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What Are International Movers? |
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 An international move is likely the biggest move you will ever make. International movers are professionally trained to relocate you and your belongings overseas. They can also help with customs regulations and visa and immigration services. Finding the right international moving company can make or break your relocation experience.
What does an international move involve?
An international move is a long process with many necessary steps to get your shipment from door to door and it will take more than one service to get the job done. Look for a moving company that will handle the entire relocation process from start to finish. They should have contractors abroad to facilitate the international portion, customs clearance, and delivery of your shipment. Always do a background check on the company you choose and avoid a moving scam by reading other customer reviews online.
The international moving company
The international movers will manage your entire shipment. They will assess your belongings and provide a price estimate including the duties and taxes necessary to clear customs as well as the origin and destination port fees and handling fees that will be included in your bill. They will be your contact for the duration of the relocation process and they will communicate between you, the freight forwarder and customs. There are often moving companies that are also freight forwarders. Using a company that does both will help to simplify the process and lower some of the cost.
The freight forwarder
This is the company that will actually arrange the shipment of your goods. They will provide the bill of lading with the specific information for your shipment. There are two types of transportation that freight forwarders use, air freight and sea freight. The forwarder may offer one or both of these options. There are benefits to both, but work with your moving company to decide which one is right for you. You may want to split your belongings between the two, based on the size and urgency of the shipment.
Air Freight is the faster but usually more expensive option. It takes about one week from the departing flight date for your items to reach their destination. For bigger, heavier shipments, air freight can be as much as five times more expensive than sea freight. The cost to ship by air is calculated based on the weight and size of the shipment. This is because a large, light package will take up more space on the plane than a small heavy package.
Sea freight is a much cheaper option for bigger shipments. Your items will be shipped in a standard container. These usually will come in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes. The cost to ship by sea is calculated only by the size of the container. If you don't have enough to fill a whole container, you can consolidate your shipment with other cargo. The standard delivery time for sea freight shipments is four to twelve weeks from the vessel departure date.
Customs clearance
Once your goods have reached their destination, they will have to go through customs. Your destination agent will facilitate this process. Although the agent is usually provided by the origin company, it is important to know it will be to make sure that your quote for import duties and taxes is accurate. You should also be able to contact your agent with any questions you may have regarding your shipment clearing customs.
- What documentation will I need to clear customs? Standard documents include a copy of your passport, visa, inventory of all items you are shipping and country-specific import forms.
- Do I need to be physically present to clear my shipment? In Canada, the shipper is required to be present while their goods clear customs. In some countries, like the United States, whole containers of cargo are cleared at once and in other countries, the shipments are split up and cleared individually. If you do need to be there, the shipment will be held in a bonded warehouse until it can be cleared. There will be a fee to keep your goods in the warehouse so it is important to find out these regulations beforehand.
- Are there any restricted items that I cannot ship? Many countries have restrictions on certain items such as firearms and ammunition that are illegal to ship internationally. Find out what these are in advance so your stuff doesn't get held up in a bonded warehouse racking up a fee while waiting to clear.
Delivery to your new international address
After your shipment clears customs, it is ready to be delivered to your new door! Make sure that your moving company has a contact abroad who will take care of this final and most important step. When you're ready to begin preparing for your own move abroad, visit us at TopMoving.com and fill out our free, no-hassle quote form to compare actual prices from international moving companies ready to assist with your relocation! |
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Author : Amy Meerovich
on May 12, 2016
TopMoving.ca - Moving Expert
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