U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed expanding the definition of “members of a family residing in one household” to better reflect the variety of family and domestic relationships among U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and international travelers arriving together.
Under the proposed change, more returning travelers who are related or who share a household would be allowed to file a single, joint customs declaration for items acquired abroad. This update is intended to reduce redundant paperwork for travelers who are traveling together as a family or household unit, and to streamline passenger processing at ports of entry.
The revised definition of “domestic relationship” would explicitly encompass foster children, stepchildren, half-siblings, legal wards and other dependents, as well as individuals who have an in loco parentis or guardianship relationship. It also covers two adults in a committed relationship who share finances and obligations, such as long-term companions and partners in civil unions or domestic partnerships, provided neither partner is married to or in a partnership with someone else.
By broadening the category to include these varied family and household structures, CBP aims to reflect current social and household arrangements more accurately and ensure that travelers in these relationships can receive consistent treatment when completing customs formalities.
The amendment was filed on Dec. 13 and will become effective 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
This clarification reduces administrative burden for qualifying travelers, promotes efficiency at border processing points and aligns CBP’s guidance with a wider range of contemporary family dynamics.