[Dixielandjazz] International travel with banjo?

[Ulf Jagfors]

Lacey Act of 2008 put hard restrictions on passing the US boarders with
goods containing endangered woods. It is based on an international
regulation. As it is more or less impossible to declare vintage instruments
prior to 2008 from that aspect in practice no such hinder has been put into
force from the immigration authorities. If so that should more or less
isolate US from all kind of musical exchange, aka symphonic orchestras, pop
bands, Woody Allen, Dolly Parton and Bruce Springsteen touring etc. On the
table is an additional law from October this year called Relief Act which
legally should exclude vintage instruments from the Lacey Act regulations.
This relief act has, as far as I know, not yet passed the political
processing. Therefore a kind of wait and see moratorium seems to be for
hand. My judgment is that you can pass the boarder without any major risk of
being stopped, as long as you do not intend to sell the instrument and you
are stupid enough to tell them. And why not use a golf bag to carry the
instrument with the case. That saves the case throw the luggage handling
pretty well. And, nobody ever question a golf bag.

Though, remember that you are not allowed to make any open PUBLIC
performances like sit-in, jamming, paid or not paid, when entering on a
tourist visa. If you still do, don´t advertise about it on any social media,
like Mail, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter. The new 2010 powerful "Homeland" Visa
surveillance systems could find that out, even if it is rather small risks,
and cause you a denial of a Visa next time you apply. 

For more detailed boring info, Google on Lacey Act 2008 and Relief Act.

Ulf Jaegfors
Stockholm  

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] För Misrad HaJazz
Skickat: den 2 december 2011 12:42
Till: Ulf Jagfors
Kopia: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Ämne: [Dixielandjazz] International travel with banjo?

Shalom Jazz Fans!

Some time ago someone posted about US Customs impounding wooden instruments
that contain restricted woods.

I am flying to Los Angeles in a couple weeks with my 1926 Gibson Mastertone
banjo, which might have a rosewood fingerboard.

Anyone have recent experience with this sort of thing? Any advice? Do's and
don't's?

Thanks in advance for any info you can offer.

Elazar

--
Elazar Brandt
Doctor Jazz Dixieland Band
Jerusalem, Israel
www.doctorjazz.co.il
(02) 679-2537
(050) 723-3914


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