Jay's Moving and Storage

Free entry of household goods and personal effects

Relocating from Canada to the United States is a relatively straightforward process, providing all of the necessary documentation is properly completed. Your personal household goods and personal effects are permitted to enter duty-free providing they have been in your possession and used by you for at least one year.

One cautionary note - if you do not declare new items or understate the value of the items, U.S. Customs can confiscate the items, assess actual duty and assign a monetary penalty. Therefore, if you are considering making purchases of expensive items, prior to your move, you may want to compare the cost to actually making your purchase in the United States.

Antiques must be 100 years or older to be eligible for duty-free entry. Customs will require that you prove this, so be prepared to furnish a receipt or an appraisal.

You will be required to complete the United State's Treasury Form #3299 (Declaration of Free Entry of Articles Not Accompanying a Resident or Non-Resident)

Household Effects and Tools of Trade or Occupation are defined by the U.S. Government as:

All Furniture
Carpets
Paintings
Tableware
Linens and similar household furnishings

While it is not normal practice to charge duty on used personal items, technically, some items such as jewelry, photographic equipment, vehicles, consumable articles etc. may be dutiable. You should check with the nearest U.S. Consulate in your area for specific information. If you are already in the United States, contact your nearest Customs Office listed in U.S. telephone directories under: U.S. Government Offices, Treasury Department.

Download Customs Form #3299

How to Properly Complete Customs Form #3299 - Declaration of Free Entry

Most items on the Form 3299 are self explanatory but the following are some key points which may assist you in completing this form properly.

Part I (To Be Completed by Persons Seeking Free Entry of Articles)

Item 1 - Importer's Name - Insert the full name of the true importer (owner) of the effects being imported. The social security number of the importer should also be inserted if one is available. If not insert Canadian Social Insurance Number.

Item 3 - Importer's Date of Arrival - Insert the date that the importer most recently entered the United States.

Item 4 - Importer's U.S. Address - Insert a permanent address in the United states for the individual named in Item 1. If a true permanent address is not available, utilize a business address, the address of a relative (so indicating) or any address at which you are well known and could be traced at if necessary.

Item 5 - Importer's Port of Arrival - The name of the airport or border point where the importer processed U.S. Customs on the date entered in Item 3.

Item 6 - Name of Arriving Vessel/ Carrier and Flight/Train - Insert the name of airline and flight number, name of vessel and voyage number, train name and number or insert 'private vehicle' indicating by what means importer entered the United States on the date entered in Item 3.

Item 7 - Name(s) of Accompanying Household Members - Insert the full name and relationships of the importer's immediate family who accompanied the importer by means entered in Item 6.

Item 8 - Do not enter any information in this section.

Part II

Item 9 - If you are still maintaining a permanent residence outside of the U.S. please check the block marked 'is'. If you are entering the United States to take up residence on a permanent basis or for an extended period of time (and thus not considered being in the U.S. for a brief stay), please check the block marked 'was'.

Item 9A and 9B - Please enter the NAME OF COUNTRY in which your last residence is or was maintained and the length of time in which you resided in that country.

Item 9C - Please enter the RESIDENCY STATUS at the time of your arrival under Item 3. Please note that the key word is Resident. A Returning Resident can be either a U.S. citizen or a citizen of another country - the latter being an individual who has maintained a residence in the United States while living overseas.

Comparably, a Non Resident may either be a U.S. citizen or a citizen of another country. In the case of the former, such would be a U.S. citizen who has maintained a permanent residence outside of the United States for an extended period of time, who may or not be returning permanently to the United States. This definition is somewhat vague and to a certain extent, depends on how the individual importer defines himself/herself.

Item 10 - Mark only those statements that correctly apply to the circumstances for articles being imported. Depending on circumstances, more than one statement may need to be marked.

Part III (To Be Completed by U.S. Personnel and Evacuees Only)

This section should only be completed if the individual named in Item 1 above has been residing outside of the United States under official travel orders issued by the Government of the United States. This section may apply to military personnel and their families.

If this section is applicable enter:

The date on which you last departed from the United States. It is recommended that the point of departure and the means of transportation be indicated.
Insert the date on which the Government travel orders were issued. Make certain a copy of the travel orders is attached to the Form 3299.

Part IV (To Be Completed by All Persons Seeking Free Entry of Articles)

Please check all statements that apply to the effects being imported under a single Form 3299 importation. More than one statement can, and normally will apply. Any items covered by any of the statements marked must be declared on the reverse side of Form 3299, under Item D.

Please note the following comments relative to the various statements under Part 1V, Items A, B and C:

Articles for the account of other persons: This would also include gifts that you are bringing into the U.S. for other individuals.
Articles for sale or commercial use- If this item is checked, an additional customs entry will be required for those commercial items.
Firearms and/or ammunition: If these articles are included in the shipment, additional U.S. Government, Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco forms must be completed. If the forms which include an import permit are not available at the time the shipment is available for Customs Clearance, additional expenses will be incurred for removal of the firearm from the shipment. The firearm(s) will be retained in Customs custody until the appropriate documentation is in order.
Alcohol articles of all types or tobacco products - Articles of this nature will always be dutiable. Also, many individual States prohibit their importation. Check with the State office (normally the Alcoholic Beverage Commission or Board) before attempting to import items of this nature. Please note that alcoholic beverages cannot be transported on the moving van with your household possessions.
Fruits, plants, seeds, meats or birds. These items will have to be inspected by U.S. Customs and may result in a delay in clearance and extra cost. Goods may also be subject to inspection by the FDA.
Fish, wildlife, animal products thereof- The same comment applied to (5) will apply in this category. Items may also be subject to several international treaties relating to endangered species.
Foreign household effects acquired abroad and used for less than one year - Articles under this classification are dutiable and must be declared.
Personal effects acquired abroad - These items are considered dutiable regardless of how long they have been in your possession. Clothing is considered to be dutiable.
Articles taken abroad for which alterations or repairs were performed abroad - Any expenditures declared under this category must be supported by receipts showing when and were and cost.

