The green card lottery, H-1B and L-1 visas, university admissions and family reunification take thousands of Turkish families to the United States every year, and they all ask the same question: "Which port will our goods arrive at, how long will it take and how does it work?" Household removals from Turkey to the USA means moving to a vast country spread over 50 states; a family moving to New York and a family moving to Los Angeles face different routes, timings and delivery conditions. REG Transport ships household goods by container to US East Coast, West Coast and Gulf ports and delivers to your front door. This guide helps you plan by city and port; for the customs forms (CBP 3299, ISF) and FCL/LCL details, also read our guide to shipping household goods from Turkey to the USA.
How the Logistics Network to the USA Works
There is no road to the USA; your goods cross the ocean in a container. The process has three links: packing, consolidation and delivery to port in Turkey; the sea leg; and customs, inland haulage and door delivery at the US end. We run the first link with our own crews and depots and the third through our partners on the US side. Choosing the arrival port according to the city you will live in is the single most important decision for both timing and inland cost.
| Where you will live | Arrival port | Sea transit | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania | New York / Newark (Port Newark–Elizabeth) | 22-30 days | 30-40 days |
| Boston, Massachusetts, New England | Boston or New York | 24-32 days | 32-42 days |
| Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland | Baltimore or Norfolk | 24-32 days | 32-42 days |
| Miami, Orlando, Florida | Miami or Port Everglades | 25-33 days | 33-43 days |
| Houston, Dallas, Austin, Texas | Houston | 28-36 days | 35-45 days |
| Chicago, Illinois, the Midwest | New York plus rail or road | 22-30 days plus 5-7 days inland | 35-45 days |
| Los Angeles, San Francisco, California | Los Angeles / Long Beach (via the Panama Canal) | 35-45 days | 45-55 days |
| Seattle, Washington State | Seattle / Tacoma | 38-48 days | 48-58 days |
East Coast ports are the closest to Istanbul and have the most frequent sailings; for California the vessel passes through the Panama Canal, which adds time. In some cases rail from New York to the West Coast (the mini landbridge) is quicker; we compare both options in the quote.
Removals to the USA, City by City
Household removals to New York and New Jersey
The area with the largest Turkish community. The container arrives at Port Newark, where customs clearance takes place. Manhattan apartment buildings require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from the moving company, a service-lift booking and weekday 09:00-16:00 delivery windows; some streets need a permit for the truck to stand. Brownstones in Brooklyn and Queens have narrow stairs, while deliveries to detached houses in Turkish-populated New Jersey towns such as Paterson and Clifton are simpler. If the container cannot fit outside the building, the goods are transferred to a smaller truck at a warehouse (a shuttle), which is itemised in the quote.
Los Angeles and California
The port of Long Beach is the main gateway to the West Coast. California applies the strictest agricultural controls in the US: wooden furniture and garden items are likely to face fumigation and a USDA inspection, and nothing with soil or plant residue should go into the container. Deliveries to detached houses in Los Angeles are easy; areas such as Santa Monica and Beverly Hills restrict heavy-vehicle hours. San Francisco and Silicon Valley (San Jose, Palo Alto) add 6-8 hours of inland haulage from Long Beach.
Miami and Florida
The port of Miami is busy because of its proximity to Latin America, but there is regular service from Istanbul. High-rise towers in Miami (Brickell, Sunny Isles) require a service lift and building-management approval; Orlando and Tampa are 3-4 hours by road. Desiccant is placed in the container for Florida's humid climate.
Houston, Dallas and Texas
The port of Houston is the main Gulf gateway and the closest point for most Turkish engineers working in the energy sector. Texas homes are large and detached, so the container usually comes right to the door; Dallas and Austin are a 3-4 hour inland leg from Houston.
Chicago and the Midwest
Chicago has no seaport, so the container arrives in New York, clears customs and travels to Chicago by rail or road. In winter (December to February) snow calls for flexibility on the delivery date. Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota are reached the same way.
Boston and Washington DC
Boston's historic buildings have narrow doors and stairs; in Washington, embassy and international-organisation staff on A and G visas benefit from diplomatic exemption, which simplifies customs and which we document separately.
US Customs: A Short Reminder
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admits used household goods duty-free for people transferring residence to the USA, provided they have owned them for at least a year. Required documents: CBP Form 3299 (declaration for personal effects), passport and visa or green card copy, an inventory in English, the bill of lading and the ISF (10+2) filing, which must be submitted 24 hours before the vessel is loaded. Alcohol, weapons, medicines and food are restricted; wooden packaging must carry the ISPM-15 heat-treatment stamp. Form completion, ISF and the customs entry are handled by us and through a customs broker on the US side; see our US customs guide and the customs clearance page.
