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Post by spansar on Dec 9, 2005 12:28:47 GMT
i'm hoping that someone can relate their experience / trouble with importing: whether u.s. fish and wildlife ever required that you submit a declaration of importation form (or like bureau / procedure analogous to your country); etc.
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 9, 2005 17:31:50 GMT
Hello spansar,
I have had only good luck ordering instruments from overseas, and only paid duty once. With an erhu the situation is more complicated than with most other instruments, due to the snake skin. The Cites documentation is supposed to indicate everything is on the up-and-up. Did they not accept this? What are they asking for?
I hope all works out for you and your erhu quickly!
Best wishes,
David
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Post by spansar on Dec 9, 2005 22:58:33 GMT
The Law Enforcement Office of the Fish and Wildlife Service (phew) sent me a notice of refused clearance, accompanied by two copies of the declaration for importation form and filing instructions. This is standard procedure in accord with Federal Law. However, I was working under the (possibly wrong) impression that it isn't a common procedure.
They are stricter than I thought. I brought this up with a customer at the station, who travels to China regularly. He said that they see him often enough to conduct thorough searches everytime now, though he's yet to be found of any wrongdoing.
He even claimed that my erhu would probably end up confiscated, but perhaps he was merely exaggerating. I have until the 17th to get the completed form back to them. The form itself asks for fairly basic data. I received help filling it out from someone at the aforementioned office in Burlingame, CA--however the person responsible for detaining it isn't there today, so I'm not yet certain why he's having me jump through this hoop. It's possible that the shipper has exported enough huqin to warrant the requisite TLC (that's short for "tender loving care," for those of you unfamiliar with retarded English acronyms.)
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Post by Dick on Dec 15, 2005 17:30:32 GMT
I have brought substantial amounts of instruments into the US from China. In my luggage, in luggage of visiting friends, and also via overseas shipping. In all cases, I dealt with US Customs. Filled out the paperwork and talked candidly with the agent about what I was carrying (or picking up). Never had (or been directed by Customs to have) any interactions with Fish & Wildlife or other Agriculture or Interior Dept personnel.
--Dick
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 15, 2005 18:19:25 GMT
I have brought substantial amounts of instruments into the US from China. In my luggage, in luggage of visiting friends, and also via overseas shipping. In all cases, I dealt with US Customs. Filled out the paperwork and talked candidly with the agent about what I was carrying (or picking up). Never had (or been directed by Customs to have) any interactions with Fish & Wildlife or other Agriculture or Interior Dept personnel. If instruments have animal parts as obvious components, things can get more complicated. I too have purchased flutes from overseas with no problem. Even the dan tranh from Vietnam came through very quickly. My erhus took more time. Apparently they do scrutinize such shipments more carefully. So far I have not had anything confiscated. Best wishes, David
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Post by Dick on Dec 15, 2005 23:31:05 GMT
The assumption that I have imported only flutes is incorrect. Shipments I referred to earlier included san xians and drums with snake heads. (Incidentally, don't hesitate to contact me if you want to purchase a really nice large san xian at a great price!) The experience I had was as reported. If Customs had directed us to interact with FWS or any other Dept of Interior Service I would have done so. But they did not.
If the "they" you are referring to was somebody other than US Customs, maybe you'd like to enlighten us as to who "they" were?
--Dick
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 16, 2005 1:27:42 GMT
The assumption that I have imported only flutes is incorrect. Shipments I referred to earlier included san xians and drums with snake heads. <snip> If the "they" you are referring to was somebody other than US Customs, maybe you'd like to enlighten us as to who "they" were? I am standing beside myself corrected, or something like that. <g> Apparently you have had a lot more experience importing that I have. I referred to "they" as the collection of authorities that hopefully allows shipments of musical instruments to enter the USA. I have never had any trouble, other than minor delays for the erhus, but apparently it happens, given spansar's recent experience. Best wishes, David
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Dec 16, 2005 2:49:24 GMT
Hmm...
Perhaps now CITES is in full swing, it gets harder than before.
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Post by calden on Dec 16, 2005 3:24:59 GMT
I brought my first erhu back flying from Taipei to LA in December 2001. Other than asking me what it was, no one said nothin' 'bout no skins. Then two winters ago I came back from Taipei with my Wang Gen Xing erhu and, again, no one asked a thing. Then, finally, my teacher's daughter came last summer to live with us for a while and brought the diyin erhu, and she didn't indicate that anyone said anything.
