Into the United States
CBP Form 3299 concerns unaccompanied articles. Read its current instructions before completing it, including the applicable household-effects declarations. Requirements differ by goods and status; do not assume that everything you own qualifies for duty-free entry. Use CBP guidance to resolve uncertain items before pickup.
Into Canada
CBSA instructs people moving or returning to Canada to prepare lists of accompanying goods and goods to follow. Present the required list at the first point of entry even if no shipment is with you. Keep the BSF186 receipt and related documents for the later goods. Eligibility differs for settlers and returning residents; consult the current instructions.
Make the inventory usable
Number cartons and list furniture so the declaration can be reconciled with the shipment. Record requested values and identifiers carefully. Discuss regulated goods separately: household-goods paperwork does not replace vehicle, food, plant or other item-specific requirements. Submit sensitive identity documents through the agreed secure process, not the public quote message box.
Use a document register instead of an email pile
List each required document, its owner, the current version and its review status. Separate identity or status records from the packing inventory and transport paperwork. Share sensitive documents through the agreed secure method and only with authorised recipients. A register makes missing items visible before collection. Keep a copy accessible to the traveller; documents packed inside a sealed shipment are difficult to retrieve when an official or carrier asks a question.
Review the inventory for ambiguity
Use consistent numbering and descriptions that someone outside your home can understand. Identify items needing separate review rather than hiding them under “personal effects.” Ask about restricted or specially regulated goods before packing; ordinary household packing advice is not import clearance. Never add an item to the truck after the approved inventory is prepared without checking how the shipment records must be updated.
A complete file needs matching records
Names, addresses and shipment details must agree across the records. Use current official instructions.
Run a consistency check before sending
Compare names, addresses, travel dates and shipment details across the documents. Check signatures or other completion requirements against current official instructions. Use one clearly identified final version rather than sending conflicting attachments to different contacts. Ask who confirms the file is ready and retain that response. If an authority requests a correction, record exactly what changed so the inventory and transport records remain consistent.
Use the receiving country’s document system
A Canada–USA move has two possible directions and two different receiving authorities. CBP governs the U.S. entry of the shipment; CBSA governs entry into Canada. Keep the direction at the top of your planning file so a document found through a general search is not mistaken for the correct form. For U.S.-bound unaccompanied household goods, review Form 3299 and current CBP instructions. For Canadian entry, review CBSA guidance on goods accompanying you and goods to follow and the relevant personal-effects accounting documents. Do not treat the forms as interchangeable, and do not assume that completing a form confirms your eligibility for a particular exemption. Your circumstances and the actual goods matter. Where an official question is unclear, resolve it with the authority or the agreed qualified adviser rather than leaving the field to a guess made on moving day.
Create one consistent inventory and document version
Assign carton and item numbers that remain consistent through packing and delivery. Use descriptions detailed enough to identify the contents and flag goods needing separate treatment before they disappear inside cartons. Keep the shipment owner’s name and destination address aligned across the paperwork. When a revision is necessary, mark the superseded version and tell the coordinator which list is current. Several unlabelled spreadsheets can leave the driver, receiving contact and household working from different inventories. Keep copies available through a secure method and carry essential originals personally where required. The initial online quote is a request for service details, not a place to upload passports or complete customs evidence. Ask how documents will be exchanged after the shipment has been assessed. This keeps enquiry, verification and transport preparation distinct while ensuring each stage uses the same shipment facts.
Check special items before they join ordinary household cartons
Treat an unusual item as a separate decision instead of adding it silently to a household list. Food, plants, alcohol, firearms, vehicles and commercial goods can involve restrictions or other procedures. The moving company’s transport policy and the destination country’s import requirements are separate checks. Obtain both answers before deciding to ship the item. If something is removed from the shipment, make the carton list reflect that removal rather than leaving an inaccurate description. Where goods belong to several people, explain ownership and the planned shipment arrangement early. Avoid promising that all goods will be admitted free of duty simply because they have been used. Customs decisions depend on the applicable requirements and the person’s circumstances. A clean household inventory is useful evidence, but it does not replace those requirements.
Prepare for a request for more information
Agree who can answer a document question while the goods are travelling and how that person will receive it. Keep the current inventory, relevant supporting records and the coordinator’s contact details accessible. If an authority requests clarification, answer the specific question through the agreed channel and keep a record of the response. Do not send multiple conflicting versions in an attempt to speed up the process. Ask the company how a delay affects the transport or storage arrangement and whether the contract explains related charges. If the receiving building has a fixed elevator slot, tell management that the shipment schedule may need revision. Prepare a practical alternative for receiving rather than assuming a document query can be resolved within the original slot. Clear responsibility and consistent records help the household respond without losing sight of the delivery plan.
Customs document comparison
Confirm the current official instructions for your direction and keep consistent shipment records.
| Document or record | Direction and purpose | Preparation check |
|---|---|---|
| CBP Form 3299 | US-bound: declaration for free entry of unaccompanied articles. | Review the official form and ask which shipment records are needed. |
| CBP form instructions | US-bound: instructions explaining completion of Form 3299. | Record unanswered questions for the appropriate official contact. |
| BSF186 | Canada-bound: personal effects accounting document. | Check names, addresses, descriptions and values against your inventory. |
| BSF186A | Canada-bound: additional personal-effects list of imported goods. | Keep additional lists clearly linked to the main record. |
| Accompanying goods list | Canada-bound: identifies the goods travelling with you. | Separate this list from goods arriving in later shipments. |
| Goods-to-follow list | Canada-bound: records goods intended to arrive later. | Review CBSA arrival instructions before finalizing the list. |
| Shipment inventory | Either direction: connects item descriptions to the physical shipment. | Number cartons and keep all inventory versions consistent. |
| Document handoff log | Either direction: tracks copies, requested revisions and contacts. | Record who received each document and when it was updated. |