K1 Visa approved, moving things just before POE?

[Lights 56]

I have an approved K1 Visa and I am planning my POE. I've been looking for moving companies and some give various rates, like if I give them more time (2 weeks versus a few days) or if I move during the week or in the middle of the month versus end of month.

If I plan my POE on at the end of next month, but want to send my things through earlier for a better rate (mid month/during the week and it'll take a week or two to get to where I am), would I be allowed to do that? I'm thinking like 2 weeks max before my POE?

Thanks!

[NikLR 13,227]

Most moving companies will not.

[Texasav8r 183]

Some do and will place your belongings in storage for a certain period of time as long as you have an intended move in date at your new address. Now with that said, I am not sure about international moves but I don't see why it would be any different other than a customs issue perhaps. Best to call a few companies and ask.

There is always PODS. http://www.pods.com/ Again. not sure about international moves or even if they exist up there, but they leave a big container in your driveway and you pack it at your leisure and then place it in storage until given a move in date. Then they deliver it to the new address and you unpack at your leisure.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Texasav8r

[NikLR 13,227]

I think you'll find the best answers in the Canada forum to be honest.

[TBoneTX 45,498]

Thread moved from K-1 Case Progress subforum to the Canadian regional forum.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You won't be able to move your belongings to the US before you yourself have crossed the border with your K-1 visa. The moving company is required to provide documented proof that the contents of any shipment they have belong to someone who is legally living or allowed to live in the US. Until you use your K-1 you have no legal presence in the US, so your belongings are not allowed to be there either.

You could have the movers pick up your belongings a few days before you intend to cross the border yourself and they will hold them in storage until you send them back a photocopy of the validated K-1 visa. They also used to require a copy of the I-94 but with the electronic I-94s now a days I am not sure what they do about that.

Or, you could do what I did. I had everything ready and gave the key to my apartment to one of my friends who met the moving company there 2 days after I had crossed the border and had arrived at my new home in the US. I faxed the stamped K-1 visa and the I-94 back to the moving company. They scheduled their arrival the following week and they informed me that they did need to show documentation for the 3 loads they had on the van: mine as a K-1; someone relocating on a work visa, and a returning US citizen. If they had not had that proof they would not have been allowed to cross the border until they had unloaded the undocumented items.

Here is a link to the official information about moving belongings to the US - you are allowed to bring them with you or after you (up to 10 years afterwards, in fact) but they cannot precede you:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/354/kw/trade

The moving company should have all of the forms you need to complete to satisfy US customs requirements. You just need to provide proof that you have legal presence in the US.

[Lights 56]

You won't be able to move your belongings to the US before you yourself have crossed the border with your K-1 visa. The moving company is required to provide documented proof that the contents of any shipment they have belong to someone who is legally living or allowed to live in the US. Until you use your K-1 you have no legal presence in the US, so your belongings are not allowed to be there either.

You could have the movers pick up your belongings a few days before you intend to cross the border yourself and they will hold them in storage until you send them back a photocopy of the validated K-1 visa. They also used to require a copy of the I-94 but with the electronic I-94s now a days I am not sure what they do about that.

Or, you could do what I did. I had everything ready and gave the key to my apartment to one of my friends who met the moving company there 2 days after I had crossed the border and had arrived at my new home in the US. I faxed the stamped K-1 visa and the I-94 back to the moving company. They scheduled their arrival the following week and they informed me that they did need to show documentation for the 3 loads they had on the van: mine as a K-1; someone relocating on a work visa, and a returning US citizen. If they had not had that proof they would not have been allowed to cross the border until they had unloaded the undocumented items.

Here is a link to the official information about moving belongings to the US - you are allowed to bring them with you or after you (up to 10 years afterwards, in fact) but they cannot precede you:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/354/kw/trade

The moving company should have all of the forms you need to complete to satisfy US customs requirements. You just need to provide proof that you have legal presence in the US.

Great, thanks so much!