Choosing and Loading the Container
- 20' container (~28 m³): the standard for two- and three-bedroom homes; FCL, carrying only your goods.
- 40' HC container (~65 m³): a large home, a car, or two families' goods.
- LCL (shared): studio flats, student belongings, partial moves; priced per m³, with regular consolidation to New York and Los Angeles.
- Loading: the container can be brought to your home (a city permit may be needed) or the goods are loaded at our Istanbul depot, which is more economical in most cities. The load is strapped and gaps are filled with air bags.
- Vehicles: a car can travel in the same 40' container as the household goods; US vehicle imports require EPA and DOT compliance (see vehicle transport).
The Process Step by Step
- Survey and quote: volume assessment, port and FCL/LCL selection, fixed-price written quotation.
- Documents: CBP 3299 and the inventory are prepared; the shipping date is aligned with your visa timeline.
- Packing and loading: our crew packs at your home; the container is loaded, sealed and photographed.
- Export and vessel: Turkish export declaration, ISF filing, loading on board; the container tracking number is shared.
- US customs: the entry is prepared before arrival; the exemption is applied, with a CBP or USDA inspection if selected.
- Inland haulage and delivery: the container or shuttle truck comes to your address; furniture is reassembled and packing removed.
Logistics to the USA: Commercial Freight and Furniture
The same container service carries Turkish manufacturers' exports to the USA. We offer furniture shipping for new furniture and commercial freight for textiles, marble, food and other goods; commercial imports are subject to product-specific duty (HTS code) and the importer's customs bond. For urgent, small shipments see air freight from Turkey to the USA.
What Determines the Price
- Arrival port: the East Coast is the most economical; the West Coast and inland regions (Chicago, Denver) cost more because of inland haulage.
- Container type and volume: 20', 40' HC or LCL per m³.
- Delivery conditions: shuttle, lift and permit differences between a Manhattan tower and a detached house in Texas.
- Inspection risk: a CBP or USDA inspection incurs port charges; we flag this as a possibility in the quote.
- Insurance: all-risk cover is recommended for an ocean crossing (CMR vs all-risk).
The general cost components are explained in what determines the cost of an international move.
Example Scenario: A Petroleum Engineer's Family from Ankara to Houston
30 m³ from a three-bedroom home in Çankaya is packed, loaded into a 20' container at our Istanbul depot and shipped to Houston. The ISF is filed before loading; after a 32-day sea leg the exemption is applied in Houston with CBP Form 3299, the container is brought to the detached house in Katy and the goods are set up. 41 days from loading to delivery.
Why REG Transport?
- Container shipping of household goods to US East Coast, West Coast and Gulf ports.
- Port and route planning by city; one door-to-door price including inland haulage.
- A team experienced in CBP 3299, ISF and USDA procedures; customs and delivery organisation on the US side.
- Planning that knows the city rules, from Manhattan COIs to California agricultural checks.
- See our United States page for scope and timings, and international household removals for the overall process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does shipping household goods from Turkey to New York take?
On average 30-40 days door to door, of which the sea leg is 22-30 days. Allow 45-55 days for Los Angeles.
Which port should I choose?
The one closest to the city you will live in; the table above suggests a port for each region. For inland cities such as Chicago, New York plus rail is the most efficient route. The quote compares the options by time and price.
Can you deliver to an apartment in Manhattan?
Yes. The COI required by building management, the service-lift booking and any street permit are obtained by the delivery team on the US side; if the container cannot fit on the street, a shuttle truck is used.
What happens if the container is selected for inspection in the USA?
CBP or USDA may select a container at random or on a risk basis; this means a few days' delay and port charges. An accurate inventory and ISPM-15 stamped wood reduce the risk.
I am a student with few belongings; do I need a container?
No. With LCL you pay per m³ in a shared container; we consolidate regularly to New York and Los Angeles.
Can I ship my car with the household goods?
Yes, it can travel with the household goods in a 40' container; US vehicle imports have conditions such as EPA/DOT compliance and the 25-year rule, which we assess in advance.
Let's Plan Your Move to the USA
Share your destination city, inventory and visa status, and we will prepare a written quote the same day with port options, timings and a fixed price.
