Moving overseas is one of the most complex logistical undertakings a person or business can face. Between customs regulations, ocean freight schedules, multilingual coordination, and the emotional weight of leaving a familiar place behind, an international relocation involves far more moving parts than a move across town, or even across the country. Yet every year, thousands of families and businesses make the leap successfully, arriving at their new homes and offices with their belongings intact and their stress levels manageable with the help of Chicago international movers. What separates a smooth international move from a chaotic one usually comes down to one thing: the moving company behind the scenes.
At Allied International, we’ve spent more than 136 years perfecting what it takes to move people and businesses across borders. As a global network with representatives, agents, and trusted partners in more than 1,000 locations across over 37 countries, we’ve built the infrastructure, technology, and expertise required to make international relocation feel less like an ordeal and more like the start of a new chapter. In this post, we’ll pull back the curtain on what actually happens behind every successful Allied International move, and why partnering with an experienced international mover matters so much more than most people realize until they’ve tried to do it alone.
If you’ve ever moved across state lines, you already know the basic challenges: packing, loading, transportation, unloading. International moves multiply that complexity several times over. Shipments typically travel by ocean freight or air cargo, which means working within vessel schedules, port availability, and transit times that can stretch from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the destination. Customs regulations vary by country and can change with little notice, meaning a shipment that clears smoothly into one nation might require additional documentation for another. Add in currency considerations, language barriers, and the sheer distance involved, and it becomes clear why international relocation requires specialized knowledge that most people simply don’t have, and shouldn’t be expected to have.
This is where the value of an experienced international moving company in Chicago becomes obvious. Rather than trying to coordinate customs brokers, freight forwarders, and destination-country movers on your own, you have a single point of contact managing the entire process from start to finish.
Allied International’s biggest advantage is scale paired with local expertise. Because our network spans more than 1,000 locations in over 37 countries, with corporate-owned and franchised offices throughout the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, plus trusted representatives in 135 additional countries, we’re rarely coordinating a move into unfamiliar territory. Our destination partners understand the local customs processes, the neighborhoods, the logistics of navigating narrow European streets or high-rise elevator restrictions in Asian cities, and the practical realities that only come from operating on the ground. That local knowledge, combined with global standards of service, means your belongings are handled by people who genuinely understand your destination.
Every Allied International customer is assigned a dedicated moving coordinator who oversees the relocation from the initial survey through final delivery. Instead of being shuffled between departments or representatives, you have one consistent point of contact who knows your shipment’s specific details, timeline, and any special requirements. This personalized, door-to-door service model is a deliberate departure from the fragmented experience many international movers offer, where customers are passed along a chain of contractors with little continuity.
Not knowing where your belongings are during a two-month ocean transit is one of the most stressful parts of an international move. Allied International’s online tracking system addresses that directly, giving customers 24/7 visibility into their shipment’s status, including survey dates, pickup, port departure, customs clearance, and final delivery. You always know exactly where your move stands, which removes much of the uncertainty that makes overseas relocation feel so daunting.
International shipments endure a lot: ocean transit, handling at multiple ports, customs inspections, and long-distance trucking on both ends. Our teams use professional-grade packing and crating techniques specifically suited to these conditions, including protective wrapping for furniture and secure crating for fragile or high-value items. Every item is cataloged in a detailed inventory before it ships, so nothing gets lost in translation (literally or figuratively) between origin and destination.
Perhaps the single biggest source of anxiety in any international move is customs. Requirements differ by country, change periodically, and can result in costly delays if paperwork isn’t handled correctly. Allied International manages this on your behalf, preparing the necessary documentation and working directly with customs authorities so you’re not left deciphering foreign bureaucracy in the middle of a stressful transition.
A successful international move can only be down with a repeatable, well-managed process. Here’s what that looks like when you work with Allied International as your Chicago international movers:
Throughout each stage, your dedicated coordinator remains your single point of contact, and our tracking system keeps you informed the entire way. It’s this combination of structure, communication, and hands-on expertise that turns an inherently complicated process into something manageable.
Not every international relocation looks the same, which is why Allied International offers a range of specialized services beyond standard household moving.
For families or businesses that need extra space during a transition, our storage and warehousing solutions provide a secure option for belongings that aren’t making the immediate trip or that need to be held before final delivery. For those relocating vehicles along with their households, our international car moving services offer full insurance coverage and a choice of container sizes, whether you’re moving a car, boat, or motorcycle. And for corporate relocations, our commercial and general commodities moving services are built to handle the scale and complexity that business moves require, from office equipment to inventory.
Whatever the scope of your move, Allied International’s network has the resources to manage it, and the flexibility to build a plan around your specific situation rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all process.
With so much riding on a successful relocation, choosing the right moving partner matters enormously. When evaluating international movers, look for a company with a genuinely global network rather than one that simply subcontracts overseas logistics to unfamiliar third parties. Ask about tracking capabilities, insurance options, and how customs documentation is handled. And perhaps most importantly, ask whether you’ll have a single, dedicated point of contact throughout the process, or whether you’ll be routed through multiple departments and representatives along the way.
Allied International was built around solving exactly these pain points. Our combination of a 136-plus-year track record, an extensive global network, and a customer-first coordination model is why families and businesses continue to trust us with relocations to and from destinations around the world. Learn more about Allied International and how our network operates, or reach out directly to start planning your move.
International relocation will always involve a lot of moving parts — but it doesn’t have to involve a lot of stress. With a global network, dedicated coordinators, real-time tracking, and decades of customs and logistics expertise behind every shipment, Allied International handles the complexity so you don’t have to. Request a free quote today or call 877-685-0355 to speak with a member of our team and take the first step toward a successful move, wherever in the world you’re headed.
Timelines vary significantly based on destination, moving method, and customs processing. Ocean freight moves typically take anywhere from a few weeks to two months door-to-door, while air freight is considerably faster but generally reserved for smaller or time-sensitive shipments. Your Allied International moving coordinator will provide a specific timeline estimate once your survey and destination details are confirmed.
Allied International’s online tracking system lets you monitor your move 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can review key milestones including the survey date, pickup, port departure, arrival at destination, customs clearance status, and final delivery, so you’re never left wondering where your belongings are.
Yes. Our teams prepare the necessary documentation and coordinate directly with customs authorities at both the origin and destination to help your shipment clear as smoothly as possible. This is one of the most valuable parts of working with an experienced international mover, since customs requirements vary widely by country and can change without much notice.
Absolutely. Allied International offers dedicated international car moving services with full insurance coverage, including single-use container options in 20-foot or 40-foot sizes. Vehicles are secured inside the container with straps and wheel chocks to keep them safely in place during transit.
Yes. Every Allied International customer is assigned a personal moving coordinator who oversees the relocation from the initial survey through final delivery. This means you have one consistent point of contact for questions and updates, rather than being passed between different representatives at each stage of the process.
We carefully and methodically pack and crate your items, ensuring their safe and secure arrival. We take pride in the expert packing, crating, and handling of your possessions.
Our aim is to have your belongings safely and quickly transported to your new location, with a focus on customer service and your utmost satisfaction.
We provide you with a personal moving coordinator. You can check in any time you wish, connecting to the same person who will be very familiar with your particular custom moving plan.
