When entering United States, travelers should report if they are bringing in more that $10,000 combined in money and other valuables.
There are many reasons, and laws, that can land people in jail. In our previous articles we mentioned people that decided to avoid returning in front of the judge at any cost.
On the legal side, many times people are simply unaware of different regulations, even if you put it in plain english in front of them. That actually happens when you travel to the United States.
In most cases, usually while in the air, and before lending in airplane, travelers are asked a simple question about the amount of money they are bringing in to the United States. Strangely, the sky is not the limit in this case. It’s about $10,000, or “other monetary instruments”.
Here’s what the law says about it:
“Whoever, with the intent to evade a currency reporting requirement, knowingly conceals more than $10,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on the person of such individual or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container, and transports or transfers or attempts to transport or transfer such currency or monetary instruments from a place within the United States to a place outside of the United States, or from a place outside the United States to a place within the United States, shall be guilty of a currency smuggling offense.”
In 2013 alone, ICE seized more than $59 million in bulk currency or monetary instruments.
Unlike stories we hear from our southern border, many travelers use more convenient means of travel, preferably airplanes, in order to enter United States. In 2016 and 2017, foreign-born population has added about 2% to overall population, or 787,000 people.
Here’s the overview:
“While immigrants from Mexico dominated the flows post-1970, the makeup of newcomers has changed since the 2007-09 recession. Recently arrived immigrants are more likely to come from Asia, with India and China leading the way. Countries such as the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Cuba, El Salvador, and Venezuela have also seen sizeable emigration to the United States. By contrast, there were fewer Mexican immigrants in the United States in 2017 than in 2010, representing the biggest decline of all immigrant groups.”
The reason for mentioning all this data is an effort to educate a bit about of influx of immigrants to the United States and how easy it may be to overlook a piece of paper placed in front of you, asking to declare amount of money you are bringing in. People might be scared when somebody ask them about the amount of money they have on them, but it is completely normal.
If not reported:
“Bulk cash smuggling damages our economy by removing billions of dollars from the commerce of the United States. Those dollars could otherwise be used to purchase goods, pay taxes, or invest in lawful enterprises. It also diminishes the integrity of our financial system by promoting an unregulated, unreported and underground market for illicit goods and services.”
Also, it may get you in position where you may have to ask about “Immigration Bail Bonds”, and we can definitely help with that as well, just ask.