Relocate to the USA

Your relocation to the USA is coming up, and it's time to determine which things from your old home should also change countries? We provide you with advice on what items to bring to the United States, and give an overview of the requirements for import as well as your transport options.

Traveling by plane: What can I bring to the USA?

Clothes, shoes, jewelry, books, and other favorite items: things that you don't want to miss in your new life can be carried in your luggage on the flight to the USA. There are also a few important documents that should not be missing when you leave for your new chapter in life.

When you relocate to the USA, these items belong in your luggage:

• Green Card (if any)
• ID card
• Passport
• Driver's license from your country of origin (if available, also an international driver's license)
• International certificate of vaccination
• Translations of important medical records
• Certified translation of your birth certificate
• Certified translation of school and work certificates
• If applicable, certified translation of marriage or divorce certificates
• If applicable, certified translation of custody declarations
• Documents related to existing accounts
• Important financial documents, e.g., tax statements

The dimensions and weights allowed for carry-on and checked baggage, as well as the prices for additional pieces of luggage, vary from airline to airline.

US customs: What not to bring into the USA

Be careful when entering the USA: American customs regulations and officials are known for their strictness. If the wrong item ends up in your hand luggage or suitcase, you can quickly face heavy fines. Therefore, be cautious with the following items and products:

• Food: It is prohibited to import meat as well as meat products, fish, pastries, cheese, milk, eggs, and plant seeds into the USA. Products that do not pose a health risk (e.g., spices, coffee, tea) may be brought into the US in their original packaging but must be declared upon entry.
• Medication: You may bring prescription medication that you need for treatment if you have an import permit translated into English. Medications must be transported in their original packaging, including package inserts, and declared to customs.
• Alcohol: Any person aged 21 or older may bring one liter of alcohol (except absinthe) into the United States duty-free. Larger quantities may be brought in as well, but customs duties and taxes will apply and must be paid directly to customs.
• Tobacco: Similar to alcohol, there is a duty-free limit for tobacco products. This may be 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of loose tobacco.
• Weapons: The import of fully and semi-automatic weapons and knives is prohibited. Handguns, hunting weapons, and ammunition may be brought into the USA. However, the weapon must go in a locked box as baggage. Furthermore, you will need Form AE 2075 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
• Money: If you are carrying more than $10,000, US Customs Form 4790 must be filled out. This applies not only to cash but also to other means of payment, such as traveler's checks or bonds.

How do I bring my pet to the USA?

You can bring pets such as dogs or cats with you when you relocate to the USA. While regulations may vary from state to state, US authorities generally ask for:

• A health certificate issued by a veterinarian, not older than 30 days and translated into English
• An examination of the animal by a veterinarian upon entry
• An import permit (Veterinary Services VS Form 17-129)
• For some species: additional permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• In Hawaii: mandatory 14-day quarantine period

Immigration to the USA with a dog

Rabies vaccination is mandatory for dogs. The shot must have been given at least 30 days prior to entry into the US but may not date back more than one year. The vaccination certificate must be translated into English.

Owners of larger dogs must acquire a kennel for their four-legged friend, which can be stowed in the cargo hold of the plane or ship. The box must be large enough for the dog to lie and stand comfortably.

Dogs must travel to the USA in a transport box.

Immigration to the USA with a cat

There are generally no restrictions on bringing cats into the USA. Few states require a rabies vaccination. Only Hawaii and the US territory Guam have stricter quarantine regulations.

Many airlines allow cats (and even smaller dogs) to fly in a transport box in the cabin with their owner. The sizes and weights permitted for transport in the cabin vary depending on the regulations of the respective airline.

Bringing other animals to the USA

Typical pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, or rabbits may travel with you to the United States if they meet all health requirements.

Birds may also be brought in as pets if a veterinary health certificate is presented. However, a 30-day quarantine period in a quarantine station is required for some bird species. Similar to transport boxes for dogs, each airline has its own requirements for bird cages specifying which models and dimensions are allowed.

More exotic animals such as snakes may only be brought into the USA in a few cases. A permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required in this kind of situation.

For the latest information on bringing pets into the USA, visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What should I transport?

Transporting items such as household appliances, furniture, or vehicles to America involves high costs. In many cases, it is cheaper to buy new items when you relocate to the USA. In the following, we will give you a brief overview of which things you can bring to the United States and which ones you can confidently leave behind.

