Chicago International Moving Company
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While moving internationally can be a complicated process, it is a very exciting new chapter in your life. However, if you lack the proper help, this experience can easily turn into a nightmare. That’s why it’s crucial to hire a reliable Chicago international moving company like Federal Companies. We’ll handle all the challenging details of the relocation so you can have peace of mind.
As the top Chicago international movers, we provide quality services for all of Chicago, all of Cook County, the entire Chicago Metropolitan area (Chicagoland), and the entire Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area.
As the top Chicago international movers, we provide quality services for all of Chicago, all of Cook County, the entire Chicago Metropolitan area (Chicagoland), and the entire Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area.
What Is a Chicago International Move?
As opposed to a regular relocation, there are several additional factors that go into making an international move successful. Our professional company has been an agent of Allied since 1913 and strives to provide the best international moving services in Chicago that are tailored to your individual needs. Below are some common terms you can expect to hear when you work with our movers:
- Customs: All of the imports and exports in the new country will be handled by customs officials.
- The origin agent: There will be a visualized survey for your international move completed by a local Chicago team of movers.
- The shipping line or carriers: Your belongings are shipped abroad to your new home by a large shipping vessel.
- Export/origin port: Your items will be taken to the port and put on the ship after being placed into the shipping container.
- The freight forwarder: The exporting and importing of your items and household goods will be handled by a local company.
- Consolidating warehouse: When your belongings don’t fill up a shipping container, this is when a consolidating warehouse is utilized. Your items may share space with others in a different unfilled shipping container.
- Destination agents: A destination agent is in charge of taxes, paperwork, and procedures to ensure everything goes smoothly during the transition.
- Destination port: Prior to being unloaded and cleared by customs, your items will have to go through a final inspection upon arrival in your new country.
There are several reasons why you might want to move overseas. Perhaps you desire a new culture, are looking to buy a house, or want to be closer to a family that lives abroad. Whatever your motive may be, working with our expert Chicago international movers will allow you to relax and focus your time on other important details.
How to Move Overseas With Federal Companies
As a full-service Chicago international shipping company, Federal Companies takes care of all the intricate logistics of your overseas transfer, saving you time and money. It will take approximately 3 to 6 weeks for your belongings to arrive at the new destination when moving internationally.
You can expect the following services when you work with the best Chicago international moving companies:
You can expect the following services when you work with the best Chicago international moving companies:
- Handling the customs, paperwork, and other relocation details for your Chicago international move
- Utilizing grade-A supplies, equipment, and boxes
- Professional packing of your belongings
- Unloading everything at your new home
- Loading all your household goods into a shipping container
- Transporting the container to port and ensuring it reaches your new country
- Shipping your vehicle to your new country if needed
- Optional storage at the origin and new country
- Appliances moving (discluding disconnecting and reconnecting)
- Furniture assembly
- Licensed and insured Van Line Agent
You can reach out to our customer service team for more information regarding our reliable Chicago international moving services.
How Much Does a Chicago International Move Cost?
Federal Companies is an agent of Allied and will safely service your move to international destinations. How much does the entire process cost? Well, there are several varying factors that go into the final price tag you receive on your international relocation– and that’s not to mention the visas, flight prices, and other aspects of the move.
Moving internationally can be done via air, truck, and ocean. While shipping by air can take less time, shipping your belongings overseas is the most economical and affordable option.
Here are the three main sizes of shipping containers:
Moving internationally can be done via air, truck, and ocean. While shipping by air can take less time, shipping your belongings overseas is the most economical and affordable option.
Here are the three main sizes of shipping containers:
- 20 feet long: This gives you 1,172 cubic feet of space (33.2 square meters)
- 40 feet long: You will have a volume of up to 2,120 cubic feet, which is equal to 60 square meters of space in a 40-foot-long container
- 40-foot high cube: If you’re shipping tall items, this option is ideal.
Whether or not you need a full or partial shipping crate is a major influence on the final cost you receive.