Part IV - D (List of Articles)

If you are listing any specific items from section 1V a,b,c - the item(s) should be clearly described with a notation of date acquired and value. This information will be used to assessed appropriate duty owing.

Part V (Carrier's Certificate and Release Order)

Do not make an entry in this section.

Part VI (Certification to Be Completed by All Persons seeking Free Entry)

It is recommended that the Form #3299 be signed and dated by the true owner of the property and that item 1.B - Importer be duly marked. An Authorized Agent may also complete and sign the form however this requires specific authorization from the property owner (i.e. power of attorney) for Customs Purposes.

Entry of Dutiable Items

If dutiable items are contained in your shipment, a licensed Customs House Broker will be engaged to prepare an Informal Entry (Form 5119-A).
Each dutiable item must be specifically identified with the Harmonized Tariff of the United States.

The broker's fee for this service is approximately $3.00 per line item, although fees can vary. These charges are collected on a C.O.D. basis at time of delivery to your destination residence, unless such charges are authorized in advance to be billed to a corporate customer.

What Happens When Your Possessions Arrive in the United States?

Generally customers are not present at the border when the Jay's van operator arrives with your possessions on board. We are usually able to clear your shipment for delivery to residence at this point, providing all of your documentation is in order. If there is a problem, the shipment will be placed 'IN BOND' to the closest customs office to your new home. You will be required by law to personally appear to clear your goods.

NOTE: While it is not compulsory that you be physically present in the United States when your shipment crosses the border, it is preferable. However, in order for your shipment to be granted entry into the USA, you must have already completed the immigration process so that your status is properly established. US Customs will verify this information when your truck arrives at the border.

To clear your shipment, we require the following documentation:

For Returning US Residents

Completed 3299 Customs Form
Copy of Vehicle Compliance Letter (for cars purchased outside the US)
Valid Passport (including all pages & a clear photograph) OR copy of Birth Certificate plus a copy of Photo Identification (if no passport)

For Non Residents

Completed 3299 Customs Form
Work or study VISA and Letter of Offer of Employment (if applicable)
Copy of Vehicle Compliance Letter (for cars purchased outside the US)
Valid Passport (including all pages & a clear photograph) OR copy of Birth Certificate plus a copy of Photo Identification (if no passport)

For Part-time Residents

Completed 3299 Customs Form
Proof of Property Ownership of Lease in U.S.
Valid Passport (including all pages & a clear photograph) OR copy of Birth Certificate plus a copy of Photo Identification (if no passport)

* You should make a photocopy of all pages of your passport - not just the photo page - this is a Post September 11th request from U.S. Customs. They want to see what other countries you may have traveled to and from in recent years.

Importing a Motor Vehicle Into the United States

This is the area which seems to cause the most problems when proper steps have not been taken well in advance of your moving date. Your automobile must comply with U.S. Safety and Environmental Protection Standards.

In some instances, a temporary approval can be obtained for a non-performing vehicle, however in those instances; the vehicle must be exported one year after entry with no extensions permitted. Unless you know for certain that you will be in the United States for less than one year, you must take steps to ensure that your car meets the appropriate standards.

The first step is to contact (by letter or fax), the manufacturer of your automobile and request a 'Letter of Compliance' to safety and emissions' standards. You will be required to provide the vehicle Identification Number, Make, Model and Year as well as the name of the registered owner. They will arrange to forward a letter advising if your automobile qualifies and what if any upgrades must be done to bring the vehicle to standards.

Your Jay's representative can provide you with the contact number for the various automobile manufacturers. If you prefer, you can locate this information on the internet on the National Traffic Safety Association web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

This site also provides a listing of Registered Importers who are able to bring your vehicle up to standard. There is also a listing by year, make and model of non conforming vehicles which have been granted special exemption status and will be eligible for importation even though they do not meet standards.

If your vehicle does not meet emission control standards, it will not be eligible for importation. Individual state emission requirements may differ from those of the federal government. Registration and state licensing is dependent upon satisfaction of that State's requirement, so you should contact the appropriate State's authority prior to importation.

Two useful brochures:

Know Before You Go - Customs Hints for Returning U.S. Resident
Customs Hints for Visitors and Non Residents - can be obtained from a local U.S. Customs office or by writing to their office in Washington

U.S. Customs

U.S. Customs
P.O. Box 7407
Washington, D.C. 20044

NHTSA

U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Director of the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance
(NEF-32)
400 -7th Street S.W.
Washington, DC, 20590
(202) 366-5313 - Phone
(202) 366-1024 - Fax

EPA

U.S. EPA Manufacturers Operations
Division 6405-J
Investigations / Imports Section
401 M Street S.W.
Washington, DC, 20460
(202) 233-9660 - phone
(202) 233-9596 - fax