[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 19, Volume 2] [Revised as of April 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 19CFR148.35] [Page 145] TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) PART 148_PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS--Table of Contents Subpart D_Exemptions for Returning Residents Sec. 148.35 Length of stay for exemption of articles acquired abroad. (a) Required for allowance of $400, $600, or $1,200 exemption. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph or in paragraph (b) of this section, the $400, $600, or $1,200 exemption for articles acquired abroad shall not be allowed unless the returning resident has remained beyond the territorial limits of the United States for a period of not less than 48 hours. The $400 exemption may be allowed on articles acquired abroad by a returning resident arriving directly from Mexico without regard to the length of time the person has remained outside the territorial limits of the United States. (b) Not required for allowance of $1,200 exemption on return from Virgin Islands. The $1,200 exemption applicable in the case of the arrival of a returning resident directly or indirectly from the Virgin Islands of the United States may be allowed without regard to the length of time such person has remained outside the territorial limits of the United States. (c) Computation of time. The 48-hour period a returning resident must have completed abroad to be entitled to an exemption shall be computed exactly. For example, a resident leaving United States territory at 1:30 p.m. on June 1 would complete the 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3. [T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 86-118, 51 FR 22516, June 20, 1986; T.D. 97-75, 62 FR 46442, Sept. 3, 1997]