aberthet Loc: San Clemente, CA

Has anyone encountered issues upon returning to the US with the US CBP concerning your photography equipment? They could assume you may have bought the equipment abroad and may ask you to pay duty.
I know the CBP has a form (CBP form 4457) you can fill out prior to travelling abroad where you can list all your equipment by type, model, and serial numbers. The only problem with that is it requires you to go to a US Customs office with all the equipment so an officer can verify the information and stamp the form. US CBP offices are mostly located at international airports (AOE) which could be far away from where you live.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/368/~/registering-equipment%2C-computer%2C-camera%2C-laptops%2C-etc.-prior-to-traveling

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

How much equipment will you be taking? I usually carry 2 cameras and several lenses and have never been checked by customs. Have also entered with a camera kit bought in HongKong with out being questioned.

Blu1Dog Loc: Florida

Living on the border and crossing often with a load of horses, cameras saddles etc. It was easier to fill out the forms and keep them with me when crossing back and forth. Of the many times I crossed, they rarely checked my equipment (they always checked the health papers). The only time I had trouble was with a new agent who was not used to the procedures.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

The only time I ever pre registered equipment was when I hunted in Africa and registered everything, rifles, cameras, lenses and binoculars. Upon my getting there and return nobody ever checked serial numbers to equipment. Since then I have to a number of places in Europe and never filled out anything to preregister. Not once did anybody check. Of course I do keep original boxes at home if ever needed.

Dennis

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

I drive across the Minnesota/Canada border at least once a year and have never been asked about photography equipment, they're more concerned about food products and alcohol.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

My experience with this topic is from a trip taken close to 30 years ago. I was part of a large group that traveled to Germany and Austria for two weeks, and I was on a team of folks that built a "travel handbook" for all of us, since most of us were inexperienced at international travel. What we learned then was that anything marked as having been made in a country other than the USA were legally subject to a duty assessment each time they enter the US. BUT, it was stressed to us that most Customs agents at the time were knowledgeable enough to identify those items that could reasonably be expected to have been carried out by the traveler and were simply being brought back home into the country.

The form you mention (I don't remember if the form number was the same then) is a "controlled form," meaning that you had to bring all equipment that you wanted registered on it to a Customs office on US soil, complete the form, and obtain the necessary signature while in the office. This is the only way to prevent a blank form being obtained and taken out of the country, then completed and used to bring new equipment into the US without payment of required duties.

It would seem to me that the more recent your equipment and the less used it appears, the more likely that it might be beneficial to travel with an executed form. Especially during this time of elevated duties, it could be pretty expensive if things should happen to get sideways with your CBP agent when you return to the US. I'm sure that others will advise you that they travel internationally all the time and never have a problem. Many in our group did not do a form and had no problem either. So you will just have to decide whether you think there will be an issue and whether you are willing to go through the hassle of completing the form.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

With respect as your experiences may be quite different than mine, I recall when I went to Africa the customs agent in Colorado Springs signed my form, attesting he had checked the serial numbers on the items as compared to the items. THAT is how agents differentiate those items fraudulently
brought into the U.S. There would not be the signature of the inspection officer affixed to the form. As I recall the agent drew a diagonal line from the last item down to also make sure all was in order. If any problem arose I had my copy which could be checked with the copy in Colorado Springs.

This was a very easy process for me. As others have attested it may be recommended these days but isn’t necessarily needed.

Dennis

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

As mentioned, my experience was a long time ago. But at that time, you could not take a blank form with you...it had to be completed while you were physically in the office. I have always assumed that there was concern that a signature could be forged otherwise. And completing the form was optional then as well.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

It is usually only an issue arriving from countries that produce items in your possession when entering the country. I've heard of issues with Swiss Watches when returning from a trip with a Swiss entry stamp on your passport. Or new camera equipment when entering from Japan.

I have the My Gear Vault app on my phone which has photographed copies of receipts for insurance purposes, which should satisfy CBP. Unless you get an Agent with an Attitude, which can happen.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I have never had a problem with a backpack containing two Nikon cameras and several lenses. Questions from Customs will arise if one or more of your items are in the manufacturers original box and you have the warranty cards and manuals, etc; in that case have the purchase email/invoice with you or on your phone.

Sendai5355 Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas

I have traveled through Houston International Airport from Thailand with 3 cameras, a laptop and 2 tablets about 5 times and have never been asked about places of purchase origin. All equipment was purchased in U.S.

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

Not really, I had people check my gear in Brussels back in 2014, but that was the only time.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Never been checked, didn’t think it was required.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

In New Zealand you might need this form (or the NZ equiv) since the customs here are paranoid that something might get into the country without having GST paid. I suspect that customs rarely bother, however with the renewed interest here re GST (making overseas suppliers charge GST which they are then meant to remit back to NZ) and recent changes to your systems re paying State sales tax it may only be a matter of time. However once filled in you can use the same form year after year. We haven't bothered yet but it would pay to keep receipts with serial numbers listed and keep these with the customs forms.
I can see down the track you guys having border posts set up at each State boundary to prevent anybody from getting away with paying their tax.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Never an issue. I have gone through customs several times. I suggest you go through US customs web site or call them direct.