Declaring Cash At Customs In Brazil--Is It Ok?

[citygirl]

If you know of "massive, systemic corruption"within customs in the US, I would suggest you report it. It certainly would be an attention getter since I'm not familiar with there ever being a problem outside of isolated incidents. But I'm sure you have proof since you're making those kind of accusations so a news group would jump right on it.

You certainly can bring large amounts of cash into Argentina or Brasil. But if you think the customs officers are corrupt in the US, I'm guessing you may have a really rude awakening here

Personally, wouldn't bother. You can send yourself money other ways if you're too scared of using an ATM. It's really not a big deal anymore though - the dollar blue is relatively defunct so withdraw away at a bank (if you're worried about security).

 

[Noesdeayer]

citygirl:
You said it!
Polostar88,what are you talking about ? If you know of so many cases of bribery and theft by U.S. Customs officials by all means,report them.What are you waiting for?
I brought USD 10.K into Argentina on my person in September '15 and declared it.Nothing strange happened I also use the Citibank ATMs downtown and I have never had a problem in 25 years .Give me a break already,please.
Lecture,schemeter,schmuck!

 

[polostar88]

Impossible to get any straight answers on this forum without drama and posturing. I asked a simple, practical question.

Noesdeayer I've had my card cloned in Brazil and all my money taken out. Furthermore there is a very small daily limit with ATM's which makes it very hard to live. There are also high fees for wiring money and often you can't get dollars, which apt owners prefer for a longer stay if you want to get a better deal. There are good reasons you want cash when traveling to either of the two countries I'm asking about.

If you want to see "news reports" on US customs corruption under the "civil forfeiture" laws feel free to google and search for yourselves. I'm not here to argue or convince anyone, I asked a question. There are plenty of cases, it's all over the news, and it's their standard procedure to the extent some countries advise their citizens not to carry any cash into the US. They regularly target innocent tourists and US citizens, retirees, etc. and there is hardly anything you can do. They do it for when you're under the limit as well. They ask people now if you have over 1K and everyone I've spoken to knows how rude, thuggish and aggressive they are (I'm talking about nice, middle-aged or retired professional people who get mistreated at US customs). You'd have to be crazy to carry any valuables into the US now. But my question wasn't even about this. If you want to be a lickspittle for the thug US govt go ahead, I'm not here to convince anyone. Please stop posturing.

I got one answer from one person who declared in Argentina and said nothing bad happened. OK that's a start. Does anyone else have experience or have they heard of people who do? What is to be expected? Are there bureaucratic procedures to follow besides filling out the form? What is the worst-case scenario? Are there similar risks as with the US or with the scenario I pointed out? In a country like Brazil I'd be worried about an official going "off-duty" to target and "collect" outside the airport or something like that.

And I'm not talking huge sums here but the limit in Brazil is only equivalent of R10K which is very little.

 

[polostar88]

This thread is not about this but since so many are "doubting" enjoy!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Forfeiture ....many, many examples

example: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160107/13213033272/dea-so-forfeiture-focused-it-hired-tsa-screener-to-check-travelers-baggage-guilty-cash.shtml

 

[cwo4uscgret]

Polostar - as a retired CBP Officer, who worked on the Canadian US border for my entire CBP career I would like you to show me something of substance to back up your claim. Not once at my border crossing, the second busiest northern land border crossing was their ever any claims of theft of money from a traveller; a few claims of theft of personal electronic items like an I-pad; but when management who I assure you they take any theft claim quite serious, reviews video - there are at least 6 or more cameras monitoring and recording us as we did out our jobs. Always the first thing management does it reviews the video...

So unless you can show evidence - of this massive, widespread abuse, I will call BS. The implication that as a (former) federal employee I am hiding corruption? I can assure you that there isn't anything wrong with my integrity. As the Chief Steward of the unison representing officers while before I retired when we represented employees we stood firm with management to not tolerate illegal activity from our members either. Your implication is wrong.

You've missed my point - when a traveller declares $10K or more entering the US they leave the border with the money declared. Failure to declare is when you forfeit the money.

 

[polostar88]

Polostar - as a retired CBP Officer, who worked on the Canadian US border for my entire CBP career I would like you to show me something of substance to back up your claim. Not once at my border crossing, the second busiest northern land border crossing was their ever any claims of theft of money from a traveller; a few claims of theft of personal electronic items like an I-pad; but when management who I assure you they take any theft claim quite serious, reviews video - there are at least 6 or more cameras monitoring and recording us as we did out our jobs. Always the first thing management does it reviews the video...

So unless you can show evidence - of this massive, widespread abuse, I will call BS. The implication that as a (former) federal employee I am hiding corruption? I can assure you that there isn't anything wrong with my integrity. As the Chief Steward of the unison representing officers while before I retired when we represented employees we stood firm with management to not tolerate illegal activity from our members either. Your implication is wrong.

You've missed my point - when a traveller declares $10K or more entering the US they leave the border with the money declared. Failure to declare is when you forfeit the money.

I just linked to a resource with many articles on this. Also you are (knowingly) misrepresenting what I'm saying. I never said US customs steals the money or valuables secretly. They do so "legally" and openly under "civil forfeiture" policy. But this abuse is widespread and well-known as you can see from my sources.

The Canadian govt warns its citizens about carrying cash into the US because it's so often seized at ports of entry by customs and other law enforcement under the "civil forfeiture" policy; this is done to tourists, retirees, etc.

It's also not true that the limit is 10K. They now ask people if they're carrying more than 1K and they will seize cash even under the limit also under "civil forfeiture." They do so whether you declare it or not. Getting it back is next to impossible even with documentation because a court case is very expensive. I said this several times above but you're pretending I said something else.

The thuggishness and criminality of federal govt. employees is something well documented and yes I do think you're covering for them.

People should make up their own minds, but I think you have to be crazy to carry any valuables or cash into the US.

 

[cwo4uscgret]

Polostar one instance involving a customs officer And asset forfeiture - a traveller who deliberately lied about the money he was traveling with listed on your source. In 10-1/2 years on the border, interviewing travelers crossing into and out of the US I can't think of one instance ever where a traveler was asked if they had more the $1,000. Lots of times however if they were traveling with $10,000 or more.

Reporting "cash" or other negotiable financial instruments (like a bearer bond) over $10K is the law.

 

[Ceviche]

I can't think of one instance ever where a traveler was asked if they had more the $1,000. Lots of times however if they were traveling with $10,000 or more.

I travel often to US - almost once every 2 months . I have never been asked if I have more than 10 k or if I have more than 1K. But I am always asked "how much money are you carrying with you"

I personally only carry 50 or 100 usd and lots of cards.

 

[camel]

Bitcoin is one way to legally avoid the US gov't reporting rules.

 

[khairyexpat]

Bitcoin is one way to legally avoid the US gov't reporting rules.

Is it really realistic to use Bitcoin ?
Have you ever used it ? Or know someone who did ?