Moving stuff in Uhaul from Canada to US?

[Stuart Brook]

Yes, you can. Go to your local U-Haul dealer and tell them what you
need in the way of a truck and vehicle carrier.

They have to locate a US truck (Canadian trucks can't go into the US).

When you pack the truck, make an inventory of every carryable item in
the manner the movers do and number the boxes ... e.g

#1 Box = Bedroom misc
#2 TV - Kenwood ser#123 Value new $1000, age 6yrs, Korea

Identify expensive items and their age and where made

Make 2 copies ...

Then go to the border. Nothing formal required.

Stuart

immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> Is it possible to move household items in a Uhaul when crossing the
> border from Canada to the US going on an H1B visa? If so, can someone
> tell me the procedure / share their experiences?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.

[immigra...@my-deja.com]

Stuart

Would I drive striaght upto the border post or do I need to stop and go
to an Immigration Officer? Remember, that I'd need to get the I-94
since I'd be entering the US on an H1B visa.

Also, are there any forms that I would need to fill out to move my
stuff? Is there anything else that needs to be done?

Thanks!

In article <39960E29...@attcanada.ca>,

[Ingo]

Assuming that you are a Canadian citizen, you drive up to the border
checkpoint and tell the inspector that you need to get an I-94 for
your H-1B. I haven't done this myself, but you'll probably be directed
to pull over into a parking lot and go into the office to fill out the
paperwork.

For the moving side of it, go to the US custom's Web site. They have a
lot of information about that kind of thing.

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.
For reliable advice, please consult with a
professional immigration attorney.

For further information, check the following
frequently-requested links.

For many questions, you may find answers at
http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html
(Department of State)

or
http://ins.usdoj.gov (INS).

For consular policies and visa reciprocity fees,
find your consulate in
http://travel.state.gov/links.html

For information on affidavit of support for marriage
to US citizens (I-864), go to
http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html
and
http://travel.state.gov/checklist.html

For poverty levels, see
http://travel.state.gov/99guidel.html
(Note: poverty levels for 2000 are higher)

For information on H/L/O/P visa extensions at Dept.
of State in St. Louis, MO, see
http://travel.state.gov/revals.html

For non-official information, check:

(When using these sites, and any Web sites, please
watch out for privacy, as I do not know all site
operators.)

http://www.visalaw.com
http://www.shusterman.com
http://www.immigration.com
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall
http://www.murthy.com/
http://www.getusavisa.com
http://greencard-lottery.virtualave.net/
http://www.jcvisa.com
(H-1B) http://www.h1bresources.com
(marriage and fiancee) http://www.kamya.com/misc/
(marriage and fiancee) http://www2.apex.net/users/thehydes

This is not an endorsement of any of these Web sites.
I am not affiliated with any of the Web site owners
and do not receive nor accept payment in return for
listing them, and typically don't even know them.

(if believe you have a good immigration-related Web
site and want your Web site listed here, please
e-mail me).

[Stuart Brook]

Since you are driving a truck, at many PoEs, you'll have to avoid the
drive through (limited height) ... You park off at the obvious place,
walk across to the normal gate and say that you need an I-94 for an H1B
and that you are bringing your belongings with you. You'll be directed
into the office and there you will see both immigration AND customs.
Immigratio for the I-94 and customs for your stuff.

[immigra...@my-deja.com]

Do you know what kind of questions to expect by the immigration officer
for the immigration and the customs? Do you know how much time this
would take?

How would you compare this situation to the person simply flying and
sending the stuff through professional movers?

Thanks!

In article <3996C06C...@attcanada.ca>,

[Stuart Brook]

immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> Do you know what kind of questions to expect by the immigration officer
> for the immigration and the customs? Do you know how much time this
> would take?

Getting your I-94 will take a few minutes. Customs usually accept that
it's household stuff and simply carry on. Time 2 minutes.

> How would you compare this situation to the person simply flying and
> sending the stuff through professional movers?

