underthefridge

I'm a British student studying abroad in the US for a year. I am currently in the US, and I am getting my computer shipped over courtesy of my parents

However, we aren't sure whether we need to fill out the US Custom Form 3299 and a US Computer Form740, as we aren't sure whether the shipment would count as an import as it will not be permanently staying in the US, and I will be shipping it back to the UK once I finish my year studying here

Does anybody have any advice on whether this would count as an import, and if not, what forms we would need to fill out? Thanks!

Pulaski

You are not an immigrant and your computer is not being imported.

The matter would be much easier to deal with if you had carried it with you rather than shipping it on its own.

As "things are a lot cheaper in the US compared to the UK", I am wondering why you don't just buy a new one in the US, putting the cost of shipping your computer in the UK towards the cost of buying a new one would make the net cost even lower.

jeepster

Don't declare the damn thing unless they ask. The American bureaucracy is a one-eyed monster, stay incognito as long as possible.

Pulaski

The shipping documentation asks, as does the landing card that everyone arriving in the US is required to complete.

Your advice isn't in the least bit helpful as UTF is asking how to answer the question, because he has been asked!

mrken30

Or maybe put the shipping cost towards a decent laptop when you arrive in the US. Then you can easily take it back and forth.

penguinsix

Unless this is a really tricked out, high spec machine, you are probably better off selling it in the UK and putting the money to the cost of a new machine in the USA. The data can be backed up to an external HD and then reconnected to a new machine when you get here.

Can't really see the point of shipping it in and shipping it back later.

Cook_County

It has a UK layout keyboard, which might be easier to use?

BritInParis

Just bring the keyboard then and set the new PC to UK English. Or better still just buy a cheap laptop in the UK and take it with you.

petitefrancaise

My son is in the reverse situation as the OP... he's gone to the EU to study. We bought him a laptop to take and he had built his pc himself to v high spec. Honestly, laptops are cheap enough here. Go online and have a look.

Pulaski

BiP has given good advice, but in any event the differences between US and UK keyboards are negligible - positions of @, :, #, and the £ (which is easily accessible via Alt 156).

malch

Keep in mind that a computer purchased in the UK will likely not be eligible for warranty service in the USA, and vice versa.

Apple are a notable exception -- their warranties are usually worldwide. And it really works. My daughter's US MacBook broke while we were visiting the UK. We walked into an Apple Store in Southampton and they took care of it at no charge.

mrken30

You could probably take a laptop to class. Taking a desktop, not so easy.

mrken30

FIFY

Also UK keyboard has 1 extra key.

I still have a UK keyboard for my docking station at home and can easily switch between the two. You could also get a hybrid laptop and use the on-screen touch keyboard.

You can also buy key stickers if you really want to

https://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Laminate...ickers+british

Pulaski

FIFY

You certainly didn't "fix" it, I checked before I posted (even though I use "Alt 156" frequently), and you obviously just jumped to the wrong conclusion!

chawkins99

You're all wrong. On my keyboard, it's ALT-156.