American immigration guide: considerations for baggage consignment

What do new immigrants need to prepare in advance to enter the United States? Common precautions in the process of handling and how to prepare for baggage consignment? Let me give you a detailed introduction.

Precautions for entering the United States

I. Before entering the country

Prepare relevant documents before traveling, such as passports with immigrant visas, packages delivered by the US Consulate in Guangzhou, and chest X-rays of all family members. Be careful not to carry contraband, and carry no more than $65,438+0,000 in cash.

Second, when entering the country,

1. Fill in the customs declaration form, and be sure to truthfully declare your belongings, such as gifts, or you will be punished if you find out.

2. People with immigrant visas or green cards are waiting in line at the citizen/resident registration office. At the time of inspection, the passport, the package delivered by Guangzhou Consulate and the customs declaration form shall be submitted to the immigration officer for inspection. Usually, immigration officials will ask you some questions and then answer them calmly. After the immigration officials ask questions, they will collect the fingerprints of all family members. Stamp the entry date on the immigration visa page (this endorsement makes your immigration visa valid for one year, and you can use this endorsement to enter and leave the United States before the green card is issued).

3. claim the baggage, pay the customs declaration fee and go through the customs.

Pay attention to your luggage and documents so as not to be stolen by others.

Third, after entering the country

1. Leave the country for no more than 183 days;

2. Social security card.

After new immigrants arrive in the United States, they must first apply for a social security card, commonly known as a "work permit", from the social security bureau (SSB) in their city or neighboring areas. The cardholder's name and a nine-digit social security number are registered on the card. Social security cards are also American identity cards. When applying for admission, loan, credit card or bank account opening, you need to fill in the social security number.

Baggage consignment selection

Random consignment

1. Disadvantages

There are weight restrictions, such as out of range, and the air freight is amazing. According to the usual practice, Air China economy class generally allows each person to check 2 pieces of luggage free of charge, and each piece of luggage weighs no more than 23kg；; Free carry-on 1 piece of luggage, with a weight of less than 5kg and a volume of less than 55cm *40 cm *20cm. For some bulky items, such as furniture and bicycles, most airlines do not provide corresponding transportation services. Moreover, this consignment method requires you to pick up your luggage at the airport, and there is no door-to-door service.

2. Advantages

This way is the most economical if the luggage is within the checked weight limit.

suggestion

If you choose this mode of transportation, it is recommended to bring more things that can be used on the day of landing in the United States, such as common kitchen and bathroom supplies, quilts, sheets and so on. In addition, jeans, close-fitting clothes, T-shirts, jackets, sports shoes and other things that can be used all year round can also be brought in moderation. It is suggested that luggage should be packed in better quality cartons instead of suitcases, because cartons are lighter and the space can be used reasonably.

Sea and air transport

1. Disadvantages

The speed is slow and the procedures are relatively complicated. At the place of departure and destination, it takes a lot of energy to handle luggage, and sometimes the charges at the destination port may exceed the budget.

2. Advantages

Compared with air freight and express delivery, sea freight is the cheapest.

suggestion

If you choose this method, you only need to pack your own luggage and directly ask the shipping or air transport company to deliver your luggage to their service point, and the shipping or air transport company will deliver your luggage to the destination port or airport. After arriving in the United States, you need to go to the local customs clearance company to clear customs and pay port miscellaneous fees. Finally, pick up the goods yourself and return to the destination residence.

Precautions for immigrants

1. Fill in the customs declaration form.

Before entering the United States, the flight attendants on the plane will issue this form to the passengers on board. However, I-94 form is not required for immigration visa or green card entry. When declaring articles, you'd better declare them truthfully, otherwise you will be punished once you find them.

When you get off the plane, you will be guided to the immigration counter.

At this stage, you will queue up for inspection according to different types of entry visas. For those who hold immigrant visas or green cards, you need to stand at the citizen/resident registration office. When it's your turn to be inspected, please give your passport, the package delivered by the consulate and the customs declaration form filled in on the plane to the immigration officer for inspection. As usual, immigration officials will ask you some questions and answer them calmly and truthfully. After immigration officials ask questions, they will take fingerprints of all family members. Stamp the entry date on the immigration visa page (this endorsement makes your immigration visa valid for one year, and you can use this endorsement to enter and leave the United States before the green card is issued).

2. Baggage claim, customs declaration and customs clearance.

Go to the baggage claim area according to the instructions on the aisle of the baggage claim area, and find your own flight baggage carousel according to the computer screen or notice. Take your luggage down. When queuing for customs clearance, you may wish to choose the shortest line to queue up for inspection. Don't glance left and right, hesitate, and don't look at the rapid and temporary changes in the other line, resulting in doubts and careful investigation. Smile, be sincere, answer questions, but don't talk too much, lest you ask for trouble.

When you check your luggage, you have to hand in the customs declaration form and documents. If the customs requires unpacking inspection, open it immediately, don't hesitate. Don't doubt that the customs officer motioned to pass, and immediately put forward the luggage to leave. According to American law, customs officers have no right to open your luggage without permission, but if they ask you to open it and you refuse, they have the right to open your luggage. If any prohibited items are found in the luggage, they will be confiscated on the spot. The original packed luggage is in a mess, so it takes some effort to put things back in place. But sometimes if you are lucky, you can get through customs quickly. Always pay attention to your luggage documents and don't leave your body in case someone takes the opportunity to steal them. If the amount brought into the country exceeds 1 10,000 USD, you should take the initiative to declare to the customs and fill in the corresponding form to avoid unnecessary trouble.