Flying to the USA with my PC parts: Require some suggestions and recent personal experiences
Posted by According-Vanilla611@reddit | hardware | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Hey everyone, I'm travelling internationally for the first time, so I could really use some help on this.
I’m traveling from India to Philadelphia (have a London Heathrow layoff for a few hours) soon on a student visa, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to bring my gaming/work PC with me since I require it for my daily work there.
Here’s my plan and questions:
- I have a Nvidia 4090 GPU (big in size), and I’m thinking of not bringing the cabinet (Mid-tower case). Instead, I’d just pack: GPU, CPU, motherboard, RAM, and SSDs/HDDs (I've the original packing of most of the parts)→ then assemble in the US after buying a new case & PSU there. Has anyone done this recently? Any issues with British Airways, Indian/US airports, or customs while carrying PC parts?
- Should I carry them in hand luggage or check them in?
- Is it worth calling any authority (airline, customs, etc.) to confirm before traveling? If yes, who exactly should I call?
- Would shipping via DHL/Bluedart/FedEx be a safer or better option than flying with them?
- Can taking this on student visa cause any problems or extra scrutiny?
Looking for recent experiences or suggestions so I don’t run into last-minute trouble!
Thanks in advance 🙏
Ratiofarming@reddit
I travel with tech often, it's generally not a problem, especially if you have the documentation showing that it's not a recent purchase and can easily explain why you need to bring it with you. Don't tell them a super elaborate story, just that you need those things for your work/study and that you already had them so you chose to bring them with you. That's all they need to know.
Especially since you're a student, a simple "I need these, and I'm only a student, so I wasn't going to buy the expensive stuff I already have twice, that's why I brought what I already have".
9 times out of 10 they will just wave you through, sometimes they might look more closely... and then wave you through. You're not who they're looking for.
According-Vanilla611@reddit (OP)
Thanks for such a detailed advice
stonetriangles@reddit
If you're planning to work in the US that's a violation of your visa conditions and you will be deported.
According-Vanilla611@reddit (OP)
Rephrased it lol. What I meant was that gpu is required for trying out research papers in robotics and deep learning 🤷🏻♂️
hollow_bridge@reddit
I do this all the time. (traveling internationally to the usa with computer parts several times a year).
Put the expensive stuff and non-backed up data in your carry-on. Stuff in checked baggage does sometimes get stolen. Airport security may look at the components closely, but they have no reasons to stop you from taking them.
Customs has no reason to take them from you or charge you any fees either as long as they think they are used for your personal use (avoid carrying them in their original boxes, as they may think they would be resold). Leave the case and psu, they're too big and heavy. I leave the cpu and heatsink on the motherboard, they are normally in my checked bag, with the ram separately.
PivotRedAce@reddit
Shipping is likely to be the most secure option and make it much easier for you to move through customs. Make sure to insure the shipment if possible just in case anything gets damaged.
While there is some degree of fear-mongering here when it comes to moving through customs in the current climate, the process does require some extra care as it is generally more stringent/strict than usual.
A bundle of high-end computer hardware like that would most likely raise some eyebrows, unless you get lucky with a particular agent. But I wouldn’t rely on luck in getting a friendly agent to make it through customs like that.
AcceptableHamster149@reddit
Absolutely. I would not recommend taking it across the border yourself. Too much risk of it getting seized, of you being forced to pay import tariffs, etc.... Ship it to yourself with a bonded courier. Or ask your employer to provide you with the hardware you need.
I do not recommend crossing the border with any computer equipment (even a phone) that has anything even remotely private. Bring a phone that's been factory reset & doesn't have any private accounts on it. Bring a laptop that's similarly clean. And if there's anything from home that you need to transfer, connect to a VPN and transfer it after arrival. And then nuke it again when you're ready to leave.
According-Vanilla611@reddit (OP)
Wait...
I've been using this PC for almost 1 year and have the bills and stuff. I've the original packing but it's open as I said, I've been using it. Why would they seize it or make me pay import tariffs? Sorry it this seems like a dumb question, I don't have much knowledge about this.
diabetic_debate@reddit
You are far better off buying a laptop. You will need a laptop for school work. Not sure what you are studying that would require a 4090. If it is for gaming, just bring the GPU and may be CPU and SSDs as everything else will be easier to buy here than transport. You will be spending that money for shipping any way.
toalv@reddit
Well, I'm imagining you walking up to a customs officer and they ask you why you're bring it, and you say it's my
and then they ask you who you're working for, ooops you just admitted to violating the conditions of your student visa before even clearing customs, now your computer is held by customs, you are at risk of deportation, etc, etc...
AcceptableHamster149@reddit
In the current political climate?
They always could make things difficult with electronics, and you'd have been taking a big risk with a gaming PC since it would have to be checked. But with the current barriers they're trying to throw up against immigrants? It's a big risk. Your call if you want to take it, but it's not a risk I would.
According-Vanilla611@reddit (OP)
I am yet to talk with DHL/Bluedart/FedEx, but I believe that will cost a lot. So figuring out my secondary options.
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