Have you been asked how much cash you have on you by passport control upon arival in USA, presumably because?

Question

they want to make sure you are there to spend money...

only problem is they don't seem to understand that you don't have to carry large sums of cash on you, you can use a card. they seem to want you to carry thousands on you, with no hope of depositing it back into the bank until you get home

Answer 1

No, that's not why. It's because they don't want you to bring more than 10000 dollars in, if you do they can stop and ask you a bunch more questions and even take your cash. Just like you can't bring more than 10000 pounds in cash into the UK.

Answer 2

As you have seen by the other answers above, there are two reasons for asking the question. First there is a limitation on the amount of cash which can be brought into most countries, in the US it is $10,000 USD. This is to control the flow of money into accounts and criminal organizations. Bank transfers and deposits in the US of $10,000 USD or more have to be reported to the government. It also has to do with the monitoring of taxes due the US.

Secondly, there was a significant amount of problems at one time with people coming to the US and not being able to support themselves. It is a requirement that the customs be able to ensure the ability of persons to support themselves. This is not usually an issue for those on the Visa Waiver Program (under 90 days in the US) but does significantly affect those persons coming to the US on Visa's which keep them in the US greater than 90 days.

Though we like it when people come here and spend their UK & EC money.

Answer 3

Actually, the questions asked about money you are carrying have nothing to do with the US wanting you to spend your money here.

There is a limitation (sorry, I don't remember how much it is) on how much cash you can bring into the US. The reason for that law, and for making people declare how much money they are bringing in has to do with people using couriers to bring large sums of cash into the country for shady purposes. It used to be that people tried to bring large amounts of currency so it could be laundered here, but now it also has to do with people bringing in funds for terrorist cells or criminal enterprises working in the US. Bank transfers are monitored carefully, so the only real way to finance a terrorist cell or criminal outfit working in the US is to smuggle in currency from abroad. The easiest way to do it is to convert the money to US dollars abroad, and then simply move it into the country with a courier. If you bring in a lot of foreign currency, it has to be converted to US dollars, and there's a paper trail about the sum. If you smuggle in dollars, and manage to bring in more than the allowed amount, it can simply be passed along to the wrong people, and there is no record of it coming in to the country.

And you are correct when you say that people can simply use a card. However, cards leave paper trails, as well. The goal of moving large amounts of currency into the US is to have there be no paper trail.

When US officials seize drugs which are being smuggled into the US, they usually also seize huge amounts of US dollars in the same shipment. It's working capital for the criminals working here. Other countries may not keep accurate records, or the money may be gathered a little bit at a time from all sorts of places. The main thing is that people want it back in the US, where they can use it, and they want it here without officials knowing that it has entered the economy. That's why they ask you about cash.

Answer 4

I dont think thats the case. At least Ive never been asked that.

If anything I would think that if you are carrying a large amount of currency on you its possible that you are a bit of a dodgy character. With international banking nobody really needs to carry large sums of money on their person.

The main thing Ive been asked is what my occupation is. Thats when they are trying to work out what sort of person you are. I'm an artist, but there was no way I'm telling that to a customs official, so I said 'art teacher'. They let me through no problems.

Answer 5

Hi, no doubt very late with this as I doubt she is still at the airport waiting eagerly! Anyway, I have only just gone through a long process to bring my girlfriend over to the UK, so know all about the process (she is Russian). As one contributor said, it is possible to travel to US or UK with no money in your bank account (as I did when I moved back from there)...BUT only if you are of US or UK nationality or hold a valid VISA. It sounds as if she is Russian national and applying to visit, well, she would need VISA (not just ticket and passport) and in order to get this, she must have demonstrated she had sufficient money to support herself without access to public funds. Once this VISA has been granted, the immigration teams at either airport will take the VISA as confirmation and no further proof will be required. All in all, I am afraid there are many Russian/Eastern Europeans who try these scams and she probably wasn't even at the airport.

Answer 6

Yes I was asked but I also had to produce copy bank statements and so long as you can show the credit card and perhaps a statment showing your remaining credit you will not have a problem. I think unlike UK where all and sundry can sponge off the country, the US have the right idea on this occasion (certainly not suggesting they are always right)
And you dont have to carry cash, take travellers cheques which are insured.

Answer 7

They usually ask how much in currency you have also if you have travellers cheques and credit cards. It's more to do with whether they believe you are a tourist or looking to work illegally, if you have less than the average for eating,hotel etc then your not going to be a genuine tourist.

Answer 8

Just piling on here to confirm that it's to control the amount of money coming *into* the country; there's a $10,000 cash limit.

Answer 9

You can take in any amount of monetary instrument, however as already mentioned any amounts in excess of $10,000 must be declared. They give you another form to fill in that basically asks for the reason. It is all part of the anti money laundering effort. For the movement of large sums ( in excess of $10,000 ), there is a requirement to declare the source of the funds. Bank transfers are usually easier as the originating bank normally provides the details

Answer 10

Not only the USA, but there are lots of countries who does this.

The UK included.

It basically has to do with tax declaration and that they know you have the means to support yourself and not resort to anything illegal. It is just another cog in the bureaucratic machine.