sir_eccles

US to scrap customs forms for air travellers

Customs form 6059b to be scrapped by the end of 2016.

Also on the horizon, automated passport control kiosks and smartphone apps.

Steve_

So basically global entry for all.

At land borders CBP just asks you, although obviously at an airport you could have come from somewhere more likely to involve weird diseases and contamination.

Sally Redux

Great news.

sir_eccles

I guess the assumption is that the baggage handlers/TSA have already gone through your suitcase and pinched the good stuff so you've got nothing left to declare.

RICH

Hopefully this is a sign that 1950's style red tape in general is starting to go away...

tonrob

There's been a hybrid arrangement at BOS for a while. Customs form still required, but then automated kiosk thingy that spits out a receipt with your photo on it. Immigration bloke takes customs form and stamps receipt. After baggage collection you hand the receipt (all you have left) to customs bloke. No noticable difference in overall queuing time so far (which was negligible anyway).

amideislas

It's not new, but perhaps they're just making it official.

Arrived in Chicago from Heathrow. Forms were distributed on the plane, and I filled it out, but at customs, they didn't even want it. IIRC it was the same on a prior trip.

And although I love all my pet snails, I don't take them with me on trips. Sorry.

Pulaski

So how is CBP going to find contraband snails.

amideislas

I reckon if they stop asking, people will stop telling.
Surely drug smuggling will flourish.

Pulaski

Two questions:

(i) People are declaring illegal drugs on their customs form?

(ii) Drug smuggling could get worse?

amideislas

Please answer the following questions:


Are you carrying Snails? x Yes No

Are you carrying assault weapons? x Yes No

Are you carrying controlled substances, narcotics or Illegal drugs? x Yes No


Thank you. This will help speed your entry into the United States.

zzrmark

DUH, the same way everyone else does - they follow the trail

I find it rather laughable that they suggest this form is 'onerous' (although a non English speaker may say otherwise). BA usually dis tribute this form with plenty of flying time remaining - maybe it is a pain interrupting your 6th movie straight viewed o a 6"x6" screen???

tonrob

I can see how it could be a pain in the arse for some. You're in the middle seat. The form is handed out. Your passport is in the overhead. Move neighhbour, get passport, sit down again. Bollocks - pen. Borrow pen. What's the flight number? Tits. Boarding pass is in your jacket in your jacket in the overhead. Ask around. Now wondering whether to disturb neighbour again to put passoport safely back into bag, or else choose from seat-back pocket (risk of forgetting) or shirt pocket. A fair amount of faffing, when multiplied across a planeful of people, for a form that is now being considered pointless.

Alternatively just grab a handful now and again at the check in at Heathrow and fill them in before you leave home.