Importing personal effects

[flamesrock]

Hi Everyone,

I need some help. I recently received my TN Visa and will be importing some personal effects from Canada. My parents will be bringing the merchandise across the border. What do I need to do (ie. forms to be completed) in order to ensure that he gets across the border easily? Any help is appreciated.

My understanding is that a 3299 form needs to be completed but is there anything else that should accompany my parents?

Also any suggestions on how to complete the form is some items have been owned for less than a year and majority of the items owned more than a year? It appears duty is applicable to items owned less than a year.

Thanks

[Reba]

You will also need to send your parents a photocopy (or fax copy) of your TN stamp and I-94 from your passport. You cannot import stuff duty free without the proof of legal entry.

Yes, you need to fill out form 3299, and they may make you pay duties on any items you have not owned for one year yet. Depends on the item maybe, and if they bother to inspect the contents. They don't normally.

[trying_something_new]

Hi there,

My parents just moved to the US from Canada and filled out that form. Depending how much stuff you are moving you might want to do what my mother did and keep a detailed list of what is in each box, number the boxes,etc. She found this made it alot easier if they were to ask "What's in Box #35?" at the border.
Also, for anything that they would consider of value (electronics,etc) if you have a receipt, I would keep it handy.
My parents moved across at Christmas time and had absolutely no problems. The borders guards asked a few questions about where they were moving to, why, if everything they were bringing was their own personal belongings and then said "Welcome to the United States."

[Steven]

This story is the honest to God truth:

I was at Sweetgrass POE the other day, guy in front had a U-Haul with his car on a trailer on the back, he pulled out his US passport, the CBP guy asked him for his packing list, the CBP guy looked at it for a maximum of 20 seconds, handed it back to him and let him through.

Personally I thought the guy in the U-Haul made a mistake which he will discover when he tries to register his car! I dunno, maybe he was just going to set up a vacation home or something.