Hi

We have been here (Canada) for 18 months now and we are finally ready to get our things shipped to Canada. We have our stamped goods to follow list etc. But talking to our freight forwarder in the UK they say you need someone here to clear the items through customs, but I cannot find any company who will help us. Any ideas?

Hi,

The UK company are correct, basically you have to personally attend a (customs interview to show your passport etc) once your goods arrive in Canada for them to be released for delivery. That's a Canadian Border Services rule so applies to all Removal/Shipping/Freight forwarding companies i'm afraid.

Canadian Border Services have offices in many locations so if I understand right and you are currently in Canada hopefully you would not have to travel too far - this will be confirmed by your moving company prior to shipment.

hope that helps?

Kirsty

must be something new as we sent our stuff via shipping and just had to provide a copy of our TWP and a letter stating that the customs guys wouldn't stamp our goods form because we was on a TWP and everything went through ok without us having to present ourselves to customs in a different province

You're right this is semi-recent - there used to be a fast track programme which meant you didnt have to be there, but since June 2nd 2008 they scrapped that and the client must go in person to the nearest customs office to destination for the CBSA interview.

It is a very straight forward process. You take your stamped goods to follow list and a form from the Canadian handlers to the nearest border services office, you should have been provided with the details of where the nearest office is when you landed. They check through it and take a copy. Your docs will then be stamped and you can give the forms to the Canadian shipping co