International Flight Questions?

I will be flying international for the first time at the end of this month and am trying to figure a few things out (airport explanations are hardly simple to understand).

First, I will be flying into JFK and then heading to Rome. During this connection, will my bags be transferred to my international flight the same way domestic flights do or will I have to retrieve them and put them through customs? (Same for reverse when I fly back into JFK?)

Second, does the Italian customs work the same way as American Customs? I have never gone through customs, is the customs easily found after getting off the plane? What do you have to "declare", just stuff purchased in Italy?

Your bags are checked all the way to your final destination. Make sure they are when you first check in. The customs should be simple. They don't want you bringing plants and food, and don't want you appearing to be a businessman bringing lots of items.

If you are flying into JFK from a US airport, then your bags will be transferred just like any other flight.
On the way back, you will go through immigrations, collect your bag, go through customs, drop your bag right outside customs at the clearly marked bag recheck area, and then go through security. It isn't hard to find your way to immigrations and customs because you have no other options.

Customs in Rome should be pretty similar. The route to passport control should be clearly marked. It is the only way you are going to get out of the airport.

You generally only have to declare stuff that you marked 'yes' on the customs form--alcohol & tobacco (other than duty free), firearms, high value items, etc.

You don't go through customs in the US. When you get off the plane in Rome, follow everyone else. You'll stand in line to show your passport at immigration. Then you'll walk through a door and see the carousels where you'll get your baggage. There will be a big sign- Nothing to Declare. Walk through that door. Unless you look suspicious, they won't open your bags. But the Rome airport is pretty much a chaotic mess. It may not affect you when you're entering Rome, but if you're leaving from that airport, go at least 3 hours in advance, and be prepared to be in long lines.

Your bags will be checked all the way to Rome. You don't go through Customs when you leave the country.

When you arrive in Rome, just follow the crowd. You will go through Immigration, where you show your passport, then you will collect your bags to go through Customs. You won't be able to miss this - there will be signs, and they will have English on them.

When you come back to the US, you will go through Immigration and Customs at JFK if that is your point of entry into the US. You will go through Immigration, get your bags and take them through Customs, and then recheck your bags (there at Customs, not up at the ticketing counters) to your final destination.

The Customs form will indicate what needs to be declared. Unless you purchase a TON of stuff, you shouldn't have any issues.

Having just flown into Fiumicino a month ago, when you arrive in Rome, you will have a long walk and then there will be signs where the flow divides into 3 paths, one for EU/schengen Passport Holders, then another path for preferred countries which the US is part of and then all others. Follow the route for US, the signs use national flags. You will go through a turnstyle like thing where you scan your passport, then you have a photo taken, then to where passport control will stamp your passport. Then you will collect your luggage. For customs, follow the route for where you are not declaring anything. That takes you right into the airport. You will have to go up 2 floors to get to the train station that will take you into rome.

In MOST situations you will not need to retrieve your bag until Rome.
Verify when you check in.

In Rome you declare to Officials what you have. You ANSWER their questions. They decide with Passport control if you can pass or go back.
Returning to USA you claim your bag at JFK and go to Customs. You DECLARE EVERYTHING you have that you did not have when you departed the USA.

YES Customs is easy to find it is the only exit available to you.follow the signs or the other passengers.