Travelers carry your parcel through airport security and, on international routes, customs. Describe what is inside as if a checkpoint officer will read it. “Gifts” or “personal items” is not a description.
What a good description includes
- What the items are (for example “two sealed cotton t-shirts, unworn”)
- Quantity and materials when that affects screening
- Approximate value for customs and for the recipient’s expectations
- Whether the package may be opened for inspection
- Any battery, liquid, powder, or food component — or a clear statement that none are included
Photos
- Photograph contents before sealing when the item is not purely private apparel the recipient must not preview.
- Photograph the closed package on a scale with the weight readable if possible.
- Avoid dark, cropped, or stock images. Travelers decline listings they cannot verify.
Honesty protects the hold
If inspection shows different contents, the traveler or Host should refuse. That can delay you and put the J1USD hold into a dispute instead of a clean delivery. Misdeclaration can also be a legal problem for everyone who touched the bag.