Question- Shipping Belongings to the US

[A & C 22]

I am sure this has been asked several times before... But I am just curious if my belongings can be shipped down the week before I move? At this time my stuff is being hauled down to Kentucky on July 12th. And I am flying out the following week July 18th. Will they ask questions or not allow my stuff through if my Visa is not activated until the following week? Any thoughts or help or links to previous posts about this matter would be great!

C

[NikLR 13,232]

I don't think you can? Have you checked with the shipping company?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Your shipping company will need to provide proof of your legal right to live in the US before your belongings will be allowed to enter. Did you provide them with a photocopy of your visa? I know with a K-1 I had to provide the 'activation' stamp in my passport and the activated K-1 visa and my I-94 (you won't have an I-94) to the moving company and they were required to show them at the border before my belongings were allowed to enter. Until you have established your right to live in the US, your belongings have no right to live there. It could be that your spouse can claim ownership as marital property is mutually owned but you may have problems having your belongings entering before you do.

Is is possible to take a quick trip just to the border to activate the CR-1 visa in your passport, then return to Canada until you are ready to fly down? That would resolve any difficulties and you could explain the circumstances to the border authorities when you activated the visa, It will only be a matter of a few weeks before you are permanently in the US.

Edited June 22, 2013 by Kathryn41

[Bugs 455]

Interesting answers. So if my fiance wants to bring all her clothes here, computer, other itmes, is the better alternative to check boxes in on the plane with her? Or leave it home and have it shipped upon arrival? She is from the Philippines.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Basically, a person immigrating to the US is allowed to bring their personal property in with them or after them - not before them. Until they have been allowed to enter the US and establish their status as someone allowed to live in the US they cannot import their personal property duty free. I believe if you wanted to pay duty on the property you might be able to import it that way but it is better if you can arrange for it to arrive with or after your own arrival. You have 10 years, actually, after you POE in which you are allowed to import your personal belongings duty free. You can do a cost analysis to see what is most effective - bringing the items with you (eg via plane - and don't forget the hassle of having to wrestle with lots of luggage) or having the items that you don't need right away or are not fragile or valuable shipped afterwards.

Edited June 22, 2013 by Kathryn41

[Bugs 455]

Basically, a person immigrating to the US is allowed to bring their personal property in with them or after them - not before them. Until they have been allowed to enter the US and establish their status as someone allowed to live in the US they cannot import their personal property duty free. I believe if you wanted to pay duty on the property you might be able to import it that way but it is better if you can arrange for it to arrive with or after your own arrival. You have 10 years, actually, after you POE in which you are allowed to import your personal belongings duty free. You can do a cost analysis to see what is most effective - bringing the items with you (eg via plane - and don't forget the hassle of having to wrestle with lots of luggage) or having the items that you don't need right away or are not fragile or valuable shipped afterwards.

Thanks, this is a great help.

Just one more hassle to think about in the whole process lol.

[A & C 22]

Well the shipping company needs a photo copy of my visa that is in my passport. They never stated whether it had to be activated or not. And yes I could make a trip through the border before my stuff is shipped down and before I fly. But won't they wonder why I am just going through just to activate my Visa? Or could I just say that I am activating it now so that my stuff can be shipped out and show them my plane ticket for when I am actually moving?

[NikLR 13,232]

You can try to activate it before hand. See if you can contact the CBP at the airport or land crossing and make an appointment with them to do that? I was also thinking maybe the CBP officer at the NEXUS could do it for you as well.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Well the shipping company needs a photo copy of my visa that is in my passport. They never stated whether it had to be activated or not. And yes I could make a trip through the border before my stuff is shipped down and before I fly. But won't they wonder why I am just going through just to activate my Visa? Or could I just say that I am activating it now so that my stuff can be shipped out and show them my plane ticket for when I am actually moving?

The shipping company has to provide your paperwork to customs upon entry into the US.

I do not think US customs would allow your items to pass freely w/o it being activated regardless of what the company accepts.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

If you can go to the border before hand that would definitely be the easiest route to take. Just explain that you have your CR-1 visa and will be moving to the US on July 18th, but that you need to ship out your belongings the week before so would like to activate the CR-1 visa at this time so the moving company can ship out your things while you finish up all of the details involved with the move. Your actual 'landing date' will be the date you activate the CR-1 at the border. They will place an I-551 stamp in your passport which will allow you to come and go across the border without a problem. The I-551 stamp is the same thing as the green card - it is the proof of your Permanent Residency in the US. Others have done this before without a problem. Then you would provide the shipping company with a copy of the I-551 stamp as well that shows you are legally entitled to live in the US. They should have no problems at the border with that in hand.

Edited June 22, 2013 by Kathryn41

[The Mean Lady 604]

I would suggest bringing a copy of your intended permanent leave flight confirmation.

I believe I saw someone recently get denied trying to just activate the visa and go back.

It seems to be the rarity, but better safe than sorry.

[A & C 22]

If you can go to the border before hand that would definitely be the easiest route to take. Just explain that you have your CR-1 visa and will be moving to the US on July 18th, but that you need to ship out your belongings the week before so would like to activate the CR-1 visa at this time so the moving company can ship out your things while you finish up all of the details involved with the move. Your actual 'landing date' will be the date you activate the CR-1 at the border. They will place an I-551 stamp in your passport which will allow you to come and go across the border without a problem. The I-551 stamp is the same thing as the green card - it is the proof of your Permanent Residency in the US. Others have done this before without a problem. Then you would provide the shipping company with a copy of the I-551 stamp as well that shows you are legally entitled to live in the US. They should have no problems at the border with that in hand.

Thanks. I think this is what I will do. But I think I may call on Monday to see if I can forsure do this. Or if I have to figure something else out. Sometimes I hate living on this blasted Island If I didn't have to rent a uhaul to get my stuff to the location it is being shipped from this would be SO much easier.

I would suggest bringing a copy of your intended permanent leave flight confirmation.

I believe I saw someone recently get denied trying to just activate the visa and go back.

It seems to be the rarity, but better safe than sorry.

Yeah I was planning on taking my flight details and such with me, if this is the route I take. I agree, better to be safe than sorry.

[hikergirl 277]

Thanks. I think this is what I will do. But I think I may call on Monday to see if I can forsure do this. Or if I have to figure something else out. Sometimes I hate living on this blasted Island If I didn't have to rent a uhaul to get my stuff to the location it is being shipped from this would be SO much easier.

Yeah I was planning on taking my flight details and such with me, if this is the route I take. I agree, better to be safe than sorry.

Aren’t there US CBP people at the ferry terminal that goes to WA and at the Victoria Airport?

I’m almost sure we had to present our passports to get off Island on one of our trips.

[A & C 22]

Arent there US CBP people at the ferry terminal that goes to WA and at the Victoria Airport?

Im almost sure we had to present our passports to get off Island on one of our trips.

I am going from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Dropping my stuff off in Surrey where they then ship it to Kentucky. And I am flying from Vancouver the following week.

[hikergirl 277]

I am going from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Dropping my stuff off in Surrey where they then ship it to Kentucky. And I am flying from Vancouver the following week.

I was thinking rather than go off-Island to POE so you could ship your belongings, maybe you could just drive down to the ferry terminal and POE through them. But if you have to leave the Island to ship your stuff then that wouldn’t help anyways.

Good luck with your move!