Relocating from the United Kingdom to the United States is one of the busiest long-haul corridors in the world, yet it is also one of the most paperwork-heavy since Brexit put a full customs border between Great Britain and everywhere else. This guide walks through the British export side (GOV.UK/HMRC), realistic sea and air routes from Southampton, Felixstowe and London Gateway, UK pet export, and then the US import requirements enforced by CBP, CDC and USDA. Rules change often, so treat every figure below as a starting point and confirm with the linked official source before you ship.

Key takeaways

• To live in the US permanently you need an immigrant visa (green card) issued through consular processing at a US consulate; a visa still does not guarantee entry — CBP admits you at the border (USCIS, travel.state.gov).
• Since Brexit, moving goods permanently out of Great Britain is a formal export; check rules, restrictions and paperwork with GOV.UK — your remover normally files the declaration for you.
• Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief is a UK import relief for people moving into Britain — it does not apply when you leave. Your duty relief happens on the US side (GOV.UK ToR).
• Used household effects owned and used abroad for at least one year enter the US duty-free under tariff heading 9804.00.05, declared on CBP Form 3299 (19 CFR 148.52, CBP).
• Ocean shipments require an Importer Security Filing (ISF "10+2") at least 24 hours before loading in the UK (CBP ISF FAQ).
• Bringing a dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt; because the UK is a rabies low-risk country the rules are lighter, but you still need a UK export health certificate to leave (CDC, GOV.UK).
• Carrying more than US$10,000 in cash or monetary instruments must be reported to CBP on FinCEN Form 105 (CBP).

1. Get the right US visa first

You cannot simply move to the US the way you might have moved within the EU. Permanent relocation requires an immigrant visa — most commonly employment-based (EB categories) or family-based (for example the IR1/CR1 spouse visa) — processed through a US consulate under consular processing. Once your petition is approved and a visa number is available, you interview in London, and when a CBP officer admits you, you become a Lawful Permanent Resident; your green card (Form I-551) is mailed after you pay the USCIS immigrant fee (USCIS).

Your visa or green-card status matters for your shipment too: CBP grants duty-free entry of household effects to people arriving to take up residence, so your immigration category and the timing of your arrival directly affect how your goods clear.

2. The UK export side: what Brexit changed

Before 2021, moving household goods to a non-EU country was routine for British removers; that has not changed for the US, which was always outside the EU. What has changed is that Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) is now a third country, so your possessions leave under a formal export process. GOV.UK‘s export checker sets out the steps: check restrictions, keep commercial invoices and customs paperwork, and file an export declaration through the Customs Declaration Service. Commercial exporters need a GB EORI number; for a household move your international remover almost always acts as your agent and handles the declaration under their own EORI, so most private movers never touch the CDS themselves.

A few UK-specific points worth knowing:

• No VAT refund on your own used goods. You already paid UK VAT when you bought your furniture and it is not reclaimable on export as personal effects. The old VAT Retail Export Scheme that let departing travellers reclaim VAT was withdrawn in Great Britain in January 2021, so do not budget for a refund.
• Restricted and controlled items. Firearms, certain foods, plants, and some electronics/technology can require export licences or are prohibited; check the GOV.UK export rules before packing, then re-check the US import rules because the two lists differ.
• Keep everything. Retain your inventory, bill of lading, and the CBP entry paperwork after the move; both HMRC and US CBP (and your insurer) can ask for it later.

Northern Ireland movers should note that NI follows different customs arrangements from GB; confirm your specific position with your remover.

3. Ports, routes and realistic transit times

Almost all UK-to-US household goods move by sea in a shared or dedicated container. The three container gateways you will see on your paperwork are:

• Southampton — a dominant deep-sea container port for the US trades.
• Felixstowe — the UK’s largest container port, with heavy transatlantic schedules.
• London Gateway — a modern deep-water terminal on the Thames.

