Slightly Meta: Travel tips for people traveling internationally with vintage equipment - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

3 Dec 2017

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 From: Michael Brutman <mbbrutman at brutman.com>
 To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
         <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
 Subject: Slightly Meta: Travel tips for people traveling
         internationally with vintage equipment?
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 I'm actively working on show planning for VCF PNW and I'm noticing that we
 have a few international travelers planning to attend and exhibit their
 machines/projects.  I'd like to put together a FAQ for the logistics of
 traveling with vintage equipment across the US border.  If you have ideas
 please let me know.
 For example: Should I plan on providing letters in advance stating that a
 person is a registered exhibitor at our show, including details like the
 show location, dates, times, and contact information in case there is a
 question about why somebody is carrying strange looking equipment into the
 US?  Is there any sort of paperwork or customs form needed even if nothing
 is being sold or left in the US?  Any other gotchas to look for?
 Thanks,
 Mike
 
I often travel internationally with strange looking electronics. If I am
questioned, I say that it is for my personal use during travel.
If you are bringing things that are very valuable, you can get a Carnet to
temporarily import items to the US and then export them without paying
duty. It is sometimes a painful process to find the right person at the
airport to stamp the Carnet on the way in and out, and often the customs
people have no idea what a Carnet is. The Carnet also costs more than $200
and requires a security deposit based on the value of the item.
https://www.export.gov/article?id=ATA-Carnet
http://www.uscib.org/ata-carnet-faqs-ud-1675/
--
Michael Thompson