City of McAllen, TX » International Bridge » Frequently Asked Questions

Agriculture FAQ

Customs FAQ

Immigration FAQ

Agriculture and Quarantine

Which fruits and vegetables can I bring back from Mexico?

Permitted fruits and vegetables are: Bananas, blackberries, cactus fruit, dates, dewberries, grapes, lemons, limes (sour), lychees, melons, papayas, pineapples, and strawberries and avocados without the seed. All vegetables except: raw potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams. Sugarcane is Prohibited, exception: if peeled completely.

What meats can I bring back from Mexico?

Permitted meats include: raw or cooked beef, lamb and goat (cabrito). You can bring cooked chicken, and turkey. Any pork products, ham, including sausages, cold cuts, pork skins and pork tacos are prohibited.

What plants and seeds can I bring back from Mexico?

Plants and seeds require special permits. Soil and some plants are prohibited as well as permitted. You need to check in advance with an Agricultural Inspector. Some dried plant parts, such as for medicinal purposes, are permitted. Plants and seeds require special permits. All permitted plants require an international phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin for importation. Some plants and soil etc, etc.....

Can I bring back live birds?

Wild and domesticated birds, including poultry are prohibited. To import personally owned pet birds, you need to contact Agricultural Inspectors in advance.

What happens when I fail to declare agricultural items when crossing at the border?

Failure to declare agricultural products at the border may result in delays and fines of up to $1000.00. Fruits, vegetables, meats and birds taken from the United States into Mexico may not be allowed to reenter. It is also good to consult with an Agricultural Inspector from the Department of Agriculture.

Can I bring back eggs from Mexico?

Raw eggs of any kind are prohibited.
Exceptions: boiled and cooked eggs are permitted.

Is straw permitted entry into the United States?

This is generally prohibited. This includes wheat straw, seeds, animal feed, and all other articles made from this material.

What kind of nuts can you bring back from Mexico?

Permitted items include: acorns, almonds, cocoa beans, chestnuts, coconuts (without husk or milk), peanuts, pecans, pinons (pinenuts), tamarind beans, walnuts and waternuts.

Why are some fruits and vegetables prohibited from Mexico?

Certain fruits and vegetable can harbor harmful pests and/or diseases which if introduced into the United States could prove to be devastating to American Agriculture.

Can I bring in hunting trophies and wild hunted game?

The entry of hunting trophies into the United States as well as game animal carcasses, hides, and other animal products and by products is prohibited or severely restricted. These articles can also harbor livestock disease organisms. When the product involves endangered species, restrictions of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service also apply. For information, contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (956)-686-1877 USDA regulations regarding the importation of hunting trophies can be found in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 95. Check with Agricultural Inspectors in advance.

Can I bring back flowers from Mexico?

There are certain cut flowers that are permitted entry. Some include cut roses, gladiolas, carnations, tulips, irises, palm fronds, baby's breath to name the most common. Prohibited cut flowers include and not limited to: juniper, pine, chrysanthemums, citrus leaves and cuttings, and choiysia. It is best to consult with an Agricultural Inspector before crossing any type of cut flower or plants

Customs

What gives Customs and Border Protection the right?

This is certainly a normal question to ask when you have been referred to our secondary inspection area for an intensive examination. The Congress of the United States has given the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) broad authority to conduct searches of persons and their baggage, cargo, and means of transportation entering the United States. This authority is contained in Title 19 of the United States Code, Sections 482, 1467, 1496, 1581, and 1582.

The courts have also held that this search, seizure, and arrest authority is not dependent upon either probable cause or a search warrant as is required by police officers. One reason for this broad authority is the vulnerability of our borders to the illegal entry of a vast amount of dangerous and prohibited items. We endeavor to use this authority wisely and with respect for human dignity. It is, however, the responsibility of a trained, professional CBP officer to determine the actual parameters of an examination. The officer is not permitted to release a traveler for entry into the U.S. until he or she is satisfied that no Customs or related Federal or State laws have been violated.

Why was I charged duty on my duty-free purchases?

Many travelers are confused by the term "duty-free" as it relates to merchandise they buy in duty-free shops.

Buying an item in a duty-free shop does not mean that you will not have to pay duty on the item when you take it into your destination country. It only means that the item you are buying does not reflect the cost of duty or taxes that would have been added to the item if it had been formally imported into the country where the duty-free shop is located.

