Moving To Los. Any Issues With Lots Of Luggage/stuff?

[craigt3365]

I have been reading on this forum about Customs becoming more vigilant lately and am worried about clearing customs at the airport. My wife and I are flying to Thailand next week and will be bringing a lot of personal stuff with us. Mainly clothes, shoes, a few hand tools, a few items for the kitchen, some books, laptop computer, pillows, bed sheets, small stereo speakers, some cables and wires for PC/stereo, etc. I am traveling on a Non-O visa, and she has dual passports (Thai and US). We will have 2 large suitcases pretty much maxed out at 50lbs each. Also, will have a fairly large carry on bag.

We don't have a lot of stuff as we sold our home 4 years ago and got rid of pretty much everything. Just been traveling since then.

We have been to Thailand many times over the years, always went through the Green Lane, and never been stopped. It would be just our luck to get pulled over this time. Though everything we are taking is used, we will have a lot.

So, wanted to know if my worries are justified. Should I declare this stuff? Or just head through the Green Lane? Decisions, decisions....

Oh yeah, we arrive about 2am from Taiwan.

Thanks!!!!

Craig

[londonthai]

it's rather small quantity and used - occasionally I do travel with 100lbs of brand new presents/shopping, were screened a couple of times, but never a problem. Hand tools spread equally in each suitcase/hand luggage and mix with the other items

[needforspeed]

Graig,

If you have a reasonable quantity not for commercial, business and /or trade purpose you don't have any problem.

Enjoy your time in Thailand

[Crossy]

Tools in hand luggage may well get you problems, but not with customs

I too have brought all sorts of stuff, tools (both hand and power), clothes, computer parts etc etc with zero issues. Looks like the scanner staff are looking for easily dutiable items (ciggies, booze), take a monitor or printer though and it gets filed on the 'too hard' pile (I've brought both on various occasions).

Obviously your mileage my vary, but don't take the michael and you'll be fine.

[craigt3365]

Thanks guys! That is what I was thinking. We will have 6 bags between us. Not including my laptop case and my wife's purse...which is HUGE! My big concern was getting through customs....especially after reading how they were scanning bags from everybody on some flights lately.

As we are moving there, we have all sorts of stuff. We have to come back to the USA in March, so will do this again. We don't have any furniture, so using a shipping company was not necessary.

Again, thanks so much!!!!

Craig

[Ricardo]

Apart from the (widely known) allowance of a shipment of a 20-foot container of personal/household stuff, for a Thai returning to live at home after spending more than a year living overseas, there may also be (so I've been told) a concession for one shipment by air, as well. So try explaining, if challenged by Customs, that your wife is returning to live at home again. It worked for us ... in the same situation.

[craigt3365]

Just a quick update....we got through customs with no problems. Landed around 1AM from Taiwan. They were checking as many people as they could with the xray machine. Both my wife and I were picked and had to put all our large bags through the scanner. As I mentioned, we had a lot of stuff. 2 huge bags each, and 1 smaller one. No problems at all.

We will be doing this again in April. Hope we have the same luck!!!

Craig