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Laptops going to the U.S.

 
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Rigamarole



Joined: 29 Mar 2006

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:48 pm    Post subject: Laptops going to the U.S. Reply with quote

Hi.

I'm going to the U.S. tomorrow to visit family and am considering just leaving my laptop and iPod here due to the chance of them being confiscated by U.S. border guards.

Just wondering what the chances of this happening are. I don't really have anything on my computer that any normal male wouldn't, but I'd rather not have to worry about not getting my computer returned before I come back to Korea.

Any advice on this issue would be appreciated.

Thanks.
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Xuanzang



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why would they be confiscated? Millions of people carry notebooks and electronics back home as personal use or business items. Take it.
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Straphanger



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the dozens of times I've carried laptops into the U.S. for personal use and for business, I've never had anyone stop me. You're worried about nothing.
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polonius



Joined: 05 Jun 2004

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So long as they can be powered on to show the border guards, you won't have a problem. Thousands of people travel with laptops and Ipods. They are practically essentials in our modern lives. Don't worry about it.
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madoka



Joined: 27 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It hasn't happened yet, but governments have considered it:

http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1534
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crossmr



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Why would they be confiscated?
Ask the government there have been a few reports of people's laptops being confiscated, often without cause.

http://www.tripso.com/today/warning-us-customs-and-border-protection-may-confiscate-your-laptop-and-pda/
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/07/1412229
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0126069520080801?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080103030.html

Do a google search you can find tons of articles on it.
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Xuanzang



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

On second thought...oh my
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Straphanger



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

polonius wrote:
So long as they can be powered on to show the border guards, you won't have a problem. Thousands of people travel with laptops and Ipods. They are practically essentials in our modern lives. Don't worry about it.

I've never had to power one on. Even 10 years ago flying to Britain, I asked, "Don't you want me to turn it on?" and they guy goes, "Why?"

Easiest time I've had coming from the US into Canada:

Citizenship?
US.
Purpose of your stay?
Business.
What kind of business?
Gotta go to the corporate office for two weeks.
What for?
Be fucked if I know, man.
Yeah, I hear that! <STAMP> ... Have a good one.
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moosehead



Joined: 05 May 2007

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 1:27 am    Post subject: Re: Laptops going to the U.S. Reply with quote

Rigamarole wrote:
I don't really have anything on my computer that any normal male wouldn't,



Laughing Laughing Laughing

better leave it home !
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Milwaukiedave



Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 3:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure about having it confiscated, but I did have one throughly searched when I went home in 2007.
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Rigamarole



Joined: 29 Mar 2006

PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just an update here: Texas don't give a fork about your computer.

The woman there looked at my passport and told me to go. I even asked her if she wanted me to turn on my computer and she said no. There wasn't even a line behind me to hold up.
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moosehead



Joined: 05 May 2007

PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rigamarole wrote:
Just an update here: Texas don't give a fork about your computer.

The woman there looked at my passport and told me to go. I even asked her if she wanted me to turn on my computer and she said no. There wasn't even a line behind me to hold up.


considering the level of IQ needed to work at airport security chances are she didn't want to be embarrassed by having someone realize she wouldn't know what she was doing Rolling Eyes
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ppcg4



Joined: 16 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you serious? Just bring them. I've flown with my MacBook, and apparently Apple laptops were banned because of a battery danger.

I've been to the US 4 times with my laptop on a plane, no problems at all.
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Teelo



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ

PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Straphanger wrote:
polonius wrote:
So long as they can be powered on to show the border guards, you won't have a problem. Thousands of people travel with laptops and Ipods. They are practically essentials in our modern lives. Don't worry about it.

I've never had to power one on. Even 10 years ago flying to Britain, I asked, "Don't you want me to turn it on?" and they guy goes, "Why?"

Easiest time I've had coming from the US into Canada:

Citizenship?
US.
Purpose of your stay?
Business.
What kind of business?
Gotta go to the corporate office for two weeks.
What for?
Be fucked if I know, man.
Yeah, I hear that! <STAMP> ... Have a good one.
Laughing


Honestly, I've found it even easier coming to Korea. I just walk up to the guy, fork over my passport, he looks at the date of my last entry/exit, stamps in a new entry permit, and shoves it back to me. Zero words exchanged.

Going home to New Zealand is a whole 'nother story! Bags screened/searched a million times, I get questioned about everything I did while I was away, I get asked over and over about the address on my arrival hard... sigh.
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