Long Distance Moving to the USA
Crossing the border is complicated. Working with us isn’t.
Ferguson handles every part of your Canada-to-US move; customs documentation, cross-border coordination, and delivery, so you don’t have to figure it out as you go.
Tell us about your move and we’ll confirm your long distance quote. →
Trusted by Canadians since 1916 | 4.8 stars across 1230+ Google reviews
Long Distance Moving to the USA
Trusted by Canadians since 1916
4.8 stars across 1230+ Google reviews
Tell us about your move and we’ll confirm your long distance quote. ↓
What Makes Moving from Canada to the USA Different?
Moving across the border is not the same job as moving across town. Customs documentation, immigration paperwork, and weight-based pricing all come into play before a single box gets loaded. Ferguson Moving & Storage has been handling Canadian households since 1916 and as a local agent for Great Canadian Van Lines, we connect that experience to a cross-border network that’s been clearing US customs since 1992.
You deal with one point of contact: Us. Your shipment moves through a carrier network built specifically for Canada-to-US relocations.
Before You Move: What Canadians Moving to the USA Need to Know
Most people moving to the USA spend their energy on boxes and logistics. The decisions that actually determine how smoothly your cross-border move goes happen months before the truck arrives, and most of them have nothing to do with moving.
These are worth sorting early. They go well beyond what a moving company should advise on but we flag them because most people find out too late.
Immigration status.
You need the legal right to live in the US before your belongings can cross the border. TN, H-1B, L-1, green card, or another approved pathway. Confirm your status before you book a moving date.
Taxes.
Leaving Canada triggers a departure tax on most non-registered assets. The decisions you make in the months before your departure matter more than the ones you make after. Talk to a cross-border tax advisor before you go, not after you’ve already left.
Healthcare.
Your provincial health coverage ends when you leave Canada. There’s often a gap between your last day under MSP, OHIP, or AHCIP and when your US coverage begins. That gap is worth bridging before moving day, not after.
Banking and credit.
Your Canadian credit history doesn’t transfer to the US. Open a US bank account early and keep your Canadian accounts active through the transition. You’ll need both running at the same time for longer than most people expect.
How Your Canada-to-US Move Works
You Get a Real Estimate — Not a Phone Guess
Cross-border moves are priced by the certified weight of your shipment and the distance it travels. That means your estimate needs to be based on what you’re actually moving, not a number pulled from a phone conversation. Your move coordinator conducts an in-home or virtual assessment before quoting anything, so the number you get reflects your real inventory before you commit to anything.
Your Price Is Based on What the Scale Says
After loading, your shipment is weighed on a certified scale. That weight determines your final cost. No padding, no inflated estimates, no adjustments after the fact. What’s on the scale is what you pay.
Your Customs Paperwork Is Handled Before the Border
Every document your shipment needs to clear US customs is prepared and reviewed before your belongings reach the crossing. There’s no need to hire a separate customs broker or show up at the border yourself. Your move coordinator handles the paperwork. That’s part of the move, not an add-on.
Your Belongings Move Through a Purpose-Built Network
Your shipment travels through the Great Canadian Van Lines cross-border network with coordination on both sides of the border. Pickup in Canada, customs clearance, delivery to your US home. You talk to us throughout. We coordinate everything on your behalf.
What You'll Need to Cross the Border
Documentation depends on your situation. Here’s what each category requires:
Returning US citizens
Passport, secondary photo ID, and a completed US Customs Form 3299.
Canadians moving to the US for work
Passport, secondary photo ID, Form 3299, and your work visa stamped by US Customs.
Canadians relocating permanently
Passport, secondary photo ID, Form 3299, Green Card, and I-94 departure record.
Landed immigrants moving to the US
Passport, secondary photo ID, Form 3299, and stamped work visa.
Not sure which applies to you? Your move coordinator walks you through it before moving day, not at the border.
What Can't Cross the Canada-US Border
Most of what you own will cross without issue. These items are the exceptions:
- Firearms and ammunition — advance paperwork required; flag this early
- Plants and soil
- Fresh produce, meat, and dairy
- Large quantities of alcohol
- Goods made from protected or endangered species
- Explosives and fireworks
Packing your own boxes? Label the contents on the outside of every carton. Unlabeled boxes are the single most common cause of border delays and the easiest problem to prevent.
Moving a Vehicle to the USA?
Your car doesn’t travel with your household shipment. Vehicles go through a separate import process with US Customs, the Department of Transportation, and the EPA. Most Canadian-market vehicles qualify for duty-free entry under CUSMA but eligibility is confirmed per vehicle, not assumed. Ask about coordinating vehicle shipping alongside your move when you book your estimate.
Need Storage Before or After the Border?
If your US home isn’t ready when your shipment arrives, your belongings don’t have to sit in limbo. Ferguson can hold everything in secure, climate-controlled storage, at a Canadian facility before your shipment crosses, or at destination once it arrives in the US. Tell your move coordinator your timeline when you book and they’ll plan around it.
