At the airport, what is the difference between "customs" and "immigration"?

Answer 1

The US customs service controls substances and objects coming into the US such as banned goods, Cuban cigars for instance, and illegal drugs. Immigration is responsible for ensuring that no person enters illegally.

Answer 2

Under the new "One Face At The Border" initiative there isn't, technically, any difference between "Immigration" and "Customs."

However, in practice, there is a split between the two operations based on expertise and mission.

When a person arrives into the US from abroad they are faced by CBP Officers who are tasked with enforcing the laws, rules and regulations of a multitude of agencies.

Simply speaking, the first check done, typically, is based on whether or not an arriving person is a "U.S. Person" (citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident) or not (visitor).

A "U.S. Person" is examined to determine if their claim to US nationality is bona fide...If it is then they pass and go to the next step...If it isn't then they have a whole lot of problems.

If the person arriving is "non-US" their admissibility is determined (can they visit, work, attend school, play at the concert, etc) based on either their Visa or established treaties with friendly nations.

Regardless of the arriving person's status (U.S. or non-U.S.) after they clear the "immigration" checks (determination of admissibility) they proceed to the "customs" portion of the show which involves examining the "goods" (or merchandise) that the person is bringing in.

In other words, as said by others, Immigration checks the admissibility of the person, Customs checks the admissibility of the merchandise and collects duty/taxes.

Beyond all that, we are looking for terrorists, supporters of terrorism, enemies of the state, wanted persons, illicit goods (narcotics, smuggled food, animals, etc), and all kinds of other things.

Clear enough?

Answer 3

Customs is when you're already a citizen or legal resident of the country you're entering, and they're checking your luggage and passport to see you're who you say you are and you're not smuggling anything illegal in. You're supposed to declare anything you've bought while out of the country on vacation or on business.

Immigration is when you want to move to the country you're entering, either on a temporary visa for work, school, or marriage, or you want to permanently become a citizen of that country. So they would be checking your visa at the airport, and you must have it renewed annually while you're in that country. This is also called a green card.

Answer 4

Customs checks what you're carrying in or out of the country. Immigration checks you, your person.

Answer 5

Simply put customs and immigration are interchangeable words which really means the same when traveling out and in the United States.

Answer 6

Customs is for when you ARE BRINGING SOMETHING BACK INTO THE COUNTRY OTHER THAT A HUMAN-BEING,I.E. DOG ,BIRD, LIQUORS ,ART,ETC. IMMIGRATIONS IS FOR HUMANS ONLY