Shipping Paperwork from London

[John & Mary 1]

The shipping company who holds John's stuff wants him to fill out a lot of customs paperwork in order for his things to be shipped here. There is a section in the customs paperwork for "Non-Residents" and there is a section for "Residents."

We've applied for AOS, but no EAD or green card yet, nor will there be for months, probably. Is he still a non-resident?

[Lansbury 19]

For customs purposes the terms have different meanings to immigration ones.

Ages since we did ours but I'm sure we put residents, even though we were both in the UK returning to live in the UK.

Go to the customs web site instructions are on there about filling in the forms. You need to make sure you do it correctly as residents or returning residents get their stuff in duty free. Like all things a few odd exceptions if the stuff is brand new or less than a year old so always best to read up before committing pen to paper

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Persons arriving in the United States from foreign countries are divided into two classes for Customs purposes: (1) residents of the U.S. returning from abroad, and (2) all other persons, from here on referred to as nonresidents. Your classification determines the exemptions from payment of duty on your household effects for which you are eligible.

A resident of a foreign country married to a U.S. resident, and any children born abroad are considered nonresidents when coming into the United States for the first time.

Source: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsro....ctt/moving.doc

[nickandkayte 0]

Thanks for posting this, I was getting confused with shipping....

I am sending over 6 boxes with excess baggage sea mail, its all stuff like worn shoes, underwear, shirts, medical books. Nothing expensive. How much tax roughly would I be charged? Is it really worth shipping it over if I am going to be taxed?

[imaisha 1]

Personal effects owned for more than a year by immigrants should be admitted duty free. You'll need to have a look at this form though: http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_3299.pdf