I would think that if you are carrying most of it in negotiable travellers checks and can give a reasonable answer regarding why you travel with such an amount than I would not worry.
I have heard stories about police in Southern States confiscating money found on itinerant poker players, arguing that it must be the proceeds of crime. So I would always try to have most in recoverable travellers checks.
I have heard stories about police in Southern States confiscating money found on itinerant poker players, arguing that it must be the proceeds of crime. So I would always try to have most in recoverable travellers checks.
I would definitely put at least half the amount in travellers checks so the suspicion would not be as apparent. If someone was planning something illegal they wouldn't be carry travellers checks.
The best way around it is to carry $9500. This way your legit and you don't have the hassles of paper works and questions at the border.
The best way around it is to carry $9500. This way your legit and you don't have the hassles of paper works and questions at the border.
If you like to party in Mexico with 10k then I need to party with you.
My guess is that it is not illegal to move with this type of money BUT you are setting yourself up for a PITA if someone in authority finds out you have the cash. Not sure what you are up to here but I would figure out a different way to move with the money. If you truly have nothing to hide then travelers checks seem like a good idea.
Hell, pre-911 I once made the mistake of carrying a fraction of that on an airplane in a metal money clip and had the guards at the gate ask me a few questions.
My guess is that it is not illegal to move with this type of money BUT you are setting yourself up for a PITA if someone in authority finds out you have the cash. Not sure what you are up to here but I would figure out a different way to move with the money. If you truly have nothing to hide then travelers checks seem like a good idea.
Hell, pre-911 I once made the mistake of carrying a fraction of that on an airplane in a metal money clip and had the guards at the gate ask me a few questions.
General, the worries are with how much you cross back with. If you have 10k to start you obviously won't come back with that much. Mexican authorities at land crossings won't investigate you if you walk through. Driving or flying in you take your chances pushing a button. I am guessing about 1 in 10 get the red light and get a very quick search. I do believe fairly similar amount of currency controls exist to enter Mexico, but not sure what they are exactly right now. In any case you don't want a customs person to know you have that kind of cash for a number of obvious reasons.
its 10 thous per person, if youa dn a freidn are going you can HOLD 6 thous,,,and your pal can hold the same,,,, no worries,,,,,, Your going alone???? I go to Mexico all the time living here in AZ,,,, they dont GIVE A FLYIN FK what you take INTO Mexico,,,,, Just what you TAKE OUT,,,,,, even at that,,,, they only are looking for Illegals in your Trunk,,,, and bags of Dope,,,, noone is gonna Hassle you about CASH,,, when they search you out there on the side of the road,,its with Dogs,,,, they cant smell 100s,,,,
LOL,,,
go have fun,,, dont worry ,,,
tater
LOL,,,
go have fun,,, dont worry ,,,
tater
I once entered the US with about 18k in cash on me and I just declared it on one of those forms they give you when you enter the country. The customs official pulled me aside and asked a few questions about what I was planning to do in the US, what I do for a living etc., and when I told him I was going to Vegas to play poker, gamble etc. and he figured I probably wasn't lying (which I wasn't), he just filled out a short form, had me sign, and let me go.
If you're not doing anything illegal with the money, I think it's best to just declare it and answer all questions in a forthright and honest manner. If they have no grounds upon which to suspect you of breaking the law then I think they are required by law to let you go.
For a US citizen it could be more complicated because of the IRS, but having a certain amount of cash at a given point in time, and having a certain amount of taxable income in a given year are two very different things. So if you don't incriminate yourself by voluntarily making a connection between the two, the IRS or any other authority will not be able to do much with such completely unrelated information.
If you're not doing anything illegal with the money, I think it's best to just declare it and answer all questions in a forthright and honest manner. If they have no grounds upon which to suspect you of breaking the law then I think they are required by law to let you go.
For a US citizen it could be more complicated because of the IRS, but having a certain amount of cash at a given point in time, and having a certain amount of taxable income in a given year are two very different things. So if you don't incriminate yourself by voluntarily making a connection between the two, the IRS or any other authority will not be able to do much with such completely unrelated information.
