marvelousmouse

I'm just curious. I actually do know folks who travel with cash (well, did, most of them are dead). I understand taking the money out of the country- but why would you be entering with that much? Wouldn't you be spending it in whatever country you are traveling to?

I can only speak from the perspective of going into Canada, but the only question I've had asked has been "are you entering or leaving with more than 10000?" If you say yes, then you'd have to disclose it, but if you travel with 8k or 9k, then how would they know? I've never heard of customs seizing money at all, though, unless drugs are involved.

Underhill

I have to say that my husband and I have NEVER been asked abusive questions by U. S. Customs agents. That makes me wonder what your actual experiences have been, or experiences of other people whom you know. Why do you expect trouble?

guyanantigua

Here are my experiences. I've been asked why I was traveling abroad (not their business). For how long, and how I was paying for such long trips (really not their business). I was asked what I do for a living (again, not their business). I consider these questions abusive, and so would people in other countries. Crazy that you guys think this is normal. This is the kind of interrogation you do to a criminal.

I know nice middle aged people who were asked if they were carrying more than a thousand dollars. And others who were just flat out asked how much currency they were carrying (even under the limit). I actually don't remember if I was myself asked that question, but I think I was once.

I am more concerned about the news reports I hear of customs and other law enforcement officials seizing money from law-abiding people under the "civil forfeiture" law. It hasn't happened to people I know, but you hear about it and if you search you can see many articles showing instances where this power was abused. It's not like it's an uncommon thing, and given the rough manner of these people, I don't want to be targeted.

marvelousmouse

But all of those questions would be asked by the immigration officials of any country you visit, right? So why the worry about US immigration/customs??

I understand your bitterness though. I am still holding a grudge against those lovely California produce patrol who forced me to through out a perfectly good pound of cherries last summer...

guyanantigua

Marvelous, no actually in other countries you're never asked questions like that. And here's the problem. A page with links to 150 articles talking about the problem
http://ij.org/over-100-editorials-ca...eiture-reform/
It's not uncommon and any one of us can be targeted.

Kathie

Ah, perhaps the problem here is one's definition of "abusive." None of those questions sound abusive to me. They sound like typical - or at least not unusual - immigrations/customs questions. I have frequently answered such questions when entering other countries.

I understand that some questions can seem intrusive. But something that gave me perspective on this issue was when an attorney told me that one does not have the general protections of US law while occupying that "no man's land" after crossing out of the US or before crossing back into the US. They can ask you any questions they want, they can detain you for any reason. Remembering that means I am not just my usual polite to the officers, I am extra polite.

These people spend a lot of time learning psychological profiling so they can choose the people most likely to be problematic. I wonder what behaviors you exhibit that makes them suspect that something "isn't right"

MmePerdu

I don't believe anything anyone says will impact the OP's situation, as I don't believe it has anything to do with money. A classic "yes, but..." and most of us failing to understand or know nothing. Excuses to carry out a mundane item of business in the worst possible way, a "problem" anyone who travels on or off the beaten path for any distance or time encounters sooner or later and doesn't feel compelled to carry large amounts of cash to (and home from?) their destination.

Considering the rants about banks, customs, etc., I suspect a bigger issue than advice from a travel forum was ever meant to address.

Sassafrass

Since you have traveled a lot, you have already had the experiences which form your opinions and what to expect. You have issues with bank cards, etc. You may have an issue with so much cash. Pick the issue that is least worrisome to you.

I have not personally suffered abuse from customs or immigration people anywhere, but just off the top of my head, remember being asked in both St Kitts in the Caribbean and in Ireland, what my reason was for the trip/visit and where I would be going. I answered truthfully. In each case, they said welcome and hoped I enjoyed their country. I figured it is their country. I am a visitor. They can asked me whatever they choose. I did not consider it abusive.

Frankly, I see why it might raise suspicion over a period of time, so I could not care less about the cash issues you raise. However, since it is an issue of freedom to you, I do find some of the security checks imposing and unnecessary, and that is an issue of freedom I could get interested in.

marvelousmouse

Lol, mmeperdu. I think you are spot on, most likely.

OP: I have been asked those questions by both US and Canadian border patrol. Amazed you haven't.

I did google the forfeitures. Most of the cases, as it turns out, are not border crossings- they are seizures during pullovers for minor traffic infractions of people of color. Yes, I agree, immoral and wrong. But not applicable to your case, and ironically, your money is safe if you don't carry it in cash. So are you more afraid of your bank or of customs? I think you will have to make that choice.

Furthermore, most of the articles seem to link back to a single expose...and are shared commonly by some very paranoid folks on their blogs. I shan't be concerned about this until I actually meet folks who have had cash seized at the border. I think you've got more of a chance of your plane crashing, or being robbed, or contracting dengue/malaria/zika if you need something to worry about...

elbegewa

Guyanantigua:
The solution, by following your logic, to me seems simple.

1. It appears that you want to travel with lots of amounts of cash. Why? Who knows. It could be you are a survivalist anti government sort, or in spite of your protestations otherwise - derived illegally, or like you say, it could be purely for your ease, or thousands of other reasons. I've heard tell that in China it is not unusual for people to haul suitcases (plural) of cash to buy a new car. But the why is irrelevant. You want to do it and seem dead-set on doing it. Or you are a troll having a great laugh.

