Companies to Help You Move from Canada to the US: Companies and Your Status during the move

[Jay Ridler 1]

Hi Everyone,

Needs some advice on moving.

My move is a tad complicated. A week after the interview, I have an even in New Hampshire. The window to move things between these two points is about five business days.

ABF can only provide me a truck, not a cube. This is significant. If they arrive at my location in California after I'm gone, I will be charged a 400.00 storage fee. They will, however, get there within five business days. Service with ABF has largely been good, answering questions and what not.

Premier says it can do door to door (which ABF claims it can't, which is making me suspicious), will charge significantly less for the space on the truck, but they make NO guarantee about arrival times. They estimate between 5-28 days, and will give you forty eight hours notice before they arrive. But, the gentleman I've been dealing with at Premier has been very . . . flighty. Helpful, but scattered.

This is not a very large move. I only have about 1500 pounds of stuff. Has anyone else had good or bad relations with either company, moving from Canada to the US?

The other alternative is to move after my status has been adjusted and I can move back and forth across the border. Has anyone does this? I'd rather get the move done before my status changes, but it might be too tight a window.

Thanks very much,

JSR

[trailmix 77]

Where do you live that they don't offer the relocube?

Anyway, this thread might help a bit:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=201775

[Jay Ridler 1]

Thanks. I will be moving from Southern Ontario to Northern California. ABF cannot send me a relocube, but can send a truck to be picked up. They also cannot provide service to my door in the US for reasons that were never made clear. So hence my frustrations.

Thanks for the link.

Again, has anyone moved after their status has changed (gotten married, changed status)? Are there headaches or snags with this approach I should know about?

JSR

[JillA 2]

Thanks. I will be moving from Southern Ontario to Northern California. ABF cannot send me a relocube, but can send a truck to be picked up. They also cannot provide service to my door in the US for reasons that were never made clear. So hence my frustrations.

Thanks for the link.

Again, has anyone moved after their status has changed (gotten married, changed status)? Are there headaches or snags with this approach I should know about?

JSR

Well Kathryn may be able to answer as I thought I saw her mention somewhere you can import your goods duty free for up to 10 years after moving? If you adjust status and go back to Canada to move your stuff, you should not have a problem. Anyway I think Kathryn will be able to help you.

[trailmix 77]

That's correct, you have up to 10 years to move your personal belongings duty free.

Duty Exemptions for Household and Personnel Effects

You may import furniture, dishes, linens, libraries, artwork and similar household furnishings for your personal use free of duty. To be eligible for duty-free exemption, the articles must have either been available for your use or used in a household where you were a resident for one year. The year of use does not need to be continuous, nor does it need to be the year immediately before the date of importation. Personal and household effects entitled to duty-free entry need not accompany you to the United States; you may have them shipped to your U.S. address at a later time if you choose. Your shipment of personal and/or household goods must be cleared through Customs at its first port of arrival, unless you have made arrangements with a foreign freight forwarder to have your effects sent in Customs custody in-bond from the port of arrival to a more convenient port of entry for clearance. (Ask your moving company if they offer this service.)

Household effects from the country where these effects were used, and meeting the above criteria, may be entered into the United States duty-free within 10 years after your initial arrival in the United States as a legal resident.

Personal effects may be shipped or mailed to you at a later date. The package should be marked “Used Personal Effects” and must have been in your possession prior to your entry into the United States. Anything included in the package that is new may be dutiable. link

Edited June 18, 2009 by trailmix

[Krikit 1,163]

You'll find this site useful as well:

Moving to the US - CBP FAQ's

[carslo 0]

http://www.pods.com this is another company that offers the same type of service as ABF relo cubes. I am surprised you can't get a cube or 2 of them even. PODS is more expensive but has a higher insurance rider, 30 day storage included and are a bit larger.

I am using ABF from Vancouver to Hawthorne (LA County) for my move, based on a successful interview on MOnday.

I would call PODS.

Good luck which ever road you take.

Janet