Moving items via UPack

[Wishing 1]

Hello All,

Moving question for those who have used Upack or those in the know.

I am thinking about using Upack for move from Ottawa to California. Of course I need my successful K1 interview first before I can move the stuff. What I am wondering is as soon as I actually receive the K1 visa in my passport from the consulate, can I send my stuff via upack? Or does Upack/customs need the I-94 or other documents I receive when I actually activate my K1 at the border?

Thanks!

[trailmix 77]

No, you have to cross the border before your goods do. Upack does need a copy of your visa to ship. It's rather inconvenient isn't it

Now you can give them a copy of it before you use it - so no worry there.

Say they are picking up their truck or relocube on Tuesday and you are leaving Wednesday, you just tell them that, give them the signed bill of lading, a copy of your visa and form 3299

They do frown on you leaving the next day btw, in my experience, they want to pick up the goods and want you to be heading out the door for the border, however both times we used them we didn't leave right away.

Now, that's the correct procedure. In fact, when we moved to the U.S., our goods did cross the border before we did, i'm sure that's not ideal and they could have held them at customs, but they didn't.

[Wishing 1]

Thanks for that trailmix!

So once I cross the border do I have to fax them any info such as the I-94 or proof I've crossed?

[trailmix 77]

No nothing. Basically they want to get your stuff moving as soon as they can, so that truck will likely be not far behind you!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Wow, Ottawa to California! Now that's a drive!

Good luck Wishing

[Danu 19]

Hello All,

Moving question for those who have used Upack or those in the know.

I am thinking about using Upack for move from Ottawa to California. Of course I need my successful K1 interview first before I can move the stuff. What I am wondering is as soon as I actually receive the K1 visa in my passport from the consulate, can I send my stuff via upack? Or does Upack/customs need the I-94 or other documents I receive when I actually activate my K1 at the border?

Thanks!

Sounds just like the move I made! You will need to give them a copy of your visa but they don't need your I-94. Now that being said because they cross with your visa I think the border guards look up if you have crossed yet, as your stuff cannot go before you do. Our stuff left the same day we did, and got here 2 days after we did. Have fun on your trip!

[Wishing 1]

This has been very helpful, Thank you!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I would still fax them your I-94.

I moved my stuff commercially - not with UPack - and the border guards demanded to see the verification of each of the three loads the truck carried to ensure that all of the items were allowed into the US duty free. I had faxed them my I-94 after we crossed the border and they were required to show it to the border authorities before they would allow the truck to bring my belongings through. The delivery guys told me they were so glad that they had the paperwork that they needed because my items were in the middle and they would have had to unload the first group to get to my belongings and unload them, then reload the first group again. So, to avoid the possibility of your belongings not making it through the border or requiring to pay duty on them, fax a copy of the I-94 to the transporter so they have it with them.

[Wishing 1]

Thanks @Kathryn41 very valuable info there!!

[astronaut 3]

Hey there. Talked to a rep at the U Pack trucking yard in Vancouver. (Their location is merely a mile or two from the border) He said he'd need a copy of my husbands I-94 before they could move his effects accross, and yes, it goes after my husband crosses the border.

BTW, I was planning to use Upack as well, but am having some second thoughts after hearing from friends who used it several times in the past 15 moves. They said always bring brooms to sweep out the truck, as you never know what was moved just prior (like corn in one of their situations.) Also the sides of the trailor can also be greasy, so they advised wrapping all furnature with the big celephane wrap so nothing gets dirty. The last thing they discussed was to really focus on making sure things are packed tightly up to the top, in case of shifting. Apparently each customer needs to sign a waiver that Upack is not responsible for damages if the load ships due to unproper packing.

We may still use them, but it's always good to be prepared.

[Danu 19]

Yeah, they do do commercial goods moving (which is what the other stuff in the truck will be) so what we did was laid down a tarp under our stuff, and made sure it was piled securely against the bulkhead. Only had 2 things shift in the move and nothing broke. The waiver they get you to sign isnt that they aren't responsible for anything but that they will only pay something like 30c per lb or something. For the cost of them compaired to other companies to move my stuff all the way out here it was sooo worth it.

[trailmix 77]

We've used them twice, once relocube, second time truck. Our truck was spotless. My Sister also used them, their stuff shifted (ie: the bulkhead came down) and there was a load of tires apparently and they did get some grease on some of their stuff.

Upack gave them no hassle and gave them some money, can't remember how much, but she thought it was fair. They also stated that the trucks are not supposed to be carrying things like tires with Upack goods.

[kballtex 0]

We've used them twice, once relocube, second time truck. Our truck was spotless. My Sister also used them, their stuff shifted (ie: the bulkhead came down) and there was a load of tires apparently and they did get some grease on some of their stuff.

Upack gave them no hassle and gave them some money, can't remember how much, but she thought it was fair. They also stated that the trucks are not supposed to be carrying things like tires with Upack goods.

Haven't thought of the relocube idea, my folks were going to fly up and then drive our goods down. U-haul truck would cost approx $1600 one-way, not including gas. Maybe this isn't a terrible option.

[trailmix 77]

I really liked the relocube, it holds a lot of stuff - it's amazing how much you can get in there really. That said, there wasn't one thing that didn't get scratched. - but that's more of a packing thing. We were careful, we wrapped all our furniture (we only took things like end tables, no dining room furniture or sofa for instance) - but we had totes (and totes) of stuff. When you squish that much stuff in to, what is going to be, a moving box, it's bound to get a bit damage. Also our washer and dryer, the dryer had a dent on top as, of course, we stacked stuff on it.

In comparison, we used 10 feet of the truck (we brought a sofa back with us) but nothing got damaged. Really depends on what you are shipping I guess.

Edited April 13, 2010 by trailmix

[kballtex 0]

I really liked the relocube, it holds a lot of stuff - it's amazing how much you can get in there really. That said, there wasn't one thing that didn't get scratched. - but that's more of a packing thing. We were careful, we wrapped all our furniture (we only took things like end tables, no dining room furniture or sofa for instance) - but we had totes (and totes) of stuff. When you squish that much stuff in to, what is going to be, a moving box, it's bound to get a bit damage. Also our washer and dryer, the dryer had a dent on top as, of course, we stacked stuff on it.

In comparison, we used 10 feet of the truck (we brought a sofa back with us) but nothing got damaged. Really depends on what you are shipping I guess.

I've not taken an honest inventory just yet but we're mostly talking about packing boxes, probably enough to fit in an econoline van, plus some bikes and maybe a set of drawers. Maybe an angry mother in law as well? Oh dear. If its less than the $1600 U-haul is asking for that wouldn't be bad at all.