Full Container Load (FCL): Don’t want to share? The space in this shipping container is entirely for belongings and no one else’s. After shipment, customs are less likely to detain these types of crates.
Less than Container Load (LCL): While this option involves sharing space with other people, it is the most affordable option. This is ideal if you want to share money and don’t have so many items to transport.
Full Container Load (FCL): Don’t want to share? The space in this shipping container is entirely for belongings and no one else’s. After shipment, customs are less likely to detain these types of crates.
Less than Container Load (LCL): While this option involves sharing space with other people, it is the most affordable option. This is ideal if you want to share money and don’t have so many items to transport.
We’ll need to answer all of our moving-related questions so we can come up with an accurate international moving quote. In addition to the shipping container size, there are many other variables that influence your international moving cost, such as:
- The volume of your household items
- What country you’re moving to, and the distance from Chicago
- The time of year your journey takes place. Weekdays tend to be cheaper than weekends, and fall or winter months tend to be less expensive than the spring and summer months.
- How much your items weigh
- Insurance
- Fees from paperwork and documents
- Customs clearance
- Optional storage in the U.S. and your new country
- Packing and unpacking services
- The cost to ship your car overseas
Our highly-trained and professional Chicago international movers will ensure your big journey is as seamless and stress-free as possible. Contact our customer service team to receive an accurate estimate. You can choose between a virtual or in-home assessment.
International Moving Tips From Chicago
There’s a lot to consider before taking on a Chicago international move. To make the process easier for us, below is a brief international moving checklist for you to keep in mind.
- Begin the application process for your visa and any permits
- Before relocating, make sure to do plenty of research regarding your new country
- Book your flights and hotel
- If you have children, inform their school that you are moving internationally and contact the new school in your new country
- Organize and declutter your home
- Update your address
- Apply for health insurance in your new country
- Keep your essential documents organized (passports, birth certificates, driver's licenses, social security cards, visas, etc.)
- If you don't need it, sell it
- Sell your home unless you’re renting it out; often, these will need to be certified by the USDA
- Get health certificates for your pet
Call our Chicago overseas movers if ready to make your transition to a new country!
Agencies and Resources for International Moving
- USA.GOV- An informative resource for US citizens before they relocate overseas or travel outside of the United States.
- STEP- If there’s an emergency within the country, you’ll be notified when you register with the US Embassy’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
- The U.S. Embassy or Consulate- This is where you’ll find the contact information for your new country’s local consulate.
- International Driving Permit- Here, you’ll find information about getting a driver’s license in your new country. The United States Department of State authorizes AAA to give an International Driving Permit.
- The U.S. Department of State- This will tell you what to know when traveling, the contacts for all of the countries, up-to-date COVID-19 information, etc.
Choosing the Best Chicago International Moving Company
A hefty amount of research and question-asking is crucial to narrowing down the best Chicago international moving companies. Here are a few questions to ask prior to choosing a company:
- Are your employees fully background checked and professionally trained?
- What is your claims rate?
- How many overseas moves do you complete each year?
- Do you provide short-term and long-term storage options?
- Are your storage warehouse(s) monitored, climate-controlled, and military-approved?
- Are you a van line agent with Allied?
- Are you fully licensed and insured?
- How are your Google reviews?
- What countries do you relocate to?
With over 110 years of professional moving experience, Federal Companies serves in five U.S. locations and has served over 200,000 loyal customers. As an award-winning Chicago overseas moving company, our expert crew maintains remarkable reviews on Google. Our 200+ Chicago international movers are rigorously trained, background checked, and more than ready to make your move a breeze.
Is moving to a new country on your list of things to do? Federal Companies is the #1 Chicago Illinois overseas moving company in the region and is here to handle all of the complicated details of your international move. We service all of Chicago, all of Cook County, the entire Chicago Metropolitan area (Chicagoland), and the entire Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. For a free estimate and to learn more about our Chicago international moving services, reach out to us at 800-747-4100!
