Questions and Answers
Customs
Costs
IntlMOVE – About us
Insurance
Procedures
Services
Shipment Size
Q: Responsibility to confirm customs regulations
A: The documents you may be required to produce, and the duties or taxes you may have to pay, will vary depending on your status for entering your destination country.
How long have you lived abroad?
How long have you owned the items you are importing?
Are you a returning citizen?
What type of VISA are you immigrating under?
These are just a few of the MANY factors that influence what document you need to produce and whether duties or taxes will be due on your shipment and in what amount.
You should prepare and plan for this liabilities.
As a starting point you can visit www.intlmove.com/customs, select your destination country from the alphabetized list for basic guidelines on documents, regulations, dutiable restricted items, prohibited items, vehicles, pets, etc.
Please note these are only guidelines it is your responsibility to contact the consulate or embassy for your destination country for the latest updates in regulations and or requirements that will apply to your shipment and to follow and obey all such requirements.
Q: Will my shipment be inspected by customs?
A: Think about when you fly internationally. When you reach your country of destination, you always pass through customs before leaving the airport. Sometimes, you pass through without any hassle or a few questions. Sometimes, you may have your bag searched. Sometimes, they may search you. Some countries have stricter standards than others.
The same applies to your shipment. All shipments will pass through customs. Whether or not it will be pulled aside for additional inspection, tests, etc. is a random occurrence at the discretion of the customs authority performing the inspection. It is not something in our control.
Q: What customs fees will be applied to my shipment?
A: Customs fees typically fall into two categories: charges associated with inspections and penalties.
Inspection charges could be anything from an intensive physical inspection to X-Raying your shipment. The charges can not be anticipated or pre-paid.
Penalties are assessed when your shipment contains items that are deemed as illegal or prohibited in your destination country. However, penalties will be the least of your worries. Shipments containing illegal or prohibited items also face the possibility of having the illicit items confiscated and/or the entire shipment confiscated or destroyed. This category of charges is completely preventable by doing a little research on the country to which you are moving.
Q: Will I have to pay duties and taxes?
A: How long have you lived abroad? How long have you owned the items you are exporting/importing? Are you a returning citizen? What type of VISA are you immigrating under?
These are just a few of the MANY factors that influence whether duties or taxes will be due on your shipment and in what amount. It varies by individual and is impossible for us to estimate and include in our move prices. The best way you can prepare and plan for this liability is to contact the consulate of the country to which you will be moving. They will be able to assist you in estimating.
Q: What customs fees will be applied to my shipment?
A: Customs fees typically fall into two categories: charges associated with inspections and penalties.
Inspection charges could be anything from an intensive physical inspection to X-Raying your shipment. The charges can not be anticipated or pre-paid.
Penalties are assessed when your shipment contains items that are deemed as illegal or prohibited in your destination country. However, penalties will be the least of your worries. Shipments containing illegal or prohibited items also face the possibility of having the illicit items confiscated and/or the entire shipment confiscated or destroyed. This category of charges is completely preventable by doing a little research on the country to which you are moving.
Q: Will I have to pay duties and taxes?
A: How long have you lived abroad? How long have you owned the items you are exporting/importing? Are you a returning citizen? What type of VISA are you immigrating under?
These are just a few of the MANY factors that influence whether duties or taxes will be due on your shipment and in what amount. It varies by individual and is impossible for us to estimate and include in our move prices. The best way you can prepare and plan for this liability is to contact the consulate of the country to which you will be moving. They will be able to assist you in estimating.
Q: How to Get a Quote
A: Go to “my item list”, enter your reference number, your name, your email address and select the name of your move consultant from the menu. Then complete the list.
Simply enter the quantity of the items you wish to take, and submit. We will receive your item list and will email you a quote.
If you have an item that is not listed, no problem. In the comments box at the end of the list, simply list the item and provide the dimensions L x H x W in feet. This measurement L x H x W determines volume (cubic feet) of the item and this can be added to the item list volume for your quote.
Take your time – it is easy and fun to plan what you are taking and the volume of your shipment.
Q: What are the costs of insurance?
A: All Risk and Limited Liability Insurance will cost the same.
IntlMOVE does not charge a higher percentage for All Risk insurance.
The cost is calculated at 2.5% of your Total Declared Value (TDV) + $75 for an administration fee.
There is a minimum cost for insurance which is $200.
This cost is based on any declared value up to and including $5,000 TDV.
Q: What is your company?
A: IntlMOVE V is a Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) Licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
IntlMOVE was incorporated in 2004 and since then we grew to become a dominant force in shipping household goods and personal effects from the USA overseas.
We handle thousands of inquires each month and help thousands of individuals like yourself, safely and economically shipping their household goods and personal effects overseas
Q: Where is your company located?
A: IntlMOVE self- owned, consolidation warehouses are in Miami, Florida.
Our offices (also owned by our company shareholders) are in North Miami Beach, Florida.
We have a reliable network of more than 150 Origin Agents (OA) covering the 48 contiguous states
Q: From where you guys ship out?
A: Less than container load (LCL) are usually broght to our consolidation warehouse in Miami and shipped in Consolidation Container via the Port of Miami or Port Everglades.
For economical reason we sometimes will use the services of a fellow NVOCC which is closer to our Origin Agent (OA).
Full container Load (FCL) is shipped from any port, usually the one closest to your origin.
Q: Do you have agent in my area?
A: IntlMOVE was incorporated in 2004 and since then we grew to become a dominant force in shipping household goods and personal effects from the USA overseas.
We handle thousands of inquires each month and help thousands of individuals like yourself, safely and economically shipping their household goods and personal effects overseas.
Over the years we established a reliable network of more than 150 Origin Agents (OA) covering the 48 contiguous states, we are confident that some of them cover your area.
