Removals to the USA from the UK
1st Choice Removals, a family-run BAR member near Wimborne in Dorset, handles removals to the USA from the UK: we survey, export-pack and ship your belongings by sea, and partner agents in the USA handle customs clearance and delivery. You arrange your own marine insurance for the voyage.
How removals to the USA from the UK work
Every overseas move starts with a quote. If you live in a BH postcode or DT11, Book your free home visit. Everywhere else, Get an online quote by sending short room videos or photos from your phone, or call 01202 570970.
From there we plan your shipment together, and your written quote sets out exactly what is included. Whether you are heading for a city apartment or a family home, we plan the move around your dates and the paperwork US customs expects.
- Free home visit or online quote, then a written quote
- Export packing by our own full-time, uniformed crews, never agency staff
- Loading and shipping by sea
- Help preparing your export and import paperwork
- Customs clearance and delivery in the USA handled by our partner agents there
- Unpacking and furniture dismantling and reassembly available as optional extras, charged on top of your quote
Packing for a long sea journey
Goods shipped to the USA travel a long way and are handled several times, so they need more protection than a local move. Our crews wrap fragile items properly, pad furniture and build bespoke wooden crates for antiques, artwork and other valuable pieces.
Everything is listed on a detailed inventory, which you will need for customs and for your insurance. Make a note of anything new or unused, as it may be treated differently from used household goods.
Prefer to pack some things yourself? We sell packing materials individually, or our packing service can do as much or as little as you like. Unpacking at your new home and furniture dismantling and reassembly are available as optional extras, charged on top of your quote.
US customs: what to expect
Household goods are cleared by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when they arrive. You will usually need your passport, visa or proof of US residence, the inventory and CBP Form 3299, the declaration for free entry of unaccompanied articles.
Used household goods that you have owned and used abroad can often enter free of duty. New items, alcohol and some other goods may attract duty or need extra approval.
- Do not pack food, plants, seeds or soil
- Clean outdoor furniture, garden tools and bikes so they are free of soil
- Alcohol, firearms and some wildlife products, such as ivory, face strict rules
- Keep receipts for anything valuable
Fiona holds a BTEC in Customs Export and Import Procedures, and we will go through the requirements with you before anything is packed.
Marine insurance: you must arrange it yourself
This is the most important point on this page. 1st Choice moves are insured for goods in transit, but that is not marine insurance and it does not cover the sea voyage to the USA.
If you want your belongings covered while they are shipped, you must arrange marine insurance yourself before they leave the UK. We do not provide it.
- Value your items properly, using your inventory as the basis
- Check the excess and any limits on single items
- Ask whether items you packed yourself are covered, as many policies treat them differently
Storage and currency exchange
If your home in the USA is not ready, we can keep your belongings in containerised storage in Dorset until you are ready to ship. We run around 1,000 storage units across four local sites, for short or long periods.
Sending money for a deposit, rent or a purchase? Our partner Regency FX offers currency exchange into US dollars, as a one-off transfer or regular payments.
For a step-by-step plan, read our moving abroad checklist, or see all our worldwide removals.
Your questions answered
How much does it cost to move to the USA from the UK?
We do not publish prices for overseas moves because every shipment is different. The cost depends mainly on how much you are taking, how much packing you want us to do, any crating for valuable items and where in the USA you are going. Book your free home visit if you live in a BH postcode or DT11, or Get an online quote from anywhere else, and we will give you a clear written quote.
Do I need marine insurance to ship my furniture to the USA?
We strongly recommend it, and you must arrange it yourself. 1st Choice moves are insured for goods in transit, but that does not cover your belongings on the sea voyage to the USA. Take out a marine insurance policy before your goods leave the UK, value items using your inventory, and check the excess and what the policy says about items you packed.
Who handles customs clearance and delivery in the USA?
Our partner agents in the USA handle customs clearance at the destination and deliver your belongings to your new home. 1st Choice surveys and plans the move, export-packs your belongings in the UK and arranges the shipment. Unpacking and furniture dismantling and reassembly are optional extras, charged on top of your quote.
What paperwork do I need to ship household goods to the USA?
You will usually need your passport, your visa or proof of US residence, a detailed inventory and CBP Form 3299, the declaration for free entry of unaccompanied articles. The shipping documents are prepared as part of the export. We go through the paperwork with you at the planning stage so US Customs and Border Protection has what it needs.
Will I pay import duty on my furniture in the USA?
Used household goods that you have owned and used abroad can often enter the USA free of duty, particularly when you are moving there to live. New items, alcohol and some other goods may attract duty. The rules depend on your circumstances and visa, so check with US Customs and Border Protection if you are unsure about particular items.
What can't I take to the USA?
Food, plants, seeds and soil should not be packed in your household goods. Outdoor items must be clean. Alcohol faces federal and state rules, and firearms, some medicines and wildlife products such as ivory are tightly controlled or prohibited. If you are unsure about an item, ask us at your survey and check with the US authorities before packing it.
Can you ship a piano, antiques or artwork to the USA?
Yes. Pianos, antiques and artwork are part of our specialist removals work. We build bespoke wooden crates for delicate or valuable pieces so they are protected in the container. Mention these items at your survey so we can plan the crating and include it in your quote, and make sure your own marine insurance covers their full value.