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Avoiding traveling with a lot of cash

Ann-Marie

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Our daughters wedding is on St. Thomas. Two vendors want to be paid in cash the day before. They got you if they don't show up except that the wedding venue booked them. We would prefer to not have to carry so much cash. I m sure the ATMs have a limit. Any suggestions? Thanks
 

Jason245

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How much cash are we talking about ? And if thr venue booked them, the venue should pay them and you pay the venue..

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isisdave

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If the issue is paying them in time, you could send them a check from your bank's Bill Pay service a week in advance. How about PayPal?

If the issue is making sure that they deliver, then I don't know. What kind of service are they providing? How much are you talking about? What would you do if they didn't deliver?

Is there a branch of your bank in St Thomas? If so, no problem getting cash.

Do you belong to a credit union? Can you get yours to issue you a cashier's check that you could cash at a CU in St Thomas? You could probably do this with commercial banks as well.

Thinking a little more, do they really require actual bank notes, as opposed to another certain payment method? Folks like this, especially in certain businesses, are avoiding taxes.
 

SMHarman

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I would suggest bank cashiers checks / drafts / counter checks instead.
 

vacationhopeful

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DO NOT CARRY CASH ... The Federal government considers that to be drug or terrorist's money and will take it away (confiscating it all) ... and then, it is most likely not worth the lawyer's fees to recover it.

Your major banks should be at the US Territory of the Virgin Island ... big banks like Bank of America and CitiBank should have branches .. if so, check out their policy on "cashing" checks or drafting "bank checks" from their local branches.

Personally, I would either have the wedding at your hotel who handles those issues regularly or find different vendors. But I would NOT myself get married overseas (a term to mean NOT in the Untied States). Get married at home (those Justice of the Peace) and have a "service" at your destination site.
 

Timeshare Von

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I would suggest bank cashiers checks / drafts / counter checks instead.

This would be my suggestion too!

Under no circumstances agree to carry a large amount of cash!
 

Ann-Marie

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My husband said the same about suggested drug money. The wedding is all set for 2 weeks from now in St. Thomas. No way in hell are we changing location at this point. We need $3,000. I checked Bank of America and can't find a branch on the island. I emailed wedding planner to see if she has an alternative.
 

am1

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My husband said the same about suggested drug money. The wedding is all set for 2 weeks from now in St. Thomas. No way in hell are we changing location at this point. We need $3,000. I checked Bank of America and can't find a branch on the island. I emailed wedding planner to see if she has an alternative.

$3000 is not going to raise any concerns.
 

vacationhopeful

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$3000 is not going to raise any concerns.

Each of you should carry $1500. If there is 3 persons in your party, each carry $1000. The limit USED TO BE (years ago around $10K, then it got dropped to $5K and then I heard it got dropped lower and based on the number of days til your returned flight.
 

SMHarman

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My husband said the same about suggested drug money. The wedding is all set for 2 weeks from now in St. Thomas. No way in hell are we changing location at this point. We need $3,000. I checked Bank of America and can't find a branch on the island. I emailed wedding planner to see if she has an alternative.
There are people I know that carry that on them daily. Foe a vacation with a wedding nobody will question that.

Over 10k is the first flag level.

Ask Mr Hastert.

When It’s a Crime to Withdraw Money From Your Bank http://nyti.ms/1dj8JIr
 
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Ann-Marie

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Thanks. I also said we should split it up. I can transfer money to my daughter so her boyfriend can bring it since we are not traveling together.
 

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I agree the government will not touch anything under $10,000. Get travelers check, then when you get to St. Thomas go to a bank and cash them. It is that simple.

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vacationhopeful

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Within the past year, I had a junior level little want-to-be close my bank account because I had 2 wire transfers in from Western European countries inside of a year. And each for under $4,500.

He asked me about a week earlier what type of business I had ... and I told him my "day" business as this was a causal "I am new working at this bank and am greeting customers" ... looked and acted like a summer intern. You want a REAL definition of WHAT I DO ... ask in an office with a staff member I know present .. not in a lobby with strangers milling around.

I run rentals in this area for over 30 years ... hence, did NOT justify international wire transfers of money. And he pulled deeds showing I owned multiple properties in the area.

PS 2 years earlier I inherited over $7,000 from an European distance related relative ... and this money was wired to this bank & branch also ... after about 3 tries from the senior staff clerks still employed there (not the new guy but the other ladies still working there).

I called the "HOME" office ... they defer to the branch.


So the $10,000 rule is NOT a magical number ...
 