Duty-free shops are shops where taxes on commercial goods are neither collected by a government, nor paid by an importer. An English-made wool sweater purchased in a clothing store in Germany may cost you $250.00, a price that includes the duty and taxes that the importer paid to import it. The same sweater purchased in a duty-free shop may only cost $225.00. That's because as long as the sweater stays in the duty-free shop, or exits the country with the purchaser, it has not been formally imported into the country. There has been no duty charged on the sweater, and the duty-free shop owner has been able to pass that savings on to you. Its price is free of duty, or "duty-free".

Now, when you bring that same sweater back home with you to the U.S., you may have to pay duty on the sweater if you exceed your personal exemption.

I am here on a Visa. Can I leave and come back into the United States?

There are many types of visas issued to visitors to the United States. Each visa has certain restrictions placed on it. The Office of Consular Affairs has general information about travel restrictions associated with each visa. The immigration and Naturalization Service is the agency that enforces those restrictions. If you believe you have a situation that is not covered by the general guidelines, you should contact them for more information.

Why did Customs and Border Protection take my food?

Because CBP Officers are stationed at ports of entry and along our land and sea borders, they are often called upon to enforce laws and requirements of other Government agencies. This is done to protect community health, preserve domestic plant and animal life, etc.

Many fruits and vegetables are either prohibited from entering the United States or require an import permit. Every fruit or vegetable must be declared to the Customs officer and must be presented for inspection, no matter how free of pests it appears to be. Failure to declare all food products can result in civil penalties. Meats, livestock, poultry, and their by-products are either prohibited or restricted from entering the United States, depending on the animal disease condition in the country of origin. Fresh meat is generally prohibited from most countries. Canned, cured, or dried meat is severely restricted from most countries. Bakery items and all cured cheeses are generally admissible. You should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services for more detailed information.

How can I prove I didn't buy my watch/camera during my trip outside the United States?

Foreign-made personal articles taken abroad are subject to duty each time they are brought back into the United States unless you have acceptable proof of prior possession. Documents, which fully describe the article, such as a bill of sale, insurance policy, jeweler's appraisal, or receipt for purchase, may be considered reasonable proof of prior possession.

Items such as watches, cameras, compact disc players, or other articles which may be readily identified by a permanently affixed serial number or marking, may be taken to the CBP office nearest you and registered before your departure. The Certificate of Registration (CBPF 4457) that you will be given will expedite the free entry of these items when you return. Keep the certificate as it is valid for as long as you own the article(s)

Immigration

What documentation is required to obtain a permit to travel into the United States as a Non-Immigrant Visitor?

Proof of economic solvency and residence is needed to obtain a permit. Check stubs can be used to provide proof of employment. Documents showing residence address is required.

What is needed to travel into the United States beyond the 25-mile radius?

An I-94 form (permit) obtained at the US Immigration Office is required to travel beyond the 25 miles.

What type of documents are needed to enter into the United States?

A Border crossing card/laser visa or a Mexican Passport with a Non-Immigrant Visa are documents needed to enter into the United States.

Where can you apply to obtain a visa or any entry document?

You can obtain a laser visa at the American Consulate in Matamoros Mexico or Monterrey Nuevo Leon Mexico.

Where can you apply to replace a lost or stolen document?

You need to apply at the American Consulate nearest your place of residence.

What proof of residence do I have to present to obtain a permit?

You need to present light, water, phone bill or cable receipts and or checking accounts receipts in the name of the person obtaining the permit.

Is a permit required to travel to the South Padre Island?

If it is over three days, yes a permit is required.

For how long is a permit valid?

If the permit is for business, the length of time needed to complete business transaction. For pleasure, the permits are valid for six months.

What is the cost for the permit?

The cost of the permit is six dollars per person.

Can this permit be used for multiple entries?

Yes.

What type of documentation is required to apply for admission as an Immigrant or Lawfully Admitted Permanent Resident to the United States?

An Immigrant Visa, an Alien Resident Card (form I-551) or a temporary Alien Resident Alien Card.

What can I do if I lost my Alien Registration Card?

You need to submit a completed form I-90 with photographs with a picture Identification document.

What is the cost for applying for a new Alien Registration Card (Form I-551)?

$185.00

Will I be able to enter the United States after I apply for a new card?

Yes, If you are still maintaining you Residence status you will be given a temporary Alien Registration Card that you can use until you get your permanent document.