Sending personal effects to the USA with a family member

[tommn 0]

Hello,I'm new to the forums and at the moment am waiting on my packet 4.

If all goes well and I'm approved my wife will be driving back to the USA after the interview here in Montreal without me(I'll be flying to the USA shortly after)

Will she be able to bring my personal belongings with her?(even though I'll not be arriving in the USA until a later date)If so what do we need to do to prepare.

She would be taking alot of hand and power tools,a large tool chest and home electronics.

I realize I may be getting ahead of myself as I've yet to be approved but she will be leaving a day or two after the interview so we need to be prepared.

[Peachey 10]

By law, your belongings cannot cross the border before you do with your Visa.

Sorry

[JohnR! 5,495]

His belongings can't cross before he does, but yours can. He could sell you all the tools, give you a bill of sale and you could bring them with you, as your property. If you do that you need to make sure you pay him fair market value for the equipment and make sure you do not exceed your allowed customs quota, upon entering the US. Make sure the bill of sale contains serial numbers and a complete description of the items so you can prove their provenance.

One other aspect is that depending on where you got married, his stuff may very well be yours too, as a result...

Edited September 7, 2012 by Gegel

[Krikit 1,164]

Hi there, and welcome to VJ.

Here is a recent thread on the subject:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/384553-crossing-the-uscanadian-border/page__view__findpost__p__5629459

[tommn 0]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

It's a big disappointment she can't bring these items with her,they are as much hers as they are mine as we are married.

It was mentioned that depending on where we got married my items may be considered hers aswell,can anyone add to this?We were married in Missouri USA.

I like the idea of selling the items to her but I'm not sure this would be legal,or it may be frowned upon.Can anybody advise me if this is acceptable.Even if we had to pay dutys it would be alot cheaper than shipping them.

[Krikit 1,164]

Has she been living in Canada with you as a legal resident? If she is moving back to the US then different rules apply:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/134/kw/moving/sno/1

[tommn 0]

Has she been living in Canada with you as a legal resident? If she is moving back to the US then different rules apply:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/134/kw/moving/sno/1

No she hasn't lived here in Canada as a legal resident.She comes here and stays as long as legally allowed and I do the same there.