Realistic ocean transit, port to port (not door to door) — these are industry estimates, not fixed schedules, so confirm the actual sailing with your carrier:

• US East Coast (New York/New Jersey, Norfolk, Savannah, Charleston): roughly 2–3 weeks sailing.
• US Gulf (Houston): around 3–4 weeks.
• US West Coast (Los Angeles/Long Beach): typically 5–6 weeks, routed via the Panama Canal or by a US land leg from an East Coast port.

Add one to two weeks each side for collection, container loading, US customs clearance and final delivery — so door to door commonly runs 6–10 weeks. Air freight is the fast alternative for a small consignment (a few days plus clearance) but costs several times more; most people air-ship one or two boxes of essentials and send the rest by sea.

4. Clearing US customs: Form 3299 and duty-free relief

On the US side, CBP allows duty-free entry of used household effects — furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, books and usual household furnishings — that were actually used abroad for not less than one year by you or your family. The year need not be continuous or immediately before importation (19 CFR 148.52). You claim this relief by filing CBP Form 3299, "Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles," and providing a packing inventory (CBP).

Important distinctions that catch British movers out:

• "Personal effects" are treated differently from "household effects." CBP guidance notes that clothing, jewellery, photographic equipment and electronics are personal effects; brand-new items (owned under a year) may be dutiable.
• Alcohol and tobacco are not household effects and are subject to duty, federal/state rules and quantity limits — declare them separately.
• Vehicles face separate EPA and DOT rules; importing a UK car is a specialist project of its own.

For ocean shipments, your US customs broker or remover must lodge the Importer Security Filing (ISF "10+2") with CBP at least 24 hours before the container is loaded in the UK. Late or inaccurate filings can draw liquidated damages of up to US$5,000 per violation (CBP ISF FAQ).

5. Taking your pet from the UK to the US

Because the UK is classified as a rabies-free / low-risk country, US entry for dogs is comparatively straightforward in 2026. Under current CDC rules a dog must appear healthy, have a microchip, be at least 6 months old, and travel with a completed CDC Dog Import Form receipt (submitted online, printed or shown on your phone). Dogs that have only been in low-risk or rabies-free countries in the previous six months do not need the CDC’s foreign rabies-vaccination certification that high-risk-country dogs require (CDC FAQs).

On the UK export side, you cannot simply leave: you need to prepare the animal correctly and obtain an export health certificate (EHC) for the destination country. GOV.UK confirms you must microchip your pet before or at the same time as its rabies vaccination, that the pet must be vaccinated against rabies, and that a GB pet passport is not valid for non-EU travel — you get the relevant EHC and complete the export application (EXA) form through an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian (GOV.UK — non-EU pet travel, GOV.UK — get an export health certificate). Note the terminology: the Animal Health Certificate (AHC) you may have read about is for EU and Northern Ireland travel only — the USA requires an EHC, not an AHC. Cats are simpler but still need proof of health and vaccination. Always confirm the current airline and CDC position close to travel, as dog-import rules have been tightened repeatedly.

6. Money, tax and the practical checklist

• Cash reporting: Report more than US$10,000 (per family/group, not per person) on FinCEN Form 105 when entering or leaving the US; failure to report can lead to seizure of the entire sum (CBP).
• Tax: Becoming a US resident makes you liable to US (and often state) tax on worldwide income; the UK–US tax treaty and split-year treatment matter. This guide is not tax advice — speak to a cross-border adviser and confirm with HMRC and the IRS.
• Before the container sails: finalise your visa, book a surveyed removal, list which items are under a year old, separate alcohol/tobacco, and confirm ISF data with your agent.

How Flyto handles your UK to USA move

Flyto runs the UK-to-USA corridor as a single door-to-door PLATINUM service — the only tier we offer on overseas relocations, because an intercontinental move has too many moving parts to leave half-managed. One coordinator owns the whole chain: a surveyed packing day at your UK address, export handling out of Southampton, Felixstowe or London Gateway, the ISF and CBP Form 3299 filing on the US side, and delivery, unpacking and debris removal at your new US home. We manage the pet paperwork end to end — UK export health certificate through to the CDC Dog Import Form — and flag the items (new purchases, alcohol, vehicles) that need special treatment before they become a problem at the border. You get one point of contact, one quote, and a realistic timeline for your specific coast. See our USA moving hub and the main [pillar guide] for how the service is priced.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay duty on my used furniture entering the US?
Generally no — household effects owned and used abroad for at least a year enter duty-free on CBP Form 3299 under heading 9804.00.05. Items owned under a year, alcohol, tobacco and vehicles are treated separately (19 CFR 148.52).

