How to deal with customs?

NeoAsimov

Hello,


A question just pop-up in my head: How to deal with customs in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri-Lanka and Bangladesh?

I searched for a thread on this subject but I do not found anything I wanted. By example, for the money question, if they ask you the amount of money you have, what is the answer? If you lie, and if they found more money on you than expected, will you get into trouble or you'll only have to pay for your lie?

What if they seems to love a specific piece of your luggage?

I don't know what is the situation with these customs, however, I'm not a fan of paying to buy peace. Otherwise, the next traveler or local will pay as much or much as I do and possibly more.

What are their powers if you do not get intimidated by their play?


Thank for the information


Salutations,


Fred

machadinha

I don't know, you normally walk through and give them as little shit as possible. If you get shit in return you deal with it in a polite but firm way. Anywhere in the world I mean, there's no real reason to assume you'll be mistreated going to these places. If you suspect you're being taken advantage of asking to see some superiors should normally quiet things down. As far as the money goes you'd need to bring in quite a lot for it to be a problem (over US$ 10,000 in '93 and you only needed to declare it, you could bring in any amount of money) and if you do I'd get it cleared like the good boy that you are

Examples: I wear some jewellery that I can't easily take off and it's always a cause for some stupid remarks leaving the Netherlands ("uh-huh, I got a boltcutter somewhere"). Travelling through what are normally considered as more backward regions I've never had these problems, you have a right to be frisked (and by someone of your own sex for the ladies out there) if the stupid bleep thing doesn't work and it often doesn't, that is to say it always goes off, except when you might think it would.

Leaving India one time the customs personnel paid a lot of attention to a bag of (some pretty worthless) jewellery I had bought. I let them pay as much attention as they wanted then went on my way.

Flying to the US word has it you can run into incredibly rude customs officers who make you stand in line to fill in some papers before you get through. If you accidentally fill in "Holland" instead of the Netherlands as your home country they may send you back to the end of the queue because it's not the real name. Throwing a fit about it doesn't help and may earn you a return flight home. In fact I've heard of people being refused because they wore an "anarchy" button but that's a different story.

Be sensible about it and you'll be fine, don't draw any more attention than you have to and consider it a part of the flight. Dressing moderately reasonable for dealing with any official is always a good idea anywhere in the world, you can put on the torn jeans once you hit that beach right (except in India I wouldn't wear torn jeans anyhow but again it's a different story. You catch my drift.)

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Nick-H

That would be The Land of The Free I suppose?

I've never so far seen [South] Indian customs hastling tourists. They seem a lot more concerned with the electronics etc that NRIs and Returning Indians are bringing in for their friends and families.

From what I remember, the restrictions are not unreasonable. Money is very easily available from [Indian] ATMs, so why would you want to bring in a huge amount?

But as to the question, "what are their powers"? ...

byronic

When we came through New Delhi airport last year there was no propblem at all.

In fact I really wanted to take a photo. This is what happened. At luggage security there is the x-ray camera viewer that takes the tv image of the contents. There was an inspector sitting in a chair manning the x-ray machine. The only thing was, he was fast asleep and actually snoreing. I really wanted to take a photo of that LOL. I just thought to myself, "Welcome to India"

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docgirl2005

When I landed in Chennai, the customs officers took pleasure in charging me for my jewellery which was ALOT less than what my mom and her NRI friends bring in. I was charged 60 dollars and kept the reciept. I said it was my own and I even showed reciepts of purchasing the bangles in the US. From my perspective its also about luck. The officers were very smirky and enjoyed making me squirm. Horrible day since our luggage didnt arrive on our BA flight with us too! I was very polite and even answered their unnecessary questions like "What relatives are here? What are your relatiives doing in India? Are you having children?" Pointless stuff just to intimidate me more I guess. I dont think there are steadfast rules and even if there are rules they dont seem to follow them. Next time I would suggest wearing the jewels instead. I kept some in my bag, that was the mistake I made. Most of the time when you say "i am here for my cousins marriage (which was true btw)" they usually let you go..Otherwise for the amount of jewellery I had, it sure wouldnt have been a problem....I had reciepts as well meaning they were mine and I planned to keep them with me and not sell them for profit. Please...with the gorgeous amounts of gold Indian women can buy in India why would they purchase them from a exhausted NRI traveler who has no intention of selling? lol...exhausted to the core that day...

shere

Should have stuck to your guns and asked to speak with the deputy commissioner for customs as according to customs rules : Tourists coming from abroad on short trip to India can bring reasonable amount of jewellery as personal effect provided they take those back with them during their return.

TimMakins

The following thoughts apply to customs and immigration the world over.

The fact is that if the customs/immgration guys want to make some money, and you are in their sights, they have a lot of experience in doing it, and have 1000 different ways that they might use. The problem is, you won't know which demands for payment are legitimate, and which are a con. As far as money goes, try to take as little cash with you as possible. If the demand for money is not legitimate, they are not going to make you go to the Exchange Desk and change some TCs. However I belong to the school of thought that says you should have SOME cash on you, such as 10 or 20 USD, that can be given up if it becomes necessary. It might be a better deal as far as you are concerned to lose the 20 bucks rather than your Walkman, Camera, duty frees etc. It can also be better to lose 10 bucks than 2 hours inspection some time. Ever had an internal body search? I have, and things like that are no fun. The fact is that these guys are gods. If you get stroppy, they can insist that you empty your bag completely, every last thing, and spend ages checking it out. If you miss your onward connections, they won't care. They can keep you sitting in some room for as long as they want. And in some parts of the world, if they find nothing against you, they might plant some thing on you, and who is to believe you when you refuse to admit it is yours?

