UC Irvine has a large and growing international student population, with particular strength in computer science, biological sciences, and engineering drawing students from China, South Korea, India, and Vietnam.
When the academic year ends, most of those students face the same challenge: what do you do with everything in your Irvine apartment or dorm when you’re flying home to another country — or when you’re staying in the U.S. but moving to a different city for a summer program or internship?
Ship2Storage is built for exactly this situation. Ship your boxes to our climate-controlled facility before you leave Irvine, store them for as long as needed, and get them delivered to your new U.S. address when you return. No airline fees. No customs headaches. No storage unit.
The International Student Storage Problem at UC Irvine
Irvine is a planned city with relatively high rents and limited off-campus options close to campus. Many students live in Irvine’s residential neighborhoods or student-oriented apartments that require full move-outs.
When spring quarter or semester ends, international students typically have a few options: take everything home (expensive and impractical), rent a local storage unit (costly and inconvenient), leave things with a friend (complicated), or find a smarter solution.
Ship2Storage is the smarter solution.
Why Flying Home With Boxes Doesn’t Work
International flights have strict baggage allowances. Most airlines permit one or two checked bags at 50 lbs each — which isn’t much when you’re trying to bring your semester’s worth of belongings back to China, South Korea, India, or wherever home is.
Excess baggage fees add up fast. Checked bags beyond the allowance can cost $100 to $200 or more per bag on international flights. For five boxes of dorm supplies, that’s potentially more than your monthly rent.
There’s also the customs dimension. Items you’ve purchased in the U.S. and are bringing back permanently may be subject to customs fees depending on your home country’s policies. Storing those items in the U.S. and retrieving them when you return avoids that complication entirely.
How Ship2Storage Works for International Students
- Create a Ship2Storage account and generate a prepaid label for each box.
- Pack your boxes and drop them at any UPS or FedEx location in or near Irvine.
- Your boxes are received, barcoded, and stored in our climate-controlled facility.
- When you return for fall, log in and enter your new U.S. address.
- Your boxes are delivered directly to you — to your new dorm, apartment, or any U.S. address.
You don’t need a car. You don’t need to coordinate with a friend. You just pack, ship, and go. When you come back, your stuff is there.
What UC Irvine International Students Typically Store
Most international students store three to eight boxes of items they don’t want to ship internationally or haul through an airport. Common items include:
Personal items, decorations, and anything that matters but doesn’t need to travel internationally
Clothes that aren’t needed at home over the summer
Bedding, pillows, and dorm or apartment supplies
Books, academic materials, and research notes
Electronics and accessories you won’t need abroad
Kitchen equipment from off-campus apartments
Flying Home for the Summer? Here’s the Logistics Plan
If you’re heading home to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, or elsewhere for the summer, here’s the clean version of the logistics:
Your boxes arrive at your new address. You’re fully set up from day one.
A few weeks before your flight, pack your storage boxes and ship them to Ship2Storage.
Fly home with just your personal luggage — no excess baggage fees, no customs stress.
Enjoy your summer. Your belongings are safe and organized in the U.S.
When you return to Irvine — or wherever your fall housing is — log in and schedule delivery.
Staying in the U.S. This Summer? Storage Still Helps
Not all international students go home for the summer. Many stay in the U.S. for internships, summer research programs, language courses, or to save on international airfare. If you’re staying but moving to a different city for the summer, Ship2Storage works just as well.
Store your belongings with us, travel light to your summer destination, and have everything delivered to your fall address when the program ends.
What Happens When You Return in the Fall
When your housing is confirmed for fall quarter or semester, log into your Ship2Storage account and enter your new address. We’ll schedule delivery so your boxes arrive before or around move-in day.
If you’re returning to a different city or a different campus than where you shipped from, that’s not a problem. We deliver to any U.S. address. Your boxes follow you.
Why Ship2Storage Works Especially Well in Irvine and Orange County
UCI’s proximity to LAX makes it a common departure point for international students flying home, but the logistics of what to do with belongings before that flight are still a real challenge.
Ship2Storage’s model — ship from any UPS or FedEx location, store centrally, deliver anywhere — is designed for exactly this kind of mobility. You don’t need a car. You don’t need local storage infrastructure. You just need a box, a label, and an account.
FAQ
Do you pick up from UC Irvine dorms or apartments?
We work through UPS and FedEx for shipping, so you’ll drop your boxes at any nearby location or schedule a carrier pickup. There are drop-off options in and near Irvine.
Can I store my boxes for the full year if I’m not returning next semester?
Yes. There’s no maximum storage duration. Store for a summer, a year, or longer. You pay per box per month.
What if my return date or address changes?
You can update your delivery address and timeline any time in your account. Nothing ships until you confirm.
Is this cheaper than airline excess baggage for international flights?
For most international students, yes — significantly. Excess baggage fees on international flights can run $100 to $200 per bag. Ship2Storage stores your boxes for well under that, and delivers them back to you in the U.S.
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