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Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 2:08 pm
by powerofmad
Hello I received an order to send mre to Virginia and im thinking about customs declaration form. Im pretty sure I will have to fill one.
If anybody could answer few questions that would be good

1. Should i fill cn22 or cn23
2.What should I choose? Gift or Other or Samples
3. What should i write on decriptions? my post says it should be detailed and cant be abstract like "Camping supplies" but I guess it will fit.
P.S Im sending from EU>USA(Virginia)
Thanks in advance!
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:45 pm
by gundog4314
I usually send stuff going the other way so I don't know how your countries post is. I know for the US Post office the type of customs form or options are dependent on weight. Under a certain amount can be sent first class which is significantly cheaper than having to ship priority international. We're talking basically double the cost.
Depending what you elect to send it as their may be an additional fee for the sender of receiver. I once had to pay a brokerage fee of $20 because the sender sent it as merchandise. Gift is the best option for this type of thing.
For the description it all depends on which customs inspector is on duty and whether they elect to inspect the item. Many people have had food related items seized, destroyed or returned to the country of origin. I have learned depending where I send items I trade I either write: Sealed Packaged Food or Camping Supplies. You can never go wrong with camping supplies though.
As for the number amounts inside? If I have 30 items in one sealed bag I list it as 1 item.
I also get insurance to cover the price of the item(s) sent plus the cost of shipping so that way there really is no loss if something happens along the way.
Hope this helps. Cheers,
GD
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:08 pm
by powerofmad
Thanks! that was really helpfull

Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:43 pm
by rabidwolf
Anyone have any tips for getting through the Russian Post? I was conducting a trade, and there has been a problem. The package I sent is being returned.
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:12 pm
by Ruleryak
I've sent two packages into the Russian Federation so far. I've put camping supplies as the declared content and set the quantity to the number of items in the box in both cases. Nothing too specific, definitely not declaring it as food or military. I declare actual value and always mark the parcel as a gift. In one instance the parcel arrived in 10 days total, the other case it got there in about a month. For instance a ration and a mountain house meal would be declared as Camping Supplies x2.
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:09 pm
by rabidwolf
Ruleryak wrote:I've sent two packages into the Russian Federation so far. I've put camping supplies as the declared content and set the quantity to the number of items in the box in both cases. Nothing too specific, definitely not declaring it as food or military. I declare actual value and always mark the parcel as a gift. In one instance the parcel arrived in 10 days total, the other case it got there in about a month. For instance a ration and a mountain house meal would be declared as Camping Supplies x2.
I declared mine to be shelf stable camping supplies and newspapers. Also as a gift. I may have been off on the quantity. Didn't think about that, still learning.
On another note, Ruleryak. Have you checked your messages lately?
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 11:04 pm
by gundog4314
rabidwolf wrote:Anyone have any tips for getting through the Russian Post? I was conducting a trade, and there has been a problem. The package I sent is being returned.
Sometimes it has nothing to do with the package or contents. I once had a box I sent to Lithuania for a great guy who always helped me out with tips, translations and the like. The post their never contacted him or left a slip letting him know he had a package. After 30 days they sent it back saying unclaimed. Same thing happened when I sent a particularly nasty ration to Ashens & Barry to try. Worked out in the long run since my bro Steve1989 now fills the funky, keep your fingers crossed I don't die, ration niche LOL!
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:34 am
by parafireboy
I've actually had a US Postal Service worker get a little upset with me that I was being too vague by listing "camping supplies" and made me put more detail, but just on one occasion. I've used it multiple times and the packages have always arrived OK to Russia, Germany, etc. Sometimes I'll use "dehydrated camping food" also. So far so good.
Re: Customs declaration when sending to US
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:59 am
by housil
powerofmad wrote:Hello I received an order to send mre to Virginia and im thinking about customs declaration form. Im pretty sure I will have to fill one.
First of all, it´s "difficult" to send food into the USA. See their regulations here:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... s-etc.)-as
powerofmad wrote:
If anybody could answer few questions that would be good

1. Should i fill cn22 or cn23
Depends to the value.
Up to €340 => CN22
More that €340 => CN23
powerofmad wrote:
2.What should I choose? Gift or Other or Samples
Depends if do you send as a privat person or of you are a commercial seller (you wrote, you have received "an order")
powerofmad wrote:
3. What should i write on decriptions? my post says it should be detailed and cant be abstract like "Camping supplies" but I guess it will fit.
They will check for any prohibited items and x-ray each parcels, also have dogs sniffing them. So if do you declare some "toys" and the x-ray shows something else but toys, they´ll open it
If do you send food, call it "food" and "crackers", "chocolate", "candies" aren´t prohibited
