cxx

Some British friends who live in Canada and have Canadian citizenship also have a house in the US and want to move some old furniture from their place in Canada. They've asked for help with the process but I must be searching on the wrong key words as I'm not finding anything helpful. I'm also posting in the Canadian forum, but just wondered if anyone had any experience or knowledge please.

Noorah101

Have they simply googled shipping or moving companies and asked them? What seems to be the stumbling block?

Rene

cxx

They want to do it themselves as it's just a couple of things - sofa, coffee table, couple of chairs, so they are planning to hire a van but assume they have to complete some paperwork to take it across the border. It's fairly old stuff and they don't have receipts for it so not sure if that's going to cause a problem.

Noorah101

They could call U-Haul to ask about crossing the border with their truck?

Rene

tom169

U-Haul's website says this is allowed, but just remember that U-Haul charge by the mile and so a large return trip may be expensive.

Steve_

It's totally simple, just have a list of what is in the truck to show CBP. Other than that it's just logistics. Note you cannot do it for them because you'd have to use a broker at the POE. A shipping company is registered with CBP and can pay the fees.

But they can move it, it's not a problem. CBP might get suspicious they're moving to the US, that is easily resolved with evidence they live in Canada, e.g. proof they own a house there, Canadian bank statements, etc. Normally CBP don't care if you look retired.

cxx

Can you explain what you mean when you say 'you cannot do it for them' please? Does it either have to be the furniture owners or a removal company driving the truck?

The Moose

One of the good things about their trailers is that they're still low priced on the day rate but no mileage of course.

Have found the trailers to be in generally good condition which I've rented.

cxx

They'll be renting truck or whatever from Canada, so prices will be much higher than US rental, but probably cheaper than buying more furniture.

Rete

They would definitely need to have proof with them when bring household furniture and goods into the US. Proof that they are not going to be residing in the US and are only snowbirds or real estate investors who own a residential property for rent to others.

Why would they need a broker at the POE? If they are not selling the goods and they are for personal use and they are not immigrating to the US, then why need a broker?

cxx

That's what's confusing me too. I can understand needing to proof they aren't trying to move permanently, but not sure why they need a broker.

Steve_

I didn't say they would need a broker, I said YOU would need to do it that way if you did it for them. You cannot move someone else's furniture, it's seen as being a commercial shipment if you do. You can move your own personal possessions no problem.

They just need a packing list and a reasonable explanation that they're not moving to the US permanently.

cxx

Ah, OK. So as long as they are the ones moving the stuff they just need to complete the forms, but if they get someone else to do it then it's viewed as a business transaction and needs a lot more documentation?

Steve_

Yes essentially, but there no forms. It's not like when you move to Canada and have a B4 form to fill in. CBP just wants a packing list, that's it. It's totally dead simple.

The only thing you have to worry about are controlled goods, e.g. firearms, alcoholic beverages, certain fruit and vegetables, things like that.

I actually sat at Sweetgrass and watched some Canadians do this and they basically got hauled into secondary over a bag of moldy lettuce that was found in some obscure part of their trailer.