Bringing furniture to the USA

Before you spend a lot of money on a sea container full of furniture, consider the following: you probably won't need some of your furniture and home decoration at all when you're settling into a new home in America.

Many houses and apartments in the USA are equipped with a built-in kitchen and a walk-in closet as standard. It is also not necessary to bring mattresses and bedding, as American beds have different dimensions than beds in most other countries.

Bringing electrical appliances to the USA

The electricity grid in the USA operates with 110 volts alternating current and a frequency of 60 hertz. However, most other countries around the world use voltages between 220-240 volts and 50 hertz.

Therefore, electrical appliances brought along must be convertible to 110 volts. An additional adapter is also required. Devices such as notebooks, smartphones, or MP3 players can usually be converted without any problems.

In contrast, larger household appliances such as washing machines, stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, or televisions are usually not convertible. An additional transformer is necessary to make them work. This is expensive and takes up additional space. Furthermore, it will be difficult to find spare parts for the appliances if repairs are needed.

Therefore, it is better to let go of your old electrical appliances. At the end of the day, it is cheaper to buy new equipment directly in the USA.

Bringing a car to the USA

For many people, it is a difficult decision whether their beloved car should come with them to America despite high transport costs. Most vehicles can be imported to the USA without any problems. Only some vehicle types, e.g., the Smart car or certain diesel vehicles, cannot be registered in the USA.

Vehicles must be adapted to American standards and registered in the US within the first year in the States. This is usually only worthwhile if your car is new and of high quality or a collector's piece, e.g., a vintage car.

It is relatively expensive to have a vehicle adapted to American standards ($2,000 - $3,000). There are also transportation and customs costs to consider when bringing a car to the USA. In addition, it can be difficult to get hold of suitable spare parts when a repair is needed.

If you do decide to relocate to the USA and bring your vehicle with you, consult the website of the U.S. Department of Transportation for current import regulations.

How do I bring my possessions to the USA?

Unless you are moving to the USA from Canada or Latin America, the transport of your belongings can only be made by sea or air.

Transport to the USA by container ship

Sea containers are the most common transport option to bring furniture, household appliances, or even vehicles to the USA. Many shipping companies offer containers in the sizes 20 ft (33m³), 40 ft (67m³), and 40 ft high cube (78m³). The 40-foot container typically provides enough space to accommodate the furnishings of a 3-4 room family home.

It is worthwhile to compare container prices carefully. At best, choose an international company for your shipment, for example, ALLIED Forwarding Group, Schenker, Compas International Movers, or Global Van Lines. Some forwarders also offer a few weeks of free storage.

However, the total price of the transport depends not only on the container size but also on the route taken. For example, it makes a big difference in terms of price and delivery time whether your destination port is on the east or west coast of the USA. In addition, transportation costs vary depending on the shipping company as well as the time of booking and delivery.

Price examples for sea containers:
(Booking approx. one month in advance)

Example 1:
From Hamburg to New York City
Duration: 16 days
Container 20 ft: ~ $ 2,500
Container 40 ft: ~ $ 3,600

Example 2:
From Hamburg to Los Angeles
Duration: 30 days
Container 20 ft: ~ $ 3,000
Container 40 ft: ~ $ 4,500

Source: searates.com

Depending on your individual needs, there will also be additional costs for insurance, packing material, customs, loading, and unloading, and, if necessary, onward transport by land to your residence.

Sea containers are often used to transport goods.

Transport to the USA by air freight

Transporting items to America by air freight is significantly more expensive than transport by sea. It is a reasonable option if you are transporting small quantities of goods to the USA (usually less than 15 m³) and your place of residence is located far inland.

Compared with the transport in a sea container, the advantage of air freight is, of course, a faster delivery time. So you can receive your cargo with a costly express service in 2-3 days. Standard air freight can be expected to take 10-12 days.

Price example air freight Germany - USA:

DHL Express Worldwide
10 kg: € 208,48 (~ $ 252)
20 kg: € 304,88 (~ $ 368)
50 kg: € 630,28 (~ $ 760)
100 kg: € 1208,68 (~ $ 1,458)

Source: DHL (as of 2020)

As you can see, the cost of transporting your belongings can quickly mount up. Therefore, think carefully beforehand about what you want to take with you. Immigrating to the USA is a good opportunity to part with old things. A new life is waiting for you!

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