Hacker News Reader

Comment by CalRobert | Hacker News Reader

For whatever reason most Americans use the word "customs" when they are, in fact, referring to immigration, when traveling internationally.

View on HN

Because entry is handled by CBP - Customs and Border Protection.

Immigration - which is the process of becoming a US permanent resident and/or citizen - is handled (mostly) by USCIS.

Other visas are handled by the State Department (foreign ministry).

Not an expert, but this is my understanding.

My understanding is that immigration gets you in the country, even as a tourist, and customs gets your stuff in.

That's how other countries normally do things, but America is a little weird.

I was simply trying to explain why the US refers to entry as “customs”.

Customs as it existed a few decades ago barely exists in many/most countries today except pro-forma. You used to routinely get your bag searched. Now, with very few exceptions, you just walk through the green door. Part of it (of course, this may change) is that there used to be a lot of financial incentive to buying items abroad and importing in your luggage.

I have Global Entry but I don't think the US even has a customs form any longer.

>a lot of financial incentive to buying items abroad and importing in your luggage

>very few exceptions

You've got it backwards. If you're an American you're probably traveling through freeports or low tax regimes like Singapore, UK, etc. and don't realise how regressive most regimes are. In places like Hungary, Angola, SEA -- where tax can be in the range of 30-50% you will be lucky not to be shaken down by a customs agent before leaving the luggage carousel.

As an American, I've traveled through a lot of countries and don't have much experience over the past couple of decades with being shaken down by customs agents. But perhaps if I looked differently and/or had several large pieces of luggage which I don't travel with.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com