actually the $300 laptop (receipt) and xbox are a gift.
I will also bring in my personal laptop for work.

actually it is a back-up / gift.  So, I 'll declare it as a gift.

I've used a golf bag, hard or soft type, with a few clubs in it for appearance-sake, and have never had anyone, anywhere check the zippered pockets,the bottom or anywhere else. Great for small items.

Originally posted by Setlist Scotty Forgive me for my ignorance, but I see all this talk about $500 limit. Is this just for gifts (as I assume) or other stuff too? I'll be moving to Brazil in a matter of months and don't intend to bring gifts, but just my personal stuff (future bride already lives there).

the $500 is the limit for gifts which are generally new items.   If you have new expensive personal items make sure they are opened and not in new boxes and that they do not have the price tags still attached to them. It will be easier if you have only one of each of the more expensive items that people often bring as gifts (like the more expensive electronics - i.e. iphones, ipads, laptaps, etc.)

You are more likely to be questioned after the scan if you have multiple of an item and aren't declaring the total amount of them as over $500. If you do have multiple items try to bring the receipt that shows that the total price for all these multiple items is under $500. If you don't have a receipt and they assess you on these items as over the limit they will find the item's price on the internet and charge you based on this price. And the price that they find on the internet may be for a lot more than what you actually paid.

where are you moving from? you said you aren't bring any gifts but i am sure your future bride would appreciate some perfumes and cosmetics. These are small so they are easy to bring and most of the higher end brand perfumes and the good quality cosmetics are 2 to 4 times the price as they are in the US.

also since you are moving if you are going to be bringing extra luggage check the extra baggage fees for the airlines that you are considering purchasing your ticket. The extra baggage fees and maximum number of bags per person vary among the different international airlines that fly to brazil.

Edited by floripasurfer - 12 July 2012 at 22:12

Originally posted by 3casas i have never been asked, and several times we've been bringing several "gifts". Between me and the kid we could have probably said that one laptop was mine, one hers, one my work, one a gift for dad. same for the ipods and wiis. luckily nobody cared (GRU). I've also brought in those tupperware containers full of legos, inside a large bag with a sign and a roll of tape taped to the top, sign saying "it's legos, feel free to look but please tape it back together securely, thank you". they didn't look. I always use those huge hockey/duffel bags, they fold down to nothing on your flight out and "cabe tudo"....

when you say "I have never been asked" do mean that you have never had to go through the x-ray line at GRU and or that you do go through the x-ray line but they never asked you about the items that they x-rayed in your bags?

It does depend on the supervisor and workers who happens to be working the x-ray lines as to how strict they are on inspections on any given day. It's good that you have never been stopped and inspected as it is a pain to open up all the luggage and have them go through it.

If someone is bringing multiple of the same items and their total is over the $500 limit or something unusual that is new it's a good idea to have a receipt. So if you are inspected and assessed for on bringing in gifts over $500 they should at least use the value you paid from the receipt rather than using a higher value based on a price they find on the internet.


Edited by floripasurfer - 13 July 2012 at 17:32