Moving to the states on a K1

[johnnyv 20]

So we recently got approved and the visa was issued. The next step of course is moving her to the states. How did you move your stuff? Shipping company? What do you recommend?

[Flames9_RN 358]

If you do a search you will find many responses--Canada VJ isnt that busy on a weekend. I used U-haul.

[Dave & Mong 29]

My fiance and I are not as lucky to be at this point as you are, but we have our plans made. Since she is Vietnamese and has limited English, but reads and writes it well, she is only going to bring some clothes on the plane that she can use as a cary on. Besides, it is not as warm here so I will have some clothes ready for her here when she arrives. The rest that she wants to bring we are having DHL or Fedex as a thought to ship here. After some online searching, there are companies that cater to these situations and will pick up, ship, handle customs and deliver it here to my home in the US. A lot less stress for her at the airports, she will have enough to do with customs entering the US without dealing with luggage pick up or lost bags.

[Laspoxaroumeni 68]

My fiance and I are not as lucky to be at this point as you are, but we have our plans made. Since she is Vietnamese and has limited English, but reads and writes it well, she is only going to bring some clothes on the plane that she can use as a cary on. Besides, it is not as warm here so I will have some clothes ready for her here when she arrives. The rest that she wants to bring we are having DHL or Fedex as a thought to ship here. After some online searching, there are companies that cater to these situations and will pick up, ship, handle customs and deliver it here to my home in the US. A lot less stress for her at the airports, she will have enough to do with customs entering the US without dealing with luggage pick up or lost bags.

I'm thinking to do the same cause i want all my clothes :/ How much those shipping companies charge? Are expensive??

[NikLR 13,227]

I'm thinking to do the same cause i want all my clothes :/ How much those shipping companies charge? Are expensive??

Moving from Greece will be a bit different than moving from Canada.

Moving from Canada you can use UHaul (I also used uhual) or the uhaul pods, or you can use a moving company. Most companies charge via weight, not necessarily volume.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Like Flames and NLR - I used UHaul as well. My American then-Fiancé flew up to Toronto and we drove back down together after friends and family helped us pack the Uhaul. We went from Ontario to Virginia and split the trip between 2 days - driving the Uhaul was a little slower than the usual 9 hour car trip.

[johnnyv 20]

Well from Cranbrook, BC to Kansas CIty, that's close to 25 hours of driving. Unless uhaul ships it themselves, i don't know that we'd use them haha.

[kc247 22]

I am planning on just taking 2 checked bags and a carry on with as much as I can. My parents & sister will be coming the following week for the wedding and will check a couple bags for me as well. Flying with stuff is my only hope..Utah is way too far from Nova Scotia to drive just to take a bit more stuff!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Well from Cranbrook, BC to Kansas CIty, that's close to 25 hours of driving. Unless uhaul ships it themselves, i don't know that we'd use them haha.

See for me--I would love that drive!! Back in 2011, for vacation (wife was working,lol) me and the dog packed up the CRV and drove from DC to Saskatoon. Then we drove to Kamloops and Calgary! Lot of miles, but enjoyable, at least for me!

You can check out the Uhaul rates online. Others have used those companies that drop off a "pod" you pack it urself, and then they come and pick it up and away it goes!

[cee-gee 20]

Congratulations on your approval!

My then fiancé came up to Canada, and we went down together. We used a U Haul, we looked into other options, but thought U Haul would be the best for us (we just thought it was easier to load everything ourselves, and we were going to visit his family in the midwest the next day).

U haul is the only company that you can rent a truck and be able to go across the border yourself- just in case you were looking into that option. U haul, pods, as well as other companies do rent pods- a pod is delivered to your house, you load it up and they will deliver it to your destination. If you do go that route, you will have to poe prior to the pod entering the us- you will need to provide proof that you entered the us before the pod will enter the us- fax a copy of your I94 to the company will suffice. This would be the same if you went the moving company route too.

[johnnyv 20]

This pod thing sounds interesting. I'll have to look into it and the rates.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Looking back I wish I'd been younger and more portable - oh to be able to fly and just take a couple checked bags! I had to pack up a full-on household of 2 (daughter and me) so there was no avoiding it. I was 37 and had a lot of junk now that I think of it (still wish we hadn't given my favourite deck chairs away!)

Edited February 9, 2014 by Udella&Wiz

[Fayeara 8]

We were able to fit all my stuff into a suv/large rented car and drove down. It was a 24h+ drive for us too, but... We liked it XD To us, it made bringing me home more special.