Moving stuff from Philippines to US

[ReiSea 1]

So yay, we got her visa, and we booked the tickets so I can accompany her here, but was wondering what other people did for moving her stuff over here. I live in Ohio so Johnny Air isn't likely an option, but I know there is excess baggage with Delta, sending thru the mail, and thru a carrier like Fedex or LBC, or someone also mentioned an excess-baggage.com as well. So just wanted to see what others did to send from Manila to US, and what was the most reasonable in price. Thanks for all your past and future help to make our journey a smooth one.

[Hasib 2]

congratulation ! :thumbs:

Good luck

[killmewidursmile 0]

So yay, we got her visa, and we booked the tickets so I can accompany her here, but was wondering what other people did for moving her stuff over here. I live in Ohio so Johnny Air isn't likely an option, but I know there is excess baggage with Delta, sending thru the mail, and thru a carrier like Fedex or LBC, or someone also mentioned an excess-baggage.com as well. So just wanted to see what others did to send from Manila to US, and what was the most reasonable in price. Thanks for all your past and future help to make our journey a smooth one.

you can contact Manila Forwarders .!

[B_and_G 2]

I moved to Kansas and used Johnny Air. My package is yet to arrive as the turnaround time is 45 days to 2 months. But they were easy to deal with. Didn't use Manila Forwarders since they had too many forms to fill up. Price was around 250 to 260 usd all in.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

If they're just clothes, I suggests to just leave them in the Philippines. Clothes are so much available in the US. Just bring everything with so much value to her like records, photos and things like that. I think for Delta they're allowed two 50lbs check-in luggages right? It will be best to just have a 3rd check-in luggage with another 50 or 70 lbs instead paying the same for overrage of the 1st two lugggages.

Safe flight and welcome to US soon!

[ReiSea 1]

Yup, thankfully two with delta, so I will be packing lighter this trip to make for max pack-age. And wouldn't Johnny Air mean picking it up at only one of its 4 locations, the closest being NJ? Apparently there's also one calling itself a reverse balikbyan service 'bring over boss' (BOB for short), but not sure about that one yet. Of course with Delta you get it all right then, which would be quite convenient.

Hope your interview goes well, Tintin, since I see it's coming up soon. Hopefully you get friendlier ppl than my fiancee had the misfortune of getting, filipino and american (both were older gents and rather gruff)

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Yup, thankfully two with delta, so I will be packing lighter this trip to make for max pack-age. And wouldn't Johnny Air mean picking it up at only one of its 4 locations, the closest being NJ? Apparently there's also one calling itself a reverse balikbyan service 'bring over boss' (BOB for short), but not sure about that one yet. Of course with Delta you get it all right then, which would be quite convenient.

Hope your interview goes well, Tintin, since I see it's coming up soon. Hopefully you get friendlier ppl than my fiancee had the misfortune of getting, filipino and american (both were older gents and rather gruff)

Yup in two weeks! Well it's alright if she got the less friendly COs, she got approved and that's all it matters Thanks!!

[Artisan 138]

The first thing to do is really piece together just how much she has that cannot be replaced. There are a lot of personal items (toiletries, beauty products, undergarments, etc.) she'll want to bring with her as there is little to replace them, especially in Ohio (I'm close to Akron and there are only a few Asian markets in Northeast Ohio even with our decent sized Filipino population). Since she will be coming home in the middle of what is supposed to be a cold, wet winter this year be sure to either pack something warm for her or have the person picking you up at the airport bring a heavy coat and hat.

If she is bringing back more than two large suitcases I would recommend seriously looking at what she's packing and decide if there are items she can leave behind with family or friends and buy again in the US. If you need to move any heavy objects, like furniture, you will be paying a severe premium with a bulk shipping company. Extra baggage can usually be negotiated with the airline. Delta will allow up to three bags in my experience if you are willing to pay extra.

Good luck with your trip.

[ReiSea 1]

That's true, since we do intend to have her parents and her matron of honor fly over for the wedding, so I would be inclined to use delta anyway and could have them take their 2 bags full of her stuff. Fortunately she only has smaller items like crafts and clothes, and some books. Thank you for that most helpful suggestion. Thanks for all the suggestions, guys

[Artisan 138]

That's true, since we do intend to have her parents and her matron of honor fly over for the wedding

Not to be a downer, but have you already investigated the ability of her parents and her matron of honor to get tourist visas to visit the US for the wedding? If not, you should be aware that unless you are incredibly wealthy, older, and have significant financial/real estate ties to the Philippines it is next to impossible to any sort of short term visa to visit the US, including just a simple tourist visa. It may be that they already have visas through other sources, but do not count on that unless you've already checked into it.

[ReiSea 1]

Not to be a downer, but have you already investigated the ability of her parents and her matron of honor to get tourist visas to visit the US for the wedding? If not, you should be aware that unless you are incredibly wealthy, older, and have significant financial/real estate ties to the Philippines it is next to impossible to any sort of short term visa to visit the US, including just a simple tourist visa. It may be that they already have visas through other sources, but do not count on that unless you've already checked into it.

Thanks for your input. Her dad has been to the US 3 times but that was a long time ago (1990s), do you think this will help? We are still willing to try, especially for her dad since he has been granted a tourist visa 3 times. Thanks.

[Artisan 138]

Thanks for your input. Her dad has been to the US 3 times but that was a long time ago (1990s), do you think this will help? We are still willing to try, especially for her dad since he has been granted a tourist visa 3 times. Thanks.

In my experience the Embassy will be more willing to grant a tourist visa to one spouse traveling without the other as it gives some inclination that they will return. If your fiance's father traveled to the US in the 90s on a tourist visa it may be likely he would be approved again, but never take it as granted without further investigation. It's a sad state of affairs but the average tourist visa from the Philippines to the US is denied. One thing that does help is significant foreign travel and showing that you return from other foreign counties on a regular basis. The Embassy doesn't want to risk anyone from the Philippines coming here to reside without an immigrant visa. Having relatives here in the US and a lack of strong financial ties that would result in loss if you didn't return are use red flags for trying to obtain a tourist visa.