International Removals to the USA from the UK

If you are only sending boxes or luggage to the USA, we recommend you use our Excess Baggage Service for your move. Your belongings will be sent as part load in a shared container as ‘groupage’ with other customers. This saves you money as the cost of the container is shared by everyone.

For more details and to get an online quote visit our box shipping to the USA page.

• UK’s leading specialist international removal company
• Help thothe USAnds of people move from UK to the USA every year
• Over 40 years of experience as international removalists
• Independent family run moving company
• Fully accredited to the highest standards for international moves
• Achieved FIDI FAIM Top Performer Status
• Long serving removal staff with knowledge and expertise
• Staff training by BAR and FIDI
• Members BAR Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme

We do removals from anywhere in the UK (including London, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) to all destinations in the USA.

Some of the popular cities in the United States we do removals to include:

New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, Austin, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Columbus, Fort Worth, Charlotte, Detroit, El Paso, Memphis, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Washington, Nashville-Davidson

Moving to Regions of North America

Removals to Northeast United States:

New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

Mid-Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania)

Removals to Midwestern United States:

East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin)

West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota)

Removals to Southern United States:

South Atlantic (Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, District of Columbia, and West Virginia)

East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee)

West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas)

Removals to Western United States:

Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming)

Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington)

Puerto Rico and other US territories

The United States has some strict rules about what can and cannot be imported. This includes the usual contraband that you might expect, but can also cover consumer goods allowed in some countries but banned in the USA for health and safety reasons.

It is therefore important you check the the USA Border Services Agency website to avoid problems when your goods arrive.

Even for restricted goods inspection fees can apply.

For more details download our customs guide for removals to the USA.

Regardless of how you travel into the USA, you and your personal goods must pass through customs upon arrival. the USA has a list of items that are either prohibited or on restricted entry into the country, which you should observe before your consignment is sent or risk facing refused entry or prosecution.

Also, you must ensure that you thoroughly clean any outdoor items.

Restricted Imports to the USA where approval maybe required include

• Medicines & therapeutic drugs (must have prescription and no more than 3-6 months supply)
• Alcohol & wine will require a permit (importation is only allowed to certain states, please check)
• Bamboo, wicker or cane items
• Fishing knives and martial art weapons

Prohibited Imports to the USA

• Seeds, plants and dried floral arrangements
• Raw untreated wood or bark
• Food and meats
• Endangered animal fur, skins, tusks or ivory
• Firearms (purchased and manufactured outside of the the USA will require a firearms permit and cannot be sent with household effects, they must be sent separately through a firearms dealer

For more US customs information visit the the USA Government website.

Artwork and Antiques

Items must be at least 100 years old before they will be classed as antiques and admitted duty free. Artwork sent as part of a household effects consignment will be duty-free provided it has been owned for a minimum of 12 months and is not for sale.

If the artwork or antique has been imported into the the USA for resale then duty and taxes would apply.

For further information about prohibited items to ship to the USA visit the USA customs guide.

As PSS are members of BAR your removal costs are covered by the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme. As a member of FIDI Global Alliance and having achieved FIDI FAIM top performer status, you can be assured that PSS and our partners in America have the highest standards of professionalism in international moves.

However, due to the nature of international removals, it is highly recommended that you take out a marine insurance policy or Shipment Protection Cover. At PSS we offer and recommend Shipment Protection Cover which is very flexible and has a lot of advantages.

PSS International Shipment Protection Cover

We provide a very flexible shipment protection cover through Basil Fry & Company – the UK’s leading insurance broker for international removals and shipping:

• Our policy is quick and easy to set up, simply complete our Shipment Protection valuation form with the items you would like to cover and their values.
• Removal (we pack) consignments cover costs 3.5% of the total insurable value you declare.
• Vehicle shipments cover costs 2% of the vehicles declared value.
• Self-Pack (you pack) consignments cover cost 5% of the total insurable value you declare.
• Baggage/Airfreight consignments, which are owner packed, will cost 5% of the total insurable value you declare.

Our specially trained and experienced export packers will ensure all your belongings are speedily but carefully packed before being loaded into your shipping container. 4,000 miles by sea from UK to United States is a long journey so higher packing standards and different techniques are needed than used by a standard domestic removal company.

For delicate items and antiques, we have even higher grade materials including custom made wooden crates if required.

For international furniture removals, items need to be wrapped and packed to a high standard to ensure they arrive at your new house in perfect condition no matter whether it’s sofas, tables, chairs or other furniture.

We use export standard packing materials and professionally trained packers who specialise in international removals to ensure your furniture arrives in perfect condition.

Your dedicated Move Manager will advise you on the required documents and help you with their completion. Example documents required are:

• US Customs form 3299
• Customs Supplemental Declaration for unaccompanied household effects
• Removal inventory (PSS will prepare this if PSS are packing)
• Power of Attorney form
• Copy of your passport and visa
• Valuation form for Shipment Protection cover
• Purchase receipts (only applicable if you are importing any newly purchased goods)

the USA Customs Duties, Taxes and Other Fees

Customs duties and import taxes are the responsibility of the person shipping and will need to be paid separately to the USA Customs, although the local shipping agent at your destination port may handle these for you.

In most cases immigrants and returning residents are allowed to import used household and personal effects into the USA duty free. They will have need to have been in the owner’s use and possession abroad for at least one year, and will keep on being used by the owner in the new residence.

You will need to check with your shipping company that you meet the criteria. There may, however, be other customs related charges and fees you need to pay.

• We will contact you before your container arrives at the port in the USA; this is to ascertain your requirements regarding delivery. If you are not ready to take delivery we can arrange storage at extremely preferential rate.
• We recommend that you contact our agents immediately upon your arrival as you will be required to complete a customs form and produce your passport.
• All goods which arrive into the USA are subject to American customs clearance.
• Shipper must have arrived in U.S. by the time the goods arrive. Failure to comply will result in clearance delays and possible additional charges at the port.
• Once we have received clearance we will make contact with you to arrange a suitable date to deliver your effects to your new home. Our crew will arrive at your new property and place your items in the rooms of your choice and unwrap and remove the packing material.

Customs regulations and duties are subject to change so we suggest you check that you have the most up-to-date information. You can find this in the USA Customs Guide.

If you don’t meet the criteria for household effects or your goods are deemed commercial imports then Customs Duty and other taxes may apply.

These fees will often be handled for you by the shipping company’s agent in the USA and you will need to reimburse them before your shipment can be delivered.

PSS International provide a full door to door international removal service which includes delivery of items to your new home.

We will contact you before your container arrives in the USA to ensure that we have all your relevant paperwork to enable us to start the customs clearance process as well as making sure that we have your correct requirements in place for delivery.

Once the customs clearance of your goods has taken place we can then arrange your delivery and the unpacking of your goods. Our crew will arrive at your new property and place your items in the rooms of your choice and unwrap and remove the packing material. If you are not ready to take delivery then we can offer competitive storage rates for your goods at one of our local the USAn depots.

• Delivery to all locations in the USA
• Dedicated FIDI regulated international movers in the USA
• Dedicated import clerk in the USA
• Customs clearance
• Up to date information on delivery & customs clearance process
• Trained import delivery removalist team (by professional the USAn movers and packers)
• Unpacking of all furniture & removal of any packaging materials on the day of delivery

This is not a problem as all we will require is a contact address and contact details. The delivery address can be advised at a later date or when you arrive.

If required, we can also arrange storage of your household goods and personal effects in the USA whilst you arrange your new home. Once you’re ready our local movers will be able to deliver your belongings.