International Moving from Wuhan to Philadelphia

Client Information: Ms. Chen;
Shipping Route: Wuhan to Phoenix;
Service Date: June 3, 2019;
Case Summary: Ms. Chen from Wuhan shipped furniture and other personal belongings by sea to Phoenix, USA.

Phoenix, also known as the City of Phoenix, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Arizona, and the fifth-largest city in the United States. With abundant job opportunities, a low cost of living, stable public safety, and unique cultural landscapes, Phoenix especially appeals to skilled immigrants—the city needs a large number of technical professionals, allowing people to balance work and life, which is why more and more immigrants move there. Ms. Chen's family from Wuhan is one of them, having emigrated and settled in Phoenix.

The items Ms. Chen needed to ship were mainly furniture, followed by clothing, handicrafts, and electrical appliances. After an on-site assessment in Wuhan, the volume was estimated at about 20 cubic meters, so the finalized international moving plan was to ship a full container to Phoenix, USA. To transport these items to the United States intact, professional packing is crucial. Seapoe Relo arranged experienced packing specialists to pack on-site: first wrapping items in white cotton paper, then wrapping them with pearl cotton, padding corners with corner protectors, and finally covering the outermost layer with cardboard according to the shape of each item, ensuring that items would not be scratched or damaged from collisions during handling.

Below are photos from the on-site packing by Seapoe staff

Notes on moving from Wuhan to Phoenix:
1. When preparing the item list, pay attention to U.S. customs regulations on incoming items to avoid extra losses or costs caused by carrying prohibited items and being investigated by customs.
2. Visa type (status) needs to be verified in advance to avoid customs clearance problems caused by mismatched documentation.
3. U.S. policies on the entry of personal belongings are relatively lenient: new immigrants and green card holders who have been in the country for less than 2 years; furniture and personal items over 12 months old can enter duty-free.
4. Textiles in the U.S. have limited choices and are expensive, so curtains, tablecloths, and similar items are better purchased in China; in addition, if you like Chinese-style furniture, it is advisable to buy it in China and bring it over, as Chinese-style furniture in the U.S. is far too expensive.