Advertiser

infolink widget
Powered by Blogger.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Financial and Shopping Tips When Traveling Overseas

By Christine Jackson


Currency

Local banks generally provide much better rates of exchange than hotels, restaurants, or shops. Rates are frequently posted in windows. Above all, avoid private currency transactions. In some countries, you threat more than being swindled or stuck with counterfeit currency _ you risk arrest. Avoid the black market --- understand and obey the local currency laws, wherever you go.

Shopping

Mail Little Items

Whenever you purchase little items, it's a good concept to mail them personally to your home or to carry them inside your luggage. This may assist stop misdirected packages, no receipt of merchandise, or receipt of wrong merchandise. Whenever you mail purchases, make sure to ask about insurance.

American embassies and consulates abroad can't serve as post offices. They can't accept, hold, or forward mail for U.S. citizens abroad.

Items mailed house are not eligible for your $400 personal exemption. If the item which you are mailing house is much less than $200, duty will probably be waived. Make sure to write on the outside of the package that it contains goods for personal use.

Worth Added Tax (VAT)

Some European and Asian countries levy a value added tax (VAT) on the items that you purchase. In some locations, in the event you ship your purchases home, the VAT can be waived. Other locations might require you to pay the VAT, but have a system to refund all of it or component of it to you by mail. You can ask the shop clerk for an application to apply for the refund. The VAT refund is only for items which you can ship or carry with you. It doesn't apply to food, hotel bills, or other services. Because the rules for VAT refunds vary from country to country, you should check with the country's tourist office to understand the local requirements.

Beware When Making the Following Purchases:

Wildlife Souvenirs

Be cautious when you buy articles made from animals and plants or when you purchase live, wild animals to bring back as pets. Some items, like those made from elephant ivory, sea turtles, crocodile leather, or fur from endangered cats, and numerous species of live animals cannot be brought legally into the United States. Your wildlife souvenirs could be confiscated by government inspectors, and you can face other penalties for attempting to bring them into the United States. Do not purchase wildlife or wildlife goods unless you're certain that they're legal for import into the United States.

Glazed Ceramics

Beware of buying glazed ceramic ware abroad. It's possible to suffer lead poisoning, in the event you consume food or beverages that are stored or served in improperly glazed ceramics.

Unless the ceramics are produced by a firm with an international reputation, there is no immediate way to be particular that a particular item is safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that ceramic tableware purchased abroad be tested for lead release by a commercial laboratory on your return or be used for decorative purposes only.

Antiques

Certain countries consider antiques to be national treasures and also the "inalienable property of the nation." In some countries, customs authorities seize illegally purchased antiques without compensation, and they may also levy fines on the purchaser. Americans have been arrested and prosecuted for buying antiques with out a permit. Americans have even been arrested for purchasing reproductions of antiques from street vendors because a nearby authority believed the buy was a national treasure.

Safeguard yourself. In countries where antiques are essential, document your purchases as reproductions, if that is the case, or, if they are authentic, secure the essential export permit. The documentation or export permit may be accessible through the country's national museum. A reputable dealer might provide the export permit or information on how you can secure 1. When you have questions about purchasing antiques, the country's tourist workplace can guide you. If you still have doubts, consult the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. In places exactly where Americans have had issues simply because of buying antiques, the Consular Section is usually nicely aware of such situations.

Consular officers can inform you about the local laws and the right procedures to follow.

Customs

It's important which you maintain all receipts for items you purchase overseas. They will be useful in making your U.S. Customs declaration whenever you return.





Protect Your Family With Commonwealth Life Perusahaan Asuransi Terbaik Indonesia 


About the Author:



0 comments

Post a Comment