Shipping Personal Belongings

[Tween 10]

I'm entering America in October on a K1 visa, but I'm struggling to get my belongings over there. My problem is I'm not taking very much (no furniture; mostly books) so I don't need even half the smallest container space an import/export company will sell me. It would be significantly cheaper for me to post everything over to my fiancee, but am I going to run foul of customs if I do that? If I complete CBP form 3299 (Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles) and put that in with the usual customs forms, will that be okay? Anyone got any experience?

[Ash.1101 1,755]

From what I've seen on the Canada forums at least. Is that you can go to ship it and fill out that paper, but it'll get stopped and the shipper will contact you asking for a copy of your stamped visa and I-94.

The reason for this (from what I've read here) is because they can't it ship duty-free to you until you're in the country, but obviously when you ship it you aren't in the US, so it'll get held until you can give them proof you've entered the US with the stamped visa and/or I-94.

My fiance only has one box to ship so I feel ya and any more info is welcome! We need to know too!

Edited September 20, 2015 by Ash.1101

[mrandmrsBRS 116]

What I wnated to do is, I buy 2 extra suitcases, so my total is 3 plus carry on. I would have to pay for them extra of course, but this was the best solution for me.

[Tween 10]

I'm taking an extra suitcase with clothes, but I'm looking at shipping several hundred hardback books. I won't get many of them on a plane Typically, they're too rare/expensive to simply leave in the UK and replace, too heavy for a suitcase, but not bulky enough for cargo, lmao.

[Sabrina&Chuck 32]

Why not traveling with 2 baggages instead of 1 ?

[yuna628 9,533]

If you can afford an extra baggage fee or upgrade your class to first so that you can take more baggage that could work for *some* of your items. My fiancé had three large suitcases and a standard sized carry-on. This certainly allowed him to bring all his books, games, consoles, and dvds... not to mention clothes. It was a hefty amount of stuff. What is the total weight of the books you'd like to bring? If you can fit them in a case of stuff without going over the allowed weight for the airline, I'd consider bringing them with you. We took out a type of 'one way' travel insurance to cover loss or theft for them too. My fiancé did post some items over to the states, but as you know there is never any guarantee especially as they are of considerable value.

[Tween 10]

I'm talking literally hundreds of books. There's no way I'll get them in a suitcase, or even three.

[Ash.1101 1,755]

Yea, believe it or not, not everything can be taken on with carry on LOL.

My fiance is bringing all his clothes on the plane, a carry on then one or two luggages with his clothes inside.

But he also has books and a desktop computer that is on the large end. It's just one or two boxes max, but def not something that can be managed to be brought on the plane.

The OP is asking about the shipping process, how it's done, what is needed, etc. Not what can be taken on the plane as that isn't an option for him, no matter how you spin it.

Edited September 20, 2015 by Ash.1101

[yuna628 9,533]

It's precisely why I said *some* of the OP's items. Perhaps there are some more valuable items in their collection they do not feel comfortable with sending alone, and perhaps they could debate upon bringing with them via suitcase, rather than via a shipping method. Of course a very large number is obviously not possible to take with them without another method.

[Tween 10]

I'm taking what I can in suitcases, but I've still got rather a lot to ship over. My main concern is if I don't send a single consignment with an export company, what are the chances of one or more boxes being held up at customs or them demanding I duty on them because it's not the way things are normally sent?

[mrandmrsBRS 116]

so I did a little research on how much extra luggage costs...american airlines for example: 1 : free 2. 100 € 3: 200 €

I'm starting to feel lost and desperate...

[Tween 10]

so I did a little research on how much extra luggage costs...american airlines for example: 1 : free 2. 100 € 3: 200 €

I'm starting to feel lost and desperate...

It's actually more than that with American. It's $100 for the second case, then another $100 if the case is over the weight limit. So if you wanted to take two extra overweight cases, it would cost an additional $300. For three cases, $600.

There's also logistics to consider. My POE will be Chicago, but I'm flying on to St Louis. Traipsing three or more cases (plus carry-on) through security at Chicago from reclaim to where I can recheck the bags would be... difficult.

Edited September 20, 2015 by Tween

[mrandmrsBRS 116]

o lord me...I really don't know what to do. see if I can donate more clothes...Actually clothes and pictures and a few books is everything I want to pack. maybe I can get everything in one and pay the extra fee...could be cheaper than buying 2 extra suit cases plus the fee the airlne would charge me...

[Ash.1101 1,755]

I'm taking what I can in suitcases, but I've still got rather a lot to ship over. My main concern is if I don't send a single consignment with an export company, what are the chances of one or more boxes being held up at customs or them demanding I duty on them because it's not the way things are normally sent?

On my above post I explained that.

At least for canada, (you may have better luck in the european forums), people would ship their boxes UPS, anywhere from 1-6 boxes. They'd ship it out the day before or day that they left, they would fill out that form.

Usually that gave them enough time because then UPS would contact them, saying their shipment is being held and to release it, they would need to show that they are in the country, by scanning and sending copies of their stamped visas. Once customs confirmed they were in the US, they released the packages duty free.

It is only duty free if you are sending it to yourself, while you're already in the country. So it'll get held til you can show them you're in the country.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/511688-shipping/

"Shipping costs -

Boxes are weighed and measured - they have a chart with "standard" weights for specific box sizes. You are charged the higher of the chart value or actual (so if the chart says a 17 x 17 x 17 box is 25 lbs, and your box actually weighs 10 lbs, you are still ticketed for 25).

The more boxes you ship to the same address the more they are discounted. Shipping 2 or 3 boxes would have cost me $50 per box...as it was, my 8 boxes only cost me $242 (tax included).

She took a copy of my passport with the visa stamp, and they were held and sent the same day I departed.

The day after I left, she called me - Customs needed a copy of my passport - This is important! If you ship in advance, they will not release the goods until they have received a copy of the passport stamp showing your admission to the US (the I-94). I had to scan the passport stamp and email it to them. Customs released the boxes the same day as they received the stamp."

[mrandmrsBRS 116]

guess I'll call UPS tomorrow..sounds like a good idea depending on how expensive it will be. but either way it won't be cheap to get my stuff over there...