§ 72.45 - Shipment of personal estate to the United States.

(a) When the consular officer is requested to ship to the United States the personal estate in his possession, he should deliver it to a forwarding company selected by the legal representative. Clearance by Customs in the United States will be facilitated if the personal estate is accompanied by a consular certificate identifying it and indicating its nature. If the entire shipment is covered by a single bill of lading, a certificate attached to the original bill of lading covering the shipment would be sufficient; otherwise a certificate should accompany each parcel, box or case.

(b) Extra copies of the bill of lading can serve as a receipt from the forwarding company, one copy to be attached to the consular officer's final statement of account (§ 72.50), and one copy to be retained in the office files. If shipment by registered or insured parcel post, or by other safe means covered by receipt, is possible, there is no objection to forwarding the estate in this fashion, and postal or other receipts should be disposed of in the manner described above, with the original attached to the final statement of account. The personal effects of Foreign Service personnel (see § 72.27) and of personnel of other Government agencies (except Department of Defense and Coast Guard personnel) should be consigned to the United States despatch agent at the port of entry, for forwarding to the legal representative.