Questions on moving ourselves

[Pandora01 0]

Well, in a week from today I'll know if my visa is approved. These are exciting times!

If approved, we're planning for my fiance to come pick me up with his pickup and trailer and we'll move my stuff ourselves. I know that if you use the services of movers, you have to complete a form for non-accompanied goods. If my stuff moves with me, is there another form I need to fill prior to moving? Or a form that needs to be filled out at the border?

Right now I have a handwritten list of boxes (3 boxes of clothing, 2 boxes of books & DVDs, etc.). Do I need more? Do I need to had values for each category?

And while I'm at it, I have some old furniture (the oldest is around 60 years old, so not antiques yet). I've been trying to find someone to get an evaluation of those before crossing the border but so far, no one has replied to me yet (what a pain ). Any clue if I really need an evaluation for those?

[MrsCat 6]

Well, in a week from today I'll know if my visa is approved. These are exciting times!

If approved, we're planning for my fiance to come pick me up with his pickup and trailer and we'll move my stuff ourselves. I know that if you use the services of movers, you have to complete a form for non-accompanied goods. If my stuff moves with me, is there another form I need to fill prior to moving? Or a form that needs to be filled out at the border?

Right now I have a handwritten list of boxes (3 boxes of clothing, 2 boxes of books & DVDs, etc.). Do I need more? Do I need to had values for each category?

And while I'm at it, I have some old furniture (the oldest is around 60 years old, so not antiques yet). I've been trying to find someone to get an evaluation of those before crossing the border but so far, no one has replied to me yet (what a pain ). Any clue if I really need an evaluation for those?

When I crossed at Blaine, a gentleman came to the border to ask what was required when he moved his wife in regards to list of things. The officer said just write the # of DVD's approximate, just write clothing, and a brief list of the furniture. He didn't seem to want anything too detailed.

When I crossed, I just said, I have 4 suitcases of clothing, a car and a cat. He wasn't too interested in much else. However we didn't have a trailer so it was probably easier.

[JillA 2]

I am crossing November 15th... I'll be driving my car, Glen the U-HAUL truck... I have made a packing list which simply states what is inside the truck, I.E. 1 couch, 3 tables, etc. I also numbered the boxes and stated what is inside each box, but not too specific I.E. Box #1 = dishes. And if you have any electronics, be sure the serial number is noted down!

Oh and of course... GOOD LUCK!!

[Pandora01 0]

Thanks cattatude and JillA. Yup, I also have a list of serial numbers for all my electronics.

I'm still wondering about the old furniture though. Anyone who has moved with such who can share their experience, good or bad? I'd like to hear about it.

[JillA 2]

I don't know about the old furniture, but I highly doubt customs would look at it or anything... can you just put "furniture" on your packing list, and not be too specific? After all, I'm sure it won't matter too much the year the furniture was made..

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You are allowed to move your personal property with you when you move to the States (and up to 10 years after you move, in fact). Old furniture, whether it is antique or collectible or just 'old', counts as your personal property if you have owned it for more than one year prior to the move, or it has been in a home in which you have lived for at least a year prior to the move (ie. your parents give you an old coffee table from your childhood home). I imported my antique Coalport and Royal Doulton china - it was my mother's (she and my Dad had collected it in the early years of their marriage) and she had left it to me in her will. I had no problems. You should have none either. Just list what it is on your list, ie. table, dresser, bed, etc. and don't worry about value. You'll be fine. If you have anything that is less than a year in your possession then try to make sure you have the value for those or pack them separately, but even still, you shouldn't have a problem. I wasn't asked about any of my personal belongings that I was importing. I even went so far as to have phytosanitary certificates for the house plants I brought with me! They never looked at them.

[Pandora01 0]

JillA - I'll create a "furniture" section on my list and add them in there without specifying age. Thanks again, JillA.

