how/when can I ship my belongings to USA? (merged threads)

[mika__ 50]

hi everyone

 

 

I have my visa interview April 24th coming up for CR-1 visa. Im a little concerned with shipping my items to the USA (assuming if I am approved for my visa at the interview that is). I am in Canada and I dont have much im bringing with me when I move to USA to be with my husband (no furniture or big items). Pretty much all im bringing is a bunch of books/movies and just a couple of little things, primarily books im bringing though as I have many I dont want to part with. I was thinking of starting to ship some of my books/movies to my husbands address in the USA starting now

 

I read on some other topics on here that you cant mail your stuff until AFTER you moved to the USA....which makes zero sense to me

 

what would be the best way to mail books/movies? I was just going to do it through Canada Post

 

any advice would be great, thank you

[LilyJ 1,258]

You can mail anything, at any time you want. Has no ties to the visa process, you're free to mail your belongings anywhere in the world. Choose the postal service that fits best for your purpose, if Canada Post is the best choice for you then you can ship it through them no problem

[Lemonslice 4,859]

2 minutes ago, LilyJ said:

You can mail anything, at any time you want. Has no ties to the visa process, you're free to mail your belongings anywhere in the world. Choose the postal service that fits best for your purpose, if Canada Post is the best choice for you then you can ship it through them no problem

While this is true, OP is planning to import her personal belonging (and avoid any fees/duties). As such, she should enter the US at the same time, or before, her belongings.

 

OP: might be cheaper to bring an extra luggage.  Also, look into land and air cargo shipments, sometimes it is much cheaper.

[Lil bear 4,225]

40 minutes ago, mika__ said:

hi everyone

 

 

I have my visa interview April 24th coming up for CR-1 visa. Im a little concerned with shipping my items to the USA (assuming if I am approved for my visa at the interview that is). I am in Canada and I dont have much im bringing with me when I move to USA to be with my husband (no furniture or big items). Pretty much all im bringing is a bunch of books/movies and just a couple of little things, primarily books im bringing though as I have many I dont want to part with. I was thinking of starting to ship some of my books/movies to my husbands address in the USA starting now

 

I read on some other topics on here that you cant mail your stuff until AFTER you moved to the USA....which makes zero sense to me

 

what would be the best way to mail books/movies? I was just going to do it through Canada Post

 

any advice would be great, thank you

To avoid any risk of being seen as importing goods that will

incur import duty, you should either bring them with you when you enter the US on your spouse visa , or ship them afterwards. As a new immigrant you have the opportunity to bring personal property and household goods, that comply with the CBP rules, got up to 10 years after entering and being granted LPR status.  
 

General regulations .. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/customs-duty-info

For unaccompanied goods 

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1467?language=en_US

Edited March 9, 2020 by Lil bear

[Lil bear 4,225]

22 minutes ago, LilyJ said:

You can mail anything, at any time you want. Has no ties to the visa process, you're free to mail your belongings anywhere in the world. Choose the postal service that fits best for your purpose, if Canada Post is the best choice for you then you can ship it through them no problem

By doing it this way it is not possible to guarantee that import duty won’t be applied. Not a good idea when you can ensure no import duty is needed by using the CBP process. 

[mika__ 50]

hi everyone

 

I have my cr1 interview coming up, if I get approved I have a question regarding bringing my personal items to the USA

 

I plan on flying from where I live (Canada) to the USA when I move there. My husband is going to fly up here and help me with my luggage to move and we are going to fly back to the USA once im approved (assuming im approved)

I am selling most of my belongings and im only bringing to the USA: (besides some clothes)

• a TON of books (like an entire 2 large suitcases of books)
• a bunch of movies
• my xbox and ps4 consoles
• I will not be bringing anything else

 

obviously I wont be renting a uhaul or anything like that as its not worth it for the amount im bringing. I also dont want to ship my items as it seems complicated (ive read that I have to go wait for my visa to be approved then go to the USA first and THEN come back to Canada to ship my items which is something I dont want to do). I just dont want to ship in general so its out of the question.