So, the first thing to do is to be very calm and cooperative, without looking too eager. If they decide to get some money off you, and suggest some kind of bribe, gift, baksheesh, I personally like to play dumb, and not understand their suggestion, making them have to spell it out in more and more straightforward terms, which they may not wish to do. I then ask to see a chart of the 'normal rates' for the payment they are asking for, or ask to speak to a superior officer. One thing I never do is to lose my temper, act outraged, or demand my 'rights' - whatever those might be! Always try to stay in the public view, with other people around you, and try not to let them move you into a private office. Try and watch the guy's colleagues out of the corner of your eye - I have found in the past, on quite a few occasions, that if the customs/immigration guy is not getting very far with his scam, and you are proving too dense/clever for his tactics, his colleagues will start grinning or laughing at him, in which case you can further your own tactics and be reasonably confident that you are about to get off.

If you *do* have too much cash, the question whether to declare it and lose some, or to conceal it and then have it found later is a difficult one, that you will just have to play by ear. How good at lying are you? Do people know when you are doing it? Realise that these guys have seen every trick in the book over the years, and then some. They are very good at assessing people, and generally know it you are trying something on, or are just naturally nervous and sweaty. Most of the time, unless you are actually breaking a law, your possesions are just there to act as a goody bag that they may or may not wish to dip into. If it is easy for them to make a quick buck without any hassle and without being found out or reported, they will, in many countries. The guys in South Asia are no different to other parts of the world.

Tim Makins

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machadinha

Hm. I'm not surprised the OP had a hard time finding a thread on this as it's really not such a big deal as it's made out to be here, I hate to think of all the new worries in people's minds besides malaria and mineral water and stuff we've just created.

Tim's advice is sound in case you do walk into anything, but you normally wouldn't I believe. If a customs officer should take excessive interest in your goodies just be polite but persistent, I mean they're not gonna confiscate your stuff then and there for no reason and they wouldn't want to cause a diplomatic incident about it either. People in uniforms can be power trippers the world over but you normally really shouldn't have a problem. If they sense you easily bow to authority they might try to have a go at you though (conversely being your f*ck-authority old self may not be the best stance on such occasions). No offense to Docgirl but next time put your foot down and see what happens I'd say. Don't be too easily intimidated and they can't get away with everything.

Let's not over-exaggerate the problem, because there isn't really one. There are stories of course of people being fleeced at border crossing X in the middle of nowhere, then again I know as many stories of the cup of chai with the lads and the ride on to your next destination. We're talking about international airports here however, not a mule ride along the silk route. The whole question was a bit of a non-event in that sense.

All in my humble opinion of course.

oldhippie

If you get busted remember all these Indian officials can be bought.
Just bribe them and you will be out in a flash.

Don't waste your time arguing with them or you would end up paying a lot more.

Mumbai customs are the most corrupt. They would sell their mothers for $100US.

Good Luck!

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Digital Drifter

You're too kind; they'd do it for less! Got ripped for declaring a camera that I was taking to the US from India. How's that? sod them.

Hyderabadi

They probably would have paid big money or used 'family circle influence' to be posted in Bombay. Besides they would be frustrated too that they did not get the jucier port assignment.

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cyberhippie

I've never fallen foul of customs coming into or leaving India! As mach says what's all the commotion??
Actually in Delhi they are running a campaign to stop any bribe taking by officials! All over the airport they are advertising a Tel No you can phone if anyone tries to solicits a bribe from you!
People who fluant the customs rules on what you can and can't bring in leave themselves open to the attentions of the customs guys!
There are many peole like this unfortunately, like the idiots who turn up with 100 kgs of luggage then are so pissed that they have to pay excess!
In most cases if you get away with a bribe for being over the limit you would be happy!
I prefer to just go with the flow and stay within the restrictions!
It's worked so far!
The customs at Delhi are a bit lazy and rude but the instances of bribe taking (I'm talking taking money for nothing here) are minimal!
There were a couple of cases some months ago but the Airport authority acted quickly to stop this!

Digital Drifter

At 0000 hrs with an hour to fly out, the customs chap declares that I have to pay to take my camera out of the contry in Bombay. He knows I work for some IT firm, the forex etc. & then the shakedown. I burnt the name in my head, Chakraborti was his name.

While i'm not hung up on the money I paid, it's the mendaciousness and the grubby authority with which he tried his act that chafes.

cyberhippie

So what did you do??? You paid the bribe WRONG unless of course there is a reason you thought you should pay the bribe???
This doesn't happen often I'm sure but if it does why do people blindly give away their money I know I wouldn't!! Not without an official explanation and reciept!
People who act like this are bullies and everybody know what you do with bullies!
Customs in India as everywhere are not entitled to confiscate goods without good reason, if you go along with this bribe scenario then it's down to you!
Many in India see bribing simply as a way of circumnavigating the system! This is part of the reason the culture of Baksheesh has prevailed!

ddevadatta

It doesn't have to happen a lot for it to be an issue or not. If it happens once to me (or you) it is a problem. Lots of great advice here, which I won't repeat.

I had a customs issue in Bombay. Guess what it was over? My suit. I delared it at $400, which it was the the blok said that the value of my contents was over some limit. I needed to pay he said so he could reduce the dollor value on the customs form. Not a subtle form of bribery if you ask me.

I calmly said sure and if I could pay in traveler's check since I did not have any cash on hand. That was true since I only had cheque's and may be some RS 20 in change that I gathered up from my last trip.

When he heard cheque (which is more trackable than cash) he politely refused and sent me on my way. A little trick I learned and others try it and see if it works...

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