Shipping personal items

[thedooky 0]

I'm shortly due to leave the UK for the US, and I'm going to need to send a box of my own items to my new address. Unfortunately, I'm having some problems with the paperwork, and would appreciate some advice.

Since it's a relatively small amount of stuff, I've been looking at using the likes of Parecelforce, who handle the Royal Mail's international deliveries. Here's the problem: everything I've read leads me to believe that my delivery will need to be accompanied by CBP Form 3299, for free entry of unaccompanied articles, plus such things as photocopies of my passport and visa. But on speaking to Parcelforce over the phone, I'm told that all they require is an inventory of the items being sent, plus values and country of origin. They seemed not to know about the customs forms and other requirements. Obviously I'm reluctant to entrust them with my belongings if there's a chance they're going to drop them off in the US without any of the necessary paperwork, but they seemed adamant that nothing more was required.

Can anyone tell me exactly what I should be doing here? Can anyone recommend a shipping company for small quantities like this? Most removals companies I've looked at seem geared up for large shipments, and so charge exorbitant prices for the smaller ones.

[Brit Abroad 166]

Yes, you need the customs declaration completed, otherwise it will be opened at this end, inspected and repacked, along with a duty charge on what they think they see. (Not so gently either, I might add).

I used Interlink for non-breakables. They were cheaper, had local drop off points (which reduced it from pick-ups) and had all the paperwork on the computer in front of them. Basically, you either pack it in a box of your choosing or you get a standard box and give them the measurements and weight. They double check it, go through the paperwork and the customs documentation with it and despatch it on it's way. I sent my computer and it arrived 4 days later. I was very impressed with Interlink, and wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Can't comment on how they handle breakables, as I haven't sent those yet.

One thing, make sure that you put USED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS in bold at the top of the form, otherwise they will clobber you for import duty. Remember that there are restrictions on items that you can bring in to America and you should be fine.

[at long last 58]

I'm shortly due to leave the UK for the US, and I'm going to need to send a box of my own items to my new address. Unfortunately, I'm having some problems with the paperwork, and would appreciate some advice.

Since it's a relatively small amount of stuff, I've been looking at using the likes of Parecelforce, who handle the Royal Mail's international deliveries. Here's the problem: everything I've read leads me to believe that my delivery will need to be accompanied by CBP Form 3299, for free entry of unaccompanied articles, plus such things as photocopies of my passport and visa. But on speaking to Parcelforce over the phone, I'm told that all they require is an inventory of the items being sent, plus values and country of origin. They seemed not to know about the customs forms and other requirements. Obviously I'm reluctant to entrust them with my belongings if there's a chance they're going to drop them off in the US without any of the necessary paperwork, but they seemed adamant that nothing more was required.

Can anyone tell me exactly what I should be doing here? Can anyone recommend a shipping company for small quantities like this? Most removals companies I've looked at seem geared up for large shipments, and so charge exorbitant prices for the smaller ones.

my suggestion to you is to purchase another luggage and pack it there and take it with you. I'm even packing my pots and pans in my suitcase...lol

Terri

Edited October 25, 2011 by at long last

[Alex & Rachel 78]

If it's just one box, I agree with at long last's suggestion.

[EminTX 131]

If it's not a lot of stuff and can fit in a reasonable sized box, list the items with generic descriptions and send them on like any other package. Example: My other half wants his books. They are simply impossible to find here. They are old, used, a tad smelly, and not worth anything to anybody, including a resale shop so packing them as a gift of used books with a value of 50$ (very generous, I must say!) and sending them to himself here at our address in Texas is a nice gift to himself. He'll have his chosen books on the shelves when he arrives. The ones that he uses up to the last few days, those can be packed or shipped separately.

Unless it really is a personal item, I don't know that I would bother at all. Here, we already have a house that is lived in with everything needed to live in it. His clothes, papers, books, photos, and other individual items are needed. Other stuff, well, not so important. (I am planning to move to his country in the future so that already is playing on my mind when I consider purchases here.)

Seriously, pots and pans? If there is a family heirloom, I can understand or if you are just filling up the space, but with the baggage fees and the hassle, I honestly can't imagine finding yourself in any country without access to cookware.

Also, don't knock the carry-on backpack and clothing items that take extra space. Wear your coat and boots on the plane to make room. I don't know what pressure you have for gifts is, if that is a consideration, consider scaling that way back or forgoing it all together.

Good luck.

[tokyobelle 2]

yeah if it's a only a few things or will fit in a small box i agree with the 3rd and last suggestion.

i had to ship my stuff from Japan though, 4 cartons which included some valuable stuff. if you really need to send it as unaccompanied baggage/luggage then you should make a copy of your inventory, make note of the value price as well. then i also made a copy of the passport page of my entry in the US, the day I left the country of origin, my US visa and biographic page. then fill out the form 3299. sometimes the shipping company does the customs paperwork for you with a fee, you can ask them. i had to do mine myself since it costs an extra $100 or something for sending it from the port to our apartment (it's relatively close so we arranged to pick it up ourselves). your shipping company or the broker will give you some paperwork (sort of a clearance) which you also show to the customs and they will put a stamp on it.