2. Travelling with a lot of cash is going to be pretty unwieldy. If it's in $100 bills, you'll need 90 of them for $9,000 ... it will be about the size of a large book. But $100 bills may (or may not) be easy or hard to exchange or use. If in $20 bills, you'll need 450 of them ... the size of 4 large books. In either case, how to travel with them is an issue:

(a) its too bulky to carry on your person.
(b) I wouldn't dare put in in checked luggage ... there are too many instances of things being stolen from locked luggage.
(c) you could put it in a briefcase or carry-on luggage. In that case, if flying, it will be scanned at a minimum or perhaps passed by other detection devices. But its probably the safest way ... as long as you don't lose it or it doesn't get stolen.

3. It caries lots of risk.

(a) The greatest risk is theft.
(b) The second greatest risk is not at customs - it is getting stopped by local police. Local or state governments can legally seize money they "suspect" - its doesn't have to be proven. A couple of articles: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b0d0042da9e0f8
and http://oklahomawatch.org/2016/06/09/...prepaid-cards/ . Is it right? Should the legality be abolished? Many opinions on that. Each state is different. But it is a fact that it can legally happen.
(c) The third risk is at immigration/customs. Each officer has great discretion ... any one officer can make determinations that others would not make. So it will completely depend on the whims of an officer. He likely won't even ask unless you give subtle indications of nervousness or suspicious behavior. (However, I have been asked on about 10% of my border interactions). How will he react if you declare? Again, it completely depends (under the law) on the individual judgement of the individual officer. Most likely they'll just note it and not pursue questions. But they could ask many more questions ... and they could even seize it ... depending on the individual officer. If seized, there are various administrative and judicial remedies you could take to at some time later attempt to reclaim it.

So in the end, its going to depend on luck and circumstances. It could get stolen. It could be seized by local police like on a traffic stop. Or it could be seized by a customs officer. Is it likely? No.

If you want to risk it, its up to you to evaluate the risk.
Should it be a risk? That's a whole other conversation.

gail

I also don't care why you are carrying so much cash - except that you will have to come up with a better explanation for customs. If your concern is being stuck in some "weird" (your words) country without funds, then it does not explain why you are returning to the US still carrying that much cash.

But I also have never been asked about how much cash I am carrying upon re-entry to US.

Cowboy1968

The only real world experience I know of had been a friend's friend traveling from Ireland to the UK with almost €20K in his luggage to buy a used car or van from someone in the UK. He did not declare it (you have to when more than 10K, even for travels within the EU) upon arrival in Manchester, got into a spot customs check, and eventually got fined (I don't remember the amount, though).

When reading OP's initial post, two Qs come to mind:

Why do you return with so much cash money (8/9K of 10K)?
Since you are an experienced traveler to 3rd world countries where cash rules, wouldn't you have a better knowledge of how much you actually need?

PP gave a plausible historic example (Burma/Myanmar) where cash was needed. What are your experiences?

You named Hong Kong as an example - but last time I was there (2015), I settled all payments (except tiny amounts for trams or ferries or entrance fees or street food) with my credit card. Aside from one beer at a ramshackle beach hut on an outer island, we paid with CC at any small eatery or restaurant (and no, not just McDonalds).

jubilada

So, if you can find a few people who have experienced the situation you described, how will that help you ?

vincenzo32951

Customs officials in the US will plant drugs on you and steal your money. It's true. I saw it once in a movie.

One solution is hide the money in your anus.

doug_stallings

@guyanantigua People who carry large amounts of cash, particularly just under the $10K limit for declaration are actively profiled by US Customs. You may want to read this recent article from USAToday: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...ures/88474282/.

Given your screen name, I'm guessing you are returning from an extended stay in the Caribbean, which is a hotbed of narcotrafficking on so many different islands I can't even begin to say. Even though you are a college professor, I'd guess that you are going to be subjected to a high level of scrutiny and need to be prepared for that.

The best way to avoid the problem is to 1) make sure you have all relevant ATM withdrawal slips to show where cash came from; 2) taking only the amount of money you actually need out of the country so you don't have to return with so much cash; and 3) being open and honest when asked if you have anything to declare. If a Customs agent stops you and you have a large amount of cash, simply say "I have a large amount of cash."

Sassafrass

Vincenzo has the facts and a movie to back him up. Finally, a credible source. Should make the OP happy.

Did you see your proposed solution in the movie too? Another poster calculated the OP's money took up a lot of space. Just say'n.

jayne1973

This is such an interesting thread, and highlights how much we have become that "cashless" society that was predicted so many years ago. It's kind of ironic that an allowable amount of our "legal tender" can make one suspect of illegal activities.

I don't think you will find many people on Fodors who can answer your question, but your post is certainly thought provoking.

Sassafrass

Before credit cards, many still did not carry around huge sums of cash. Remember traveler's checks?

vincenzo32951

Sass: Some anuses have more capacity than others.

Sassafrass

Vincenzo, I knew that would be the answer in some form. Careful. You may be getting close to being banned. LOL.