How and why to register your video & photo equipment prior to US departure

March 30, 2017 by Diego Waisman 2 Comments

Once I was expecting my bags, upon my return from a recent trip to Argentina, and I was ready to leave the terminal area at the Miami International Airport (MIA) I was requested, by a customs officer, to a manual and thorough search of all my belongings. I didn’t think twice and followed the agent into a small office next to the baggage claim area. Sure, I produced all my baggage claim tickets which were neatly arranged on my passport back jacket, but the officer’s attention was centered on just my luggage.

Granted, I had one piece of regular luggage, several hard cases and a monopod with me [Most customs abroad misidentify that as some hunting accessory! :P).

The SKB hard case contained hard drives, SSDs, the Blackmagic Video Assist 4k, Rode VideoMic, assorted cables, a collapsible disk reflector and a cornucopia of adapters and batteries. All pretty standard for a gear maniac like me (perhaps like you too!). My camera bag had two bodies, the Canon T2i and Sony A6300, multiple lenses, batteries and filters. Nothing out of the ordinary.

The officer went through every single SD card on my multiple card pouch and even asked me what did I use the photography / video equipment for… My blank stare didn’t deter the officer from tossing all my backup data outside and inside the rigid case.

The search continued and at one point, while I panicked with her lack of care for my gear, she requested my CBP 4457 form.

How to register your photo and video gear prior to US departure

Custom Border Patrol Form 4457 is a tiny little declaration form (CBP FORM 4457 get it here) that it’s required in order to prove the ownership of your equipment. This customs form is used for any type of valuables such as computers, cameras, laptops, etc. Its registration process is cumbersome. It requires the owner to complete paperwork and take it, along with all your valuables, to a port authority official (custom officer) to verify and certify the ownership of such items.

In the case of the Miami International Airport, you would have to get access to the 3rd floor of the J terminal, call over the internal phone to a customs agent, so they can exit the restricted area, and complete all paperwork. Pretty difficult if your flight is close to departure…

Mind you, CBP Form 4457 is pretty tiny. I’m not sure if one would be enough when taking all your equipment abroad.

To get more information from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website see this link: Register your photo and video equipment

This triggers many questions regarding such registration such as:

Once the equipment is registered, I understand that the same registration cannot be made or claimed by another party, meaning that I cannot sell, trade or even inherit equipment that was registered by other party since it will be considered stolen.
What happen if the completed CBP 4457 form is lost or stolen ? lost luggage is very common.
Are electronic copies of CBP 4457 forms acceptable for a customs agent ?
Is the registration of the equipment archived into an electronic format ? (This seems unlikely since I was requested this form to claim ownership of my own equipment)

Leave me a comments if you had any similar experience entering the country with your gear

I’m planning to get in touch with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office to figure out an answer to these questions. I promise to post a follow-up post to cover this issue fully.

About the Author

Diego Waisman is a freelance print, interactive, and motion graphics designer based in Miami Beach, Florida. He has extensive experience collaborating with clients and brands from all around the world. You can find out more about him on his website. This article was also published here and shared with permission.

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David Frances

I frequently travel internationally with firearms as well as a variety of electronic gear (cameras, lenses, computers, etc.), and I use the CBP 4457 form to record my ownership of all items of value I am taking abroad. The purpose of the 4457 form is to prove to the CBP that you acquired the items listed on the form in the United States, so they do not have to charge you an import tax or duty. It’s a good form, because you avoid having to answer the question “Did you acquire this camera (or lens) in whatever country you just visited?” and the CBP can’t force you to pay an import tax or duty on the item listed on the 4457 form.

You do need to have the 4457 form completed well in advance of your trip. This requires a visit to your
local CBP office to get the 4457 form date and time stamped, as well as signed by a CBP officer. The service is free. I complete my forms by handwriting the information in blue ink. The CBP’s time and date stamp is either in red or blue ink.

You can record multiple items on the same 4457 form. For example:

Nikon D90 camera body, s/n 123456t
Nikkor 35mm lens, s/n 5897p
Sigma 50-300mm lens, s/n h76308gt
Apple iPad, s/n: 9879875thg
MacBook Pro laptop computer, s/n hjoiu68745

With respect to electronics, including cameras, in my experience the CBP has never asked to see or inspect the actual items, and has always stamped and signed the form without question. The CBP does not even keep a copy of the 4457 form. Upon leaving or returning to the United States, I have never had a CBP agent ask to see my 4457 form for any of my personal electronics.

