Shipping on a CR1 visa in advance of entry

[fermat 32]

My wife is living in Germany and we anticipate that we will have the interview by the end of June and she will be ready to immigrate with a CR1 visa. She would like to ship her things around the same time she immigrates (otherwise there is nobody to ship them for her). Some couriers she has contacted say that they require a photocopy of her visa. As I understand it, after the interview she will get a sealed envelope and maybe a stamp in her passport (I am not sure if we will have anything to give to the courrier). It would be convenient if she could ship some things in advance of herself so that I could recieve them but I'm not sure if this is possible. I've been looking on the US customs and border patrol form 3299 and thinking "She is not a resident but I am. She is my family. She has been living in Germany for over 1 year. (She has not yet been my wife for a full year). Can I just fill out this form and send it to her and she can use that to ship her things to me peicemeal in advance of her entering?" Any help/advice is appreciated.

[Harsh_77 718]

Shipping company is right, they will need a copy of her passport and copy of her visa, that is furnished to the customs officials and they declare her goods as household item related with her move.

As this would be duty exempt, you are already here and shipping company will not accept that.

Here is what I had done, work with the shipping company you guys choose and they can deliver empty boxes, she can start boxing things up and get prepared.

Dont seal the boxes as some shipping companies don't like it, they will go over the items in the box and then they will put their tape on it sealing the box. (Security reasons - also they check for some chemicals and stuff not allowed onboard a freight ship)

I had my stuff ready dumped in the boxes and on the day of shipment shipping company did the final packing.

Edited March 28, 2011 by Harsh_77

[fermat 32]

So a copy of what visa exactly. A copy of the stamp she receives after the interview? A copy of the thing in the sealed envelope? A copy of the green card after she recieves it? I'm curious to know at exactly what point she will have something in her hand to photocopy and give to the courrier.

Shipping company is right, they will need a copy of her passport and copy of her visa, that is furnished to the customs officials and they declare her goods as household item related with her move.

As this would be duty exempt, you are already here and shipping company will not accept that.

[Harsh_77 718]

So a copy of what visa exactly. A copy of the stamp she receives after the interview? A copy of the thing in the sealed envelope? A copy of the green card after she recieves it? I'm curious to know at exactly what point she will have something in her hand to photocopy and give to the courrier.

When she receives her CR1, like normal visa like B1/2 they will attach a CR1 visa in her passport and they will also give her an envelope for immigration officer in US.

Dont let anyone open that envelope, it will say on it do not open, but you make sure no-one opens it other then immigration officer, I have heard of stories where airline and other ppl try to open it.

Shipping company will need copy of her CR1 visa and that should be good.