Why Canadians Moving to the USA Choose Ferguson
This is a move most people do once. Here’s what separates a Ferguson cross-border move from a company that simply takes the booking.
You never get handed off.
From your first estimate to your US delivery, you have one point of contact on the Canadian side. Your Move Manager handles the cross-border network, the customs documentation, and the delivery. You’re never transferred to a carrier you’ve never spoken to once your shipment leaves Canada.
Your paperwork is done before the border.
Every customs document your shipment needs is prepared and reviewed before your belongings get anywhere near the crossing. No scrambling at the border. No surprises on the other side.
Your estimate is built on what you’re actually moving.
Cross-border pricing is weight-based. Your Move Manager assesses your real inventory before quoting so the number you get reflects your actual shipment, not a best guess that adjusts later.
The network behind your move was built for this.
Great Canadian Van Lines has handled thousands of Canada-to-US household relocations since 1992. This isn’t a general freight carrier repurposed for moving. It’s a cross-border network built specifically for households crossing from Canada to the United States.
You’re working with a Canadian company that knows both sides.
Ferguson has operated in Canada since 1916. You’re not dealing with a US-based call centre or an online broker. You’re working with a company that knows the Canadian side of this move from the ground up, and has the cross-border relationships to manage the American side.
Hear What Our Customers Say
Moving to the USA From Across Canada
Ferguson manages Canada-to-US relocations from locations across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Calgary, and Toronto.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move from Canada to the USA?
Cross-border moving costs are based on the certified scale weight of your shipment and the distance it travels. There’s no flat rate. The only accurate way to price your move is a proper assessment of what you’re actually moving. Your Move Manager conducts an in-home or virtual assessment before quoting, so the number reflects your real inventory. What the certified scale reads after loading is what you pay. No padding, no after-the-fact adjustments.
How long does a move from Canada to the USA take?
Transit time depends on where you’re moving from in Canada, where you’re going in the US, and the size of your shipment. Your Move Manager provides a realistic delivery timeline based on your actual route, not a generic range that covers every possible scenario. Customs clearance is handled before your shipment reaches the border, which keeps unnecessary delays to a minimum.
Do I need to hire a customs broker to move to the USA?
No. Ferguson handles all the customs documentation your shipment needs to clear the US border, as part of your move, not as an add-on. You don’t need to hire a separate broker or be present at the crossing. Your Move Manager manages the paperwork before your belongings get anywhere near the border.
What is US Customs Form 3299?
Form 3299 is the declaration form US Customs requires to import personal belongings and household goods into the United States. Anyone moving from Canada to the USA needs to complete one but the supporting documentation required alongside it depends on your situation. Returning US citizens, Canadians relocating for work, permanent residents, and landed immigrants each have different requirements. Your Move Manager confirms exactly what applies to you before moving day.
What can’t I bring when moving from Canada to the USA?
Most of what you own crosses without issue. Items that can’t cross or require advance paperwork include firearms and ammunition, plants and soil, fresh produce, meat and dairy products, large quantities of alcohol, goods made from protected or endangered species, and explosives or fireworks. If you’re packing your own boxes, label every carton with its contents on the outside. Unlabeled boxes are the most common cause of border delays and the easiest problem to prevent.
What happens to my belongings at the US border?
In most cases your shipment doesn’t stop for a manual inspection at the crossing. Ferguson prepares all required customs documentation before your goods leave Canada so clearance is handled in advance, not at the border. Your belongings move through the Great Canadian Van Lines cross-border network with coordination on both sides, from Canadian pickup through US delivery.
How far in advance should I book a move from Canada to the USA?
Eight to twelve weeks ahead is recommended, longer than a domestic long distance move because of the additional paperwork, customs coordination, and cross-border carrier scheduling involved. The earlier your Move Manager can start planning, the more time there is to get your documentation in order and lock in realistic delivery dates. Reach out as early as possible, even if your exact dates aren’t confirmed yet.
Can I bring my car when moving from Canada to the USA?
Yes but your vehicle goes through a completely separate process from your household shipment. Cars are imported through US Customs, the Department of Transportation, and the EPA not through your moving carrier. Most Canadian-market vehicles qualify for duty-free entry under CUSMA, but eligibility is confirmed per vehicle. Ask about coordinating vehicle shipping alongside your household move when you book your estimate.
Is it worth hiring a moving company for a cross-border move, or should I do it myself?
A cross-border move involves customs documentation, certified scale weighing, carrier coordination across two countries, and immigration paperwork. All of which have to be right before your shipment crosses. The risk of doing it yourself isn’t the truck or the packing. It’s the customs and documentation side. A single error can delay your shipment at the border or trigger additional costs. Working with a cross-border moving company that handles this regularly means the paperwork is done correctly the first time.
Ready to Plan Your Move to the USA?
A Canada-to-US move has more moving parts than a domestic relocation. The earlier the planning starts, the smoother every part of it goes. Your Move Manager works through your documentation, your timeline, your customs requirements, and delivery on both sides of the border before anything is booked or loaded.
It starts with a proper assessment and an accurate estimate.