Business travel to the USA with demonstration items
I will be travelling to the USA and bringing a few items with me for demonstration purposes. The value of the items will be around $500, and all items will be taken back with me. I will also bring some cheap hand tools with me, maybe worth 50$.
Do I need to declare the items and tools?
As it seems I have to, how do I go about declaring these items? I will be leaving from a Canadian airport, which has US customs. Is there a form I should complete beforehand or do I complete it when I arrive at customs?
Best Answer
The B1 visa has such provisions already built-in:
As a B-1 visa holder, you can temporarily bring goods or products into the United States to solicit orders but you cannot sell them or make money in the United States. If you visit the U.S for a business venture, conference, meeting, trade show, exhibition, sales, etc. you will receive no salary, or income from a U.S. based company, source or entity.
Source: CBP Website
Further, there is a page on the CBP website which deals specifically with trade imports.
They both state the same - there is dedicated allowances for the temporary import of goods specifically for exhibition, display or sample purposes.
On the CBP Form 6059B (PDF) (the blue declaration form), it specifically states for Visitors (non-residents):
Declare the value of all articles that will remain in the US
As you will be taking the samples back, you do not need to declare their value; however, I would tick "I have commercial goods" (#14) just to be safe.
Keep in mind its better to be safe as missing something due to confusion can be interpreted as deception by omission.
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What items do you have to declare when entering the US?
Use the Customs Declaration Card to declare what you're bringing into Canada, including any:- items you must pay duty on, such as: gifts. alcohol. tobacco.
- amount of money more than CDN $10,000.
- business goods, plants, food, animals, firearms or other weapons.
Can I bring samples into us?
Samples used solely for taking orders for merchandise may be eligible for admittance into the United States without the payment of duty under a Temporary Importation Under Bond (TIB). The condition is that the samples not be sold and that they are exported within one year from their date of importation.Can I bring merchandise into the US?
Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP. Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country. Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).Can I cross the US border for a business meeting?
An individual seeking entry to the U.S. may enter the U.S. as a \u201cB-1\u201d business visitor on behalf of their Canadian business or Canadian employer to attend a business meeting; to negotiate the terms of a contract; to attend a conference or trade show; and in some cases, to provide after-sales service in connection with ...The Business Tourism Industry | Business Travel Explained
More answers regarding business travel to the USA with demonstration items
Answer 2
"If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States."
Sample Customs Declaration Form
You say "all items will be taken back with me" so those items are not items that "will remain in the United States".
Answer 3
The items, worth only $500, are probably no big deal, unless you have a whole bunch of identical items that look like they could be sold. That's a customs issue.
However the tools could be an issue. Assuming you don't have a work permit, how do you intend to explain the need for tools? I suggest leaving them at home.
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