H1B and Shipping Goods

Hi. I'm starting a new job in the US on an H1B visa September 1st.
I'll be moving from the west coast of Canada to the eastern US. I
arranged to move out of my apartment and ship my household items
July 30th because the moving company my employer deals with quoted
up to 30 days to complete the move.

When I received my H1B approval this week, I found out I can't
enter the US on it until 10 days before my job starts. I later
found out that I apparently have to enter the US on the H1B before
my household items cross the border.

Can anyone confirm the visa restriction for shipping household
items to the US? Is there any loophole I'm missing that will let
my household items enter the US before I enter with H1B status? Is
there some way around this where you just pay an import fee to
bring items in when you're not on official status? I can have the
movers warehouse my items here in Canada, but the manager I'm
dealing with at the movers described the cost as "exorbitant," so
I'm interested to hear of any other options people have used or
can think of.

Thanks,
PB

Yeah, you need go give your shipper a copy of your I-94 (the border crossing card that will be issued when you go don first time on H1) before he can import your stuff, which as you correctly state, you won't get for several weeks. So, he's right.

I would be trying to get a TN with the employer, to start earlier, and then move down in that status. Your h1-b could then be activated In september.

I guess you need to talk to your landlord/sublease to get an extra month.

I am in exactly the same situation except that I move out at the end of August.

Did you have any luck in finding a solution?

Thanks

There is no "solution". You get your I-94 first, and then you ship.