Shipping my belongings to the US before POE...?

[M&O 0]

Hallo everybody...

I suppose there is an answer to my question somewhere here, but I was not able to find it.

So, the question is if I can ship my personal things (via post) to the US before I go there personally (I've got my CR visa and would move to the US in a two weeks approx.). They would be sent to my wife's address (which is my future address too).

I have an option to send them right now with a chance they arrive there before me, or to send them a day or two before I take a plane to the US, in which case I will be there before my things.

I was planning to fill a form 3299 and since I can buy a plain ticket immediately I could theoretically fill the required fields for date and point of entry in the form. I also wanted to add a copy of my passport and visa page and a short explanation letter.

Would that work?

I would be grateful to anybody knowing answer to this question or pointing me to the thread where I can find more info...

Thanks!

[NikLR 13,227]

Your stuff cannot precede you to the USA because until you POE, you are not yet a US LPR.

[Lynkali 163]

I'm very curious about the same topic, as my fiancé will be coming in August or September and we're trying to figure out shipping. I don't understand our options at all, it's confusing me a lot.

- he's a K-1, will he be a "resident" and qualify for the Form 3299? He won't technically be a resident until we AOS after our marriage?

- can we ship the items a day or two before he leaves and therefore he will have arrived by the time they do?

- do the items get held somewhere and we have to pick them up, or do they continue in normal postal mail?

Totally lost and I need help.

How do other people do this, it's gotta be one of the most common things in the world. But he certainly can't be IN THE USA and still trying to ship his belongings from Finland, so how is he supposed to fulfill both "LPR" and "shipping from Finland" at the same time???

Alternately, is there any chance *I* can ship his belongings to ME in the USA? I am going to be in Finland this summer anyway, can I ship his clothing and books in my name to myself as a US citizen, or is that violating some law since they are technically still "his" possessions?

Edited May 31, 2013 by Lynkali

[NikLR 13,227]

I'm very curious about the same topic, as my fiancé will be coming in August or September and we're trying to figure out shipping. I don't understand our options at all, it's confusing me a lot.

- he's a K-1, will he be a "resident" and qualify for the Form 3299? He won't technically be a resident until we AOS after our marriage?

- can we ship the items a day or two before he leaves and therefore he will have arrived by the time they do?

- do the items get held somewhere and we have to pick them up, or do they continue in normal postal mail?

Totally lost and I need help.

How do other people do this, it's gotta be one of the most common things in the world. But he certainly can't be IN THE USA and still trying to ship his belongings from Finland, so how is he supposed to fulfill both "LPR" and "shipping from Finland" at the same time???

He can ship after he gets to the USA. He has legal status in the USA. They may need a copy of his I-94.

[Lynkali 163]

He can ship after he gets to the USA. He has legal status in the USA. They may need a copy of his I-94.

How can he ship AFTER he's in the USA? He can't go to the Finnish post office from San Diego. What am I missing? Still completely lost on how other people do this.

I edited above post before I saw lower one, so adding on: can I ship his belongings in my name? I'll be in Finland visiting in July, can I ship his books to myself, or are they still "his" possessions and is that somehow illegal? I want to do this right, even pay duty if necessary, but I don't understand the process at all.

[M&O 0]

Your stuff cannot precede you to the USA because until you POE, you are not yet a US LPR.

But can I send them just a few days before my flight?

According to the post service that I intend to use - it'll take about two weeks (maybe even more) before they arrive to the US.

So, when they arrive - I'll already be there.

Is that ok?

Edited May 31, 2013 by M&O

[M&O 0]

I want to do this right, even pay duty if necessary, but I don't understand the process at all.

If you are ready to pay duties - I believe there's no problem to ship anything anyway anytime you want.

My concern is how to use my immigrant right to import my personal belonging duty free, as I have some amount of electronic instruments, tools and components that I use in my everyday work which are not quite cheap so the duties too wouldn't be cheap...

Edited May 31, 2013 by M&O

[Lynkali 163]

If you are ready to pay duties - I believe there's no problem to ship anything anyway anytime you want.

My concern is how to use my immigrant right to import my personal belonging duty free, as I have some amount of electronic instruments, tools and components that I use in my everyday work, and which are not quite cheap so the duties too wouldn't be cheap...

No, I understand and of course I don't want to pay duties if I'm not (or he's not) required to. I'm not clear on whether a K-1 is actually an LPR since he's not, really, until after AOS.

I am still not clear on what the form 3299 actually does for a K-1 and much more importantly, how he's supposed to, as everyone says "ship his items after he gets to the USA". If they just mean that the items must ARRIVE after he does, ok ... is that all it means? Not the shipping date but the arrival date?

Didn't mean to hijack your thread though! We really have the same question I think: can we ship items before we leave the country and before POE, as long as they arrive AFTER POE that's okay?

