Mailing belongings? Or other shipping recommendations for moving

[hedgemaze 49]

My fiancée's K-1 visa was approved yesterday! Now we're figuring out the logistics of moving her belongings.

 

Most people recommend U-Haul or U-Pack for the move, but in our case:

- U-Haul is impractical because we're a ~3000-mile drive apart (Northern BC and New York)

- U-Pack does not service her city, so she would have to drive her belongings to Edmonton, Calgary, or Vancouver to use it

 

We'll look into quotes from moving companies, but because she isn't planning on bringing furniture (mostly clothes, retro game consoles and games, figures, books, etc.), she wanted to see if she could just mail her belongings here. It's difficult to find any information whatsoever about doing that: does anyone know anything about how feasible that is, in terms of customs clearance? I'm aware it's recommended to arrive with or before your belongings so the paperwork will be in order when they arrive, but is it possible to mail your belongings before leaving Canada (after her approved visa is in hand, of course)? Is there anything else we need to know about mailing belongings?

Edited January 12, 2022 by hedgemaze
Got km and miles mixed up

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

I left stuff with friends and parents and flew with as much luggage as possible several times. For me that has been more practical than getting a company deliver ALL my belongings.

To this day I still bring books every trip as they're the heaviest. 🤪

[mam521 2,060]

Mailing boxes will cost a fortune.  If you guys can fly with extra baggage, it's still probably cheaper.  

 

We drove Calgary to Houston with 2 kids and a dog, towing a Uhaul.  It's not impossible.  You just make a road trip out of it. It could be fun, especially considering she won't be able to leave the US until after her AP is approved.  

[WeekendPizzaiolo 47]

On 1/12/2022 at 2:13 PM, hedgemaze said:

My fiancée's K-1 visa was approved yesterday! Now we're figuring out the logistics of moving her belongings.

 

Most people recommend U-Haul or U-Pack for the move, but in our case:

- U-Haul is impractical because we're a ~3000-mile drive apart (Northern BC and New York)

- U-Pack does not service her city, so she would have to drive her belongings to Edmonton, Calgary, or Vancouver to use it

 

We'll look into quotes from moving companies, but because she isn't planning on bringing furniture (mostly clothes, retro game consoles and games, figures, books, etc.), she wanted to see if she could just mail her belongings here. It's difficult to find any information whatsoever about doing that: does anyone know anything about how feasible that is, in terms of customs clearance? I'm aware it's recommended to arrive with or before your belongings so the paperwork will be in order when they arrive, but is it possible to mail your belongings before leaving Canada (after her approved visa is in hand, of course)? Is there anything else we need to know about mailing belongings?

Another cheap option is using Amtrak to move your stuff, but this would first involve driving the belongings across the border to a station in Washington state and then arranging a pick-up with Amtrak. Seattle King Street (SEA) is a heavy-compatible station with forklifts for pallet loads. You can also ship by the box on Amtrak. See: https://www.amtrak.com/express-shipping for more information.

 

 

[Taona 0]

I posted 6 boxes of 30 pounds each or so with UPS. Easy and cost around 600 CAD

[mam521 2,060]

On 1/15/2022 at 8:11 AM, Taona said:

I posted 6 boxes of 30 pounds each or so with UPS. Easy and cost around 600 CAD

My Uhaul (larger 6'x12' trailer) was only $730 for 7 days.  

 

Depends what you want to take and what effort you want to put in, I suppose.  

[hedgemaze 49]

On 1/15/2022 at 9:11 AM, Taona said:

I posted 6 boxes of 30 pounds each or so with UPS. Easy and cost around 600 CAD

Did you have to include any special customs documentation or receipts? Did you mark the shipments as something like Personal Effects, or just Gift?

 

We're looking at Form 3299, but it doesn't seem to apply to Canada Post, just to moving services, so we're not sure if we need to include anything special.

[lalalulu 3]

On 1/23/2022 at 12:41 PM, hedgemaze said:

Did you have to include any special customs documentation or receipts? Did you mark the shipments as something like Personal Effects, or just Gift?

 

We're looking at Form 3299, but it doesn't seem to apply to Canada Post, just to moving services, so we're not sure if we need to include anything special.

What did you end up doing? I'm moving in two weeks and planning on shipping some boxes with UPS. Also confused about whether or not I can ship them before I leave or not. 

On 1/15/2022 at 6:11 AM, Taona said:

I posted 6 boxes of 30 pounds each or so with UPS. Easy and cost around 600 CAD

Did you ship them beforehand? What was your process and experience like?

[hedgemaze 49]

13 minutes ago, lalalulu said:

What did you end up doing? I'm moving in two weeks and planning on shipping some boxes with UPS. Also confused about whether or not I can ship them before I leave or not. 

Did you ship them beforehand? What was your process and experience like?

My wife ended up just mailing everything with Canada Post. It was expensive, but it worked, and everything got here safely. She shipped them before leaving (a box or two etc. as she finished packing them, over time). No special paperwork involved, and her local post office even signed her up for a free business account for a discount since she was shipping so much.

[lalalulu 3]

1 minute ago, hedgemaze said:

My wife ended up just mailing everything with Canada Post. It was expensive, but it worked, and everything got here safely. She shipped them before leaving (a box or two etc. as she finished packing them, over time). No special paperwork involved, and her local post office even signed her up for a free business account for a discount since she was shipping so much.

Oh thats great to hear! thank you!

[Idlewild 26]

On 1/12/2022 at 6:07 PM, Allaboutwaiting said:

I left stuff with friends and parents and flew with as much luggage as possible several times. For me that has been more practical than getting a company deliver ALL my belongings.

To this day I still bring books every trip as they're the heaviest. 🤪

This really is a great option.  I did this several times moving to (and living in) Canada.  Now my spouse is moving with me to the US.  I would recommend from cheapest to most expensive:

1. Flights (without checking) over a long period of several trips.
2. @WeekendPizzaiolo's mention of Amtrak.  Fantastic idea.  Even Greyhound may offer this option.
3. UHaul/trailer - but a lot of driving...
4. uPack/PODS
5. Full service mover

Edited February 19, 2023 by Idlewild