traveling witrh gear (carnets)?

[Patryk_Rebisz]

My luggage got held up while traveling from US to Dublin. Because they inspected the luggage and i wasn't there to deliver the normal spiel that it's for my personal documentary - the customs are asking for carnet. Anyone has experience with it? What do i tell the customs guy that will convince them it's for my personal documentary and not to sell within the country (or for whatever reasons they they are holding up the customs). Any help will be appreciated cause i have to go pick up the bag tomorrow.

 

[Bern Caughey]

No help to offer, & very sorry to hear about your predicament.

We travel abroad regularly & always use a Carnet when bringing significant amounts of gear to Carnet countries.

I absolutely hate the Carnet dance as few Customs agents are well versed in them, & it can add a lot of time onto the trip, but it's the safest course of action.

 

[wjauch]

FYI google.ie is the Irish search engine. I turned up this:
http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/leaflets/pn1008.html
Perhaps you could get by with section 5, simplified procedure.

I grew up in Ireland, generally Irsih people are more easy going than in USA. Not sure what equipment you have with you, but people have taken Red Epic to Disney for personal use/vacation, so it should be possible that you took whatever your gear is to Ireland for your own personal use. My advise would be to honestly explain to the guy that you are an advanced amateur and you enjoy shooting but that it's for your own use. And of you have no intention of selling anything in Ireland as you will continue to use the same gear upon your return home

My luggage got held up while traveling from US to Dublin. Because they inspected the luggage and i wasn't there to deliver the normal spiel that it's for my personal documentary - the customs are asking for carnet. Anyone has experience with it? What do i tell the customs guy that will convince them it's for my personal documentary and not to sell within the country (or for whatever reasons they they are holding up the customs). Any help will be appreciated cause i have to go pick up the bag tomorrow.

 

[rob norton]

You could say that you work in video production, which is why you have such high end gear but this trip is purely a passion project - completely self-funded. Be prepared to tell them about the project. If you have an ipad/iphone show them links your site/vimeo page with other documentary examples that have your name attached. Pre-stream the links if you're unsure of internet access etc.

 

[mraaron895]

I had almost the same situation traveling back into the US from Canada. We had to beg and plead to be let back in with our equipment because we did not have an carnet. My advice be as overly poliet as possible in this situation.

 

[Bern Caughey]

I had almost the same situation traveling back into the US from Canada. We had to beg and plead to be let back in with our equipment because we did not have an carnet.

In your case it would have been best to register your equipment with Customs & Border Patrol before departing the USA.

If the gear could pass as personal effects then all is needed is CBP Form 4457. These do not expire, but there's little room on the form for an extensive list so I write in "See Attached" & print out the gear on seperate sheets.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/368/kw/4457

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf

If the gear is clearly for a professional project then it's supposed to be registered using a different method, I believe CBP Form 4455. AFAIK these forms expire after one trip, but I'm less familiar with this option so check with Customs well before departure.

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4455.pdf

These forms are only for exporting & importing to the USA, but can be handy if registering gear when entering & exiting foreign countries, though I'm unsure I'd show Form 4455 without a Work Permit.