Edited May 31, 2013 by Lynkali

[M&O 0]

how he's supposed to, as everyone says "ship his items after he gets to the USA". If they just mean that the items must ARRIVE after he does, ok ... is that all it means? Not the shipping date but the arrival date?

I, too, am not sure what's that all about.

I've read somewhere that there is some number (which you get with your I-94 at the POE) which you should enter somewhere in form 3299

(which is "DECLARATION FOR FREE ENTRY OF UNACCOMPANIED ARTICLES" which you can find here: http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/cbp_form_3299.pdf)

However, I couldn't find where's that I-94 number required in that 3299 form. There are fields for date and point of entry, but not for that I-94 number...?!

It's hard for me to believe that you can't send your own stuff at the time you are leaving, but need to have someone behind to send your stuff for you at some later point, for what he/she apparently should have some kind of certified authorization from you given to him together with the copy of your passport, visa-page and so on...?!

I think I'll just send my stuff few days before my flight, fill the 3299 form with the date and POE according to the flight ticket, add the copy of my passport and visa page, a short explanation letter and put everything together in the box (or on the box).

[Fin 0]

Hallo everybody...

I suppose there is an answer to my question somewhere here, but I was not able to find it.

So, the question is if I can ship my personal things (via post) to the US before I go there personally (I've got my CR visa and would move to the US in a two weeks approx.). They would be sent to my wife's address (which is my future address too).

I have an option to send them right now with a chance they arrive there before me, or to send them a day or two before I take a plane to the US, in which case I will be there before my things.

I was planning to fill a form 3299 and since I can buy a plain ticket immediately I could theoretically fill the required fields for date and point of entry in the form. I also wanted to add a copy of my passport and visa page and a short explanation letter.

Would that work?

I would be grateful to anybody knowing answer to this question or pointing me to the thread where I can find more info...

Thanks!

I'll be leaving with a K-1 visa in a week.

I sent 2 heavy packages with all my books and some household stuff via DHL 3 weeks ago.

Sent it from Germany and didnt use a specific form. Just the normal declaration that was attached with the adress. I had to name every item and it's value in there.

I also declared it to be private moving goods.

Both packages arrived without any problems.

Don't know how much stuff you need to send but hope this helps!

[NikLR 13,227]

Yes your items must arrive after you do. I apologize for being unclear on this. I get that you can't pack it up and send it after you arrive. My bad!

My situation is a little different since I'm in Canada, but I know that my goods cannot go across the border until they have proof that I have. Even if the goods are unaccompanied. However, being across the ocean is likely a different story. Perhaps in your regional forum they might have some better ideas.

I understand that a k1 doesn't become an LPR until after they AOS, and if I say LPR to a CR1/IR1 person, that is because it is a different situation. On a K1 they still understand you are moving to the USA. Despite the fact it's deemed as a "non-immigrant visa" it really isn't one. You obtain paperwork showing you have a legal status in the USA. Meaning that you have the right to be in the USA, living in the USA. You may need that paperwork to clear your items. Of course it depends on how much you intend to send. If it's a few boxes, I can't see it being a big deal. If, like my husband did when moving back from Guam, it's containers full of household items, that takes weeks to ship and you'll have no problem having the paperwork ready if needed.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That form has a box for people emigrating to the US. I see no indication that the person "emigrating" must be in the US already, and frankly it doesn't make sense. There is even a box there for visitors and non-residents.

You can always call cbp and ask them. They are friendly.

Edited May 31, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

I will be moving to Illinois soon on a CR1 visa and I am somewhat confused about all this shipping malarkey. Surely it's ok to send your belongings over via a courier company? Why would customs be interested in personal items such as books, cd's etc? I was thinking of taking a few extra cases with me when I fly over but today I noticed British Airways have doubled there prices from £70 per checked bag to £140.

I really need someone on here to explain the process of posting boxes of personal items over via courier company? Would one need to fill in a form of its contents and if so what is this form called and where do you obtain one from? I know when I've posted gifts to the states at the post office there's a tiny customs declaration you need to fill in and sign, but is this the same form you need to post a bigger parcel via courier company?

[Jawaree 717]

I found there's custom fees paid on certain items

like tools for your trade , some personal effects

etc, however after a few days (I think 5) storage fees

are incured.So they suggest not shipping too soon

before leaving your country

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

I found there's custom fees paid on certain items

like tools for your trade , some personal effects

etc, however after a few days (I think 5) storage fees

are incured.So they suggest not shipping too soon

before leaving your country

Thank you for the info Jawaree...

Does anyone know what items you would need to pay custom fees on? Does one just fill out the normal customs declaration you get for posting gifts etc to the U.S.A from the post office?

Just confused why customs would be interested in personal belongings, such as clothes, cd's, books etc!