My husband is paranoid that we're going to get a bill from Customs once we've crossed the border because our stuff might not be duty-free. Is he right to be paranoid about this? Don't Canadians move to the US all the time and bring all their household stuff and not get charged duty? What do we need to do when we pack, just make a list of stuff we're bringing over?

Oh, and how do they know if things are a year old or less? I mean, we don't have anything expensive that IS less than a year old, but what's to stop them from being like, "We think you're lying, show us the receipt!" ?

He is paranoid for nothing!! lol My experience-- I showed the customs guy my list and for my high end items I even included a price. He didnt care. He was more concerned with his solitaire game on his computer!! Best of luck

The kicker is the stuff that is less than a year old, and anything classified as an antique, according to the forms.

I had some stuff that was less than a year old, that was given to me as gifts, so I had no receipts for them. Frankly, I packed those items amongst my older belongings, and nothing was said about them. My things were shipped through a moving company, so I had to provide the company with a copy of all the pages in my passport, some other documents, and fill out a customs form. With the customs form, I included a box list with a brief description of the contents. I had no problems, with customs or with the moving company (nothing broken! yay!).

I had absolutely no problem. I was in a pick up truck, all my stuff hauled in the back. It was all covered over with a HUGE tarp, pretty big. I had a generic list of say.. clothing-4 boxes kitchen items-2 boxes, etc.
It was one page no biggie.
Not only did they not take it, they didn't even ask me about my belongings or care!

You will be fine. Pack it all up and just make a general list should they want it. I crossed on a land border so I had a lot of stuff including my wedding dress which of course was less than 1 yr old.

You're fine, your hubby is being paranoid.

Well that's a load off. Thanks all.

my stuff has been sitting in customs for almost a week. customs called my mother looking for info, that info was given to UPS before it was shipped. not happy!

Moving to the US & Bringing Your Stuff

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...topic=17422&hl=

Yeah, I sent that link to my hubby and that's what started his paranoia.

New Immigrants are permitted to import their used personal effects for up to 10 years without duty...

So no... there's nothing for him to worry about...

I don't see how this would make him paranoid.

Under New Immigrants:
"Duty Exemptions for Household and Personnel Effects
You may import furniture, dishes, linens, libraries, artwork and similar household furnishings for your personal use free of duty."

That's because you don't know my husband.