Moving from the UK to the USA is a different category of international removal from a UK-EU move. The logistics are more complex, the transit times are measured in weeks rather than days, and the US customs process has its own specific requirements that most UK-based removal companies are not set up to manage properly.
Here’s what to expect – from deciding between container options to what US customs needs before your belongings clear.
Full container vs shared container (LCL)
Most transatlantic removals use sea freight. The choice is between a dedicated container – typically a 20ft or 40ft unit loaded exclusively with your belongings – or a shared container, known in the industry as LCL (Less than Container Load), where your goods share space with shipments from other customers.
A 20ft container holds roughly 28–33 cubic metres – enough for a two to three-bedroom house. A 40ft container holds approximately 58–65 cubic metres. If your volume is under 15 cubic metres, a shared container is almost certainly more cost-effective.
The practical difference beyond cost: dedicated containers offer a direct loading and unloading sequence. LCL shipments are consolidated at a UK freight station and deconsolidated at the US destination port, which adds handling stages and slightly longer timelines.
Transit times
Sea freight from UK ports (typically Felixstowe or Southampton) to US East Coast ports (New York, Baltimore, Savannah) takes approximately 14–20 days. West Coast ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle) take 25–35 days. These are ocean transit times – add collection, port handling at both ends, US customs clearance, and inland delivery, and total door-to-door time is typically 4–8 weeks.
Plan around this. If you need specific items on arrival – a child’s cot, a work computer, winter clothing – consider bringing them in your checked luggage or shipping them separately via air freight rather than relying on the container arriving within a particular window.
US customs: what you need to know
Importing household goods into the USA as a returning US citizen, or as a non-US national with a valid visa, is generally straightforward – but it requires documentation and proactive filing.
The most important requirement is the ISF (Importer Security Filing), sometimes called the ’10+2.’ This filing must be submitted to US Customs and Border Protection at least 72 hours before the vessel departs from the UK. The ISF contains information about the shipper, the consignee, the vessel, and the goods. Failure to file – or filing late – results in fines of up to $5,000 per incident.
For household goods specifically, US customs typically requires a complete inventory, proof of prior foreign residence (if claiming duty-free import as a returning resident), and documentation of your US address or intended destination.
US citizens and Green Card holders returning to the USA can generally import their personal belongings duty-free under US Customs provision 9804.00.05 – similar in principle to the EU’s Transfer of Residence Relief. The goods must be owned and used abroad for at least one year. An experienced removal company will guide you through whether you qualify and what to declare.
Items that cause issues at US customs
US customs has strict rules about what can enter the country. Fresh food, soil, and biological materials are prohibited. Certain wooden furniture without specific pest treatment may require fumigation. Alcohol above personal allowance limits is dutiable. Firearms require an ATF import permit – this is a separate process from the removal entirely.
Some appliances face a voltage incompatibility issue rather than a customs issue: the UK runs on 240V, the US on 120V. Large appliances – washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers – may not be worth shipping if they require a voltage converter to operate. This is worth reviewing item by item before the inventory is finalised.
What to organise before the container is loaded
Start your Social Security Number re-activation (if returning) or ITIN process (if non-US) early – some banking and employment processes in the US depend on it. Research health insurance options before you arrive; the US healthcare system has no equivalent of the NHS and cover lapses are expensive.
If you’re shipping a vehicle, note that this is handled entirely separately from household goods – different documentation, different shipping arrangements, and potentially different destination port.
JCL Transport Group handles moves from Spain to the UK with in-house customs clearance on both sides. We manage Spanish export documentation, UK import clearance, and HMRC Transfer of Residence applications as part of the service. Get in touch for a fixed quote – we’ll walk you through the process before anything is committed.
If you’re planning a family move from the UK to Europe and want to talk through the logistics – timelines, packing, pet transport, customs – get in touch. We’ve moved a lot of families, with a lot of dogs, and we’re happy to help you think it through before you commit to anything.
JCL Transport Group offers door-to-door international removals from the UK to Europe. We handle customs clearance in-house and work with families relocating to Spain, France, Poland, the Netherlands and beyond.
