The no-no's of customs and carry-on baggage: What can I take with me?

Hi~

I hope this question doesn't sound silly or even stupid. I have been in at least 10 airports through out my travels in the domestic US and thus gone through a lot of baggage checks everything from having my stuff emptied out on a table to taking off my shoes for security.

But I have never gone through customs or taken an international flight. So I have two basic questions:

a.) What can I take in my carry-on bag...I know this sounds really basic but I was even wondering if I could have my camera since security might take it as some sort of smuggling device--

b.) Besides my passport, international student ID, letter of purpose and identification and state ID is there anything else I should have with me at customs to make the process easier? I read somewhere else on this forum not to have things like diaries and planners.

I am flying from O'Hare to Toronto to London.

Thank you everyone...tommrow is my last full day in the United States

Samantha***

Camera is fine- no worries.

When I went to England as a student this past September, I needed to bring my most current bank statement to prove I could support myself (even though I was allowed to work 20 hours per week there.) Not sure if you have to prove this since you'll be there for a short time.

All the other documents you have are fine. Just make sure you pack them in your carry on!!!!! 

Have a fab time! 

I've only been to the UK once.  Never bothered to ask anyones opinion on what I should or should not say.  I figured that out for myself when the immigration officer asked me why I was there.  Took a second to register since I'd only had a few hours of sleep in about 30 hours.  So I just said, "Visiting family friends".  They didn't ask me much more.  Just stamped my passport and I went through.  But I know you are going for other reasons. 

I had a load of stuff on me though, my cameras in a carry on, no diary or letters though.  Can't offer you any help because honestly I was too tired, and can hardly remember much of it.  One thing I remember doing though is not establishing eye contact with the female customs officer.  It worked, she didn't stop me.  Phew.

Don't take that advice though, I don't want to be responsible for anything .  Sorry for not having much advice to offer.  Just wanted to wish you a safe trip and hope you have lots of fun!  

OK - there are two extra controls on an international arrival ...

a) Immigration, where you need to be able to show that you're there for the reason on your visa (or for a reason that doesn't need a visa)

b) Customs, where you need to be able to show that you're not trying to bring anything illegal in or make an import - particularly commercially - and avoid local tax.

Check in is just the same, hand baggage just the same, as a USA internal flight except that the airline will want to see your passport just to make sure that you won't be turned back at their expense at London 

You're visiting for a short while.  You're a Bona Fide visitor. The UK welcomes American tourists. You'll naturally have proof of where you're going, excitement, plans, papers, a return ticket.  I don't think you'll have any problems at immigration; problems typically come if something you say or something in you manner gives rise to suspision .... and the immigration folks are trained to tell the folks trying to avoid or stretch the system from those merely scared at thier first short visit.

Customs, you can usually just walk straight through.  A customs officer may stop you and have a quick chat (I've never had more that "where are you coming from" or "how long have you been away") but not usually anything more.  You can bring in whatever personal effects you need for your trip, I think it's $100 or $200 of gifts (someone else, please remind me), a litre of spirits, 200 smokes, a certain amount of perfume.  200 cigarretes + 10 in a half smoked packet would NOT be a problem, but 2000 (note the extra 0) would be.  And - no banned substances, and these days they're pretty hard on meat, fruit, veg according to the signs but nothing like as bad as when you go back into the states.

Summary - I would be very suprised if you had more that a minute's chat with the immigration officer, and I would be suprised if you got stopped at all at customs.   And you're going to be so in the rules you'll sail straight through.  Have a great flight and a great time, 

I read somewhere else on this forum not to have things like diaries and planners.

Only if there is something in there that could be incriminating.  Like appointments for job interviews when you are going over on a visitors visa!


Other things to NOT have in your carry on would be things like scissors and knives (even little mini swiss army knives with a nail file on it!)... if there is anything sharp, that could be conceivably used as a weapon, they'll take it off you.  But i reckon they'd do that on domestic flights as well.

I always carry my planner. The only time that has gotten people into trouble, is when they had written things in it, that showed they were planning to stay, when they didn't have proper papers to do so.

My tweezers were taken away from me, and hubby's toenail cutters.

But these things you can find a list of, on the website for your airline. I would double check that for what they say you can't bring on the plane. Most of those things are fine in your check in luggage tho.

Have a safe trip!

The diary thing - you might have been thinking of me, when I first entered the UK on my passport alone - wanting to stay 6 months - they made photocopies of all of my journal entries, my address book, etc... but that's because they were suspicious that I was going to break the rules and blah blah blah times infinity. You'll be absolutely FINE, no need to worry about that, you've got the right kind of entry clearnace coming in so they won't bat an eye.

On another Expats site,, some girl had written in her 'journal' about how she was about to get married in the UK,,lol. A silly thing to do, since she didn't have a fiance visa.  I suppose that happens quite a bit, and is why they jumped at the chance at looking thru your journal and then making a copy of it. It's a bit rude that they would do that,, but I guess they have a job to do. 

Tebs, that's what they were looking or in mine. Fortunately I didn't plan on getting married in England (we weren't engaged yet!) - AND  I carried a new journal with me so they only had 2 pages to copy.

I am crap when it comes to writting in a diary or journal. Two days is about all I get to, before I am bored with the whole thing.

I have a blog,,,wanna know how many days I have on it so far?  yep,, two days,,LMAO!

But apparently some people write everything down in one.  I don't know where they find the time, to be honest.