Relocating from Europe to the United States pulls together three separate systems that rarely talk to each other: immigration (your right to live there), customs (your belongings, pets and money crossing the border), and settling-in admin (Social Security, banking and tax). This is the hub guide that maps the whole journey end to end and links down to the deeper cluster guides on each stage. Every figure, form name and rule below is drawn from an official government source — US CBP, USCIS, the US State Department, CDC, USDA/APHIS, IRS, FinCEN, SSA or the EU — and linked inline so you can verify the detail that applies to you.

Freshness note: US and EU rules change frequently. Confirm the specific figure, form version or fee that applies to your case on the official page linked before you ship or fly.

Key takeaways

• You need an immigrant visa or another status that permits residence — the Visa Waiver Program/ESTA is explicitly for temporary visits of up to 90 days and cannot be used to immigrate, live or work in the US.
• Used household goods you have owned and used can generally enter duty-free using CBP Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles.
• You must report carrying more than USD 10,000 in cash or monetary instruments into or out of the US on FinCEN Form 105 — failure means seizure and penalties.
• Since 1 August 2024, every dog entering the US must be at least six months old, microchipped, appear healthy and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
• Meat, fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds and soil must be declared to CBP and are subject to USDA inspection; undeclared items are confiscated and can trigger civil penalties.
• Once you become a US tax resident under the IRS substantial presence test, you are taxed on worldwide income and may owe an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) on foreign accounts.
• Moving back to Europe? EU Regulation 1186/2009 grants transfer-of-residence duty relief on personal property if you move your normal residence to the EU and import within 12 months.

1. Your right to live there: visas and status

The single rule that catches Europeans off guard is that the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) — which lets most EU passport holders visit for tourism or business — is not a route to living in the US. It permits stays of up to 90 days per visit, cannot be extended, and is invalid if your intent is to immigrate, live permanently or work, per US Department of Homeland Security and the US State Department.

To relocate, you need either a non-immigrant work visa (H-1B, L-1 intra-company transfer, O-1, or the E-1/E-2 treaty categories many EU nationals qualify for) or an immigrant visa / green card. Family-based petitions begin on Form I-130 and employment-based on Form I-140; immediate relatives of US citizens are uncapped, while preference categories are subject to annual and per-country limits published monthly in the State Department Visa Bulletin. Start here at USCIS Green Card.

A 2026 change is worth flagging. In May 2026, USCIS issued policy memorandum PM-602-0199 reaffirming that adjustment of status (switching to permanent residence from inside the US on Form I-485) is a discretionary benefit to be treated as an extraordinary form of relief, and signalling heightened discretionary scrutiny — see the USCIS Policy Manual. The memo does not create a new eligibility bar, and adjustment of status remains available to many eligible applicants; but because officers retain broad discretion, some temporary-visa holders now weigh consular processing at a US embassy in Europe rather than assuming they can switch status after arrival. See the deeper https://flytorelocation.com/usa/ visa cluster guide before committing to a category — the choice determines your timeline, your family’s status and your tax exposure.

2. How your belongings travel: sea vs air

International moves cross by sea freight (the default for a full household) or air freight (fast, far more expensive, used for the few boxes you need immediately). A standard container move from Northern Europe to a US east-coast port typically takes several weeks door to door once packing, sailing, US customs clearance and inland delivery are added; a west-coast destination adds transit time. Air freight compresses that to days but costs multiples per cubic metre.

The practical decision is volume-driven: sea for the bulk, a small air shipment for essentials. What matters legally is that both arrive as unaccompanied articles — they are not in your hand luggage when you land — which is exactly what CBP Form 3299 (Section 3 below) is designed to cover. The deeper https://flytorelocation.com/usa/ freight cluster guide breaks down container types, cost per m³ and the sea-versus-air trade-off for each European corridor.

3. US customs clearance: CBP Form 3299

Your used personal and household effects can enter the United States free of duty provided they are genuinely used, were owned and used by you, and are not intended for sale. Because they arrive separately from you, the claim is made in writing on CBP Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles — the current information collection was re-authorised by CBP in the Federal Register in late 2025. Part I is completed by everyone claiming free entry; Part II covers unaccompanied articles specifically. The form operates under the customs regulations at 19 CFR Part 148.

