FROM USA TO DUMA - MAKING AN ELECTRONIC LIST

Dear Dude:

There won't be much I'll be shipping with me. But what little I will ship will be stuff I will need to use for "work".

My "job" as a student requires a few more items than just showing up with the clothes on my back.

And since I'm not Mrs. Got Rocks, I'm wanting to make sure my money is well spent and not over-spent on things that I will need anyway. Why over pay when I can get it done over here and in smaller, bite-sized spending chunks?

If I take some time to think this through and plan a little bit now, then I'll end up having more money in my pocket when I get to Dumaguete for other things I'll need as I get "settled in". I might even be able to rent a nicer place. Plus, I'll have a built-in "contingency budget" should I hit an unexpected speed bump.

If I were coming to Dumaguete to just "hang out", then I could likely do pretty much of what you're suggesting - backpack and clothes on my back - footloose and fancy free. Unfortunately, that's not going to work for me this time - though I suspect I will be in amazement at where I will be finding myself to be living these next three years.

It will be all I can do to stay focused on my studies as I know I'll want to go explore and go and do things. But the bit in my mouth from school will help keep me reined in.

Just wanting to set myself up for success and reduce the initial stress level that often-times elevates when someone makes a long-distance move to a place they have never been to or seen before.

V/R,
nwlivewire

 

Will they still ship devices w/lithium batteries? Since the new regulations (http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/Documents/lithium-battery-update.pdf) in Jan, My-shoppingbox will no longer ship any device containing the batteries, even though the regulation states it pertains to shipping the batteries separately, not when in the device. That rules out phones, laptops etc.

 

I read part of the IATA document.

It specifically says, "...The prohibition on the carriage of lithium metal batteries on passenger aircraft only applies to lithium metal batteries when shipped by themselves (PI 968 Section IA, IB & II). The prohibition does not apply to lithium metal batteries packed with equipment (PI 969) or contained in equipment (PI 970)...."

This regulation also only applies to civilian passenger aircraft and not to civilian cargo aircraft. If I remember correctly, these type batteries have a higher risk of explosion and combustibility (smoke/fire) when exposed to extreme altitude and/or temperature changes when placed as exposed bulk items in many unregulated passenger aircraft cargo holds. Cargo aircraft are built with different specs to handle this kind of load.

Don't know about military aircraft - they are often in categories of exception to so many things, I don't know.

I would think a battery back-up is "contained in equipment" as it is wrapped within an external, fire-resistant housing unit, similar to a battery attached to a laptop.

But I will find out to see if such a battery backup is IATA authorized for transit in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft.

I would think Johnny Air uses cargo aircraft anyway which would make this a non-issue.

nwlivewire

 

I shipped a container from UK 3 years ago - duty free via the SRRV. It had to be cleared by customs in Manila before onward shipping to Dumaguete. From arrival Manila to arrival Dumaguete took about 3 weeks, but everything arrived in good order.

 

Dear hawk263:

Thanks for posting this real-time experience piece of information. This is exactly the kind of stuff us "due to arrive" ex-pat wanna be folks need to know.

How did this situation work - meaning, what was the order of steps that happened?

I assumed you rec'd your SRRV with tax waiver first, but how did that shipping piece work in terms of what happened next and in what order?

Again, thanks for adding this good piece and a soon-to-be another good piece to this picture puzzle.

V/R,
nwlivewire

 

Yes - you need to get the SRRV first. Then you fill in an application form for the importation - the PRA will advise on that.
If I remember correctly, you have 6 months from the issue of the SRRV to import your stuff duty free.
My UK shipping company put me in touch with their local agent in Manila (Goetz). I visited their office in Manila, gave them my contact details and location map and I'm pretty sure I had to fill in a form for the customs. I did NOT have to be present for the customs examination.
The whole process was pretty painless and between the PRA and the local agent, they guided me through the paperwork.
At the time, I was still working a 6 week on / 3 week off schedule in Oman, so you don't need to hang around the PRA office while all this happens.

 

Thanks for this piece of the puzzle. This picture is starting to take shape!

So it looks like I will be able to pre-pack three trunks of stuff and get them staged for shipment to the Philippines at my friends place in California.

I've sent two messages to Johnny Air. Their first response back to my questions - they said to contact the Cebu Office for my questions.

My second message with my questions was then sent off to the Cebu Office, but I've not heard back from them yet. Will give them a couple more days and then re-send.

I hope Johnny Air is an approved carrier for SRRV tax waiver shipping and is the most reasonable cost carrier.

More to follow when Johnny comes marching home (with an answer)....

V/R,

nwlivewire

 

Just another thought - make sure you have several copies of a packing list for the customs.