What can I take?

[shayden10 78]

Hi!

My fiancé and I recently applied for our K-1 Visa and are still waiting for it to process. I am getting a little ahead of myself but was wondering what/how much of my personal belongings I can bring with me to the States when I enter using the Visa.

I have a few boxes of books, a large jewelry box, some framed photographs, linens and blankets, and lots of shoes, among other things. I just wanted to start considering what I am going to take when the time comes. I work a lot while I am at home, so I am not really going to have a lot of time to do any packing in the coming months and would like to be able to do it over time. Especially approaching winter in Canada, I can start packing up summer things!

Any experiences of passing over the border with the visa would be appreciated! Especially if anyone has had any previous issues at the border - I have been stopped, searched, and denied before with my fiancé because they thought I was coming to stay. Any experiences would be appreciated!

Thank you!!

[Pitchman 8]

My fiance is coming from Indonesia. We are in the same situation as you. What I told her is once the Visa is approved you have 6 months to actually USE the Visa. Now most do not use that much time but she has a very good job in Indonesia and has her own apartment in Jakarta. She cannot just leave over night and the K1 visa process is unpredictable.

What we are going to do is this:

Once she has the Visa in her passport she will start to pack and sell all her large items.Television, Furniture (minus bed), Electronic equipment that is too large to ship. Once everything is sold or given away to whomever and she has packed 90 percent of her stuff minus clothes for work and whatever essentials she needs for daily living she will give her WORK notice FIRST and then notice to her landlord. In Indonesia they pay apartment rent 1 year in advance so she will have a month or two to move out. Her job will not let her leave until she has finished a few projects.

So what she is bringing with her is just 2 or 3 large suitcases and that's it!

Now since your moving from Canada, You have a huge advantage. Understanding the weather you could easily hire a moving company or use UHAUL and do the move yourself. You can cross the boarder in a UHAUL or company like it

https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Calgary-AB/Results/

Taken from U-HAUL WEBSITE TODAY:

Can I take a U-Haul truck across the U.S./Canadian border? Yes, you are permitted to cross the U.S./Canadian border during a move. You will be subject to any laws and regulations governing the border. For the latest information call one of the numbers below.

Canada Border Services Agency
204-983-3500

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
703-526-4200

Edited September 1, 2016 by Metaler

[shayden10 78]

My fiance is coming from Indonesia. We are in the same situation as you. What I told her is once the Visa is approved you have 6 months to actually USE the Visa. Now most do not use that much time but she has a very good job in Indonesia and has her own apartment in Jakarta. She cannot just leave over night and the K1 visa process is unpredictable.

What we are going to do is this:

Once she has the Visa in her passport she will start to pack and sell all her large items.Television, Furniture (minus bed), Electronic equipment that is too large to ship. Once everything is sold or given away to whomever and she has packed 90 percent of her stuff minus clothes for work and whatever essentials she needs for daily living she will give her WORK notice FIRST and then notice to her landlord. In Indonesia they pay apartment rent 1 year in advance so she will have a month or two to move out. Her job will not let her leave until she has finished a few projects.

So what she is bringing with her is just 2 or 3 large suitcases and that's it!

That makes sense to me - I am lucky enough that my parents are going to hold onto my large furniture so once I am settled in the States and allowed to travel again we can head up to Canada with a trailer to get the bigger things (his home in the States is only 10-11 hour drive from mine in Canada). I want to be prepared to travel a few days after I get my visa.

If most people take 2-3 suitcases that is what I will aim for.

Thank you for your help!

[PickleChips 56]

You can bring all of it. I used a U-haul and had an itemized list of boxes and their approximate contents, they didn't look at any of it. You are coming on a K1 so you are obviously immigrating, they won't question you like when you are entering for a visit. I believe you have up to 10 years to import your personal belongings as well so no rush

[NikLR 13,220]

Hi!

My fiancé and I recently applied for our K-1 Visa and are still waiting for it to process. I am getting a little ahead of myself but was wondering what/how much of my personal belongings I can bring with me to the States when I enter using the Visa.

I have a few boxes of books, a large jewelry box, some framed photographs, linens and blankets, and lots of shoes, among other things. I just wanted to start considering what I am going to take when the time comes. I work a lot while I am at home, so I am not really going to have a lot of time to do any packing in the coming months and would like to be able to do it over time. Especially approaching winter in Canada, I can start packing up summer things!

Any experiences of passing over the border with the visa would be appreciated! Especially if anyone has had any previous issues at the border - I have been stopped, searched, and denied before with my fiancé because they thought I was coming to stay. Any experiences would be appreciated!

Thank you!!

You can take anything you own. I even brought my own spices. You also have 10 years in which to move your items duty free, except cars. You have 1 year to import a car you own provided it meets compliance.

~~moved to moving here and your new life from K1 process and procedures~~

[MsCompE 50]

To avoid hassle, just carry the 2-3 luggages, a carry on for valuables and docs. Carry what you need, sell off or give away your other stuff unless you truly cant let go of it.

For other stuff that you wanna keep and bring along with you, maybe you can consider getting a box, place all of them there and ship it as a package

[shayden10 78]

You can bring all of it. I used a U-haul and had an itemized list of boxes and their approximate contents, they didn't look at any of it. You are coming on a K1 so you are obviously immigrating, they won't question you like when you are entering for a visit. I believe you have up to 10 years to import your personal belongings as well so no rush

Perfect!

I am just worried about the "final decision lies with the officer at the border" part. I think when I get the visa I will fly down with my essentials (some of which are already there because we already have a place together so I occasionally leave my things) and use a U-haul or a trailer to bring over my larger items. Thank you for your response definitely gives me some piece of mind

[shayden10 78]

To avoid hassle, just carry the 2-3 luggages, a carry on for valuables and docs. Carry what you need, sell off or give away your other stuff unless you truly cant let go of it.