Maybe I'm just lucky.
Carlos
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Post by paulv on Dec 16, 2005 15:01:52 GMT
About two years ago, when my wife brought back my erhu from Beijing, she also didn't get hassled at customs (Chicago).
We're planning another vacation to China in late next spring in which I'll be bringing back another erhu. I hope my luck holds out like Carlos'.
Regards, Paul....
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Post by Charlie Huang on Dec 16, 2005 19:26:17 GMT
Well, if all else fails, pretend the erhu is a Prada handbag...
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Post by spansar on Dec 16, 2005 23:21:31 GMT
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 17, 2005 0:15:48 GMT
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Dec 17, 2005 4:20:04 GMT
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Post by sanmenxia on Dec 17, 2005 15:19:09 GMT
I think that wiki paragraph re importing erhus was written by someone with a commercial interest in the matter, check the history section. That taipei times article is really good! It seems the export/import "problem" only is only a problem for traders.
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Dec 17, 2005 16:50:25 GMT
i must admit there was commercial intent in my writing. However, it is also educational that we advise all on the importance of CITES.
I will refrain from such postings.
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Post by paulv on Dec 18, 2005 0:01:54 GMT
Well, if all else fails, pretend the erhu is a Prada handbag... Charlie, I'll pass on the handbag idea. The last time my wife & I came back from China, we had 4 "knockoff" handbags (3 were for my mom!) and we told the customs people we only had 2. Good ideas only work once for me. Regards Paul....
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Post by spansar on Jan 3, 2006 18:15:42 GMT
Well it's been an interesting experience thus far! The process of obtaining my erhu (which i still haven't received) is an epic of farce.
*I order an erhu in late October 2005.
*After about a month of waiting for it to arrive, I decide to make some calls. I spend four hours one morning on the phone, trying to discover the location where it's being held. Finally I reach the right office, and woman who finds it tells me it'll be shipped out that day.
*Two weeks later, i receive not the erhu, but a notice of refused clearance accompanied by two copies of the declaration of importation form.
*I call the number on the notice, a week after returning a completed importation form, only to discover that the inspector in charge of handling my case is out on vacation.
*I get ahold of the guy, who says he got my form, but the CITES permit that came with the erhu is not an original, and therefore invalid.
*The dealer ships an original to the office, and I call the next Tuesday (the Monday after Xmas was a federal holiday) to see if the inspector received it. Alas, he is out sick.
* I reach him the next day. He did receive the original, however it apparently doesn't bear the proper endorsement of the management authority in .sg. He has to call someone in D.C. for confirmation, but the feds are closed for that whole week. He says he'll talk to someone this week (Jan. 3rd-6th; the 2nd was also a federal holiday!) and will have news for me sometime next week.
If you're weary after reading this, you have an idea of how I'm feeling!
-spansar
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Post by paulv on Jan 3, 2006 18:33:51 GMT
Spansar, It's a farce of the grandest scale!!!
I wonder how many metric tons of illegal drugs have made it into the country while all of these people are keeping their eyes on your erhu.
Good luck -- I hope your erhu shows up soon (and undamaged!!!)
Regards, Paul...
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Jan 4, 2006 9:36:20 GMT
Hi!
Apologies to Spansar.
Cadenza had 5 erhus bounce over nov/dec, and 7 successful sends to USA. Reason for bouncing: Sending of 1st copy of CITES LICENSE instead of Original.
For spansar's case, i rushed over in courier to the officer before Xmas within 48 hours.
It should be ok!
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 4, 2006 12:51:59 GMT
Bloody hell, talk about red tape. I'm sure it will arrive, after they finished having a go at playing it...
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Jan 11, 2006 13:22:40 GMT
YEAH!!!!
Spansar received the news that his erhu is released!!
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 11, 2006 22:05:43 GMT
YEAH!!!! Spansar received the news that his erhu is released!! That is indeed encouraging news. I admit that my relief will not be complete until we get news that Spansar has actually received his erhu in good shape. Hey Spansar, I hope you are planning a trip to Portland in the near future. I am really looking forward to meeting you and your new fiddle. Best wishes, David
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Post by spansar on Jan 12, 2006 17:24:17 GMT
Got it yesterday! It's in good shape, save a little dust... (:
David -- I intend upon making a pilgrimage to P-town soon, possibly at the end of this month, or the next, when the band makes a day-trip to the recording studio. Will keep you posted!
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 13, 2006 12:44:48 GMT
*sings hallelujah!*
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