Manifest when moving to the US

[nsnow 0]

Hey everyone!

What has everyones experience been when moving your belongings to the US once you're able to?

I asked the American border guard this weekend on the details, I asked " if I have 5 pencils, do I have to write on the manifest pencils or specify its 5 pencils?"

He said, I have to note everything to that detail.

Sounds a bit crazy! :/

Let me know what your experiences were!

Nikki

[Ning 619]

Hey everyone!

What has everyones experience been when moving your belongings to the US once you're able to?

I asked the American border guard this weekend on the details, I asked " if I have 5 pencils, do I have to write on the manifest pencils or specify its 5 pencils?"

He said, I have to note everything to that detail.

Sounds a bit crazy! :/

Let me know what your experiences were!

Nikki

We used " household items " for example with no problems. No one expects you to write down all this ridiculous stuff.

Common generic terms are fine. Keep it simple.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

No one coming from Canada has found it useful to be that specific. I had a spreadsheet with box number and approx contents in each (kitchen items, linens...etc...) I numbered each box. I was more specific about electronics just because I heard they said to be.

It was a waste of my time - they never opened the truck and didn't even look at my list even though I waved it in their face You can bet if I hadn't had a list they would have unpacked that sucker box by box - Murphy's law and all.

Somewhere between obsessive detail and no list at all is fine - do a search in the Canadian forum and you'll find plenty of threads.

[jfgk1987 303]

No lie - we totally forgot to make a list of everything and they didn't even bother to check, we crossed at Niagara Falls (and I had a very full car).

I'm pretty sure they won't need to know you have exactly 18 shirts, 12 pairs of pants, etc in a box, just writing "clothes" on your list would be fine.

[NikLR 13,227]

Box 1 - books

Box 2 - kitchen

Box 3 - clothes

Likely they won't even look at it or inside the vehicle. Heck we didn't even take the lock off the uhaul they cared that little.

Make sure any pets are in crates or strapped in and that you have their paperwork and the correct paperwork to import a car if needed.

[nsnow 0]

Thanks everyone!

This makes me feel better.

The guard I had was grumpy, so maybe he was just scaring me like some do unforunately.

I thought it was quite impossible to list every. single. thing. as well! geez.

[Flames9_RN 358]

When I crossed into Maine in 2004.....Super easy, and for 99% of the people it is. I kept my inventory list very simple, grouped things together.....they barely looked at it, and did not look in my U-Haul

[Ms Hogan 295]

I had a list but I can't remember what it was. I think NLR and I basically had the same idea at that time. Kitchen, Bathroom, Clothes, Office etc. I knew what was in boxes so I could explain if they asked but they didn't. Didn't even want to see my list. I was too busy getting yelled at for not having my cat in his crate.

[warlord 73]

I moved in the 90's and was moving originally because I was on a TN status. Border guard in Destroit just saw my paper work and saw all my ####### in the car and just said welcome to the US and have a safe trip to Colorado and that was it. So like all other border guards and INS personnel, it's all going to be different in who you get to talk to. Just random and some are a lot more strict and others are a lot less interested. Just depends...

[vsnet 1]

I crossed over last weekend with a packed SUV of household goods and it went very smoothly.

Used the NEXUS lane and the agent was much more concerned about presenting the green card at the booth than the goods.

Typed up a sheet with general contents in each box but it went unused.

[moemac59 192]

^{When I moved, I crossed at Lewiston NY and had a whole 14 ft UHAUL full of stuff. I had numbered all of my boxes and put it on my manifest of what the general contents were and sure enough the border agent didn't even want to see it. He opened up the back of my UHAUL looked in and saw that it was packed from floor to ceiling and quickly shut the truck back up. I waved my manifest in his face and he could have cared less.}

^{I was pissed because I went to so much effort to make sure that I was sufficiently ready if they did want to go thru everything}

[nsnow 0]

Thanks for all the experiences!

I guess i'll just make a simple list and let them search if they want to.

From all of your stories, seems like they don't like the hassle or going through a whole truck of belongings lol

I have nothing to hide, so i'll do it the easy way

[thatangela 134]

I'm crossing tomorrow to head back to Kelowna for the last time. (Yippee!)

Would it be worthwhile to visit the U.S. border guards office before crossing to ask for advice? I half think it would be a waste of time because I'm not sure I've ever run into the same guard twice.

[nsnow 0]

I'm crossing tomorrow to head back to Kelowna for the last time. (Yippee!)

Would it be worthwhile to visit the U.S. border guards office before crossing to ask for advice? I half think it would be a waste of time because I'm not sure I've ever run into the same guard twice.

I'm not close to moving yet, but I asked the border guard and he told me to list every.single.thing.

But from what everyone else posted, it doesn't seem to be the case that they actually NEED it that way.

Good luck, you'll be fine!

[NikLR 13,227]

Asking the border guards is a complete waste of time. Most of them tell you different things and really don't know the letter of the law that well. When you do cross, play dumb, pretend they're the smartest person ever and never contradict them.

Unless it's something you KNOW is okay to do and they're being a royal PITA. But then bring proof that you're allowed (like how to import a car... etc..)