Shipping items to US

[mrsaberhagen 4]

Hi all,

 

I tried to search but couldn't find anything specific. I've finally reached the end of my UK journey and have my Visa in hand to move over to the US finally but I'm having trouble figuring out how to move my life from one continent to the other. Does anyone have any advice on the best way to go about moving your possessions from the UK to US?

 

I don't have a house worth of items but probably too many to take in suitcases on a plane. What was your experience in taking your stuff with you? Any companies or services to recommend?

 

Thank you!

[Boiler 45,761]

Excess baggage may be your best bet.

[Verrou 1,962]

Shipping company by boat. Usually u paid by cubic square meter. Might take long time but definitely cheaper 

[P0907 127]

Paying for additional suitcases will be much cheaper than paying for shipping.

[LisaM1997 1]

I’ve heard people having success with https://www.sendmybag.com

[mrsaberhagen 4]

I've heard people suggest just bring extra bags but I have some large items like an iMac I need for work that I couldn't realistically bring in a suitcase? But I am wondering if shipping is worth it as I don't plan to have a massive amount of boxes, like maybe 4/5. Appreciate anyone whose done it and what they did.

32 minutes ago, LisaM1997 said:

I’ve heard people having success with https://www.sendmybag.com

Thanks, looks interesting, I did a quick look and it's £69 for one item of 15kg, which seems like a lot but maybe freight shipping would be even more.

[Adventine 3,201]

My husband packed a computer in a large suitcase (carefully padding it between clothes) and it came out all right. With the cost of freight shipping so expensive, you may be better off selling or donating everything in your home country, and then repurchasing what you need in the US.

[yuna628 9,688]

My husband paid for extra bags and upgraded with air miles. If you do decide to bring a lot of stuff and electronics on the plane with you, consider purchasing one-way special travel insurance coverage just in case anything is lost or damaged.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

4 hours ago, mrsaberhagen said:

I've heard people suggest just bring extra bags but I have some large items like an iMac I need for work that I couldn't realistically bring in a suitcase?

It doesn’t have to be in an actual suitcase. Cardboard oxes can be checked baggage. 
 

[Not Active 1]

18 hours ago, mrsaberhagen said:

Hi all,

 

I tried to search but couldn't find anything specific. I've finally reached the end of my UK journey and have my Visa in hand to move over to the US finally but I'm having trouble figuring out how to move my life from one continent to the other. Does anyone have any advice on the best way to go about moving your possessions from the UK to US?

 

I don't have a house worth of items but probably too many to take in suitcases on a plane. What was your experience in taking your stuff with you? Any companies or services to recommend?

 

Thank you!

Hi,

 

We are moving all our house contents, (minus anything electrical). We are using a company called Bonner. They came to the house and gave us a firm quote. They do the whole service. Packing, customs, shipping and delivery to your new US address.  
As we have a lot of stuff we were quoted £7300 and the shipping takes around 6 weeks.
The cost of shipping obviously varies depending on how much stuff you want to take. It can be quite cheap as they will put your stuff in a shared container.  

We have only been in US for 2 weeks and we are in a holiday rental and bought most of our clothes with us in 4 suitcases lol 🧳! 

[yoda one for me 322]

9 hours ago, mrsaberhagen said:

I've heard people suggest just bring extra bags but I have some large items like an iMac I need for work that I couldn't realistically bring in a suitcase? But I am wondering if shipping is worth it as I don't plan to have a massive amount of boxes, like maybe 4/5. Appreciate anyone whose done it and what they did.

Thanks, looks interesting, I did a quick look and it's £69 for one item of 15kg, which seems like a lot but maybe freight shipping would be even more.

Is it worth bringing an iMac? I bought a new computer after I'd moved, wasn't a mac but it was a pretty high end PC. Way less hassle than risking damage to my UK one during shipping. I sold/gave away all my UK electronics except for small portable personal things like my iphone. For actually moving the big stuff I used an international moving company who palletized my (few pieces of important-to-me) furniture and boxes and shipped it over. Took about 2 months.

 

You mentioned you need the mac for work, but you appear to be a K1 based on what's displayed next to your post. Surprised no one already mentioned that technically speaking you're not allowed to work until you receive an EAD or green card. Some people choose to risk it and say it's a grey area and they have all sorts of reasons why they've decided they want to work without the legal permission, but I would (infact I did) plan to be out of work until you have the EAD or green card in hand. 

[mrsaberhagen 4]

2 hours ago, yoda one for me said:

Is it worth bringing an iMac? I bought a new computer after I'd moved, wasn't a mac but it was a pretty high end PC. Way less hassle than risking damage to my UK one during shipping. I sold/gave away all my UK electronics except for small portable personal things like my iphone. For actually moving the big stuff I used an international moving company who palletized my (few pieces of important-to-me) furniture and boxes and shipped it over. Took about 2 months.

 

You mentioned you need the mac for work, but you appear to be a K1 based on what's displayed next to your post. Surprised no one already mentioned that technically speaking you're not allowed to work until you receive an EAD or green card. Some people choose to risk it and say it's a grey area and they have all sorts of reasons why they've decided they want to work without the legal permission, but I would (infact I did) plan to be out of work until you have the EAD or green card in hand. 

Yes I'm aware I will not be able to work until the adjustment of status and work permit, however as a web dev it's my very high spec tool for whatever job or personal work I have to do and I would have to pay 10x as much as the deal I got on it. to replace.

 

Would be interested to learn what particular company.

 

Thanks for everyone's replies, I'm tossing up whether to see if baggage is possible or a small shared freight space as suggest would work best.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@mrsaberhagen

I shipped via shared container. 2 cubic meters. 20-25 boxes.. All shrink wrapped on a pallet with security bands/strapping that were still intact on arrival. No pilfering or breakage. 
 
1st Move International. https://www.shipit.co.uk

[yoda one for me 322]

14 hours ago, mrsaberhagen said:

Yes I'm aware I will not be able to work until the adjustment of status and work permit, however as a web dev it's my very high spec tool for whatever job or personal work I have to do and I would have to pay 10x as much as the deal I got on it. to replace.

 

Would be interested to learn what particular company.

 

Thanks for everyone's replies, I'm tossing up whether to see if baggage is possible or a small shared freight space as suggest would work best.

I'm in the same industry so I get it, I suppose. If you got that good a deal on it it may very well be worth shipping. Just worth balancing out. You'll absolutely want to make sure you insure it - I didn't insure my shipment as while I wanted my stuff it wasn't that valuable to me in terms of living.

 

I also used 1st Move International and shipped 2.5 cubic meters. It was boxes, some art, and (literally) a couple of pieces of not-huge furniture. Everything arrived safely, very well packed together and sealed up. I packed my stuff myself and they collected the boxes and wrapped the furniture themselves, then assembled the pallet in their warehouse. My particular shipment was around 900 quid iirc, can't remember if there were any fees on the arrival side, though. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

17 minutes ago, yoda one for me said:

My particular shipment was around 900 quid iirc, can't remember if there were any fees on the arrival side, though. 

I think the fee for a US agent to clear customs for you is built into your price as well as hauling to your US home from the port of entry.

Edited August 15, 2021 by Wuozopo