Merchandise is declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item. If in doubt, declare it. You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours.
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If you have nothing to declare, you can head to baggage claim. A CBP agricultural officer may ask to search your baggage on your way out; this is routine and isn't anything to worry about. Once you've grabbed your checked luggage, congratulations! You've cleared customs.
Double-check for prohibited itemsIn U.S. arrival areas, amnesty bins (or even garbage cans) are less common, however, which could potentially lead to more people being fined. A good rule of thumb is to search your bags one last time before deplaning to make sure you didn't, for example, stash an apple from the flight.
Do you have to remove jewelry through airport security? Most fine jewelry and small pieces will go through airport security without a problem. Anything that's bulky or made of metal can trigger a wand-down, though, so make sure to remove those pieces and place them in your carry-on before going through security.
For Customs purposes, clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age. All vehicles are dutiable.
No citizen of a country can be denied entry to their home country. It is the internationally recognized “right of return.” Upon return they can be detained on customs issues or arrested on new charges or outstanding warrants but they cannot be denied reentry.