New items, or goods bought specifically for the move, may be dutiable, so pack and inventory used and new items separately. In practice your mover or customs broker prepares Form 3299, your passport and visa, a detailed valued inventory, and a copy of your entry document, then presents them to CBP at the port of arrival. The https://flytorelocation.com/usa/ customs cluster guide walks the form field by field.

4. Prohibited and restricted items

Some things simply cannot travel with a household shipment, and others must be declared. CBP’s Prohibited and Restricted Items list covers the obvious (weapons, certain drugs) and the less obvious. The biggest trap for movers is agriculture: all travellers and shipments must declare meats, fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals and plant/animal products, because they can carry pests and foreign animal diseases. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) decides what is admissible and CBP enforces it at the border; undeclared prohibited agricultural items are confiscated and can result in a civil penalty. Empty the garden shed, the spice rack and the houseplants before packing.

5. Bringing pets

Rules for dogs changed materially on 1 August 2024. Per the CDC and its rule announcement, every dog entering the US must now appear healthy on arrival, be at least six months old, be microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt. Dogs that have only been in rabies-free or low-risk countries in the previous six months — which includes most of Western Europe — face lighter documentation and the receipt can be completed the day of travel; the receipt is valid for six months and multiple entries. Dogs coming from high-risk rabies countries face stricter proof of vaccination. Cats are not subject to the CDC dog rule but are still inspected; other species (birds, reptiles) may need USDA APHIS permits. Check the current CDC and APHIS pages before booking your pet’s flight — this is one of the most frequently updated areas.

6. Declaring money: the USD 10,000 rule

There is no limit on how much money you may bring, but you must report it. Anyone carrying more than USD 10,000 in currency or monetary instruments into or out of the United States must file a report, per the CBP currency guidance and USAGov. "Monetary instruments" is broad — coins, banknotes, traveller’s cheques and certain bearer instruments such as cashier’s cheques all count, and the threshold applies to the combined amount for a family travelling together. You declare it on the CBP Form 6059B customs declaration and file a FinCEN Form 105. Failure to declare can mean seizure of the entire sum and criminal penalties, so most movers transfer funds by bank rather than carry cash.

7. Importing a vehicle (usually don’t)

Bringing a car is rarely worth it, and two separate agencies set two different age thresholds — do not conflate them. For safety, a vehicle must comply with all US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), enforced by DOT/NHTSA, unless it is at least 25 years old, when it becomes exempt. For emissions, the EPA separately exempts a vehicle only once it is at least 21 years old and still has its original manufacturer engine (a swapped engine can void the exemption). A vehicle 21–24 years old is therefore past the EPA emissions cutoff but still subject to full FMVSS safety compliance. Permanent imports are declared on the EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7. Because almost every European-market car in daily use is well under 21 years old, it must meet both FMVSS and EPA standards in full — typically via expensive modification through a Registered Importer — and most do not conform. A non-resident may temporarily import a personal vehicle for up to one year without meeting emissions/safety standards, but it may not be sold and must be exported at the end of the year. For a permanent move, selling in Europe and buying locally is almost always cheaper.

8. Settling in: SSN, banking and tax

Once you land, three pieces of admin unlock everything else.

Social Security number. Apply on Form SS-5 — first-time applicants must apply in person at a Social Security office, and the SSA advises noncitizens to wait about ten days after arrival so DHS records can be verified. Bring your passport, visa and I-94.

Banking. US banks generally require proof of identity and a US address; many accept a passport plus visa initially, with the SSN added once issued.

Tax. This is the big one for Europeans. You become a US resident for tax purposes if you meet the IRS substantial presence test — broadly, present at least 31 days this year and 183 days across a weighted three-year formula. From that point you report worldwide income on Form 1040, not just US earnings, and you may have to file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if your foreign accounts exceeded USD 10,000 at any point in the year, plus FATCA reporting on Form 8938. Because this creates dual-filing obligations with your home country, take cross-border tax advice before you move. See the https://flytorelocation.com/usa/ settling-in cluster guide.

9. A realistic timeline and checklist

• 6–12 months out: confirm your visa category and file the petition; this is the long pole. Start decluttering.
• 3–4 months out: obtain quotes and book your mover; decide sea vs air split.
• 6–8 weeks out: sort pets (CDC/APHIS), medical records, school records, and arrange bank transfers rather than carrying cash.
• 2–4 weeks out: packing and inventory; prepare CBP Form 3299 documentation with your mover.
• On arrival: clear CBP, declare agriculture and money as required.
• First 2 weeks in the US: apply for your SSN, open a bank account, register for utilities.

10. Moving back from the USA to Europe

The return leg has its own relief. Under EU Regulation 1186/2009, personal property imported by a person transferring their normal place of residence from a third country (the US) into the EU is admitted free of import duties, provided you have owned and used the goods, import them within 12 months of establishing residence, and do not sell or lend them for a further 12 months. Each member state administers this "transfer of residence" relief through its own customs authority (see the European Commission duty-relief overview); the UK runs a parallel Transfer of Residence (ToR) scheme through HMRC. You will typically need an inventory, proof of US residence and proof of the move. Confirm the exact evidence your destination country requires before shipping.

How Flyto handles this

Flyto runs USA relocations as a single door-to-door PLATINUM service — overseas moves are Platinum only. One team and one point of contact manage the whole chain: professional export packing and a valued inventory, all customs documentation (including CBP Form 3299), sea or air freight booking, US customs clearance, inland delivery and unpacking at your new home. Because we handle the paperwork end to end, the forms, declarations and timings in this guide are prepared correctly the first time. The service runs in both directions — to or from the USA — so the same team can manage your onward or return move under EU transfer-of-residence relief. See the https://flytorelocation.com/usa/ page for corridor detail and to request a Platinum quote.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move to the US on an ESTA/Visa Waiver?
No. The Visa Waiver Program and ESTA are for temporary visits of up to 90 days and cannot be used to live, work or immigrate. You need a work visa or immigrant visa/green card.

Will I pay duty on my furniture and personal effects?
Generally no. Used personal and household goods you have owned and used can enter duty-free on CBP Form 3299, provided they are not for resale. New items may be dutiable.

How much cash can I bring into the US?
Any amount, but you must report more than USD 10,000 in currency or monetary instruments on FinCEN Form 105 and your CBP 6059B declaration. Not reporting risks seizure and penalties.

What do I need to bring my dog?
Since 1 August 2024, dogs must be at least six months old, microchipped, appear healthy and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs from low-risk/rabies-free European countries have lighter requirements.

Sea freight or air freight?
Sea for the bulk of a household (cheaper, several weeks); air for the handful of items you need immediately (fast, much more expensive). Both clear US customs as unaccompanied articles on Form 3299.

When do I become liable for US tax on my worldwide income?
When you meet the IRS substantial presence test — roughly 183 days on a weighted three-year formula. From then you report worldwide income and may owe an FBAR on foreign accounts.

Can I bring food and plants from home?
Only with care. All meat, fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds and soil must be declared to CBP and inspected by USDA; many items are prohibited and undeclared ones are confiscated with possible penalties.

Can I import my European car?
Usually not worth it. Safety rules (FMVSS, DOT/NHTSA) only exempt vehicles 25+ years old, and EPA emissions rules only exempt vehicles 21+ years old with the original engine — so a modern European car must meet both standards in full, per the CBP importing-a-car guidance. Selling in Europe and rebuying locally is normally cheaper.

What about moving back to Europe later?
The EU grants transfer-of-residence duty relief on used personal property if you move your normal residence to the EU and import within 12 months, administered by each member state’s customs authority.

Sources

• US CBP — Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles (PDF)
• Federal Register — CBP Form 3299 information collection extension (2025)
• US CBP — Money / currency reporting (Know Before You Go)
• US CBP — Form 6059B Customs Declaration (PDF)
• USAGov — How much money can you bring into and out of the U.S.?
• US CBP — Prohibited and Restricted Items
• US CBP — Bringing agricultural items / food into the U.S.
• USDA APHIS
• CDC — Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
• CDC — Updated dog importation regulation (news release)
• US CBP — Importing a Motor Vehicle
• USCIS — Green Card
• USCIS — Policy Manual (adjustment of status, PM-602-0199)
• US State Department — Visa Bulletin
• US State Department — Visa Waiver Program
• US DHS — Visa Waiver Program
• SSA — Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card, PDF)
• SSA — Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens (PDF)
• IRS — Substantial Presence Test
• IRS — Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR / FinCEN 114)
• EUR-Lex — Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 (customs duty reliefs)
• European Commission — Duty relief overview