An Indian-origin Reddit user found himself in a tricky spot after being fined $300 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for carrying pork fry in his luggage without declaring it at a U.S. pre-clearance station in Abu Dhabi.
According to his post on Reddit, he and a friend were asked at the pre-clearance desk whether they were carrying any food items.
They stated they had pickles, snacks, and spice powders. However, when further questioned about the pickles, they revealed fish and beef pickles — prompting a second inspection where a packet of pork fry was discovered. Because they did not declare the item, the fine was imposed.
The Redditor expressed concern about how this incident might impact his H-1B visa status — a common employment visa for highly skilled foreign workers in the U.S.
“After arriving in the US, we noticed the beef pickle was discarded but not the fish pickle (store-bought and sealed). The beef and pork ones were homemade,” he wrote, adding he wasn’t trying to hide anything but simply misunderstood the rules about declaring food items.
Legal and immigration experts say that while the incident appears to be a minor customs violation rather than a visa fraud or misrepresentation, the record of the fine will remain in CBP’s system. That means extra scrutiny on future entries is possible.
As one user online noted, “It won’t become a problem as far as his H-1B stay is concerned — but it will remain in the CBP record and he may face extra screening.”
For travellers coming to the U.S., the rules are clear: all food items — packaged, sealed or not — must be declared on the U.S. customs declaration form or during questioning at the kiosk.
This includes meat, poultry, homemade items, and even some spices. Failure to declare can lead to fines and possible seizure of goods.
While this case underscores the importance of honesty and clarity at the border, experts say a single customs fine is unlikely to lead to visa revocation, especially for H-1B visa holders who maintain compliance with their employment terms.
Nonetheless, it serves as a reminder that even seemingly small infractions can leave a mark in immigration records.
