International removals from West London to the USA
The USA move splits neatly by coast. An East Coast shipment — New York, Boston, Washington — is the shorter Atlantic crossing and the one we run most from West London. A West Coast delivery to California or the Pacific Northwest either sails round through the Panama Canal or lands East and travels inland by rail, and the routing changes the plan.
Sea freight
Container to the East Coast, or on to the West Coast and inland by rail and road.
Air freight
A quick allowance for essentials while the container crosses the Atlantic.
Storage in between
Not ready at the far end? We can hold your things in secure storage at our West London base and ship when the timing works.
Most of the people we pack in Acton and Chiswick for the States are moving for work — a company transfer, a university post, a tech job — and they want the same thing: the flat cleared cleanly here, and a shipment that clears US customs without their container sitting in a bonded warehouse racking up storage.
The paperwork that actually matters: ISF and customs
The one that trips people up is the ISF — the Importer Security Filing, sometimes called "10+2" — which US Customs and Border Protection wants filed before the ship leaves the UK, not when it arrives. Miss it and you risk a penalty and a delay. We prepare the filing and the customs entry as part of the move, working with a US customs broker at the destination.
For used household effects you have owned and used, US customs is generally straightforward — duty-free entry under the returning-resident and household-goods provisions. New items, and anything bought for resale, are a different story. As ever, an honest inventory keeps the whole thing moving.
- ISF (10+2) filed before the vessel sails — we handle it
- Customs entry via a US broker at your destination port
- Used personal effects generally clear duty-free
- Alcohol, firearms and certain foods flagged before loading
East Coast, West Coast, and inland
We collect across west London, consolidate at Acton, and sail from a UK port to a US entry point. For the East Coast that is typically the ports serving New York and New Jersey. For California and the West Coast, the shipment either transits the Panama Canal or lands East and runs across the country by rail — which is why a Los Angeles or Seattle move needs more lead time than a New York one.
Inland cities — Chicago, Austin, Denver — are reached by road or rail from the arrival port. Tell us the actual delivery address early; a brownstone in Brooklyn and a house in the Bay Area are very different logistics from the same Acton loading day.
Packing for the Atlantic
The Atlantic is kinder than the run to Australia, but a container still gets handled hard at both ends. We export-wrap furniture, flat-pack what sensibly comes apart, and box books and glass in proper cartons. If you are moving into a walk-up apartment with no lift — common in older parts of New York and Boston — we plan the delivery access at the far end so your sofa is not stuck on a stairwell.
We collect right across west London — Acton, Chiswick, Ealing, Shepherd’s Bush and out to Brentford — as well as the wider west, south-west and north-west London catchment. Everything is packed and consolidated at our Acton base before it leaves the country.
Moving from West London to USA
What is the ISF and do I need to worry about it?
The Importer Security Filing (10+2) is a US customs requirement filed before your shipment leaves the UK. It is not optional and late filings risk penalties. You do not need to worry about it because we prepare and file it as part of your move, alongside the customs entry through a US broker.
Is a West Coast move different from an East Coast one?
Yes. An East Coast delivery is the direct Atlantic crossing. A West Coast one sails through the Panama Canal or lands on the East Coast and travels inland by rail, so it needs more lead time. Tell us the destination city early and we plan the routing around it.
Will I pay duty on my belongings?
Used household goods that you have owned and used generally enter the US duty-free under the household-effects provisions. New items bought for the move, or anything for resale, can be dutiable — so keep receipts for genuinely new purchases and let us know.
Can you handle a part-load rather than a full container?
Yes. A one- or two-bed flat rarely fills a container, so your goods share one with other consignments on the same route. A full house usually justifies sole use. We will tell you honestly which suits your volume.
Do you deliver to inland cities, not just the ports?
We do. Chicago, Austin, Denver and the rest are reached by road or rail from the arrival port. The delivery address shapes the plan, so give us the full destination when we scope the move rather than just the state.
Other destinations we run from West London
Get a quote for your move to USA
Tell us what you’re moving and where from and to. We’ll come back with a written quote and the paperwork it needs — no obligation.