Kathryn - Thanks Kathryn. That reassures me a bit. I have a few collectibles (about 10, including an old tea set) which I'm having an appraisal done for. From what you're saying, I guess I could have saved myself the trouble! Anyways, I'll have something for insurance at least

So from what I understand from everybody's replies, there's no specific form to be completed and a homemade list of my stuff will be sufficient. Cool! One thing less to worry about. That makes me happy

[BermyCat 1]

Is there a form that you have to include with the list of belongings? I really have no idea what I'll have to do for customs. Does anyone have a link that has clear instructions?

I'll be entering the US through Detroit when I finally get my Visa since I need to pick up all the things I put in storage when I moved down here. Phil's going to meet me in TO and we going to get a U-haul with a trailer for my car. 'm a little worried that the customs agent won't like me entering at the US-Canada border with the visa in my Bermuda passport but the US consulate people say that I won't have any problems.

~ Catherine

[Krikit 1,165]

Here you go. Have a blast. CBP Find Answers - Moving FAQ's

Catherine, it won't matter that your visa is in your Bermuda passport. Lots of beneficiaries come in through Canada because some of the flights are cheaper through there. In fact, Jundp's husband came in through Canada from Germany. She visits the Canada forum a lot.... maybe she'll see this. Or you could PM her.

[Pandora01 0]

Thank you so much, Krikit! I've been looking for this kind of information everywhere and couldn't find anything satisfying. This is great! You rock!

[BermyCat 1]

Thanks a lot, Krikit.

~ Catherine

[Udella&Wiz 325]

We used UHaul and drove ourselves. (Gawd - that was a long a$$ drive in the jump seat between my daughter and husband )

I meticulously itemized every box on a spreadsheet, numbred each box visibly, knew the order on the truck etc..

We get to the border , finish up inside, I had my lovely list in hand and the guy says ok, looks good...away you go! Uhm, s'cuse me...i have spent hours on this fancy list and I EXPECT YOU TO READ IT DARN IT!!!!!!!

Moral of the story, you CAN be overprepared. A simple listing, don't get too crazy, have serial numbers as suggested above for electronics etc...

Cheers and good luck

[Pandora01 0]

Thank you, Udella&Wiz. I know what you mean by having prepared everything and them not being interested in looking at it. But I prefer being prepared rather than not.

I do have another question though. Did you have to give them the total value of the things you brought? I'm asking because right now, I have no idea what that value would be and if I have to give them a number, I'll need some time to go through my stuff and figure this number out!

[antda 13]

Hi Pandora01,

I posted this in your other POE message thread, but I thought I'd post it here too, as the information is more relevant here instead:

By the way, if it makes you feel better (and laugh about it... ), I didn't even "pack and plan" (no list either) for my POE. Lol...we just had a carload of stuff for a "two week visit" (as that was what we intended for in the first place) and other stuff that we were bringing back and forth during our "long distance relationship days" (yes, even "our Christmas tree" in April, along with our other stuff, which we got questioned for a very long time about, see my VJ timeline for more info regarding that). As for the the rest of my stuff that I have left behind in Canada while I "immigrated here to the USA", I had to pick up over several (4-5 carloads) of "moving trips" back to Canada (which I didn't get questioned for at all, and I declared as "personal belongings"). Luckily I didn't have too much stuff to begin with before there in Canada either, and had given away/donated a lot of my stuff in Canada (Goodwill, anyone?) while I was "moving"...

Ant (lol.. ..about "not packing and not planning" for the POE...)

Well, in a week from today I'll know if my visa is approved. These are exciting times!

If approved, we're planning for my fiance to come pick me up with his pickup and trailer and we'll move my stuff ourselves. I know that if you use the services of movers, you have to complete a form for non-accompanied goods. If my stuff moves with me, is there another form I need to fill prior to moving? Or a form that needs to be filled out at the border?

Right now I have a handwritten list of boxes (3 boxes of clothing, 2 boxes of books & DVDs, etc.). Do I need more? Do I need to had values for each category?

And while I'm at it, I have some old furniture (the oldest is around 60 years old, so not antiques yet). I've been trying to find someone to get an evaluation of those before crossing the border but so far, no one has replied to me yet (what a pain ). Any clue if I really need an evaluation for those?

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD