The missus and I are in the fortunate position of moving from snowy Stony Plain to the sunny Bahamas later this year.

We're planning to take our goods in a UHaul truck across the border and down to Miami to then ship to the island.

Question is: Has anyone had any experience of taking their household goods over the border and were there any forms you have to fill in first before arrival at the border? Anyone have any issues crossing into the States with their goods?

I've been emailing with the US border agency and received 3 different answers, sigh.

Thanks, GavinR

No help here, just to say you luck lucky bastard.

Thanks. I'll just add to that by saying my wife will be working and I'm going to be fishing or propping up the local bar.

could I be nosey and ask for more.
please tell us why, and can we come, I could do your hair and steve is a car paint sprayer. No help whats so ever with U hauling over border, just know you need proof of purchase with everything.

I think you're at the end of a rather long lineup!

Wendy has taken a job as Director of Finance at one of the top resorts down there with a package that makes it a no-brainer to make the move. No income tax, accomodation, food, car, healthcare all paid for etc. We've found a nice waterfront 3 bed, 3 bath house with private beach, boat launch, honesty bar, which the company has rented for us. Just have to finish renovating the house up here and sell it then I can join her.

Well good luck to you both.
Enjoy the sun.

Thanks!

Good luck with the move, you are lucky. I could do with escaping the snow

Sounds fantastic, good luck! However, I don't want to be behind you when you get to US border!! I would work backwards if I was you. Assume the worse ie: they're going to turn you away as they think you've packed up your goods and are going to be taking the jobs of Americans and you won't even get over the border. Roll on 8 hours and with the job offer to hand and identifying paperwork they'll let you in. Unfortunately they never are consistent in the perimeters. There decision making seems to be a case of "sticking finger in the air to see which way the wind blows that day". As I say good luck but they're really jittery right now.

Yep, this winter has made it an easy decision!

Thanks. I've been trying to get a straight answer out of them but to no avail. One guy said no problem. One said we needed to post a bond to cover the goods. Another said it wasn't possible and we had to use a shipping company! I think we'll just have an itemised list, proof of Bahamian residency and job offer and see what happens. I'd leave goods in storage in Canada but it might cause and issue with the CRA, greedy b..tards!

my OH being a truck driver always has to have his information sent to the border by a broker and it has to be exact otherwise they keep you waiting for hours and hours and hours etc etc. I don't know whether this is something you have to do.

Would U Haul help? I'm sure they have one way haul rentals often so might offer some help.

Oh and did I say what a lucky B@rst@d you are enjoy

I hadn't thought of asking UHaul, they may well know and we would be doing a one way rental, thanks.

I'm looking forward to it!

We uhauled from Nb via America to Ontario - I hate the Quebec drive. All we had to do was list everything which that was in the Uhaul in exact detail. Once they checked the list they put a seal on the Uhaul and we were not allowed to open it again until we crossed the border into Canada. They stamped the list of items and we showed this when crossing the border.

To be honest the Americans weren't really interested and the Canadian side didn't know what to do - when we said we had just moved form one proving to another via the US they just let us go.

Wasn't till we got home we realised that they hadn't even sealed the Uhaul properly.

Thanks No_1 mom, that's reassuring.