Shipping personal stuff to the US using UPS

[beatrix kiddo 0]

Hey All,

I am getting ready to pack up my personal items for shipment to California next week. I have purged my possessions down to CD's, books, clothes and other odds and sods. The boxes will addressed to my sweetie TJ and shipped via UPS.

Will he have to pay duty on my used stuff?? How can I get around this or come out with the least minimal fee....what forms do I need to fill out??

Anybody have some info for me??

Thanks bunches.

Christine

[David_n_Amber 3]

If you mark as Personal belongings and fill out the shipping sheet with your visa number, he wont get charged. thats what im doing too

[Reba 2]

That's the key though, is that you have to include a copy of your visa and I-94 with the shipping documents, otherwise you will be charged taxes and duty.

Once you have your visa and have crossed into the US, you can ship your personal belongings with no duty or taxes for up to 10 years after your date of entry.

[DavidsPrincess 1]

How are you supposed to ship your things when you are in the US already? .. are you sure about that? How would that even be possible?

[trailmix 77]

How are you supposed to ship your things when you are in the US already? .. are you sure about that? How would that even be possible?

What if you left your stereo with your parents to ship later or what if you had some items in storage and decided to come and pick them up with a U-haul in the summer

[SpiritAlight 1]

People at UPS should be able to advise you on what to write on the form so that you do not get charged duty.

I have used this service both ways (Can-USA and USA-Can), but it has been a long time, so I have forgotten.

I mailed my stuff by mail (Can-USA) just 2 weeks ago. All has arrived.

Customs did look through some of the boxes and disrespectfully messed it all up and some things got broken and damaged (piss me off), but all arrived pretty quickly.

I had written used books, used clothes, kitchen, and so and so on each box's form you stick on with the addresses.

Good luck with your shipment.

[SapphireDreams 71]

If you mark as Personal belongings and fill out the shipping sheet with your visa number, he wont get charged. thats what im doing too

I could be wrong here, but I don't think I would write out my CC number on there. Anyone could steal it that way no?

[David_n_Amber 3]

If you mark as Personal belongings and fill out the shipping sheet with your visa number, he wont get charged. thats what im doing too

I could be wrong here, but I don't think I would write out my CC number on there. Anyone could steal it that way no?

................... lol. i would have said credit card if i meant a credit card. Clearly this is a visa forum. lol

[DavidsPrincess 1]

when anyone else shipped their stuff from Canada to US did they have to use their I-94# or just the visa number? I can't imagine it would require ur I-94

[Reba 2]

If you mark as Personal belongings and fill out the shipping sheet with your visa number, he wont get charged. thats what im doing too

I could be wrong here, but I don't think I would write out my CC number on there. Anyone could steal it that way no?

VISA as in immigration, not credit card.

When I moved down here I had to ship it with a moving company. AFTER I entered the US with my K3 visa, I faxed a copy of my I-94 and visa to the moving company and they put it all with the customs forms they already had from whn they packed up the truck.

If you want to be SURE that you will not lose any of your belongings by confiscation, or have to pay duties, then wait to ship it AFTER you move. Have a family member hold onto it all, then fax them a copy of your I-94 and visa and they can attach that with the customs forms.

here's the CBP website page with results from a quick search for personal household goods

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I had to do the same as Reba - I had to fax back a copy of my I-94 showing I was legally in the US to the moving company bringing in my personal belongings. They were definitely required to show it at the border - if they had not have had it, they would not have been allowed to bring my belongings to the US.

[SapphireDreams 71]

If you mark as Personal belongings and fill out the shipping sheet with your visa number, he wont get charged. thats what im doing too

I could be wrong here, but I don't think I would write out my CC number on there. Anyone could steal it that way no?

................... lol. i would have said credit card if i meant a credit card. Clearly this is a visa forum. lol

See thats why I said I could be wrong!! Haha clearly I'm blonde and new to this whole thing! yes makes sense on VISAjourney

[DavidsPrincess 1]

I had to do the same as Reba - I had to fax back a copy of my I-94 showing I was legally in the US to the moving company bringing in my personal belongings. They were definitely required to show it at the border - if they had not have had it, they would not have been allowed to bring my belongings to the US.

But we are not planning to use a moving company. These are just boxes of clothes, books, and a computer. We are shipping it through UPS...maybe they don't have the same requirements as a moving company would? I dunno. We'll just have to call and ask.

[trailmix 77]

I had to do the same as Reba - I had to fax back a copy of my I-94 showing I was legally in the US to the moving company bringing in my personal belongings. They were definitely required to show it at the border - if they had not have had it, they would not have been allowed to bring my belongings to the US.

But we are not planning to use a moving company. These are just boxes of clothes, books, and a computer. We are shipping it through UPS...maybe they don't have the same requirements as a moving company would? I dunno. We'll just have to call and ask.

Good idea to call and ask.

Any shipping company or UPS should be asking you for some kind of documentation of your right to be in the U.S. and documentation of your residency status (visa) - if they aren't then you need to call back and ask someone who knows, but they are probably pretty good

[David_n_Amber 3]

Im thinking of taking apart my computer and shoving it into one suitcase and putting the hardware into another suitcase, has anyone had problems with that?