Seeking advice on International travel (US-Germany)

[Frank Weeks]

Give these guys a call: Carnets Xpress: 562-434-7983.

Ouch!!! $564+. I'll have to think about that.

[Bill Sepaniak]

Part of that cost (hopefully) includes the surety bond. The cost of the surety bond is obviously related to the stated value of your equipment. If you have 50-80K worth of equipment, then $564.00 is really nothing.

____________________________________
Scarlet X # 1859 “Bettie Page”
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8

[Brian Ferguson]

Hi Frank,
I haven't been to Germany but I have been to the U.K. and Netherlands recently and a Carnet takes a little time it can be rushed in a few days, and if you include all your gear you won't have to do it again. The customs officials simply mark a note of what on the list did not import by noting a line item. This is the company we have been working with and they are quite helpful and fast, http://www.atacarnet.com/ . The cost is according to value of all gear because you are essential posting a bond against any import tariffs they might think you owe if you break the rules. The hardest thing is finding a customs agent in the country you are going to who knows what to do with the carnet. It is like they all look at each other and say "you want to do it? I don't want to do it!". In the end bureaucrats love to stamp papers so it makes them feel useful. I would not skip the carnet.

It is easier to explain on the phone if you want a better description I'll PM you my phone number.

[Rob Gardner]

Well, that may seem like a lot of money, but it'll seem like the bargain of the century if you get your gear impounded and the crew sits around waiting for you to get the money together for a bond. To us, its just a cost of doing business, like bribes in the developing world...

[Frank Weeks]

Thanks for all the information and notes of caution. I am still considering the options. I will actually only be taking a fraction of my equipment. The Epic, R1 and 5DII with L zooms being the buk. Most is already there and I have all the receipts of the equipment I'll be taking. If that would get me back home intact it would certainly save a great deal of time and money. This really is a tight budget. I'm just glad I started the thread. This is exactly the kind of thing that concerned me. I'll be talking to the producer this weekend.

[ericyoung]

If it's just those bits of camera gear, it might be easier to just rent in Germany. They are all easily rentable there I'm sure.

[Erwin van Dijck]

There are a few Epic owners in Munich.

[Michael Brennan]

You may be able to get away with a couple of cameras as "tools of trade", especially if they look used.
Ive flown into the states numerous times from the uk with a carnet.
The production need to be reminded that the cost of the carnet is cheaper than the extra days or weeks rental on kit that has been seized by customs, let alone the disruption to schedule.
Having said that do allow additional time for the carnet to be processed, arriving 3 hours before take off is prudent.


Frequently the customs guys ( in many countries) dont know what to do with it. It is imperative that you stand your ground and get the carnet stamped, especially when entering and leaving the foreign country.
Often, on arrival this means having to be escorted to departures to find a senior custom guy. Take the most expensive items with you if this occurs so the customs guy can stamp the list there and then.
If landing at a small international airport check to see if customs wil be on duty at the time of your departure (important if you are on the last flight out as customs often go home when the last arrival has landed, leaving departures unmanned)
Make sure the company preparing the carnet add a couple of extra transit and import & export pages, this will give you some flexibility in flight schedules should your plans change.
Note that the calculation of "value" on a carnet is not well defined. I know of a few people who value their kit at its used value on a wet Sunday in a recession and others who put the purchase price as the value. I put the current used market value.
At the time of first use (when you leave the USA) items can be scrathed from the list, but none can be added. Once the cover page and master list is stamped you are locked into returning this kit to the USA or at least have a police report to explain why any kit is missing.

Note that some customs guys will open a box point to an item of kit and ask you to identify that item on the list.
If serial numbers are hidden from view, there is no problem labelling such items with a matching serial number placed in a more convenient position.
I draw the line at listing each filter or cable and describe then as "accessory bag" with filters or "cable bag".
Shipping kit as freight and using an agent works well if the kit is heavy, say over 500kg in weight, but it may add a day or more to your schedule at the other end.
Note that local customs like the value of kit listed in their own currency.
I'd reccomend someone walk you through the form.

A low cost alternative, if you have a good excuse not to have a carnet, such as a need to travel in a hurry, is to have five copies of an equipment list stamped at your home airport and ask the local customs guy to hang onto one copy until your return, although sometimes they are not interested in helping.
Keep the other copies which can be presented if you are challenged in a foreign country on entry or exit. On return to USA if challenged you can show your copy to the customs guys as evidence that the kit was not purchased overseas.

All the best,

Mike Brennan

[Frank Weeks]

Thanks again for the carnet education. I am in the process of getting one now. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for the finer points of carnet travel Michael. Great information from all.
Will rent some equipment and carry the rest. Without this thread I would have been clueless about equipment transit and probably never been able to accomplish the shoot.
Good shooting and best wishes to all