For other stuff that you wanna keep and bring along with you, maybe you can consider getting a box, place all of them there and ship it as a package

That's a good idea! I don't really have a lot though and my fiance and I drive between countries frequently, so if it is essential and I need it shipped I may get my parents to ship it to me. Otherwise, I think it can wait in a box until we make a trip up after we are through the adjustment of status process. I have pretty much thrown out or given away everything that I don't want or need already!

[Pitchman 8]

Then you are all set! Being in Canada really does make it easier. I mean they don't even really care what you bring over and i doubt they check it either.

[PickleChips 56]

Perfect!

I am just worried about the "final decision lies with the officer at the border" part. I think when I get the visa I will fly down with my essentials (some of which are already there because we already have a place together so I occasionally leave my things) and use a U-haul or a trailer to bring over my larger items. Thank you for your response definitely gives me some piece of mind

Then you are all set! Being in Canada really does make it easier. I mean they don't even really care what you bring over and i doubt they check it either.

The final decision does lie with the officer but they are so nice! You've already gone through all the applications and background checks, you're approved! They were so friendly with me, welcomed me to the USA, joked about not having up balloons and a cake for me. They expect you be coming through with all your worldly possessions, it's not nearly as stressful as it may seem right now. Out of my whole enormous u-Haul, they literally only checked my firearms (and that's because they had to match them up with my permits).

[shayden10 78]

The final decision does lie with the officer but they are so nice! You've already gone through all the applications and background checks, you're approved! They were so friendly with me, welcomed me to the USA, joked about not having up balloons and a cake for me. They expect you be coming through with all your worldly possessions, it's not nearly as stressful as it may seem right now. Out of my whole enormous u-Haul, they literally only checked my firearms (and that's because they had to match them up with my permits).

Thank you for your response! I have been previously denied and had issues with border officers so they aren't always nice to me; I have never done anything wrong but it depends if they are in a good mood or not. I am hoping there won't be any issues! I don't think there will be - I have successfully entered the States twice since I was denied with zero issues. I think I will take the majority of my things, but some may stay behind for the time being! Just in case!

[Dashinka 23,355]

I agree with those above. Since you will be entering by land this makes things a lot easier for you as you don't have to deal with charges for extra luggage. I suggest bringing whatever you can fit in your car. As already stated, you are coming to stay and eventually become an LPR, so this is expected. Since you plan to go back later for the larger stuff with your husband that should be fine as well. Just make sure you don't have any restricted items with you (fresh fruit, firearms, etc.) and you should have no issues. Also if you plan to import your car at that time, make sure you have your documentation in order, but I think you have some time to do that later if you want.

When my fiancé and I decided to take take the K1 path and her visa was approved, I started bringing some of her clothes back with me during my visits while leaving some of my clothes there since she is maintaining her flat for her mom and adult son (I call it our Siberian vacation cottage). After about four trips in the past three years most of her stuff is now here, but we didn't have to bring anything big.

Good Luck!

Edited September 12, 2016 by Bill & Katya

[shayden10 78]

I agree with those above. Since you will be entering by land this makes things a lot easier for you as you don't have to deal with charges for extra luggage. I suggest bringing whatever you can fit in your car. As already stated, you are coming to stay and eventually become an LPR, so this is expected. Since you plan to go back later for the larger stuff with your husband that should be fine as well. Just make sure you don't have any restricted items with you (fresh fruit, firearms, etc.) and you should have no issues. Also if you plan to import your car at that time, make sure you have your documentation in order, but I think you have some time to do that later if you want.

When my fiancé and I decided to take take the K1 path and her visa was approved, I started bringing some of her clothes back with me during my visits while leaving some of my clothes there since she is maintaining her flat for her mom and adult son (I call it our Siberian vacation cottage). After about four trips in the past three years most of her stuff is now here, but we didn't have to bring anything big.

Good Luck!

Thank you for the reply Bill & Katya,

As we are close together and we have already got a home in the States, I have already started moving some of my stuff, like kitchen stuff, clothing, and movies, so I will have less to deal with when the time comes for me to actually make the permanent move. I am not planning on taking my car, I am gifting it to my parents, and I don't have firearms.

I was denied from the border in July, and that is what generates my concern. My fiance's grandfather fell ill while he was visiting me so we threw stuff in the car and took off to be there for the family. They said it was too last minute and I had too many shoes (that's literally what my file says!) and I have since had to go through additional screening whenever I go to the States. I haven't had another issue getting in, but I worry when it will come time to immigrate they will be jerks about it!

All of the responses definitely make me feel better!

Thank you everyone!

[JFH 12,189]

I understand your concern based on your previous experience. But look at it this way. That time when you just threw everything into the car and set off, you had no way of proving that you were doing things the right way. All they had was your word that you were not going to stay, you were going to return, etc. But your word counts for little as the love interest of a USC, as many of us have found. CBP have heard it all before "yes, of course I'm going to return to my home country, no I'm definitely not planning to immigrate by the back door". Unfortunately, hundreds have gone before you saying this and ended up staying. Which is why your word counts for nothing.

However, this time you have written proof you are doing everything the right way. They want you to have a K-1, pay all those fees, go through the whole process. It demonstrates that you are doing it the right way. They will probably give you a pat on the back when you arrive and congratulate you on doing it correctly. When they allow you to cross the border there is no nervousness on their part that they have been lied to by someone claiming to be a visitor but intending to stay. They know you have been vetted and given approval to stay. Your case will be the easiest one they deal with that day.

Edited September 14, 2016 by JFH