Hi folks,

We have booked our flights to enter the US on a H1B (and H4) visa. When we arrive we will have some personal possessions with us (laptops, phones, clothes, engagement/wedding rings etc). Do we need to declare the value of these items as remaining in the US? It’s slightly confusing because it’s a temporary non-resident visa, but we will obviously be there for a while.

I don’t expect to pay import duty on the goods since they are our personal possessions being moved.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

No, these are your personal possessions and so do not need to be declared.

Wot SDG said!

So long as your things aren't obviously brand new, you'll be fine. IIRC you are supposed to have owned things for 12 months to escape duty, but in practice it is impossible to tell in most cases exactly how long you owned something.

Thanks both. Even though they will be exempt as personal effect, is it still not correct to declare the value on the 6059b?

Don't worry about it, this is one situation where it really isn't a bid deal. Why declare something that you know to be except and cause a big stink? US Immigration is stressful enough...

You would only declare something on which duty would potentially be chargeable, say you had a very new watch, otherwise everything you are carrying is not dutiable and therefore not declarable, any more than stuff you take with you on holiday and bring back again would be declarable. .... For all intents and purposes you should have nothing to declare on a 6059b.

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread, but does this same policy apply when shipping items?
We have a few boxes of books (all >12 months old, personal possessions) and we're not quite sure what potential customs or entrance fees we may be charged.

Yes, when you immigrate your household possessions are not subject to duty (and the same applies if you later return to the UK), .... unless you are shipping something such as tobacco or alcohol - so your collection of cigars or single malt scotch would be assessible for duty.

Our things were shipped in my wife's name as she was a USC, and, at the time, I wasn't, and the shipping agent that received our things in the US had dubbed her "the lady with the liquor" when they saw that the shipment included 40 bottles of scotch and a similar number of bottles of sundry other spirits.

With watches just wear it and say nothing they are a pain to import. If it is newish post the box and papers separately. A friend bought a Cartier in the Caymans wore the watch and had the box in her luggage and was snagged and minced by customs.