Name the state and the delivery area
Include the state, town and ZIP code when known. If you are still choosing a home, give the area and say that the address is provisional. Ask whether the proposed service includes delivery to that property, rather than assuming an arrival port is the end of the move. At an apartment, check lift access, unloading arrangements and any building booking requirements.
Establish the immigration route before committing dates
A permanent move and a temporary work or study stay use different immigration routes. The US Department of State explains immigrant visa categories; eligibility depends on your circumstances. ESTA or admission under the Visa Waiver Programme is for qualifying short visits, not permission to settle or take employment. Check the appropriate route and any dependent arrangements before treating a travel booking as your confirmed moving date.
Official guidance: US immigrant visa routes US Visa Waiver Programme conditions
Ask the receiving school district about enrolment
State and local authorities, rather than the federal Department of Education, handle school administration and admission arrangements. Contact the school district for the address you are considering. Ask about address evidence, school records, vaccination documentation, term dates and support for a child joining from overseas. Establish the local requirements before packing the records you may need; a house search and school enquiry can proceed together.
Official guidance: US Department of Education: state and local responsibilities
Decide what earns its place in the shipment
Start with furniture you want to keep, then estimate boxes of smaller belongings. Measure unusually large pieces and check they suit the new home. Before including electrical appliances, check their suitability for use at the destination. Mark anything needing careful packing or dismantling. Upload your inventory and useful photographs with the enquiry.
- Large furniture, approximate dimensions and box quantities.
- Fragile pieces and the packing help you would like.
- UK collection access and the receiving arrangements in the USA.
Check customs for the belongings, wherever they start
The USA applies its own import rules whether the collection is in the UK, an EU country, Canada or South America. CBP describes conditional duty-free entry for qualifying household effects used abroad for at least a year and not intended for sale or someone else. Evidence of use may be needed. Personal effects have a different classification, and restricted items need separate checks. Do not assume that everything used, inherited or already owned is automatically exempt.
Official guidance: CBP: shipping used household effects
Prepare the declaration before collection
CBP publishes Form 3299 instructions for unaccompanied articles. The form distinguishes household effects, personal effects and items needing separate declaration. Prepare an accurate inventory and flag new purchases, food, plants, alcohol and anything for sale or business use before packing. Agree who supplies, checks and submits the documents, including any authority to act for you. Keep travel documents accessible rather than in the shipment.
Official guidance: CBP Form 3299 instructions
Match your arrival to the delivery plan
Record when you must leave the UK property, when you expect to arrive in the USA and when someone can receive the belongings. Those are separate dates. Ask what a transport estimate includes, how delivery is arranged after arrival and how changes are communicated. Keep essential items with you and agree fixed commitments in writing before collection.
Read the quotation from collection to your home
Check packing, collection, transport, document handling and destination delivery against the same inventory. Ask which destination, customs or access charges are included and which may be payable separately. A transport-only amount cannot show the full cost of a household move. Any protection arrangements, exclusions and responsibilities should be explained with the proposal.
Your questions answered
Can I request a quotation before choosing a US address?
Yes. Give the state and town or area you are considering, explain your likely timing and upload the belongings you expect to take. Update the address and access details before the delivery arrangements and price are confirmed.
What if I am only taking a few boxes or pieces of furniture?
Describe the actual contents rather than selecting a full household by default. The enquiry can cover selected belongings, with packing and collection needs assessed for that load and route.
Can pets or a vehicle be included in the household plan?
Use the pet transport checkbox to request pet assistance with the same contact and moving details. Vehicle shipping has its own enquiry for vehicle information. Neither is automatically included in the household quotation; confirm the proposed arrangements for each.
Keep the official checks with your moving plan
Official guidance checked on 8 October 2026. Recheck the linked authorities before confirming paperwork and dates, using your nationality, residence circumstances and the actual origin and destination of the belongings. Ask us about the moving arrangements alongside those checks.