Here’s What to Do.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the Pacific Northwest’s primary international gateway, with direct flights to Japan, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. That route profile — heavily weighted toward Asia-Pacific corridors — makes SEA one of the named high-enforcement airports for CBP currency seizures in the United States. If your cash has been seized at Seattle-Tacoma, you need to understand your rights, your options, and your deadline before you take any action.
Do not contact CBP’s Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office to explain yourself. Do not write a letter or submit any documentation without an attorney reviewing your case first. Every statement you make after a seizure becomes part of the administrative record that will determine whether you get your money back.
Great Lakes Customs Law has handled currency seizure cases at airports across the country, including Pacific gateway airports. Read on to understand what happened, what you are facing, and how we can help.
Why SEA Is a High-Enforcement Currency Airport
Seattle-Tacoma’s Asia-Pacific route network is the defining characteristic of CBP enforcement at this airport. Direct flights connecting SEA to Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, and other Asian destinations bring a traveler profile that CBP actively monitors for currency reporting compliance. As with other Pacific gateway airports — SFO and LAX among them — the enforcement pattern at SEA reflects the reality that many travelers from Asian countries carry significant amounts of cash for entirely legitimate reasons, including family remittances, real estate transactions, business dealings, and travel to countries where electronic transfers are unreliable or unavailable.
The CBP Seattle Field Office oversees a broad jurisdiction that includes not just SEA but also the Port of Seattle seaport, the Port of Tacoma, and multiple land border crossings in Washington state and the surrounding region. Currency enforcement is active across this network, and the FP&F office that handles SEA seizures manages cases from across the Northwest.
International arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma process through the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) in the south end of the main terminal. All internationally arriving passengers — including those connecting to domestic flights — must clear customs at SEA before proceeding.
Common Reasons CBP Seizes Cash at SEA
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. The requirement applies to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, and to both inbound and outbound travel. The most common violations at Seattle-Tacoma include:
- Failure to report on arrival — Travelers arriving from Asia-Pacific destinations who do not declare currency over $10,000 at the time of entry. Given SEA’s transpacific route volume, this is the most common enforcement scenario at this airport.
- Failure to report on departure — Cash being carried out of the United States on an international flight without a FinCEN 105 filing. The reporting obligation applies equally to outbound travel.
- Structuring — Dividing funds among family members or travel companions to keep individual amounts under $10,000. CBP treats a traveling group as a single reporting unit. Structuring under 31 U.S.C. § 5324 is a more serious charge than simple failure to report.
- Bulk cash smuggling — Currency concealed in luggage, clothing, or carry-on items with intent to evade the reporting requirement, charged under 31 U.S.C. § 5332. This is the most serious violation and carries the highest risk of permanent forfeiture even when funds are ultimately proven legitimate.
A Note for Travelers Arriving from Asia-Pacific Countries
Many travelers arriving at Seattle-Tacoma from South Korea, Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other Asian countries carry significant amounts of cash for entirely lawful purposes. Capital controls in some of these countries — particularly China — restrict the official channels through which money can be moved internationally, creating circumstances where travelers carry cash that represents legitimate savings, family transfers, or business funds. The U.S. currency reporting requirement does not evaluate the legitimacy of the funds — it only requires that they be reported. A failure to file the FinCEN 105 gives CBP grounds to seize the money regardless of its source.
Language barriers and unfamiliarity with U.S. reporting requirements are common factors in SEA seizure cases involving international travelers. If you were seized in this situation, an experienced customs attorney can help build a case that addresses these circumstances in the context of the petition or claims process.
What Happens After a Cash Seizure at SEA
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 by certified mail along with the Election of Proceedings form. You must choose how to respond. 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, keeping the matter out of federal court. A well-constructed petition demonstrating the legitimacy of the funds is the most common path to full or partial recovery.
- CAFRA Seized Asset Claim — You formally contest the seizure and demand federal court proceedings, placing the burden of proof on the government. This option provides more legal leverage in the right circumstances.
- Offer in Compromise — You propose a settlement, paying a portion of the seized amount in exchange for return of the remainder.
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 the Notice of Seizure is issued, you generally have 30 days to file an Election of Proceedings. Miss that deadline and CBP may proceed with administrative forfeiture — your money is permanently gone without any court review. There is no grace period and no standard path to recover a missed deadline.
Do not contact the FP&F office on your own. Do not make any statements about the money, its source, or its intended use without counsel. Read our guide on why you must remain silent after a currency seizure.
What Evidence Will You Need
Regardless of which proceeding you elect, you will need to affirmatively demonstrate that the seized funds came from a legitimate source and were intended for a lawful purpose. The burden falls entirely on you — CBP does not presume legitimacy. Supporting documentation typically includes bank records and withdrawal history, tax returns and income documentation, business records and contracts, statements from family members or business partners, currency exchange records, and documentation specific to the circumstances of your travel or the intended use of the funds.
For travelers whose primary language is not English, presenting documentation persuasively to a U.S. government reviewer requires additional care. Read our full guide to evidence and documentation for currency seizure cases.
Seattle’s CBP Area Port
Currency seizures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are processed through the CBP Seattle Area Port (port code 3001) and its associated Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office. The Seattle Field Office oversees ports of entry across Washington state, including SEA, the Port of Seattle, the Port of Tacoma, and land border crossings along the U.S.-Canada border. Great Lakes Customs Law works with FP&F offices at ports across the country, including Seattle, and understands how these offices evaluate and decide seizure cases.
Our Results at SEA and Nationwide
Great Lakes Customs Law has represented clients with currency seizures at Pacific gateway airports 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. Federal currency seizure law is uniform across all U.S. ports of entry — you do not need a Washington state attorney to contest a SEA seizure effectively.
See our currency seizure case results.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If CBP has seized your cash at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 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.