With firearms, it is a different story. The CBP must physically inspect the firearm, and compares its serial number to the one you have recorded on the 4457 form. If you are worried about bringing
a firearm into a CBP station, it’s not that complicated. I always call them ahead of time, and the
nice CBP officers tell me to make sure the firearm is unloaded and stored in a case prior to entering their facility. Apparently, inspecting firearms and the accompanying 4457 forms is really the highpoint of their week, and the entire staff comes over to watch. In my experience, the CBP officers that do the inspections are really nice people, professional, and are genuinely trying to help. They will keep a copy of the 4457 for firearms only. Travelers should be advised that when using the 4457 for firearms, that foreign country’s interpret the preprinted expiration date located on the upper-right corner of the 4457 form as an actual expiration date, and not as whatever the heck the U.S. Government intended that
date to mean. On the CBP website, the form shows a 08/31/2012 expiration date, BTW. Again, this caveat only applies to firearms. Upon returning to the United States, the CBP has rigorously inspected every single one of my firearms, and compared the serial numbers to my 4457 form. Every. Single. Time.

Once the CBP Officer time and date stamps, and signs the 4457, I will make four (4) color copies of the form. I will laminate all of them. I keep one with my gear (I especially keep one in the case containing my firearms), one in my carryon bag, one in a file with my travel documents, and the other in my checked bag. I will also scan the form into a PDF and keep a copy on my phone. Other than for firearms, the 4457 form is valid indefinitely (forever).

The Writer of the above article has stated several concerns regarding registration. I will attempt to provide an answer, based on my experience:

1. Once the equipment is registered, I understand that the same registration cannot be made or claimed by another party, meaning that I cannot sell, trade or even inherit equipment that was registered by other party since it will be considered stolen.

This is simply not true. The CBP does not keep or retain a copy of your 4457 for personal effects (again, they do keep a copy of the 4457 if it evidences ownership of a firearm). The form simply advises the CBP officer that you acquired the item in the United States, so they don’t need to worry about collecting import or duty taxes. You are free to sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of equipment previously registered. You can also inherit an item previously recorded on a 4457 by someone else. They also
will not know if you sold the item while abroad. All they care about it collecting import tax or duties on items you are bringing into the U.S. If you have the 4457, then you’re good to go.

2. What happen if the completed CBP 4457 form is lost or stolen? Lost luggage is very common.

Nothing happens. No one except you will care if the 4457 form is lost or stolen. Just get a new one before your next trip abroad. However, I could see if the 4457 is sored you’re your gear and both the form and the gear are stolen together. The finder or thief could claim they are the owner of the item listed on the 4457. This claim would most likely breakdown when law enforcement compares the name and address of the person in possession of the 4457 form and gear with the name and address printed on the 4457 form. The reason I laminate my 4457’s is because the name and address can’t be changed, and if they attempt to delaminate, the form is destroyed, and the thief can’t alter the form to show their name and address.

3. Are electronic copies of CBP 4457 forms acceptable for a customs agent?

Once they have been time and date stamped, and signed by a CBP officer, a scanned (PDF) copy is acceptable, preferably in color.

4. Is the registration of the equipment archived into an electronic format ? (This seems unlikely since I was requested this form to claim ownership of my own equipment).

No, other than 4457’s used for firearms, the CBP does not retain a copy.

I trust this lengthy explanation helps. Prudent international travelers will record their ownership of all high value items, including electronics, cameras, and lenses on these 4457 forms. They are valid forever.
David Frances

I frequently travel internationally with firearms as well as a variety of electronic gear (cameras, lenses, computers, etc.), and I use the CBP 4457 form to record my ownership of all items of value I am taking abroad. The purpose of the 4457 form is to prove to the CBP that you acquired the items listed on the form in the United States, so they do not have to charge you an import tax or duty. It’s a good form, because you avoid having to answer the question “Did you acquire this camera (or lens) in whatever country you just visited?” and the CBP can’t force you to pay an import tax or duty on the item listed on the 4457 form.