 

My overall question is:
Can I just get 4 large suitcases, fill them all up as much as I can with my books, movies, my xbox/ps4 and clothing and take it all on the plane with me when I go? I want to bring my stuff with me at the same time as I fly. My husband will handle 2 of the suitcases and ill handle the other 2.
if I am allowed to do that, will I have to fill out any customs forms for any of that? Do I have to pay fees bringing my personal belongings? Do my belongings have to be in boxes or can they be in my suitcases? anything I should know? can I just pack it all in my suitcase and nothing to worry about? 

 

an example is, I want to fill up 2 large suitcases with just books, the other 2 suitcases a mix of clothes and movies and my xbox/ps4 consoles. Thats how I would ideally like to bring my stuff. Is that going to be an issue at the airport you think?
 

Edited March 10, 2020 by mika__

[DELETEME1234 208]

Shouldn't be an issue. Just make sure you answer questions (on form and at border) truthfully, but other than that I don't recall any question that should cause an issue.  

 

Shipping is also possible btw if you're still contemplating. Just send it to yourself before you leave. Mark it as 'personal goods returned' and that should be it. 

[SalishSea 17,841]

1 hour ago, mika__ said:

hi everyone

 

I have my cr1 interview coming up, if I get approved I have a question regarding bringing my personal items to the USA

 

I plan on flying from where I live (Canada) to the USA when I move there. My husband is going to fly up here and help me with my luggage to move and we are going to fly back to the USA once im approved (assuming im approved)

I am selling most of my belongings and im only bringing to the USA: (besides some clothes)

• a TON of books (like an entire 2 large suitcases of books)
• a bunch of movies
• my xbox and ps4 consoles
• I will not be bringing anything else

 

obviously I wont be renting a uhaul or anything like that as its not worth it for the amount im bringing. I also dont want to ship my items as it seems complicated (ive read that I have to go wait for my visa to be approved then go to the USA first and THEN come back to Canada to ship my items which is something I dont want to do). I just dont want to ship in general so its out of the question.

 

My overall question is:
Can I just get 4 large suitcases, fill them all up as much as I can with my books, movies, my xbox/ps4 and clothing and take it all on the plane with me when I go? I want to bring my stuff with me at the same time as I fly. My husband will handle 2 of the suitcases and ill handle the other 2.
if I am allowed to do that, will I have to fill out any customs forms for any of that? Do I have to pay fees bringing my personal belongings? Do my belongings have to be in boxes or can they be in my suitcases? anything I should know? can I just pack it all in my suitcase and nothing to worry about? 

 

an example is, I want to fill up 2 large suitcases with just books, the other 2 suitcases a mix of clothes and movies and my xbox/ps4 consoles. Thats how I would ideally like to bring my stuff. Is that going to be an issue at the airport you think?
 

My husband did the same, coming from NZ, and it was not an issue.

[Lil bear 4,225]

1 hour ago, mika__ said:

example is, I want to fill up 2 large suitcases with just books, the other 2 suitcases a mix of clothes and movies and my xbox/ps4 consoles. Thats how I would ideally like to bring my stuff. Is that going to be an issue at the airport you think?

 

As long as nothing you are bringing is a “banned item” .. see your airline policies .. this will be fine    It’s what a lot of us did 

[Ryan H 3,812]

~~~Similar topics merged~~~

[sbarbie1914 22]

I am wondering if it would just be cheaper to take your belongings with you on the plane and pay the bag fees.  They don't have to be in a suitcase, but maybe something sturdy like a Rubbermaid or Sterilite bin with a lid.  This is a method used sometimes for overseas orphanage donations.  Drill a hole through the lid and into the lip of the bin, secure with plastic zip ties.  Most airlines allow 62 linear inches of baggage, so something under 20 gallons like this one.  You also have to make sure it is within the allowed weight limit, but these containers are relatively light and sturdy.  Besides, who couldn't use more storage bins when moving into a new home. 

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by sbarbie1914

[PeachesMagee 62]

On 3/9/2020 at 11:36 AM, mika__ said:

 

what would be the best way to mail books/movies? I was just going to do it through Canada Post

 

any advice would be great, thank you

The cost of mailing something as heavy as books might make it very expensive. Maybe compare prices. It might very well be cheaper to ship by Greyhound.

[Ontarkie 14,231]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from IR1/CR1 P&P - As similar threads are discussed here.~~