Looking for advise on shipping personal items from the US to Germany
u/2HourHockeyGamesr/expatsJan 9, 2026
I used a freight service. Was about $2500 door to door for around 30 boxes + some furniture.
Use suitcases as your default and ship only overflow; use Boston’s housing services and MassHire for your searches, but work only if your immigration status authorizes it.
“My partner and I are moving from Ireland to Boston for 18-24 months. Since our only real belongings are clothes, books, electronics, and bedding, is it recommended to just use suitcases, or should we look into shipping? Also, what agencies help with finding housing and jobs?”
Summary
Your packing list makes this manageable: goods traveling with you avoid the separate Form 3299 process, and Boston and Massachusetts have clear official starting points for housing and job searches. The one issue to settle before acting on a job is each person’s work authorization.
You have two workable transport options, but accompanied suitcases are the simpler default for the small amount you described.
Bring accompanied suitcasesrecommended
Pack the clothes, books, and bedding in checked bags and keep small electronics with you. CBP says, “No form is needed if you plan to travel with your goods,” while FAA rules require spare lithium batteries and power banks in carry-on baggage (CBP Article 1392; FAA PackSafe).
Ship only the overflowonly overflow
Use this route only for items that do not fit within a sensible baggage plan. Separately shipped goods use , the “Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles”; the form warns that some articles may face duties or other requirements and must be declared (CBP Form 3299).
Do not assume shipping is cheaper: compare the complete shipping quote with the baggage allowance and excess-bag charges attached to your actual tickets.
Read the full explanationHide the full explanation
Watch out for
ESTA is not a moving visaIreland participates in the , but it permits tourism or business visits of no more than 90 days and lists employment as prohibited. It cannot cover an 18–24 month stay or a US job (State Department Visa Waiver Program).
Job help is not work permissionMassHire can help you search, train, and meet employers, but each of you must separately have . If your status requires an , the usual request is Form I-765; if your status authorizes work incident to status, an EAD may not be needed; if your status does not authorize employment, you cannot start work (USCIS Employment Authorization Document).
Keep spare batteries in the cabinSpare lithium batteries, power banks, and charging cases must be in carry-on baggage, with terminals protected against short circuits. Batteries over 100 Wh require special attention: 101–160 Wh needs airline approval, and airlines may impose stricter limits (FAA PackSafe).
Affordable housing is not immediate housing lists income-restricted housing, not market-rate, subsidized, or public housing. Boston Housing Authority also warns that it has no immediate housing, waits can take years, and its tenant-based Section 8 list is closed (Boston Metrolist; BHA Eligibility).
The broker-fee rule changedSince August 1, 2025, the person who hired the rental broker must pay the fee. You can be charged only when you choose a broker who works exclusively for you, and the broker must first give you a fee-disclosure form (Massachusetts Residential Rental Broker’s Fees FAQ).
Next steps
Follow these steps in order so your immigration permission, transport, housing, and job search do not conflict.
Before committing to the move
Confirm each person’s stay and work category
Do not use ESTA/VWP as the basis for this move: it allows visits of no more than 90 days and prohibits employment. For each person, apply the correct branch: a Green Card or qualifying employer-specific status may authorize work without an EAD; a category requiring an EAD generally uses Form I-765 at https://www.uscis.gov/i-765; a visitor or other non-work-authorized status does not permit employment. Your categories were not supplied, so no single I-765 fee or filing route can be stated (State Department Visa Waiver Program; USCIS Employment Authorization Document).
Requirements
Each person’s passport and visa or status approval
Each person’s employment-authorization evidence, if seeking work
Before buying shipping service
Price accompanied bags before shipping
Use accompanied suitcases as the baseline because CBP says no Form 3299 is needed when the goods travel with you. Compare only the overflow: if shipping is preferable, complete CBP Form 3299 for the unaccompanied articles and declare items subject to additional requirements. The exact cheaper choice remains unresolved until your fare and quote are known (CBP Article 1392; CBP Form 3299).
Requirements
A list of the items each person will bring
Weights and dimensions of the packed bags
The baggage allowance and charges attached to the booked fare
One complete door-to-door shipping quote for any overflow
Before airport check-in
Pack electronics under the battery rules
Place power banks, charging cases, and all spare lithium batteries in carry-on baggage. Protect terminals against short circuits; ordinary rechargeable batteries are limited to 100 Wh, while up to two 101–160 Wh spares require airline approval. Remove these items if your cabin bag is checked at the gate (FAA PackSafe).
Requirements
Battery watt-hour ratings
Protection for exposed spare-battery terminals
Before signing or paying
Start with Boston’s housing offices
Call the Boston Office of Housing Stability at 617-635-4200 or visit 26 Court Street, Boston, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For income-restricted opportunities, search https://www.boston.gov/metrolist/search; does not contain market-rate, public, or subsidized units. Do not rely on BHA for immediate placement: it reports no immediate housing, waits that can take years, and a closed tenant-based Section 8 list (Boston OHS; Boston Metrolist; BHA Eligibility).
