Moving belongings from Canada to USA - can they be shipped to USC

[RCable 75]

My husband is getting ready to list his house in Canada and wants all of his stuff out for staging. Is it possible for him to send his belongings down to me before he has his visa? 

 

Also, can anyone recommend any good moving companies? He's just moving some boxes and he's been quoted $5000+, which seems crazy as I once moved from London to the US for $800.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Highmystic 234]

39 minutes ago, RCable said:

My husband is getting ready to list his house in Canada and wants all of his stuff out for staging. Is it possible for him to send his belongings down to me before he has his visa? 

 

Also, can anyone recommend any good moving companies? He's just moving some boxes and he's been quoted $5000+, which seems crazy as I once moved from London to the US for $800.

 

Thanks in advance!

Boxes could go DHL,  but for larger stuff (or the boxes) try a Freight Forwarder.  You deliver to the FF and they export it out to be picked up on the other end.   Check with  Canada post as to size and weight limits.  It crosses over and USPS delivers.  I ship all the time Priority International, more costly than ocean, but cheaper that I don't have to mess with Ocean delays and Customs brokers. 

[Ontarkie 14,222]

He is not allowed to send his belongings before he is allowed to move. There is no guaranty he will be given a visa. 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2019 by Ontarkie

[RCable 75]

5 hours ago, Highmystic said:

Boxes could go DHL,  but for larger stuff (or the boxes) try a Freight Forwarder.  You deliver to the FF and they export it out to be picked up on the other end.   Check with  Canada post as to size and weight limits.  It crosses over and USPS delivers.  I ship all the time Priority International, more costly than ocean, but cheaper that I don't have to mess with Ocean delays and Customs brokers. 

Thanks, I'll take a look into this! 

4 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

He is not allowed to send his belongings before he is allowed to move. There is no guaranty he will be given a visa. 

 

 

Thanks!

[Highmystic 234]

9 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

He is not allowed to send his belongings before he is allowed to move. There is no guaranty he will be given a visa. 

 

 

Are you saying it is illegal to ship his personal belongings to his wife, or anyone else in the world because he does not have a visa?   One does not need a visa to ship anything.  Yeah, if he ships now, and for some reason does not get a visa, his stuff would always be his property, just in a different location.

[Ontarkie 14,222]

Just now, Highmystic said:

Are you saying it is illegal to ship his personal belongings to his wife, or anyone else in the world because he does not have a visa?   One does not need a visa to ship anything.  Yeah, if he ships now, and for some reason does not get a visa, his stuff would always be his property, just in a different location.

I don't know anything about the rest of the world but you cannot move your personal belongings to the US without an immigrant visa.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

You can have him send his belongings BEFORE he gets the immigrant visa, but that would mean you would act as an importer and would pay the respective duties for all the household goods.

That's why you should wait for the visa to be issued, so the whole cargo can be duty free. 

[Lil bear 4,201]

3 minutes ago, Highmystic said:

Yeah, you are correct on declarations, however a lot of Philippines come and go with 50 lb boxes of goods that are not available in the US (when they come in to visit), and another box of stuff they can't get, or too pricey back to the Philippines.  Sometimes, at the airport check ins, there could be a group of 6, and each has a 50- lb box on a cart.  Found it interesting to say the least.

Reality is often different. .. however, it is against TOS to suggest , recommend or condone anything practice that is not legal. So my only comment remains that it is importing and should be handled according to the applicable laws and regulations 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

7 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Importers need a copy of the endorsed visa before shipping.

You're confusing an importer with a shipping company. The shipping company needs a visa for the goods to cross duty free.

If the importer is not a future immigrant, goods can be shipped but duties must be paid.

[Ontarkie 14,222]

15 minutes ago, Highmystic said:

Yeah, you are correct on declarations, however a lot of Philippines come and go with 50 lb boxes of goods that are not available in the US (when they come in to visit), and another box of stuff they can't get, or too pricey back to the Philippines.  Sometimes, at the airport check ins, there could be a group of 6, and each has a 50- lb box on a cart.  Found it interesting to say the least.

You can bring gifts and you can bring items back with you that you bought for yourself of friends as gifts. That is not the same as moving your household items.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

12 minutes ago, Highmystic said:

Yeah, you are correct on declarations, however a lot of Philippines come and go with 50 lb boxes of goods that are not available in the US (when they come in to visit), and another box of stuff they can't get, or too pricey back to the Philippines.  Sometimes, at the airport check ins, there could be a group of 6, and each has a 50- lb box on a cart.  Found it interesting to say the least.

 

6 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Reality is often different. .. however, it is against TOS to suggest , recommend or condone anything practice that is not legal. So my only comment remains that it is importing and should be handled according to the applicable laws and regulations 

Don't confuse moving belongings from a not yet immigrant -which is the OP's case- to personal exemptions for returning residents or citizens. 

You can carry $200, $800 or $1600 in goods without paying duty at entry, depending on the country you're returning from. 

[Lil bear 4,201]

10 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

 

Don't confuse moving belongings from a not yet immigrant -which is the OP's case- to personal exemptions for returning residents or citizens. 

You can carry $200, $800 or $1600 in goods without paying duty at entry, depending on the country you're returning from. 

The particular post to which I was responding was from a non USC/returning resident coming to the US for  a visit then returning home. USC /residents returning from overseas is a different situation 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CBP Form 6059B English (Sample Watermark).pdf

 

question 15 on page 1 indicates the different regulations for  each group 

Edited August 20, 2019 by Lil bear

[TBoneTX 45,288]

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[Lana&Ivy 215]

I moved my belongings via U-box (U-HAUL's pod) from Toronto to Los Angeles.  It was very easy and about $3100USD (I hired movers on both ends).  HOWEVER, they will not ship the box over the border until the traveler is in the destination city - I had to send a photocopy of my admittance stamp to give them the green light.  They will store the box for you for a reasonable fee though.  It's a great service and I highly recommend.  Emily, who deals with international orders spent 45 minutes on the phone with me going over the paperwork and making sure I understood exactly how to fill out the customs form.  Everything should be itemized and all your contents listed.

[LisaUK 22]

On 8/19/2019 at 9:50 AM, RCable said:

My husband is getting ready to list his house in Canada and wants all of his stuff out for staging. Is it possible for him to send his belongings down to me before he has his visa? 

 

Also, can anyone recommend any good moving companies? He's just moving some boxes and he's been quoted $5000+, which seems crazy as I once moved from London to the US for $800.

 

Thanks in advance!

$800?! You must not have had many things and/or sent them by slow boat. I have done the UK to US move twice and it was way more than $800. Assuming he has an adequate amount of belongings $5K doesn't sound too crazy price wise. Worth shopping around though as you may find something a grand or so cheaper.