Does UK Transfer of Residence relief help me when moving to the US?
No. ToR is a UK import relief for people moving into Britain. Leaving the UK, your duty relief is on the US side via CBP (GOV.UK).

How long does shipping take?
Port to port, roughly 2–3 weeks to the US East Coast and 5–6 weeks to the West Coast; door to door commonly 6–10 weeks including packing and clearance. These are estimates — confirm the actual sailing with your carrier.

Can I reclaim UK VAT on my belongings when I leave?
No. VAT on goods you already own and have used is not refundable, and the GB Retail Export Scheme for departing travellers ended in January 2021.

What does my dog need to enter the US in 2026?
A microchip, healthy appearance, minimum age six months, and a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. As a low-risk country, UK dogs avoid the extra rabies certification, but you still need a UK export health certificate to depart (CDC, GOV.UK).

How much cash can I bring?
Any amount, but you must report more than US$10,000 on FinCEN Form 105 in either direction (CBP).

Do I have to file the export declaration myself?
Usually not — your international remover files it as your agent under their GB EORI. Keep the paperwork they give you (GOV.UK).

Freshness note: immigration, customs and pet-import rules change frequently. Verify every figure with the linked official source before you ship.

Sources

• GOV.UK — Check duties and customs procedures for exporting goods
• GOV.UK — Moving personal belongings to the UK (Transfer of Residence)
• GOV.UK — Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
• GOV.UK — Taking your pet to a non-EU country
• GOV.UK — Get an export health certificate
• CBP — Moving used household goods and personal effects into the US
• 19 CFR 148.52 — Free entry of household effects
• CBP — Importer Security Filing (ISF "10+2") FAQ
• CBP — Money and other monetary instruments (FinCEN 105)
• CDC — Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations
• CDC — Dog Import Form and Instructions
• USDA APHIS — Pet travel from the US to the UK/Great Britain
• USCIS — Consular Processing (green card)
• travel.state.gov — Employment-Based Immigrant Visas

Quality report

• Verdict: Ship. All 11 substantive YMYL claims verified against primary/official sources (eCFR/CBP for 9804.00.05, Form 3299 and the one-year-used rule; CBP for ISF 24-hour filing and US$5,000/violation; CDC FAQ for 2026 dog rules and the low-risk-country exemption; CBP/FinCEN for the US$10,000 report; HMRC for the Jan 2021 GB Retail Export Scheme withdrawal; USCIS/State for consular processing).
• Flagged issue fixed (was: minor sourcing mismatch). The pet section previously cited the GOV.UK "Getting an animal health certificate" page — the AHC is the EU/Northern-Ireland-only document and is not the certificate required for the USA. Replaced with the GOV.UK non-EU pet travel page and the "Get an export health certificate" guidance, corrected "EXA1" to "export application (EXA) form," and added a one-line clarification that the AHC is EU/NI-only while the USA needs an EHC. Sources list and the dog FAQ link updated to match.
• No invented forms/URLs. Every form named (CBP 3299, FinCEN 105, ISF 10+2, CDC Dog Import Form, UK EHC/EXA, I-551) maps to a real, linked authority. No fabricated URLs remain.
• Hedging preserved on non-facts. Transit-time ranges are explicitly labelled industry estimates ("confirm the actual sailing with your carrier"), not presented as hard figures.
• UK-specific depth retained. GB third-country export process, CDS/EORI-via-agent reality, GB VAT Retail Export Scheme withdrawal, GB pet passport invalidity for non-EU, and the NI customs caveat keep it a genuine UK-origin guide, not a generic template.
• One editorial placeholder left as-is by design: [pillar guide] and /usa/ are internal-link slots for the Flyto CMS, not external facts to verify.