How Did You Move Your Stuff?

[TheZilla 0]

Hello all fellow US/UK VJers!

My fiance' and I are close to interview time. He's got his embassy medical soon, then he'll get his interview date. Right now he's searching around for shipping companies to move his stuff from there to here. He's gotten some quotes, but they're very steep, nothing lower than 580 pounds so far.

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on moving stuff, what method you've chosen, any tips on where to go for the best price, etc. Any advice or thoughts would be helpful as we're not sure where else to look other than freight companies, maybe there's just something we have not thought of. He doesn't have a lot of stuff, just an IKEA desk, and clothes, DVDs, CDs, books, etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks in advance

[Mags 112]

Well, first of all I wouldn't bring the Ikea desk! They are pretty cheap to buy (plus there are Ikeas over here in the USA). You have to weigh up the value of it AND how much it would be to ship that particular item. I think you'd find it would be more cost effective to buy a new one.

I used excessbaggage.com. I had 14 boxes shipped over (2 footers, 3 footers and some tea crates) and it cost me around 600 quid. I was very impressed with their service. My stuff arrived undamaged and it took roughly 6 weeks to get to the USA.

[Fandango 1,439]

Mags, I was just talking about this yesterday with someone, but how do they deal with the import tax aspect of shipping personal goods?

[Widge 0]

Another vote here for excessbaggage they were brilliant!

There is no import tax for K-1ers as we are immigrating and it is all personal stuff which is why you cant ship it till you have (i) the visa and (ii) your date to be moving (you have to be here before your stuff)

Excess provided all the forms n stuff that were required and were very accessable for answering really dumb questions on how to fill them in.

My packaging tip - if you are bringing CD's remove hard plastic covers and ship in the flimsy plastic ones (available very cheap online) it save a ton of space and weight.

[no name 1]

VisaJourney.com > Search Form > Search Engine

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...3&hl=moving

Edited February 16, 2007 by devilette

[John & Annie 0]

Hello all fellow US/UK VJers!

My fiance' and I are close to interview time. He's got his embassy medical soon, then he'll get his interview date. Right now he's searching around for shipping companies to move his stuff from there to here. He's gotten some quotes, but they're very steep, nothing lower than 580 pounds so far.

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on moving stuff, what method you've chosen, any tips on where to go for the best price, etc. Any advice or thoughts would be helpful as we're not sure where else to look other than freight companies, maybe there's just something we have not thought of. He doesn't have a lot of stuff, just an IKEA desk, and clothes, DVDs, CDs, books, etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks in advance

Ikea Desks are very heavy, you could probably sell yours there and make more than enough to replace it here.

[Muuuuah 0]

We used sevenseasworldwide.com

[Mags 112]

Mags, I was just talking about this yesterday with someone, but how do they deal with the import tax aspect of shipping personal goods?

What Widge said below!

Another vote here for excessbaggage they were brilliant!

There is no import tax for K-1ers as we are immigrating and it is all personal stuff which is why you cant ship it till you have (i) the visa and (ii) your date to be moving (you have to be here before your stuff)

Excess provided all the forms n stuff that were required and were very accessable for answering really dumb questions on how to fill them in.

I found the forms quite scary at first, but once you get down to it they were pretty straight forward. Just rather alot of them....

[britty 1]

I dont mean to be rude but I doubt his ikea desk is worth the £580 it costs to ship !! When I came to the US from London, I went through all my paperwork and only kept what was absolutely necessary (one shoe box). I sold a lot of my clothes and personal belongings on ebay before I left, and then managed to sell all my furniture from my London home too. In the end, I came here with two large cases and also shipped my cats (each had a luxury large crate with a bed, food and water, and basically travelled pet business class whilst I was cramped in cattle class!). Any really personal items I kept or left with my mum to hold onto. I realise some people need and want to ship their belongings here, but if you dont have to, its really nice making a fresh new start without all the baggage!!

[TheZilla 0]

Thanks everybody for their thoughts and taking the time to post

We're rethinking the IKEA desk, weighing out the cost of shipping as opposed to getting a new one here. We don't have an IKEA nearby and it would have to be shipped here from Georgia so we're working out the cost differences. I know it sounds like a silly thing, but we love this desk.

He will be making a fresh start in a lot of ways, he's leaving loads behind. When it comes to CDs, Books, and DVDs though, we're collectors and fanatics, so we'd like to have our 'complete collection' even if it sounds a bit goofy, hehe.

We were just wondering if there were any options we hadn't thought of, your replies have been really helpful. We're working to bring the costs down, I'm sure we'll find a way. I know it's just stuff in the end, but I think some of it's important for him to have here so it's like there is some of himself here too, so when he's making his new home here there's that sense that it's some of his things here, not just mine. I hope that makes sense

Thanks again for your thoughts and feedback. Oh, and by the way, your kitties are beautiful!!

[Fandango 1,439]

Thanks everybody for their thoughts and taking the time to post

We're rethinking the IKEA desk, weighing out the cost of shipping as opposed to getting a new one here. We don't have an IKEA nearby and it would have to be shipped here from Georgia so we're working out the cost differences. I know it sounds like a silly thing, but we love this desk.

He will be making a fresh start in a lot of ways, he's leaving loads behind. When it comes to CDs, Books, and DVDs though, we're collectors and fanatics, so we'd like to have our 'complete collection' even if it sounds a bit goofy, hehe.

We were just wondering if there were any options we hadn't thought of, your replies have been really helpful. We're working to bring the costs down, I'm sure we'll find a way. I know it's just stuff in the end, but I think some of it's important for him to have here so it's like there is some of himself here too, so when he's making his new home here there's that sense that it's some of his things here, not just mine. I hope that makes sense

Thanks again for your thoughts and feedback. Oh, and by the way, your kitties are beautiful!!

ok, I just checked your profile cos the FL-UK thing caught my eye and I wanted to see if you listed where in FL and where in the UK you both were.

Then I see YOU HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS ME.

strange!

[Mags 112]

Then I see YOU HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS ME.

I know a couple of people with their birthdays the same as yours. Me? I share mine with Jon Bon Jovi and the new James Bond, Daniel Craig.

Edited February 17, 2007 by mags

[Fandango 1,439]

Then I see YOU HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS ME.

I know a couple of people with their birthdays the same as yours. Me? I share mine with Jon Bon Jovi and the new James Bond, Daniel Craig.

better than with Adolph Hitler and Carmen Electra!

I have never run into anyone with the same actual birthday...and tbh, I don't know why seeing one here excited me so much...given the statistical chances of all the people in the world and only 365 days to choose from, lol.

[Lou Lou 1]

better than with Adolph Hitler and Carmen Electra!

I have never run into anyone with the same actual birthday...and tbh, I don't know why seeing one here excited me so much...given the statistical chances of all the people in the world and only 365 days to choose from, lol.

So it's just you, me, Hitler, Carmen and TheZilla.

[Lou Lou 1]

Back to topic:

I brought over an extra case and also used UPS which took 4 days door to door. I had to list everything, sign a statement that it was all my personal goods, and that they were over a year old, and I had no intention of selling anything. I didn't need to supply a copy of my visa or anything. Of course, rules could have changed since then.

Really take a long hard look at what is important to you. I shipped 7 HUGE boxes over and nearly 3 years down the line, I would say I have got rid of at least 3 boxes of the stuff. Then again, I am always aware of not building up a bulk of ####### as we intend to move back in a few years.