Moving all my stuff from the UK to USA

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

In general there should be a visa and long customs form for unaccompanied household items so they are not considered imports and subject to duty. What your shipper tells you may be different. Your visa is supposed to show you are an immigrant, and not just somebody sending a load of goods to the US. It allows the agent on the US side to clear your items for pickup by the freight truck which will haul from the port to your home.

[lost_at_sea 995]

In general there should be a visa and long customs form for unaccompanied household items so they are not considered imports and subject to duty. What your shipper tells you may be different. Your visa is supposed to show you are an immigrant, and not just somebody sending a load of goods to the US. It allows the agent on the US side to clear your items for pickup by the freight truck which will haul from the port to your home.

Huh. Well. I guess we'll see. It might be because of how his company is organising it. As he was away in the UK, he is doing a "repatriation" of sorts and they've been taking care of getting him (and me now as his dependant) back.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

This is the form http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_3299.pdf

[lost_at_sea 995]

This is the form http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_3299.pdf

Well, if I find we are over charged, we know who we're billing.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Well, if I find we are over charged, we know who we're billing.

I've seen all kinds of exceptions of what gets through, so that's why I said that is the general concept for shipping your personal effects. If it went via the US person's name as a repatriation, then there wouldn't be a visa requirement.

[lost_at_sea 995]

I've seen all kinds of exceptions of what gets through, so that's why I said that is the general concept for shipping your personal effects. If it went via the US person's name as a repatriation, then there wouldn't be a visa requirement.

Yeah. Makes sense. Apologies for my incorrect assumption re visa copies.

Other than that oddity, the movers were very nice and efficient!

[Kiwinyc 62]

lost_at_sea: If it was your U.S. passport holding husband shipping your household items back to the U.S. under his name then no, he doesn't require a visa to ship his own stuff back to the U.S. But as a non-U.S. citizen I need to show that I have an immigrant (k-1) visa before any shipping co. can put my stuff on a boat to the U.S. as its checked off by customs on the way out.

EDIT: Sorry just repeated what nich_nick posted as I was writing this one.

Edited August 14, 2013 by Kiwinyc

[N&S 32]

Did you really pay £1500 for one crate? I'm imagining a tea chest size but that can't be right?

Perhaps because you had a small(?) shipment, customs didn't bother but I've been told by the co. that quoted me that its better for them to pack and create an inventory because US Customs trusts what a professional shipping company says and are less likely to insist on opening and inspecting (which costs) personal belongings packed by the owner.

And sorry to hear these stories of shipping damage etc. Fwiw I've shipped stuff from London to New York, L.A. to Sydney and Sydney to London and not had a problem. BUT - never believe the estimates of time for delivery they tell you. In my experience its always at least double so don't ship anything you think you need to use anytime soon. (Or I suppose in the case of your container falling off the boat - ever)

Also, you can't ship anything until you have your visa - a copy of your passport and visa needs to be part of the customs documentation before it can leave the country.

Yes, I paid 1500 GBP - it was for just over 4 cubic meters (2x2x1 appr) and I know it is a lot of money but it was worth it for me for my peace of mind. Agreed, customs can open it and that adds extra costs (I think they told me in the order of 150 USD) but that can also happen with the shipping company. I just wanted to point out the option...

[Anna Grant 169]

lost_at_sea: If it was your U.S. passport holding husband shipping your household items back to the U.S. under his name then no, he doesn't require a visa to ship his own stuff back to the U.S. But as a non-U.S. citizen I need to show that I have an immigrant (k-1) visa before any shipping co. can put my stuff on a boat to the U.S. as its checked off by customs on the way out.

EDIT: Sorry just repeated what nich_nick posted as I was writing this one.

Yes, we got around this as my fiance was with me in the UK when I wanted to ship my stuff. Therefore, we shipped it under his name. It was either do that or wait until I had my K1 visa in my hand and I was flying out 2 days later.