Bringing Stuff Back From Myanmar (Burma)
 

I read today that the US Treasury has had a prohibition on ANY imports from Myanmar (including "souvenirs") since 2003 - any customs experiences with this?

A few weeks ago we crossed the Thai border at Mae Sae and spent the morning visiting several Burmese villages. Bought a few items in the market in Tachilek - a kalaga tapestry, a buddha statue, a bronze gong, a piece of silk, etc.

We returned to the U.S. a few days later from Japan. The U.S. Immigration agent saw the very prominent Myanmar visas in our passports, but did not ask if we had purchased anything there. Then we breezed through Customs.

Didn't know about the prohibition - I guess we smuggled in some contraband!

I spent a couple of weeks in Myanmar a couple of years back, and did buy a few things. But it was part of a much longer trip, and I don't know whether the immigration & customs agents noticed I had been there. I had no idea about the prohibition.

I was there 2 years ago with a girlfriend from the US. We both shopped extensively for lacquerware, silver jewelry, woven silk scarves, Buddha's foot paintings on cloth, small pieces of tribal crafts and small oil paintings. She went back to the US, via Singapore, without a peep from Customs. Also with a very prominent Myanmar visa in her passport.

we were not questioned about our purchases

I had no problems either.

I was asked by customs where I'd been (even though I had written it on my declaration form), and I was waved through.

Yes, this has been my experience also. Even though I knew about the prohibition and consequently brought nothing back with me from Myanmar, it was the fact that I had been into LAOS (for a sum total of one day -- without even staying overnight) that immediately set off the US Customs official's warning bells. He went through my luggage with a fine-tooth comb after I mentioned LAOS, not Myanmar. It was the strangest thing.

i think it might depend on where you enter the us. i have entered the us at sfo, lax, ord, and iad. never once was i asked where i visited, how long was i gone, why did you go there, and what did you bring back. i've had my bags checked only once, in sfo.

these are all routine questions that i am asked everytime i return to hnl from asia. my bags get checked 50% of the time.

so for me, i would not risk bringing anything in from myanmar.

anyway, thanks for the advisory craig, now i have an excellent excuse for not buying dw the burmese green jade ring she always wanted. lol.

kuranosuke,

you are always getting searched because your name is on their list, lol!

it's just one small ring....just have dw wear the ring home ;)

Aloha!

This is a pretty old thread. We visited Myanmar a year and a half ago and brought back a ton of stuff with no problems. Customs officials are probably not even aware of the restriction.

ht, i should have never tried to bring in the kau yuk from japan. you are right, now, i am a marked man.

btw, thanks for the great idea to have jackie wear the ring back. now my excuse to curtail her spending is null and void. lol.