San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the primary U.S. gateways to Asia, the Pacific, and beyond — and CBP officers there are among the most active in the country for currency enforcement. SFO consistently appears on national lists of the highest-volume airports for currency seizures, reflecting both the scale of international traffic and the enforcement priorities of the CBP San Francisco Field Office. If CBP has seized your cash at SFO, you need experienced legal representation and you need to act quickly.
Do not call the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office to explain yourself. Do not write a letter without legal counsel. The process is adversarial, the deadlines are strict, and what you say and how your case is presented will determine whether you get your money back.
Great Lakes Customs Law has represented clients with currency seizures at SFO and at ports of entry nationwide. Read on to understand what happened, what you are facing, and how we can help.
Why SFO Is a High-Enforcement Currency Airport
San Francisco International serves as a major hub for transpacific routes — direct flights to China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, and other Asian markets pass through SFO daily. This routing profile is directly relevant to currency enforcement. Travel between the U.S. and China in particular has been associated with elevated rates of currency seizure for many years, driven by Chinese capital controls that restrict the amount of money citizens can move out of the country through official channels. Travelers carrying cash from China or other Asian countries — often for entirely legitimate purposes such as family support, real estate investment, or business transactions — have faced disproportionate seizure rates at Pacific gateway airports including SFO.
The CBP San Francisco Field Office also oversees a broader network of ports beyond SFO itself, including Oakland International Airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, and ports of entry in Hawaii, including Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. If your cash was seized at any of these locations, the legal framework and your options are identical — the same FP&F structure and deadlines apply.
Common Reasons CBP Seizes Cash at SFO
Under 31 U.S.C. § 5316, any person traveling internationally with more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments must file a FinCEN 105 form with CBP at the time of arrival or departure. There is no tax on the money and no limit on how much you can carry — the requirement is only to report it. Failing to report, or reporting an inaccurate amount, gives CBP legal authority to seize the funds. The most common violations at SFO include:
- Failure to report on arrival — Travelers arriving from Asian or Pacific destinations who do not declare currency over $10,000 at the time of entry. This is the most common scenario at SFO given the volume of transpacific arrivals.
- Failure to report on departure — Cash being carried out of the United States without a FinCEN 105 filing. The reporting obligation applies equally to outbound travel.
- Bulk cash smuggling — Currency concealed in luggage, clothing, or carry-on items with intent to evade the reporting requirement. At SFO, concealment methods in arriving international baggage are a consistent enforcement focus.
- Structuring — Dividing funds among family members or travel companions to keep individual amounts below $10,000. CBP treats a traveling family or group as a single reporting unit.
A Note for Travelers Arriving from China and Other Asian Countries
Many travelers arriving at SFO from China, South Korea, India, Taiwan, and other Asian countries carry significant amounts of cash for entirely legitimate reasons — family remittances, real estate transactions, business dealings, or travel in countries where wire transfers are unreliable or unavailable. The currency reporting requirement does not distinguish between legal and illegal funds. Whether your money is entirely legitimate or not, failure to file the FinCEN 105 gives CBP grounds to seize it.
Language barriers and unfamiliarity with U.S. reporting requirements are common factors in SFO seizure cases. CBP is not required to make allowances for these circumstances — and officers at SFO are experienced in working with travelers who may not fully understand what they were required to do. If you were seized in this situation, an experienced customs attorney can help you build a case that addresses these facts in the context of the petition or claims process.
What Happens After an SFO Cash Seizure
At the time of seizure, CBP will issue a Custody Receipt for Seized Property. Within 60 days, the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office will send a Notice of Seizure and Information to Claimants along with the Election of Proceedings form. This form requires you to choose how to contest the seizure. Your three options are:
- Administrative Petition for Remission or Mitigation — You ask CBP to return all or part of the money through an internal review process, keeping the matter out of court.
- CAFRA Seized Asset Claim — You formally contest the seizure and demand federal court proceedings, shifting the burden of proof to the government.
- Offer in Compromise — You propose a settlement, paying a portion of the seized amount in exchange for return of the remainder.
The right choice depends on your specific facts — the amount seized, the violation alleged, the strength of your documentation, and your goals. Choosing the wrong option can mean permanently losing money you could have recovered. Read our detailed guide to the Election of Proceedings form and our analysis of which option is best for your situation.
Act Before the Deadline
Once CBP issues your Notice of Seizure, you generally have 30 days to file an Election of Proceedings. Miss that deadline and CBP can proceed with administrative forfeiture — the money is gone without any court review. There is no grace period once the window closes.
Do not call the FP&F office to explain your situation. Do not make any statements about the money or its source without counsel. Everything you communicate after a seizure is part of the record. Read our guide on why you must remain silent after a seizure.
What Evidence Will You Need
Regardless of which proceeding you elect, you will need to demonstrate that the money came from a legitimate source and was intended for a lawful purpose. The burden falls on you to affirmatively prove the money’s legitimacy — CBP does not presume it. Supporting documentation typically includes bank records and withdrawal history, tax returns or income documentation, business records or contracts, statements from family members or business partners, currency exchange records, and any documentation specific to your circumstances — property purchases, remittances, business dealings, or other lawful explanations for carrying currency.
For travelers whose primary language is not English, working with an attorney who can help translate and contextualize your evidence for a U.S. government audience is especially important. Read our full guide to evidence and documentation for currency seizure cases.
SFO’s CBP Field Office
Currency seizures at San Francisco International Airport are processed through the CBP San Francisco Area Port (port code 2801) and its associated Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office. The San Francisco Field Office covers ports across Northern California and Hawaii. Great Lakes Customs Law works with FP&F offices at ports across the country, including San Francisco, and understands how these offices evaluate and decide cases.
Our Results at SFO and Nationwide
Great Lakes Customs Law has represented clients with currency seizures at San Francisco International and at ports of entry across the country. Jason Wapiennik has handled more than 700 currency seizure cases and recovered more than $11 million for clients nationwide. You do not need a California-based attorney — you need the right customs attorney, and we represent clients at every major U.S. port of entry regardless of location.
See our currency seizure case results.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If CBP seized your cash at San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International, San Jose International, or any other port in the CBP San Francisco Field Office area, contact us now for a free currency seizure consultation. The sooner we review your case, the more options are available to fight for a full recovery.
Read our full CBP Money Seizure Lawyer’s Guide or reach out directly using the contact options on this page.