Following the placing of your order, you will be provided with the contact information of your Origin Agent (OA). Your Origin Agent will also receive your information and they will contact you in enough time to co-ordinate the pick up of your shipment
Q: Who do you use overseas?
A: As of 2004 we have handled thousands of shipments and established a reliable network of Destination Agents (DSA). Our network includes hundreds of trustworthy and reliable destination agents covering the globe.
Following the placing of your order, the pick up of your shipment and receiving confirmed shipping details, you will be provided with the contact information of your destination agent.
Your destination agent will receive your information, after your shipment has sailed, and they will contact you in enough time to co-ordinate the release and delivery of your shipment.
Q: What is All risk Insurance?
A: All Risk Insurance – This insurance in an all inclusive insurance and covers your shipment for loss and damages. The All Risk Insurance is only available when you order a full packing service.
Full Packing service means that your entire shipment is packed by your origin agent / pick up team.
Q: What is Limited Liability Insurance?
A: Limited Liability Insurance is also known as Limited Risk or Limited Coverage Insurance.
This insurance covers loss only but does not cover any damages.
This is the only coverage you can purchase if you do not order full packing for your shipment.
Q: What are the costs of insurance?
A: All Risk and Limited Liability Insurance will cost the same.
IntlMOVE does not charge a higher percentage for All Risk insurance.
The cost is calculated at 2.5% of your Total Declared Value (TDV) + $75 for an administration fee.There is a minimum cost for insurance which is $200.
The $200 minimum cost is based on any declared value up to and including $5,000 TDV.
Q: Submitting Application for insurance
A: The insurance application is quite easy to complete. You list the items that you wish to insure and assign a value to them.
The value that you assign to each insured item should be a realistic, replacement value in your destination country.
It is not necessary to list every item in your shipment as some items may only be of sentimental value and a dollar value cannot be assigned to them.
You can group like items and assign a group value to these items such as clothing, dishes and kitchenware to name a few.
If you have any items with a high value such as antiques, art work, designer clothing or luggage or others that you plan to ship and insure, it is required that you have the receipts and / or get an appraisal for such items.
Yes, It is necessary to complete the insurance application. If you should need to file a claim, the insurance company will require a copy of this application.
Q: How to Get a Quote
A: Go to “my item list”, enter your reference number, your name, your email address and select the name of your move consultant from the menu. Then complete the list.
Simply enter the quantity of the items you wish to take, and submit. We will receive your item list and will email you a quote.
If you have an item that is not listed, no problem. In the comments box at the end of the list, simply list the item and provide the dimensions L x H x W in feet. This measurement L x H x W determines volume (cubic feet) of the item and this can be added to the item list volume for your quote.
Take your time – it is easy and fun to plan what you are taking and the volume of your shipment.
Q: What is my reference number?
A: If you have not booked your move yet, your reference number is a “pre booking number”, it is a seven digit number (XXXXXXX) found in the upper left hand corner of your quote.
If you already booked your move with us, your reference number is your “move number”, it is a nine digit number ( XX-XX-XXX-XX) found on the first page of your Order for Service.
Please make sure to include your reference number in the subject line of your emails.
Q: Do you offer self loading service for full container shipments?
A: The short answer…no.
Self loading can be a wonderful and cost saving option. It can also be a real nightmare. There are many factors to consider in a self-load:
- Is there access at your residence for a 20’ to 40’ steel container?
- If there is access, will your community allow a container to be dropped off in front of your house for 1-4 days?
- Depending on how far away your residence is from where the container is being pulled, it may be cost prohibitive to drop off the container at your residence and pick it up later. You will then have to live load. Live load means you have two hours from the time the container arrives at your door to load it. After the two hours, the trucker will charge detention. Detention charges usually start around $90 per hour and can be higher. Most movers also have it in their contracts that you will be responsible for the detention charges. Suddenly, costs are adding instead of being saved.
- A container whether dropped off or live loaded will sit on a chassis that is 4’ off the ground and they do not come with handy pull out ramps. If your shipment contains heavy items, we hope you have enlisted lots of friends and family to help with heavy lifting.
- Ship lines sometimes experience equipment (your container) shortages when the trucker comes to pull the container. These shortages can last hours, days, or weeks. Is this a rare occurrence? Yes, but if it happens to occur on your move day, does it make a difference?
- Believe it or not, the trucks that haul the containers, sometimes get stuck in traffic, break down, or get flat tires. Again, is this common? No, but if it happens on your move day and delays your loading, does it matter?
We could continue listing reasons why a self load can go wrong, but we think you get the point. Self loading works for some moving companies and shippers. It does not work for us or our customers.
Q: Do you provide on-site estimates?
A: We strive to provide you with something better.
We allow you to perform an on-site estimate on your own time and at your own pace using our on line item list. This easy to use list is the same list used by many on-site estimators and approved by AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association). After you have sent in your item list, you can make as many changes to the list as you want until you are ready to book. Every change submission you make will be instantly received by your move consultant and your quote corrected accordingly.
Q: Will on site estimator do a better job estimating than me?
A: The typical on-site estimate involves you and the on-site estimator going room to room. While you point out the items you are going to bring, he marks down the items on an estimate sheet or hand held device that looks remarkably similar to our on line item list. Once all items are accounted for (hopefully the estimator did not miss anything you pointed out), your items are tallied up and a weight and/or volume estimate is obtained. This job is within anyone’s ability to do.
Q: Will on site estimate really cost nothing?
A: The famous economist, Milton Friedman, popularized an old saying, “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. Believe us, those estimates are costing someone something and those costs will be passed to you, the end user.
Q: I only want a quote if it is based on On Site Estimate
A: No problem. When the on-site estimator has given you a copy of your estimate, send it to us. We will be happy to offer you a more competitive quote based off of it.
