8 replies to this topic

[Greeneyegringa]

I was curious...how do you move furniture and such over the border back to the states? Is there any cpecial requirements? Does anyone know of any companys? Also whats the rule on crossing pets over the border? Thanks!!!

[BajaGringo]

When my daughter bought a house with her boyfriend she just packed all her furniture and her dog into her SUV, her boyfriends truck and the trailer he was pulling behind. They went through Otay and were sent to secondary but the agents just gave it a quick look and sent them on their way. They seemed more concerned that she might be hiding something in her stuff, not her furniture itself. She had her dogs shot records, but like most here have experienced - they never ask...

[Chiquito]

As BajaGringo says, the best way is just pack it up and move it yourself. This is what I did when I moved back. The guardette at the border asked me why I had so much stuff but let me thru without going to secondary. Hiring a company will involve a lot of paperwork and add complications that aren't necessary.

To be more sure, you can register your items with customs when move them from the US to Mexico. Then save the paperwork and on moving back declare them as "US goods returning". If not this, it's not a bad idea to save receipts to prove origin and cost of items.

[BajaGringo]

What helps is that as long as US customs sees that you aren't bringing back a truckload of cigarettes or any of the AG restricted items they don't seem to care that much. Under Homeland Security, agents at the border have focused their inspections primarily towards drug/people smuggling activity more than anything else.

[TJDave]

When I moved back to the US, I made about 6 trips in a pickup... I was sent to secondary twice. It helps if you pack the truck so it is easy to see inside of big furniture, etc...

Just like the previous replies... all they were looking for was contraband...

I even asked a few agents prior to moving what I needed and they all told me the same thing... If it's just household items, there is no problem.

[Greeneyegringa]

When I moved back to the US, I made about 6 trips in a pickup... I was sent to secondary twice. It helps if you pack the truck so it is easy to see inside of big furniture, etc...

Just like the previous replies... all they were looking for was contraband...

I even asked a few agents prior to moving what I needed and they all told me the same thing... If it's just household items, there is no problem.

Thanks to you all....all good info...

[BajaGringo]

We are here to serve...

[zunigan]

We have a "gently used" clothing store and I bring quite a bit with me each week. Like my truck is always full. I have gotten the red light only twice and both times I explained what I was bringing in and they asked me where I live and thats about it. Did not even go into the boxes to check. Everything I have I brought over the the last year myself.

[Chiquito]

The 'red light' of course is for going into Mexico. Getting a red light means go to inspection. Coming into the US everyone is inspected to some level.

(Just a clarification as the topic is coming back to the US, )