visiting this weekend - what to expect at STT?

I've never gone thru customs when leaving the U.S. coming to St Croix

Certainly with no intent of adding to the rather daft turn the thread momentarily took but I did find my recent re-entry to the USVI from stateside a little odd. I was wheelchair-bound in Miami, separated from my carry-on luggage and waited for a while by a side gate where finally my palms were swabbed with some sort of liquid. That apparently passed muster and then I was asked for ID. My USVI government-issued photographic senior card apparently wasn't good enough so I handed over my passport which was, and off I went through the gate. Most peculiar!

I always bring back food stuff. Lovely tomatoes, honey, corn on the cob (@20¢ an ear, who can resist), peaches that actually ripen properly and have a delicious smell from across the room are my favorites.
Good buys from the dollar stores for utensils, pet food bowls, etc., cell phone cases, shampoos...again who can resist paying $1 after living here for any length of time?

That's TSA. Not customs.

I've brought food in my checked luggage. It is packaged food that I've bought at Cost-U-Less, etc., which I or my family likes to eat. I declare it, the TSA officer asks me what it is, I tell s/he, no problems at all.

Custom's officer not TSA officer. My mistake.
To the states from STT.

Sausage:

You don't go thru customs on arrival in STT, just on departure
You'll go thru customs when departing US for STT hence the need to be there 2hrs. prior to flight to check in, etc.

Context. You have to read the entire statement.

My bad. They were stating customs when they meant TSA.

Ok, I "think" I know where where the mixup is going on in this thread and someone can correct me if I am wrong.

First, you go through *Customs*, with your form already filled out, the officer checks your Custom's form, identification and boarding passes and might ask you a few questions, e.g. "how many bottles of rum do you have?, how many cartons of cigarettes do you have?, did you visit any other countries(BVIs are common)?, do you have any type of food and if so what kind?, and maybe a How are you?"
Customs leaving USVI. No Customs entering USVI.

Second, *Agricultural agent.* Walk with your luggage to the next line, but might not always encounter an agent sitting or standing that ask you if have any fruits or vegetables with you and even have an example of an apple or banana with them.

Third line. If you have checked luggage, you wait your turn to put your luggage on the conveyor belt.

Forth line. *TSA*. They check your passport and boarding passes again. Take your turn in which line the officer might tell you to go in. Then this is where you take off your belts, shoes, empty pockets, put your carry-on luggage on the conveyor belt, you go through the x-ray machine, and they might do a little pat down if they see something suspicious. Also, you might be one of the lucky ones they pull aside to do a random search of your carry-on luggage or if they see anything suspicious.
This is the first and only line you encounter before boarding a plane in the states.

Lastly, grab all your belongings and go pick up something to eat and/or drink or go to your assigned gate. Wait for your plane to go back to the states 🙁

I think that about does it.

Anyone have anything to add or correct any mistakes, except for grammatical as I'm using my phone 🙂

That does sum it up! Thank you! However, I'm still a newbie at this customs thing. Where do I get the form? And if I don't intend to take anything back to the states with me (not even clothes, rum or bananas), I should be able to skate right through?

Customs forms are in lobby before line forms to customs. Everyone has to wait in same line whether they have a 100 gallon drum of rum or are carrying zero on them

That does sum it up! Thank you! However, I'm still a newbie at this customs thing. Where do I get the form? And if I don't intend to take anything back to the states with me (not even clothes, rum or bananas), I should be able to skate right through?

You're welcome 🙂
Maybe, you can get a form if you are staying at hotel. Ask.

The airline employees of your choice will give you one. (two, if you ask nice.) Just in case you make a mistake.
Date goes by day/month/year. (Not month/day/year. Common mistake.)

Make sure you have a pen!

Do you mean absolutely nothing with no bags at all or just a small bag to carry important items?
Or nothing bought here like -clothing, souvenirs, etc.?

I've gone through with nothing bought here when I had to rush to the states for emergencies. Just packed what I needed and nothing to declare on the Custom's form, but I was still asked several questions. I guess it depends on the Custom's officer and/or what kind of mood they are in that day.

Customs forms are in lobby before line forms to customs. Everyone has to wait in same line whether they have a 100 gallon drum of rum or are carrying zero on them

They have them in the lobby/entrance way after you go through the sliding glass doors?

Last few times I traveled to the states they didn't have that convenience.
Airline employees were handing them out, then you went into the lobby to fill it out, if that was your choice. I've seen people filling them out in line on busy days, so they can get in line faster.

That's if we are defining the same lobby. Are we?

They had a stack of them after the sliding glass doors when I went back in May.

Just a standard carry-on bag with items I brought with me from the states. Thanks for the information, ill be on the lookout for that form! 🙂

They had a stack of them after the sliding glass doors when I went back in May.

They used to have them there. I think in multiple plastic wall holders, but then they stopped for years and you had to get them from your choice of airline employees or other means/tricks.

Nice they are putting some forms in there, but I'm wondering if it is going to be ongoing or not.

I fill mine out the night before departure. No problems.

Thanks for the info.

Okay one more thing: I see the forms ask for passport information. I didn't bring my passport. I was under the impression that you didn't need a passport unless you plan to visit the BVI. Now I'm reading on the customs site that you need your passport for re-entry to the states?

You do not need your passport to enter or exit the USVI if you are a US citizen. You may be asked for proof of citizenship when you are leaving the USVI at CBP.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/kinds-documents-necessary-permanent-resident-travel-virgin-islands-106619.html

You may be asked for proof of citizenship when you are leaving the USVI at CBP.l

Note last sentence of first paragraph:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/980/kw/reentry%20from%20us%20virgin%20islands/session/L3NpZC91dTRBY3E2bA%3D%3D/p/0/c/0