Requirements
Expected household income if applying for income-restricted housing
Household size
Target move-in date and monthly budget
Once the work branch is clear
Create MassHire JobQuest profiles
Create a profile through https://www.mass.gov/find-your-next-job-with-masshire-jobquest to search jobs, workshops, training, and hiring events. In person, use MassHire Boston ABCD Career Center, 10 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury, 617-442-2791, Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; or MassHire Downtown Boston, 75 Federal Street, 3rd Floor, 617-399-3100, Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (MassHire JobQuest; MassHire Career Center Locations).
Requirements
A MyMassGov account for each job seeker
A résumé and work history
Valid work authorization before starting employment
Before engaging a rental broker
Protect yourself from the wrong broker fee
The person who hired the broker pays the fee. If the landlord hired the broker, you should not pay it; you may owe a fee only when you choose a broker who works exclusively for you. The broker must provide a fee-disclosure form before engaging with you. Improper charges can be reported to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division online at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint or by calling 617-727-8400 (Massachusetts Residential Rental Broker’s Fees FAQ).
Requirements
The broker’s written fee-disclosure form, if you hire one
A record of who engaged the broker
Others who faced this
You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.
Luggless Shipping Question
u/gr8fuldavemdr/movingApr 21, 2026
I tried Lugless after a friend recommended it… but honestly, never again.
They just ship your luggage through FedEx and charge you way more for it. I even paid for the “premium assistance” thinking I’d get solid support if anything went wrong. Well, FedEx lost my suitcase.
Moving from US to Denmark My Experience
u/thelasttimeladyr/expatsAug 17, 2026
Packed one large suitcase each of clothes and necessities. I honestly don't feel like we needed anything more than this.
136 View on Reddit
Legal sources
The answer is based on current guidance from CBP, FAA, USCIS, the State Department, Massachusetts, the City of Boston, and Boston Housing Authority.
CBP Article 1392
CBP says a special household-goods form is not needed when the goods travel with you.
CBP Article 1392
No form is needed if you plan to travel with your goods.
CBP Form 3299 (05/24)
This is CBP’s declaration for separately shipped personal or household effects, and it warns that some goods face additional requirements.
CBP Form 3299 (05/24)
Parts I and IV
DECLARATION FOR FREE ENTRY OF UNACCOMPANIED ARTICLES Certain articles may be subject to duty and/or other requirements and must be specifically declared herein.
FAA PackSafe – Lithium Batteries
Power banks and other spare lithium batteries belong in carry-on baggage, not checked baggage.
FAA PackSafe – Lithium Batteries
Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuit.
Boston Office of Housing Stability
Boston’s Office of Housing Stability is an official first contact for housing help.
Boston Office of Housing Stability
We help residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing.
Boston Metrolist
Metrolist is for income-restricted opportunities and expressly excludes market-rate units.
Boston Metrolist
Metrolist is Boston's primary resource to find income-restricted housing in Boston and the Greater Boston area. Metrolist does not list: Market rate units, even if intended for voucher holders
MassHire JobQuest
MassHire JobQuest provides job matching, job listings, training, workshops, and hiring events.
MassHire JobQuest
You can use MassHire JobQuest to: Build a jobseeker profile that helps match your skills with open roles Browse thousands of open jobs across the state Sign up for and attend trainings, workshops, and hiring events
MassHire Career Center Locations
Massachusetts identifies two Boston career centers that serve job seekers in person.
MassHire Career Center Locations
MassHire Boston ABCD Career Center
The MassHire Boston ABCD Career Centers that provide job search assistance help people meet their training and employment goals.
State Department Visa Waiver Program
Irish VWP eligibility does not permit an 18–24 month stay or employment.
State Department Visa Waiver Program
Travel Purposes Not Permitted
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Travel Purposes Not Permitted on Visa Waiver Program – Examples: employment
USCIS Employment Authorization Document
USCIS explains that every worker must be authorized and that Form I-765 is generally used to request an EAD.
USCIS Employment Authorization Document
U.S. employers must ensure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work in the United States. To request an EAD, you generally must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
Massachusetts Residential Rental Broker’s Fees FAQ
Massachusetts now assigns a rental broker’s fee to the person who hired the broker.
Massachusetts Residential Rental Broker’s Fees FAQ
As of August 1, 2025, broker’s fees for rental units must be paid by the person who hired the broker or salesperson. A broker or salesperson can charge a tenant for their services only if the tenant chooses to engage them and they work exclusively on the tenant’s behalf in negotiations with a prospective landlord. This law becomes effective August 1, 2025.
BHA Program Eligibility
BHA public or subsidized housing is not a quick substitute for an ordinary Boston apartment search.
BHA Program Eligibility
It is difficult to predict the time between applying and receiving a housing offer – it can sometimes take years. BHA has no immediate housing available. Be advised: The waiting list for the Section 8 tenant-based voucher is closed.
These are the official rules and services as published on the cited dates; immigration, baggage, and housing rules can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice; SettleKit is not a law firm.
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