You do need to have the 4457 form completed well in advance of your trip. This requires a visit to
your local CBP office to get the 4457 form date and time stamped, as well as signed by a CBP officer. The service is free. I complete my forms by handwriting the information in blue ink. The CBP’s time and date stamp is either in red or blue ink.

You can record multiple items on the same 4457 form. For example:

Nikon D90 camera body, s/n 123456t
Nikkor 35mm lens, s/n 5897p
Sigma 50-300mm lens, s/n h76308gt
Apple iPad, s/n: 9879875thg
MacBook Pro laptop computer, s/n hjoiu68745

With respect to electronics, including cameras, in my experience the CBP has never asked to see or inspect the actual items, and has always stamped and signed the form without question. The CBP does not even keep a copy of the 4457 form. Upon leaving or returning to the United States, I have never had a CBP agent ask to see my 4457 form for any of my personal electronics.

With firearms, it is a different story. The CBP must physically inspect the firearm, and compares its serial number to the one you have recorded on the 4457 form. If you are worried about bringing
a firearm into a CBP station, it’s not that complicated. I always call them ahead of time, and the
nice CBP officers tell me to make sure the firearm is unloaded and stored in a case prior to entering their facility. Apparently, inspecting firearms and the accompanying 4457 forms is really the highpoint of their week, and the entire staff comes over to watch. In my experience, the CBP officers that do the inspections are really nice people, and are genuinely trying to help. They will also keep a copy of the 4457. Travelers should be advised that when using the 4457 for firearms, that foreign country’s interpret
the preprinted expiration date located on the upper-right corner of the 4457 form as an actual expiration date, and not as whatever the heck the U.S. Government intended that date to mean. On the CBP
website, the form shows a 08/31/2012 expiration date, BTW. Again, this caveat only applies to
firearms. Upon returning to the United States, the CBP has rigorously inspected every single one of my firearms, and compared the serial numbers to my 4457 form. Every. Single. Time.

Once the CBP Officer time and date stamps, and signs the 4457, I will make four (4) color copies of the form. I will laminate all of them. I keep one with my gear (I especially keep one in the case containing my firearms), one in my carryon bag, one in a file with my travel documents, and the other in my checked bag. I will also scan the form into a PDF and keep a copy on my phone. Other than for
firearms, the 4457 form is valid indefinitely (forever).

The Writer of the above article has stated several concerns regarding registration. I will attempt
to provide an answer, based on my experience:

1. Once the equipment is registered, I understand that the same registration cannot be made or claimed by another party, meaning that I cannot sell, trade or even inherit equipment that was registered by other party since it will be considered stolen.

This is simply not true. The CBP does not keep or retain a copy of your 4457 for personal effects (again, they do keep a copy of the 4457 if it evidences ownership of a firearm). The form simply advises the CBP officer that you acquired the item in the United States, so they don’t need to worry about collecting import or duty taxes. You are free to sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of equipment previously registered. You can also inherit an item previously recorded on a 4457 by someone else. They
also will not know if you sold the item while abroad. All they care about it collecting import tax
or duties on items you are bringing into the U.S. If you have the 4457, then you’re good to go.

2. What happen if the completed CBP 4457 form is lost or stolen? Lost luggage is very common.

Nothing happens. No one cares if your 4457 form is lost or stolen. Just get a new one before your next trip abroad. However, I could see if the 4457 is stored with your gear and both the form and the gear are stolen together. The finder or thief could claim they are the owner of the item listed on the
4457. This claim would most likely breakdown when law enforcement compares the name and address of the person in possession of the 4457 form and gear with the name and address printed on the
4457 form. The reason I laminate my 4457’s is because the name and address can’t be changed, and if they attempt to delaminate, the form is destroyed, and the thief can’t alter the form to show their name and address.

3. Are electronic copies of CBP 4457 forms acceptable for a customs agent?

Once they have been time and date stamped, and signed by a CBP officer, a scanned (PDF) copy is acceptable, preferably in color.

4. Is the registration of the equipment archived into an electronic format ? (This seems unlikely since I was requested this form to claim ownership of my own equipment).

No, other than 4457’s used for firearms, the CBP does not retain a copy.

I trust this lengthy explanation helps. Prudent international travelers will record their ownership of all high value items, including electronics, cameras, and lenses on these 4457 forms. They are valid forever.