Moving your stuff prior to K1 Approval

[jennleah72 0]

Hey guys, I wanted to move some of my stuff this summer and this fall, sort of slowly as I visit...has anyone had problems doing this?

Also closer to the date I want to rent a uhaul and move some bigger stuff then fly back, will I be at risk of being turned away?

Anyone with experience with this stuff?

Thanks

[Emancipation 2]

I sent clothing back with hubby when we met for the Montreal interview. I always packed more than I needed when visiting and left things as I went. It was mostly clothing mind you, I wouldn't make it obvious (things that would trigger questions about moving/staying in the US or you might not make it through the border), but clothing was totally doable in our situation.

Edited May 7, 2009 by Emancipation

[thegordons2009 1]

Do not bring more than what you would normally bring on a visit. I tried that and i got stopped and they flagged my passport. They denied me entry into the US. They will make u come back with a letter from you job, paystubs, a mortgage document or rental agreement. They want to see that you have ties to Canada.

[Misty1979 0]

A combination of what has been said above should work, (it worked for me.)

I always packed just a little extra each time I went, (clothing, cd's sometimes, etc,) but also brought strong ties to Canada. Just don't bring anything suspicious like furniture, etc, and you should be fine.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Your U-haul will run the risk of being turned back at the border. Technically, the K-1 visa allows for your belongings to accompany you or follow you to the US - not precede you to the US. While you will probably be alright bringing some extras with you on prior visits and leaving them behind anything that looks like you are moving to the US without the proper visa in place will end up in a denial of entry.

Edited May 7, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Krikit 1,164]

Gosh. Remember the guy who had driven two hours with a u-haul of his girlfriend's belongings and was refused entry at the border? He had to rent out a storage unit and empty out the u-haul to get across because he had to work the next morning. Then he had to drive back the next day, reload the u-haul, and return everything to his girlfriend's house. Crazy stuff.

Here's another one: Noob Move

[Reba 2]

As others have said, unfortunately you can't move the majority of your stuff before you get your K1. Not only woudl it trigger you to be searched and denied entry, but before you get your visa, it is not duty free. AFTER you get your visa, you can move all of your personal belongings duty and tax free, but in order to not be charged duties, you must show evidence of legal entry. Which would be your valid K1.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I had my husband take some small things but he couldn't really look like he was hauling major stuff either when going back to the US, but here's my husband's theory

.......you're going to move the bulk of the stuff once you have the K1 in hand - are a few boxes ahead of time really going to matter all that much?

I know - we all wanted to get a head start on something while we were waiting, and waiting, and waiting

[Cassie 8]

I mailed 3 huge boxes of stuff -- mostly clothes, some wedding stuff, and odds and ends -- to my future mom-in-law, and got through ok. Friends of ours who had driven from Michigan that summer (they come for 3 months) also took a couple of boxes home with them and mailed them for me once back in the US. Other than that, I didn't bother much with having my stuff there before I moved. It was easier to have it all shipped at once after I moved down there.

[carslo 0]

I have mailed down candles - my sister was a Partylite dealer and I had lots of expensive product. You can not send flammable things in with your stuff you are moving with a professional mover or containers. I have mailed a few boxes as I was going for a 5.5 month visit last year and I wanted the things with me. Other than that I have pared down everything to fit in an 7' x 8' x 6' container to go after the interview.

Good luck!

janet