Shipping Furniture from Beijing to Chicago by Sea

Client Information: Mr. Li;
Shipping Route: Beijing to Chicago;
Service Date: September 2, 2019;
Case Summary: Mr. Li from Beijing is relocating to Chicago and shipping some furniture and luggage to Chicago, USA.

Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles. It is the largest commercial center and one of the largest futures markets in the U.S. Its metropolitan area has consistently ranked first in the nation for new business formation, and it has been rated the most balanced economy in the United States. It is also one of the world's renowned international financial centers. Chicago has a thriving education, cultural, science and technology, news, and entertainment sector, and serves as the higher education hub of the American Midwest. Chicago is a captivating city—whether it's the striking skyscrapers, the artistic museums, the diverse festivals and abundant cuisine, or the unique blues music culture, all of it draws people from around the world.

Mr. Li from Beijing is preparing to settle in Chicago and needs to move from Beijing to the United States, shipping some used furniture from China to continue using there. The most important prerequisite for moving from China to the U.S. is finding the right international moving company. Mr. Li found Seapoe Relo through a friend's referral and chose the door-to-door, double-clearance full-service package. What does door-to-door, double-clearance service from Beijing to Chicago involve? It begins with an on-site assessment of the items. Seapoe arranges for dedicated staff to visit Mr. Li's home, evaluate the items to be shipped, and then determine the shipping method and quotation based on volume. The total volume of Mr. Li's items is about 10 cubic meters, making LCL sea freight the more cost-effective choice. Mr. Li found the price well within his budget and signed the shipping contract. Next came the on-site packing service. Packing is one of the key steps in ensuring the safe transport of items and one of the benchmarks for evaluating an international moving company's service standards. Seapoe uses international packing standards, applying multiple layers of high-quality materials to enhance the safety of item transport and effectively reduce the damage rate. Below are photos from the pickup and packing at Mr. Li's home in Beijing that day:

After professional packing, all kinds of fragile and easily damaged items can withstand the long ocean voyage for a safe move.

After packing is complete, the items are transported to Seapoe's warehouse in Beijing for additional reinforcement packing. Then come booking, customs declaration on the client's behalf, ocean shipping to the United States, and customs clearance on the client's behalf. After clearance is completed, the items are delivered to the designated address. Additional moving services are also provided, including unpacking, placement, removal of outer packaging, reassembly of simple furniture that has been used, and debris cleanup.

Notes for Moving from Beijing to Chicago:

1. According to U.S. customs regulations, new immigrants may bring in used items that have been in use for more than one year duty-free. New immigrants are advised to bring higher-value items such as calligraphy and paintings, pianos, and solid wood furniture.

1. Documents required for customs clearance when moving to Chicago: original passport, two copies of the immigration paper, item list (two copies in Chinese, one in English), a list of shipped item quantities, volume, marks, and estimated weight, as well as the consignee's address, phone number, and fax number.

2. If the items include valuables or fragile items such as handicrafts or pianos, it is recommended to use fumigation-free wooden crates for packing and to purchase insurance to mitigate risk.

3. U.S. customs inspection rates are relatively high. Customers preparing to move to the U.S. are advised to check whether their items include any prohibited or restricted goods when organizing their belongings.