Moving to the USA

A contract in Texas, a green card from the lottery, rejoining family in Illinois – the reasons vary, but the procedure is similar. Moves to the USA go by sea: we pack and load the container in Wrocław, and a partner from the FEDEMAC network takes over clearance at the US port and delivery to your new address. The United States is a country where documents must be filed before the ship even leaves Europe, so we start preparations earlier than for other destinations.

The container's route to the States

From Wrocław the container goes by lorry or rail to the port of Hamburg, Bremerhaven or Gdańsk. We choose the destination port based on your new address, because overland transport on the US side can take longer than the voyage itself.

Destination region	Typical port	Approximate voyage from Germany
East Coast (New York, Boston, Philadelphia)	New York and New Jersey, Baltimore	approx. 2 weeks
South-east (Florida, the Carolinas)	Savannah, Charleston, Miami	approx. 2–3 weeks
Texas and the Gulf of Mexico	Houston	approx. 3–4 weeks
West Coast (California, Washington)	Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle	approx. 4–5 weeks via the Panama Canal
Midwest	an East Coast port, then rail	voyage plus a few days by train

On top of the voyage you need to allow time waiting for the ship, customs clearance and arranging the delivery date. The whole move, from packing to carrying your belongings in, usually takes six to ten weeks.

Documents for US Customs

CBP Form 3299 – the declaration for free entry of personal and household effects.
ISF filing (known as 10+2) – shipment data sent to CBP no later than 24 hours before loading onto the ship in Europe. Late filing can result in penalties.
A copy of your passport with the visa page, or your green card, plus your US Social Security number if you already have one.
A detailed inventory in English, describing the contents of every box.
Your US address and the contact details of the person who will receive the shipment.

People moving permanently can usually bring in used personal belongings and household goods they used before departure free of duty. New items bought just before shipping, alcohol (duty, tax and the rules of the given state), tobacco products and food are treated differently.

What not to pack in the container

Soil and plants

Lawnmowers, bikes and garden tools must be thoroughly cleaned. Plants, seeds and potting soil stay in Poland.

Food

Cured meats, dairy products and home-made preserves may be destroyed by the agricultural inspection service. It is best not to ship any food at all.

Firearms and ammunition

These require separate federal permits and cannot travel as ordinary household goods.

What we do in Wrocław

We come for a pre-move survey or prepare a quote from a video of your home. We help you decide whether space in a shared container is enough or you need your own. We export-pack your belongings, prepare the inventory in English and pass the ISF data to our partner. Some items can stay in our storage. We explain what the clearance itself involves under customs clearance.

Moving to the United States – questions

Can I ship my belongings before I get my visa?

Better not. Customs expects a document confirming your right to reside, and a container waiting in port for a visa runs up storage charges.

Do I need to be in the USA when the container arrives?

As a rule, yes – the owner should already be in the country. Our partner can carry out clearance under a power of attorney, but CBP may ask you to get in touch.

Can you ship my car?

It is possible, but the car must meet US emission and safety standards, which is often a problem with European models. It is worth checking before you decide.

What affects the cost of moving to the USA?

Volume, the destination port, the distance from the port to your home, the scope of packing, port charges and clearance. The East Coast is usually cheaper than inland destinations.

Heading to the States

We will prepare the inventory, the ISF documents and a free quote for the whole shipment.

Free quote