In the United States, immigration is a very contentious issue. Among all the American states, it is particularly a matter of concern in California, considered a favorite place to immigrate. California is home to an enormous number of immigrants. It is an immigrant magnet because of its geographic location. The state lies just above the border separating the country from Mexico, where most illegal immigrants come from.
A significant fraction of all the immigrants in the State entered the country illegally. Around 43 percent of all illegal aliens live in California. In fact, 21.7% of the State's population is of foreign origin, around 4.7 percent of which is made up of illegal immigrants. The massive inflow of illegal immigrants to California has had serious impacts on the State's political, social and economic systems.
This called for stricter customs laws and implementation. Whether you're traveling by car (from Mexico) or by plane to California, you should prepare yourself for a more time-consuming, meticulous customs inspection. To help you speed up the process, here are a few tips.
- Make sure you have I-94 travel documents in advance of the date of travel. They usually cost six dollars each. This will allow you to bypass the I-94 issuing line when you enter California, which can save you time.
- Know what items are prohibited and regulated in the State. It will not just save you time, it will also save you from fines and penalties. For example, if you're traveling by land from Mexico, bear in mind that cooked and uncooked products including chorizo and salchichas are prohibited for health security reasons. Fireworks are also prohibited.
- If you're traveling by plane, keep important documents with you at all times, especially your passport and visa. If you're a permanent resident, do not lose your green card or alien registration card.
- Prepare for the inspection before landing or arriving at the inspection booth. You should declare all your items that were acquired outside of the U.S. If you're a US citizen, you'll not be required to have complete entry documents to enter California but you must carry a passport or a driver's license.
These are just some of the tips that can help you enter California with no sweat. For more information, it is best to contact the US Customs and Border Protection or visit their website. You can find all the important information that you need to know posted there.
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