How to Travel With Children Through US Customs
- 1). Gather all the travel documents you need for you and your children. Check each passport and visa six weeks before traveling into or through the United States and ensure that they are all valid beyond the time you intend to stay. Keep all documents in one safe place on your person when traveling. Do not put your travel documents in your checked luggage.
- 2). Fill out the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Declaration Form 6059B. Normally you will receive this form on the airplane before you land. If you are a non-U.S. citizen visiting the United States with a visa, fill out Form I-94. Use Form I-94W if your home country is part of the Visa Waiver Program, such as all countries in the European Union. You do not need separate forms for each child, only one of each respective form per family. Spell the names of each of your children exactly as they appear on their passports.
- 3). Explain to your children about the customs process ahead of time. Tell them it is a serious inspection procedure conducted by officials who are making sure that people entering the country have legal permission. Tell your children you will give them a special treat, reward or surprise after the process is over if they are on their best behavior.
- 4). Instruct your children before entry to be calm and polite and to never make any jokes or remarks about border-sensitive issues that may involve words such as "guns," "terrorist," or "drugs." Border inspection is a serious matter in the United States, and when children feel this, they may be tempted to relieve the tension with humor. This is not the place to do it. Customs officials take every word you and your children say seriously.
- 5). Keep your children with you at all times. There can be long wait times at checkpoints, so bring calming activities for them, such as crossword puzzles, coloring books, or other books to keep them entertained. International travel involves a great deal of waiting and inactivity, so have some activities on hand in case your children get bored and are tempted to run around the customs area (which is strictly forbidden).
- 6). Go through the primary inspection area. In some cases, you may be instructed by a CBP officer to go through a secondary inspection area. Answer the officer's questions honestly, and instruct your children to do the same. They may be asked questions about themselves or their luggage at any time during the customs process.
- 7). Pick up all of your baggage and your children's baggage and show your declaration form to the CBP officer. Pay any duties where applicable for goods you are bringing into the United States.
- 8). Go through the final checkpoint and then exit the customs area or proceed to your connecting flight. Give your children a reward, as promised, for their good behavior.