when i travel out of country, i prepare a list of the equipment i am taking, tender it to customs and keep a copy with me. i follow the procedure mentioned by dennis and mogul. i have never had a problem.