Experiences on B4 preparation and submission for a family?

[zardoz]

Well, we have got to that point where we are now packing everything into boxes in preparation for storage/shipping etc. The house is being redecorated and patched up to put on the market. The next big question is the preparation of the B4/B4a lists for "landing" and "goods to follow". As this is a spousal sponsorship application, we are obviously looking at moving lock, stock and barrel over the Atlantic.

We would really appreciate advice and experiences from those who have gone before us, specifically in relation to moving a whole household and not just a few personal items. What sort of philosophy did you apply when a) boxing and b) making B4/B4a entries? How much granularity did you go to? What were the "gotcha" items? What did you look back at and think "we got that wrong..."?

Anything and everything that you can offer in terms of information will not only help us but possibly the rest of the forum.

 

[MRS SAM]

i am also looking for same information coz i also need to move all my household from USA to canada,,every single thing from bed room set to kitchen items

 

[bartjones]

Back in May my wife and I moved to Canada from South Korea. We moved about two thirds of a 40 foot container. Our situation was a little different as we moved using a company who packed it all for us. They made a list of each box they packed with a general description of the contents of each box, which was not easy for them as none of them spoke English particularly well. For example, just about anything they packed from the kitchen were just marked "Kitchen Items". Their descriptions were not especially detailed.

We arrived before the goods arrived. I didn't complete the B4 form. I just brought the list the moving company had provided. I told the CBSA agent that we had goods to follow. He directed us to the secondary inspection area. The CBSA agent there looked at the list. There were no values attached to the items, so she asked me to hand write in a ballpark value for each box. She said she wasn't too concerned about the accuracy of those values because we were returnees and it was all tax exempt anyway. I wrote in the values, she took it to her office, completed the B4 and brought it back. I signed it. She gave me a copy and told me to take it to the port when the goods finally arrived.

I asked her what the customs agents would do with a big container full of goods like we had. She said that they would probably just open the container and take a quick look inside to make sure we weren't smuggling in a car or something and that would be about it. She said that as long as the boxes in the container appeared to match up generally with what was listed on the B4, they wouldn't do much of an inspection.

About 2 months later the goods arrived. The moving company called and we arranged to meet their rep at the local Canada Customs office. I gave the CBSA agent there the B4 document. She looked it over for a few minutes, stamped it and gave it back to me. I gave it to the moving company rep and our goods were delivered the following week. It didn't appear to me that any of the boxes had been opened.

I'm not sure what else I can tell you. If you have any other questions just let me know.

 

[Catou]

Well, we have got to that point where we are now packing everything into boxes in preparation for storage/shipping etc. The house is being redecorated and patched up to put on the market. The next big question is the preparation of the B4/B4a lists for "landing" and "goods to follow". As this is a spousal sponsorship application, we are obviously looking at moving lock, stock and barrel over the Atlantic.

We would really appreciate advice and experiences from those who have gone before us, specifically in relation to moving a whole household and not just a few personal items. What sort of philosophy did you apply when a) boxing and b) making B4/B4a entries? How much granularity did you go to? What were the "gotcha" items? What did you look back at and think "we got that wrong..."?

Anything and everything that you can offer in terms of information will not only help us but possibly the rest of the forum.

First off, its important to realise that completing form B4 before you land is entirely optional. The customs officer will do this at the border if you don't prepare it in advance yourself. Form B4 A is simply a continuation form for use if you run out of space on form B4.

What is important is the list you make of your goods. This can be neatly handwritten or (easier still) done on an Excel spreadsheet. Do two lists - one for goods you have with you and one for goods to follow. Provide two copies of each list. The B4 form acts as a cover sheet for your lists.

An example list is here: http://mypage.intergate.ca/~rajanr/Van_File/List_GTF.html
I find the example too disorganised but each to his/her own.

qorax has some good suggestions here: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/form-b4-goods-to-followaccompanying-list-how-to-t44793.0.html
I personally think qorax's spreadsheet is overkill and unnecessarily detailed. Also, some of the information in that thread is out of date (where goods have a model and serial number these must be listed now).

This is a very worthwhile read: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Goods_To_Follow

This post is too: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/form-b4-goods-to-followaccompanying-list-how-to-t44793.0.html;msg2238950#msg2238950

Now, my tips:

• If you are bringing garden tools, camping gear, kayaks, pots for plants, or other outside items clean them thoroughly with a disinfecting solution. Make a separate list for those items (you will include them with the list to go with your B4 too) and make a note beside them detailing the steps you took to ensure they are clean. You won't need this list at the border but may need it when your shipment arrives.
• Your goods accompanying you include everything you have with you. That means suitcase, carry-on luggage, clothes, shoes, jewellery, etc.
  
• When you are doing your lists make sure you include everything. If you aren't sure if you will take an item put it on the list anyway, just in case. Once the list has been seen at the border you can't add anything to it but you are under no obligation to take every item on it so leaving something behind later is not a problem.

I hope this helps.

 

[zardoz]

Some excellent input here... Many thanks to all.