St. Louis International Moving Company
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Moving abroad can be very exciting, but the thought of how you’re going to relocate some or all of your belongings out of the country can seem overwhelming. That’s why you should trust an experienced St. Louis overseas moving company to take care of it for you. Federal Companies is the best international mover in St. Louis. We will handle every aspect of your relocation from start to finish, so you don’t have to worry.
What Is a St. Louis International Move?
Any move that takes you outside of the United States is an international move; the move can be as simple as crossing the border into Canada or Mexico or moving overseas to anywhere in the world. The process of moving overseas is complex, with many participants working independently. Top-rated St. Louis international movers know the process and coordinate every step of the move for you.
Here are the main parties involved in your international relocation:
Here are the main parties involved in your international relocation:
- Shipper - You are the shipper, relocating your belongings from your location in the US to another country.
- Origin agent – The local St. Louis moving company that picks up your belongings and takes them to the shipment location.
- Consolidating warehouse – Where your belongings are stored before they are consolidated with other small loads to fill a shipping container and loaded onto the ship.
- Freight forwarder - Organizes the transportation of your belongings from your house or a consolidating warehouse to your final destination. The freight forwarder handles all necessary documents, notifies you of any changes, and works with all parties involved in the move.
- Shipping carrier – The shipping company that transports your belongings overseas.
- Customs - Verify your documents correspond to your shipment. If they find any discrepancies, they may conduct customs exams.
- Destination Agent - the moving company that receives your belongings at the destination port and delivers them to your new location.
People move from St. Louis to other countries for work, study, family, lifestyle changes, and many other reasons.
How to Move Overseas with Federal Companies
The best way to move internationally is to hire a professional St. Louis international shipping company. Federal Companies is a 5-star moving company that can take care of every step of your international move. Our St. Louis international moving services cover you from start to finish, so you can focus on the many other important things you need to do for your international move.
Moving your belongings overseas typically takes between 3 and 6 weeks and involves many steps. Federal Companies will handle all of them for you!
Here is a list of some common services we will provide for you:
Moving your belongings overseas typically takes between 3 and 6 weeks and involves many steps. Federal Companies will handle all of them for you!
Here is a list of some common services we will provide for you:
- A personal moving coordinator oversees every step of your St. Louis overseas move.
- We handle all customs and other paperwork for you.
- We supply all the moving boxes and materials for you.
- We pack all your belongings securely.
- We disassemble your furniture.
- We load all your belongings into the moving container.
- We transport the container to the origin port and ensure that your belongings reach the destination port.
- We verify all your belongings are unloaded at the destination port.
- We oversee the transport of your belongings and the unloading at your new home.
- We assemble your furniture in your new home.
- We handle any storage needs you have at the origin and destination ports.
- We move appliances for you, although we don’t disconnect or connect them.
- We ship your car if you want us to.
How Much Does a St. Louis International Move Cost?
The cost of an international St. Louis move depends on many things but mostly on international destinations. Relocating domestically to Canada or Mexico is typically cheaper than overseas moves. As for transportation costs, trucks are used in all moves, but overseas moves also use shipping by sea, the cheapest option, or shipping by air, the most expensive. When shipping internationally, your belongings will be stored in a container. The 3 main sizes of containers are:
- Standard 20-foot container - 1,172 cubic feet of volume
- Standard 40-foot container - 2,120 cubic feet of volume
- High cube 40-foot container – 2,694 cubic feet of volume
The two shipment options available are Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL). Which one you choose will depend on the size of your belongings. If you don’t have enough items to fill a full container, the best option is LCL. It’s more cost-effective because you share the container with others. LCL containers may take longer to get through customs.
The best way to determine how much moving internationally will cost you is via a virtual survey in which you can show the moving estimator the belongings you need to be moved using video chat on your phone or tablet. Our team will assess your belongings and give you a free quote.
Here are some of the other common factors that affect the cost of your international move:
- Distance (the farther away you are moving, the more it will cost)
- Where in the US you are moving from
- The size and volume of your belongings
- Time of year and day of the week
- Packing and/or unpacking services
- Customs duty costs and taxes
- Visa costs
- Moving insurance
- Transporting a vehicle
- Any additional services required
- Any storage required at the origin or destination
The best way to determine how much moving internationally will cost you is via a virtual survey in which you can show the moving estimator the belongings you need to be moved using video chat on your phone or tablet. Our team will assess your belongings and give you a free quote.
International Moving Tips from St. Louis
Here are some tips that can help make your international move easier:
- Make a timeline for the move
- Decide whether to sell or rent your current home
- Store, give away, or sell belongings you don’t need
- Get estimates and choose a moving company
- Apply for visas and work permits early
- Arrange for schools in advance
- Have passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, etc.
- Check quarantine and vaccination requirements for pets
- Stop or transfer all subscriptions and services
- Get generic names of all necessary medications
- Set up a bank account in your new country
- Check on healthcare insurance
- Book airline tickets and hotels early
- Fill out change of address cards and information
- Research requirements for shipping your car (if you plan to)
- Find out if your appliances will work in your new country
- Make sure your mobile phones will work internationally
- Check on medical insurance in your new country
- Pack what you will need for at least six weeks until your shipment arrives
- Call Federal Companies to handle your international move
Agencies and resources for international moving
- USA.GOV - Resources for Americans traveling outside the US.
- U.S. Embassy Smart Traveler Enrollment Program - Keeps you updated with your new country’s safety conditions and allows the embassy to quickly notify you in case of any emergency
- U.S. Embassy or Consulate website – Obtain contact information for the US Embassy and Consulate in the country you are moving to
- International Driving Permit - AAA is authorized by the US Department of State to issue an International Driving Permit to you.
- US Department of State - Keeps up-to-date and accurate information about all countries, including COVID status, travel information, contacts, and more.
Choosing the Best St. Louis International Movers
An international move can be overwhelming because you have so much to plan and do. But you don’t have to worry about the move itself. When looking for the right St. Louis international mover, here are some questions you’ll want to answer:
- Are they licensed and insured to protect you if something goes wrong?
- Are their employees background-checked and experienced?
- How many years of industry experience do they have with international moves?
- Is their pricing transparent and competitive? Do they offer a free written estimate with no hidden charges?
- Are they familiar with customs clearance, port fees, customs duties, and paperwork requirements at your destination?
- Do they provide the additional services you need, such as packing, vehicle transport, and long-term storage?
Federal Companies is an award-winning St. Louis international moving company with a 4.75-star Google rating. We have over 110 years of experience in the industry and have served over 200,000 customers. We have the experience and skills to handle your international move.
Are you ready to hire the best of the St. Louis international moving companies? Trust Federal Companies, the #1 St. Louis international movers, to handle every step of your move.Call us today at 800-747-4100 for a free international moving estimate!