If you do this, you must get the I-94, and fax a copy to the mover,
often BEFORE they'll even LOAD you. Then you complete everything in
detail and tell customs that you have goods to follow separately with
the mover when you cross.

Not to mention that the U-Haul is a lot cheaper.

Stuart
>

[immigra...@my-deja.com]

In article <3997129E...@attcanada.ca>,

s_b...@attcanada.ca wrote:
>
>
> immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > Do you know what kind of questions to expect by the immigration
officer
> > for the immigration and the customs? Do you know how much time this
> > would take?
>
> Getting your I-94 will take a few minutes. Customs usually accept
> that it's household stuff and simply carry on. Time 2 minutes.

Is there any difference in the process for a Canadian citizen and a
Canadian landed immigrant?

> > How would you compare this situation to the person simply flying and
> > sending the stuff through professional movers?
>
> If you do this, you must get the I-94, and fax a copy to the mover,
> often BEFORE they'll even LOAD you. Then you complete everything in
> detail and tell customs that you have goods to follow separately with
> the mover when you cross.
>

How can this be possible? If the movers won't LOAD the stuff until they
get a I-94, then do they expect the person to come back to Canada after
getting the I-94, since someone has to be there when they load the
stuff and if the person is in the US who will oversee the movers
loading the stuff?

> Not to mention that the U-Haul is a lot cheaper.
>
> Stuart
> >
>

[Stuart Brook]

immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> In article <3997129E...@attcanada.ca>,
> s_b...@attcanada.ca wrote:
> >
> >
> > immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Do you know what kind of questions to expect by the immigration
> officer
> > > for the immigration and the customs? Do you know how much time this
> > > would take?
> >
> > Getting your I-94 will take a few minutes. Customs usually accept
> > that it's household stuff and simply carry on. Time 2 minutes.
>
> Is there any difference in the process for a Canadian citizen and a
> Canadian landed immigrant?

No. The INS and US customs don't care about your status in Canada.

> How can this be possible? If the movers won't LOAD the stuff until they
> get a I-94, then do they expect the person to come back to Canada after
> getting the I-94, since someone has to be there when they load the
> stuff and if the person is in the US who will oversee the movers
> loading the stuff?

Yup you spotted the flaw with the system. You need to have someone else
oversee the movers, or return home with your I-94. Not ALL movers do
this, but I keep hearing reports of this fairly consistently. After
all, they can't bring the stuff across the border until you are cleared
into the US, and they need the documents for the US customs.

One common way is to load your stuff in a truck, as a part load, and
then if they get another local load, they'll use the truck to move that
until they get clearance ... or they'll offload into a warehouse until
they get clearance. The latter is of course rather more expensive
again. The former is done only if convenient ... and runs the risk of
losing things.

Stuart

[Ingo]

On Sun, 13 Aug 2000 23:49:05 GMT, immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:

>In article <3997129E...@attcanada.ca>,
> s_b...@attcanada.ca wrote:
>>
>>
>> immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:
>> >
>> > Do you know what kind of questions to expect by the immigration
>officer
>> > for the immigration and the customs? Do you know how much time this
>> > would take?
>>
>> Getting your I-94 will take a few minutes. Customs usually accept
>> that it's household stuff and simply carry on. Time 2 minutes.
>
>
>Is there any difference in the process for a Canadian citizen and a
>Canadian landed immigrant?

Depends. If the landed immigrant is from a Commonwealth country,
shouldn't be any different. If the landed immigrant is from other
countries, it's probably going to be similar, but not necessarily the
same. These people need an H-1B visa, so they first must stop at a US
consulate in Canada.

Ingo

[cat...@my-deja.com]

On Mon, 14 Aug 2000 02:13:34 GMT, ingo-imm...@home.com (Ingo)
wrote:
[msge snipped]

>
>Depends. If the landed immigrant is from a Commonwealth country,
>shouldn't be any different. If the landed immigrant is from other
>countries, it's probably going to be similar, but not necessarily the
>same. These people need an H-1B visa, so they first must stop at a US
>consulate in Canada.
>
>Ingo

As a Commonwealth citizen from 'down under' when I came to the US, no
moving company would touch my housepack until such times as I had a
valid visa in my passport.
When I returned down under, the same went for the US movers.