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VegasBella

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DO NOT CARRY CASH ... The Federal government considers that to be drug or terrorist's money and will take it away (confiscating it all) ... and then, it is most likely not worth the lawyer's fees to recover it.
This is accurate. It's called civil forfeiture. Google it.

Civil asset forfeiture is a legal mechanism that allows law enforcement to take and keep property it claims is connected to illegal activity without charging the property owner with a crime.

Everyone who handles sizable amounts of cash on a regular basis knows about this. The gambling nerds that my husband runs with are all over this.

Each of you should carry $1500. If there is 3 persons in your party, each carry $1000. The limit USED TO BE (years ago around $10K, then it got dropped to $5K and then I heard it got dropped lower and based on the number of days til your returned flight.
Basically, if you have cash and the police want it, they can just say they suspect it's drug money and take it. YOU have to prove it's not drug money, not the other way around. It's totally ridiculous.

Don't be naive. The police steal. It's THAT simple.
The reason to spread out the money is to spread out risk. It's not because of some "limit" about the minimum about of money the police can take without cause. They can - and some "bad apples" will - take whatever they want. You spread out the cash between people to protect against theft - from police OR criminals.

There are people I know that carry that on them daily. Foe a vacation with a wedding nobody will question that.
Lol, this is not about legitimate cause for search and seizure. Civil forfeiture is routinely abused to simply steal cash from people who have little recourse to recover it.
Read this: https://www.aclu.org/news/new-aclu-...million-cash-annually-innocent-philadelphians
 

raygo123

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Do you really think that the government is out to get you? Of course there is abuse, but a boggy man, I think not.

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Pat H

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First of all, Ann-Marie is not going out of the country so there are no customs issues. Secondly, structuring the withdrawals from your own bank is what raises flags. It looks like you are trying to hide something. Thirdly, many banks now look at transactions of $3,000 & above for suspicious activity. There are thousands of SAR's filed every day.

I like the idea of everyone carrying part of the money. Call your bank and tell them you are going to St. Thomas. Ask what your ATM limit is and if you will be changed for withdrawals. I think it's better to bring it with you than get it from ATM's/banks where someone might be watching.
 

VegasBella

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Do you really think that the government is out to get you? Of course there is abuse, but a boggy man, I think not.
I'm not suggesting anyone get paranoid. I'm simply pointing out that statements like these are false:
"nobody will question that"
"Over 10k is the first flag level"

That, and I'm suggesting that everyone supports measures to limit civil forfeiture. Abuse is taking place and it needs to be stopped.
 

Passepartout

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$3,000 will barely raise an eyebrow. Split it up among family members if you wish, and or don't flash a big wad of cash. The preferable scenario would be to have the wedding planner arrange the details, then pay them after the festivities by check/card/transfer.

Best wishes for a joyful and stress-free wedding. Our destination wedding in Scotland is one of my life's highlights.

Jim
 

John Cummings

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We frequently take out large amounts of cash ( $9,000 - $12,000 ) from our credit union with no problems nor questions at all. Granted we are not taking the money to a foreign destination. We took $12,000 in cash to Las Vegas/Laughlin last August
 

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Not applicable if not leaving US, but if you are:
There is no limit on the amount of money that can be taken out of or brought into the United States. However, if a person or persons traveling together and filing a joint declaration (CBP Form 6059-B) have $10,000 or more in currency or negotiable monetary instruments, they must fill out a "Report of International Transportation of Currency and Monetary Instruments" FinCEN 105

Please be aware, if persons/family members traveling together have $10,000 or more, they cannot divide the currency between each other to avoid declaring the currency.

Source:CBP
 

Ann-Marie

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Thanks everyone. We are going to look into travelers checks or a bank check to the band.
 

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Thanks everyone. We are going to look into travelers checks or a bank check to the band.

If they asked for cash - they won't want it - that creates a tax record.

However, you may be able to get a cashier's check, Post Office Money Order, Traveler's Checks, or something similar, and cash it after you get there, if you are really worried about carrying cash.
 

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Because of widespread forgery, many places will not accept traveler checks. Of course casinos almost ALWAYS accept TCs.

Now I am starting to get worried about transferring large sums of currency. I am expecting >$1,000,000 from a former crown prince in Africa. Can't wait!!! :clap:
 

davidvel

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Because of widespread forgery, many places will not accept traveler checks. Of course casinos almost ALWAYS accept TCs.

Now I am starting to get worried about transferring large sums of currency. I am expecting >$1,000,000 from a former crown prince in Africa. Can't wait!!! :clap:

Just disclose that you are acting as an intermediary for the family member, who cannot personally accept the inheritance due to their current foreign status, and that you will be sending back $900,000, and you'll be fine.
 
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