What should you bring with you and what is better left behind? Globus Relocation experts are sharing their recommendations to make your relocation to the US as easy as possible.

You’ve found a place to live in the US, you’ve checked that there are kindergartens or schools in the area, you’ve made sure there is electricity and water in the apartment – everything is almost ready. Just before the actual relocation and before you start packing your belongings, it’s good to go over the list of items that are recommended to bring with you, and the ones better left behind, in order to make the relocation as smooth as possible.

What should you take with you?

Cleaning accessories – it is hard to find hangers for laundry in the US, so its better to bring them from Israel. It is also recommended to bring floor wipers, broom heads and floor rags.

Medication for chronic illnesses – it is not recommended to send drugs to the baggage cabin where it can be exposed to high temperatures and get damaged. Take the drugs in the personal bag to the flight cabin, with doctor’s prescription in English indicating their use and purpose.

What’s better left behind?
Materials subject to copyrights – in the US there are very strict regulations concerning copyrights. Avoid carrying pirate CDs with movies, music and software programs. Copying and distribution of copyrighted material without permission can have severe consequences, as defined by Copyright Law of the United States – up to 500,000 dollars fines and 5 years of imprisonment.

All kinds of consumables and foods – from cat food to spices, you can’t bring any kind of food to the US, unless you have a signed approval from the FDA – the Food and Drug administration. In case you’re carrying food without approval of the FDA during the customs check, it can lead to a delay that can last for months, until the approval is shown (meanwhile you will pay for the storage of the product). Without this approval, the package will be taken away and destroyed – a procedure that can cost thousands of dollars.

Unprocessed wood – it is forbidden to enter the US with furniture made of unprocessed wood, due to a concern regarding pests that can be found inside the wood and lead to ecological imbalance. This is a very strict regulation, so even all the wooden pallets and boxes used for your baggage should meet the required standard to verify their condition.

Ready to go? If you’re relocating to the US and you’re not an American citizen, it is important to make sure that you reach your destination point before or during the arrival of your cargo, because the process of customs release begins only after you arrival.