Ok my move was a little different [shipment via sea] but I had to fill
out Customs Forms ahead of time with the contents of the load and
engage the services of a customs agent to clear the load at poe.

I suggest even if you are doing it yourself, to pick up the Customs
Form to perhaps save time at the Border.

Check out the US Customs website to see if there are any guidelines as
I remember certain items were prohibited.

Try local moving companies to see if they will give you the forms.

[immigra...@my-deja.com]

In article <39975bf5...@news.interconnect.net>,

cat...@my-deja.com wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Aug 2000 02:13:34 GMT, ingo-imm...@home.com (Ingo)
> wrote:
> [msge snipped]
>
> >
> >Depends. If the landed immigrant is from a Commonwealth country,
> >shouldn't be any different. If the landed immigrant is from other
> >countries, it's probably going to be similar, but not necessarily the
> >same. These people need an H-1B visa, so they first must stop at a US
> >consulate in Canada.
> >
> >Ingo
>
> As a Commonwealth citizen from 'down under' when I came to the US, no
> moving company would touch my housepack until such times as I had a
> valid visa in my passport.
> When I returned down under, the same went for the US movers.
>
> Ok my move was a little different [shipment via sea] but I had to fill
> out Customs Forms ahead of time with the contents of the load and
> engage the services of a customs agent to clear the load at poe.
>
> I suggest even if you are doing it yourself, to pick up the Customs
> Form to perhaps save time at the Border.
>
> Check out the US Customs website to see if there are any guidelines as
> I remember certain items were prohibited.
>
> Try local moving companies to see if they will give you the forms.
>

I can't find the forms at moving companies. Can you specify what are
these forms called and what exactly are these for?

[cat...@my-deja.com]

On Mon, 14 Aug 2000 14:43:44 GMT, immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:

>I can't find the forms at moving companies. Can you specify what are
>these forms called and what exactly are these for?

I am surprised that moving companies do not have them [or they won't
give them to you unless you use their services].
-
My copies are in storage so are unable to give you the actual form #.

There were about 4 pages; had to list/declare certain items that could
be subject to duty such as new items etc; attach a copy of the
inventory.

[cat...@my-deja.com]

On Mon, 14 Aug 2000 14:43:44 GMT, immigra...@my-deja.com wrote:

>
>I can't find the forms at moving companies. Can you specify what are
>these forms called and what exactly are these for?
>

I have a feeling that the form you need as you will be accompanying
your belongings will be different to mine as mine were unaccompanied.

>

[immigra...@my-deja.com]

In article <399810b7...@news.interconnect.net>,

Can you give me an idea how much time did it take you at the border-
crossing?

[cat...@my-deja.com]

Sorry I cannot help you there.
I arrived via air.

[Shelley]

My husband moved all his household belongings in a U-Hall from Manitoba to
Wisconsin.
All you need is a handwritten list of what you are bringing. You should
list things like stereos and computers, etc individually, but you can group
some things like a box of dishes or box of clothes. Each item should have
an approx. value in US dollars.
When he crossed the border the customs agent just skimmed the list and told
him it was ok. I have heard from others the agents barely look at the list,
although a few have had their lists reviewed carefully.
He crossed the border at Pebina, ND - and it took about 2 and 1/2 hours I
think. I have read from others reports of anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 5
hours - depending on how busy your POE is.
Take care. Shelley

<cat...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:39987d7d...@news.interconnect.net...

[Stuart Brook]

I went across at Sarnia / Port Huron MI ... it took longer to park the
trucks (we were pulling a car carrier) than it took to get it cleared
through customs. Total time in the PoE ... 15 mins.

Stuart