Mailing belongings with UPS

[pocheros 101]

Hi guys I just thought I'd make a post regarding shipping your personal belongings since I found out some helpful information.

I don't own a lot of stuff and have a few medium sized boxes of personal belongings (kitchenware, clothing, art supplies, boring stuff like that) that I'm going to ship after I make my POE. Some other people here have mentioned U-haul or filling up pods, but neither of those options are practical for someone like me who has so few belongings. So I checked out UPS: http://www.ups.com/canada/engindex.html It has a nice a calculator that estimates the cost of shipping your belongings (have a tape measure and scale to weigh your stuff handy) and IMO it's fairly reasonable if you go with the cheapest option. It would be more expensive to replace my belongings than mail them so I don't mind ponying up a couple hundred bucks for some boxes of stuff.

I went to the UPS store to ask what forms I need. The guy was very helpful and told me directly that "You know your belongings can't precede you when you enter the States, right?" to which I said yes. I thought I'd mention that since it's a question that comes up around here. Seems needlessly bureaucratic but if you're shipping stuff it seems like it's dodgy to do so before you make your POE. Fortunately I have some helpful friends here who are willing to mail my stuff for me

The guy gave me some forms and also informed me that they will need a black and white photocopy of my visa to accompany them (colour photocopies of visas are illegal, apparently, which makes sense.)

This is the form he gave me: http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/cbp_form_3299.pdf It's the same form no matter which company you use to mail your stuff, I'm pretty sure.

It asks for some more obscure information like the name of your arriving train/flight. I mean, that's not *really* obscure but it's something to keep track of if you're not mailing your belongings immediately. So what I'm doing is filling out a few of these forms ahead of time and then leaving them here with the person who's going to ship my stuff so it's all ready to go.

I hope this is helpful!

Edited September 2, 2011 by pocheros

[pocheros 101]

I also forgot to mention: if you're entering the States via plane make sure to check out how much checked luggage you're allowed to bring and the cost. For example Delta charges you for your first checked bag, but Air Canada gives you one checked bag for free and charges $35 for the second checked bag. This is handy for me since I'll be living out of a suitcase for awhile and I chose to fly with Air Canada.

[Flames9_RN 358]

And make sure you know the weights!!! As the excessive weight charge can be $$$$$$ We just moved to Nicaragua and flew on Continental. Your allowed 50 lbs, 1 bag was 52 and we either had to pay or take stuff out--which we did and put in another suitcase that was below 50 lbs! Saw 1 gad at 51 lbs, same thing!!

[pocheros 101]

Oh, if you happen to have a fish scale that's a very accurate way to weight your luggage (just hook it around the handle). I used a fish scale to weigh my luggage last time I entered that States and it had the same reading as the scale at the airport. I picked it up from Canadian Tire for 5 bucks I think.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I also forgot to mention: if you're entering the States via plane make sure to check out how much checked luggage you're allowed to bring and the cost. For example Delta charges you for your first checked bag, but Air Canada gives you one checked bag for free and charges $35 for the second checked bag. This is handy for me since I'll be living out of a suitcase for awhile and I chose to fly with Air Canada.

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/News/2011/09/02/18632796.html NO more free bags with air canada next month when flying to the USA. Stay within Canada, 1st 1 is still free

[pocheros 101]

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/News/2011/09/02/18632796.html NO more free bags with air canada next month when flying to the USA. Stay within Canada, 1st 1 is still free

Wooh, I'm lucky my POE is before October 11th then.