Usual US Port of Entry Questions - Tourist

[chimmie]

Hi. Ask ko lang how much kaya dalhin namin money if 4 kami? 2 kids and 2 adults? Actually business trip hubby ko for 3 weeks pero 4th week gala kami. Ask ko kung mga magkano dapat dalhin kasi baka tanungin kami. pero most of our expenses kasi gusto namin icredit card kasi ayaw namin masyado magdala ng cash. Tia

[sydxoxo]

Not exceeding $10k.
http://internationalcenter.umich.edu/intlstudents/money.html

I'm not sure if kasama yung ibang currency sa rule na yan like when you add your dollars and pesos (converted to dollars) it should not exceed $10k, tama ba?

Travelers bringing food into the U.S. for personal use
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82/noIntercept/1/session/L3NpZC9xbU9keEIxbA%3D%3D

[*joie*]

just got back from our month trip to US. our POE is Detroit, mas mabusisi pa tanong ng IO sa POE kesa sa US embassy.. Dalawa lang kami ni hubby kaya dami tanong especially young couples at my hubby's family is in the US. Tinignan pa return ticket namin, then ask pa baka naman daw magtatrabaho na kami don, tsaka if may resume daw ba kaming dala. buti nga detroit ang POE namin baka mas natagalan kami if sa SFO kasi don based ang family ni hubby.

[chimmie]

Hi. Ask ko lang if okay lang dalhin yung birth certificate ng kids ko and marriage certificate namin? Okay lang ba if photocopy lang? Kasi yung surname ko sa passport ko hindi pa yung surname ng husband ko. Kasi nabasa ko huwag magdala ng birth certificate. Next week na kasi flight namin. Thank you.

[mom_G]

^sis, if your only concern for bringing these documents is that your surname is different from your husband's on your passport, no need to worry about that.  i still use my maiden name and it has never become an issue when I travel with my husband and our child (both US and europe, di pa ko hiningan ng ibang documents).

[chimmie]

Thanks mom_G first time kasi ako and the kids punta doon. Iwas abala lang baka kasi itanong.

[wicked_18]

Hi.ill be leaving for us this week and its my first time in us. I just want to ask if its still ok to bring filipino foods?like chocnut and noodles.Ill be living in the states na kasi and i think these are the foods i will miss the most.thanks

[mama squeak!]

^I've always brought chocnut as pasalubongs to my siblings, no problem. Noodles di pa ako naka-experience magdala. Pero marami naman yan sa mga Filipino stores, mahal nga lang.

[iamsuperizch]

Regarding Medications, vitamins and pills: sa carry-on ba siya or checked-in luggage? Do i have to inform security that i have such in my carry-on and/or checked-in luggage?

[nicaa]

^ Nung nagtravel ako a month ago first time ko nagdala ng mga meds ko. Sa carry-on ko sila nilagay. Di ko sinabi sa security. Di naman din nila chineck and hindi naman ako na-question. Ang ginawa ko lang just to be sure, nagdala ako ng prescription for my medication.

Napansin ko yung security strict lang sa mga laptops. Nagmamadali kasi ako kaya nakalimutan ko i-separate laptop ko from my hand carry, ayun na-hold ako sa security. Kinulit ko pa sila para i-check na ulit yung bag ko, sabi ko kasi nakalimutan ko lang ilabas laptop ko sa bag.

Isa pa pala nilang pinapansin is yung mini tripod, buti yung nagchecheck mismo sa xray e alam na tripod yun. Yung isa kasing security sa may door sabi nya "are you familiar with that?" nag-oo naman yung nasa xray. then ni-recheck nila bag ko nakita nga nila tripod nakakabit sa camera ko. Next time di na ko magdadala nun sa handcarry haha di nila yun pinapansin dati, tapos nung nagtravel ako recently na-notice nila

[iamsuperizch]

^thanks! Maybe sa checked-in luggage ko na lang lagay and the prescriptions sa hand-carry para sure 

For more info on what and what not to do/bring, you can read everything here: http://www.tsa.gov/

[Neverfull]

Had my first 3 years ago, POE is Chicago. Grabe tao, as in tumatakbo mga tao papuntang immigration desk kasi grabe talaga ang pila. Its like a small world full of different nationalities (Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Europeans, Middle East, etc... you name it, they are present). I was alone travelling for business, and yes mas grabe ang immigration question kesa sa U.S embassy interview ha.

First, the officer asked me to place my fingers for scanning. Upon holding my passport, he asked the purpose of my visit, where I am going to stay and until when do I plan to stay. Sabi ko 1month in Chicago, then I will visit my family in Cali. His last question was "Are you single? ", I answered "I am engaged" tapos sabi "... is your fiancee from here?", I said "No, he lives back home." then he smiled, gave me a 6mos entry and said goodbye.

When I left Chicago for Cali, wala naman na eh parang normal na lang na domestic travel. Just be confident. Grabe madami talaga sa line tinitignan ko sila kinakabisadi nila mga sagot nila lalo na yung mga ipapasagot nila sa mga kids.

[matchykoi]

hi guys, so useful ang thread na ito. lumelevel up na ako ng thread. dati US visa lang, ngayon Port of Entry na. I'm learning so much.

I'll be travelling alone (first time), I'm thinking of booking Korean Airlines. Manila- HKG- LA. Then, LA- texas.
POE is LA
I'm thinking of bringing one box of ensaymada and perhaps, 5 boxes of pastillas. Mahohold kaya ako sa customs?
Money is 5K
No laptops etc.

I got all the possible questions and answers na pwedeng itanong ng IO sa LAX.

[nicaa]

Just travelled recently and may dalang box of pastries. POE ko is SFO and d naman kami na-hold or pinatawag

[Neverfull]

@matchykoi

Siguro sis mas magiging safe kung ilagay mo na lang sa maleta mo yung mga pastries, pero sabi naman ni sis nicaa oks lang. My sister and my parents always put their pasalubong from here inside the maleta, para iwas question. Lalo na sis sa HKG ang higpit ng immigration dun unless you bought the items sa duty free. Basta always keep your money and special docs with you. Aside from your carry on bag, bring a small personal bag na laging nakasabit sayo para within reach palagi ang pera, passport, boarding pass, etc. Whenever I travel alone praning kasi ako eh, gusto ko ready lahat sa bag ko yung mga kailangan ko. Ayoko ng binubuksan ko pa yung carry on bag ko. Goodluck sis!

[nicaa]

^ Correct mas safe pag sa maleta na lang ilagay, iwas bitbitin din

[theflygirl]

hi guys, so useful ang thread na ito. lumelevel up na ako ng thread. dati US visa lang, ngayon Port of Entry na. I'm learning so much.

I'll be travelling alone (first time), I'm thinking of booking Korean Airlines. Manila- HKG- LA. Then, LA- texas.
POE is LA
I'm thinking of bringing one box of ensaymada and perhaps, 5 boxes of pastillas. Mahohold kaya ako sa customs?
Money is 5K
No laptops etc.

I got all the possible questions and answers na pwedeng itanong ng IO sa LAX.

I was a supervisor for KE MNL some years ago. I'm just wondering why your route is MNL-HKG-LAX if you're taking KE, instead of ICN.

[mama squeak!]

^You caught that too ha!    Baka naman she meant CX or kung KE talaga nagkamali lang sya ng lagay na HKG when it should have been ICN.

[theflygirl]

^hehe, mama_squeak! OC AND OT nga eh...just wondering...

[sixteen16]

hi! ask ko lang may alam na ba kayo na airport to airport? anong reason?