Bringing DVD's In A Suitcase

[Bazaldinho 0]

Hi all,

I am looking to fly to see my fiancee next month before passing the interview and moving over just a couple of months later.

I purchased a DVD player which will allow us to play my English DVD's, so therefore I want to bring an additional suitcase onto the flight (Pay the $50 charge) and pack it with all my DVD's to bring over to her.

Is there any problem with doing this, in regards to customs or anything? They are obviously all original DVD's and would be in their cases too, and I suppose if needbe I can prove that I am currently filing for my K1 visa?

Kind regards,

Barry

[inloveVEN 46]

Hi

I dont see why

You only need to check the thing that yiur are not allowed to have in a plane. And for sure a dvd player is not on that list

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It may look to them like you are moving now and they might try to refuse your entry. Make sure to bring your interview paper with you ( a copy with the date ) so you can show them you have to be back there for the interview.

[Gemmie 142]

It does seem a bit dodgy and can be interpreted as you trying to move over. You know those random suitcase searches that they do? Finding a DVD player and DVDs in your case won't be good to explain.

Instead of doing that, why not purchase one of those huge disc files? This is what I did, and managed to take over 70 DVDs in hardly any space at all, packed it along with my clothes so nothing would break. You don't really need to ship over all of those plastic cases.

Also, instead of even attempting to ship over a DVD player in Region 2, why not get a DVD player that can be converted to multi-region? We got ours for $30 at Walmart, and searched online for the code to make it region-free. It could play my English DVDs within seconds.

[Bazaldinho 0]

Thanks for the replies, and I understand the fact it looks somewhat ominous!

I have ordered a multi region DVD player from amazon.com so that will be at my fiancee's house when I arrive...so I certainly won't be bringing one with me.

I would make sure I have a copy of my letter with the interview date on it, and clear evidence of my return flight too.

I could look into copying them and bringing them over anyway, however whilst I have them in their cases, I would ideally like to bring them over as they are to build our collection.

I would be putting them into a suitcase and checking it in at the checkout not bringing them onboard as hand luggage.

So it sounds like a caser of a random baggage check?

Thanks all.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just a thought, but that many DVDs might look like something you're bringing to sell. You know import/export type rules, which I don't know much about. You do have to write on the blue and white customs declaration form a list and value of anything you are going to leave in the US.

Here's the text:

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States. Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

So you will have to pay customs duty on them or sneak them in and hope they don't check your bags. When you are moving here and have the visa, then you are allowed unlimited personal household goods with no customs duty. It's probably a little premature to bring over a huge DVD collection on this visit, in my opinion.

[Tick Tock 3]

Might you be able to mail your DVDs over? You mention a cost of $50 for bringing an additional suitcase - could this $50 be instead used to send your DVD collection to you fiancee by mail? Perhaps some sort of flat-rate shipping - though I'm not versed enough to provide more than a general suggestion. I concur with the suggestion of packing your DVDs into a CD/DCD "wallet". For an example, visit bestbuy.com and check out SKU # 4101581. When you make your actual move, you can always bring the empty DVD cases with you, or again mail them.

[Bazaldinho 0]

Thanks guys, two very good suggestions indeed, I really don't know anything about shipping services by mail, cost, weight, size etc.

Completely understand about the customs rules though, thank you both again.

[Aubrey 10]

Just thought I'd mention that my husband brought his DVD collection over when he moved via his suitcases with no problem. Maybe you might consider that route, since customs is no issue for your own items when moving.

[tokyo.lovers 6]

we brought tons of old dvds in a suitcase.

you have to watch out for NEW items. if you cannot prove they are old and they happen to check your bag and flag you, you could get taxed.

[Tick Tock 3]

Thanks guys, two very good suggestions indeed, I really don't know anything about shipping services by mail, cost, weight, size etc.

Completely understand about the customs rules though, thank you both again.

I started looking up Fed Ex for the UK, but when it got to the point of zip/postal codes and all of those finer details, I drew a blank. I know that USPS (US Postal Service) has several flat-rate boxes and I was trying to see if perhaps Fed Ex had something like that for international mail in order to potentially save you some money. You do have options though - I am sure you will find one that suits your needs! Best wishes to you!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Again, if you mail/ ship/ Fed-Ex, a package from the UK to the US, the package will have to have a customs form attached stating the contents and value. Every package coming into the US is scanned/x-rayed. Just because it's in a box doesn't mean it won't pass through customs.

[Bazaldinho 0]

Thanks again one and all...it's the kind of thing that never occured to me until you start to realistically plan the move!

It's almost daunting