Hi Everybody,

Do any of you know where can I buy dollars in Zürich, and if there's any limitation?

Also, I'm planning to take this cash with me in my next flight to home. Do you know how much money is allowed to bring with ourselves in cash?

I understood that is not possible to bring more than 10.000 USD. What if I hide this money all around my body. Do you think it is going to be detected by the machines in the airports?

I just don't want to transfer, as I hate the taxes deductions and averything. I just want to carry it with me.

Thanks for your info!

You would get a better rate as a transfer than for cash, especially on $10k+.
You can take an unlimited amount , you just need to declaire cash of over 10k

and be prepared for a double check when they find that kind of money on you. And for you the most worrysome flight keeping a constant ye on you bag.

I did it once with 7k and I got asked quit a few questions......

No worries, when's your arrival?
Where?
What clothes you'll be wearing?
We can welcome you....

PS: I was just saying its also possible you get robbed or anything...

Don't worry about anything when buying or selling dollars. If something untoward does happen, just blame it on your wife, cause a national scandal and then quite your job in disgrace.

i'll sell you some...PM me if interested.

Assuming that you are flying to the US you are allowed by law to have 10,000 USD in currency and valuables without declaration to US customs --I am not sure if it is 10k per person or in total for all travelers...I am inclined to say that it is combined for all travelers on the same customs form.

If you have any more than 10k and they can hold the entire amount pending going through the judicial process.

I can't offer advice on buying dollars in Zurich and the amounts, but I would suspect that due to banking transparency laws (i.e. anti money laundering laws) I would assume that you can probably buy an amount in cash not exceeding 5 to 7k.

I don't know who has told you that you have to pay taxes on transferring money as this is not the case, you only need to pay the fee to do the transfer which is cheaper than lunch in Zurich.

You can take as much as you want. You only have to DECLARE it if you take more than $10,000.

You can also save time by filling out your money declaration in advance.

That's not correct. Your personal exemption as a citizen or resident is $800 worth of goods to be imported. "Valuables" is not part of the $10,000 monetary instrument declaration requirement.

If you are carrying cash, checks, or other negotiable monetary instruments in combined value of more than $10,000 (including yourself and others traveling with you) then you have to declare it. If you fail to declare, then all of it can be seized. Depending on the officer's discretion, they can release a "humanitarian" amount back to the traveler to cover immediate expenses.

It is always the traveler's right to petition the government to have their money returned to them.

I suppose credit cards are excluded?

You may want to watch this Video before you go:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7b9_1265973374

Doc.

why dont you just buy travellers cheques? easy, fast, accepted anywhere in the states, you gotta pay 10% to the bank when you buy them but then you dont pay any more fees (but stay away from airport exchange). also, when you sell the back to the bank once you're back in switzerland, you dont pay any fee again.

As others have said, there are no taxes to worry about when transferring money abroad. Using a dedicated currency broker (like xe.com) and transferring the money from your bank account here in Switzerland to your account in the US is, without question, the cheapest and most secure way of getting your money into the US. As the money goes via a documented bank-to-bank route, there are no further formalities to deal with. There is no limit on the amount of money you can transfer.

If you decide to convert the money to cash, you will almost certainly get a poorer exchange rate than you would by using a broker and sending a wire. If you carry more than $10,000, you must declare it when you reach the US and make file the necessary paperwork. There are no charges or taxes, but you may be questioned about the origins of the money. The authorities are primarily concerned about money laundering. By carrying the cash, you also expose yourself to the risk of theft or loss. If I had $10k on me, I can guarantee that I wouldn't get a wink of sleep on a transatlantic flight. And I'd look more fidgety than a junkie.

Correctemundo.

Why? Who else would know you had $10k with you ? Why would they decide to rob you rather than the person by the side of you ?

Thanks

& prepaid credit cards?

I think, technically, yes, those are financial instruments.

can't you just stash it in a swiss bank account and withdraw it from an ATM once you're there?

and depending on the amount and your bank's ATM fees and wire transfer fees, this might work out cheaper than transferring money and safer than carrying money.

interesting, thanks!

you know! and that should be enough to run through every bad scenario out there.