Attention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border

[misa 2]

Should I have the Customs form 3299 with me if I am moving my stuff down myself, at the time that I am activating the K1? Thanks in advance for letting me know!

If you're bringing stuff with you when you cross the border, you don't need a form but you should have a sheet listing everything you have with you, their value and the total. We called Peace Bridge the day before we crossed about this and they told us there was no form (only for unaccompanied articles), but to itemise everything in case we were asked (we weren't).

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

What if I don't know the value of my stuff? Is it in terms of Commercial Value (like what I have to write on the customs form for parcels to US)? As far as I know, all my stuff together could probably be replaced for about $1,000 CDN except for the stuff that is irreplaceable---and then, there is no monetary value that I could place on that either.

Like, the CPU was $560 last year in January when it was new. Now? Dunno. Other than the CBP website, is there anywhere else that I could/should look? I have already downloaded the pamphlet from the CBP and the USDA for foods that I am allowed to bring.

[Cassie 8]

i didn't list any monetary values for anything, even my computer. But then again, I really didn't have anything of huge value.

[misa 2]

I just estimated what it would be worth.

[L_n_O 3]

A while ago, I filled out a form that gave you a quote for how much it'd be to rent a truck and drive it to Virginia with one of those big companies..

It came to $2000! Is this right?

Just wondering what some of your actual experiences (and prices) were with this kind of thing..

Also, is it more cost effective to ship your belongings instead of making the lovely 8 - 10 hour drive in a truck? How much on average would it be to do it that way...

(I know it all just depends on how much stuff you're moving... a whole house full of stuff or just a small apartment's worth..) Well, think of me in a small Toronto Apartment.

[misa 2]

I paid $1,100 USD for one relocube with ABF Upack to ship my stuff from Toronto to Virginia (Richmond). Look for a Upack thread here. I posted a full review on my experience with them.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Soem have used Upack.com to move their stuff to the USA. I used Uhaul, it went ok. soem have had bad expereinces with Uhaul (truck no tbe available when promised) but all went well for me. U can get a pretty decent rate from Toronto to alexandria va http://reservations.uhaul.com/reservationsweb/Default.aspx

[mozplay 28]

For me, as there was the chance of the EA stamp, I wanted to drive. I used U-Haul - the only company that I found that would do one-way rentals from Canada to the US - and other than a jiggly side mirror, all went well.

Mo

[zyggy 9]

Should I have the Customs form 3299 with me if I am moving my stuff down myself, at the time that I am activating the K1? Thanks in advance for letting me know!

No need.. the form is for unaccompanied articles.. and it isn't valid until they receive a copy of your I-94. So your articles can't go ahead of you, something that you need to discuss with your moving company...

Cdn Ali,

I got you now. OHIP takes their payment out when we file our income tax here. I never thought of notifying them, that's a good thing to think about. I suppose we need to find out how long they cover us if at all once we activate our visas!!

You need to notify OHIP that you have left Canada and you're not covered once you leave. You send them a form and send it to your OHIP office.

http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/for...e/0280-82E_.pdf

[Catou1181 0]

Since we're on the topic of moving stuff across the border, I have a question. I was talking to a collegue yesterday. Her daughter has a K-1 approved and was told that you can't bring across a mattress. Is that true ? Is there a list of items that you can't bring with you listed somewhere ?

I searched on http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation..._restricted.xml but didn't find anything.

[misa 2]

No need.. the form is for unaccompanied articles.. and it isn't valid until they receive a copy of your I-94. So your articles can't go ahead of you, something that you need to discuss with your moving company...

I moved my stuff separately with ABF Upack and they didn't ask for a copy of my I-94 (I crossed a few days before my belongings did). My stuff made it here just fine and they never called to tell me there was any problems. A fluke? Did someone there screw up and not tell me I needed to send them a copy of my I-94? I had given them photocopies of my K3, my birth certificate and my passport biographical page.

Edited April 17, 2007 by misa

[AndreaK 1]

Since we're on the topic of moving stuff across the border, I have a question. I was talking to a collegue yesterday. Her daughter has a K-1 approved and was told that you can't bring across a mattress. Is that true ? Is there a list of items that you can't bring with you listed somewhere ?

I searched on http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation..._restricted.xml but didn't find anything.

i'd like to know the answer to this too, from someone who has actually tried to take a mattress across. when i called US customs (one of the n. dakota crossing points), the agent said he'd never heard of anything like that and there was no problem taking a mattress with you... i hate conflicting information

[misa 2]

I took a queen sized mattress across. It was in my moving cube which came after I did. Had it itemised on the customs form and never had (or heard of) any problems.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Had a mattress in my u haul, and was on my inventory list, never had a problem!1 MAybe she just wanted her parents to buy her a new mattress,lol

[Catou1181 0]

I took a queen sized mattress across. It was in my moving cube which came after I did. Had it itemised on the customs form and never had (or heard of) any problems.

lol

Well Im happy none of you had problems with a mattress. Mine's brand new and didn't want to have to sell it