The International Association of Movers is the global trade association for the moving and relocation industry. Membership is voluntary, earned by peer recommendation rather than purchase, and it gives customers access to dispute resolution and financial protection systems that non-member movers cannot offer. BLUEmove International Relocation is a member.
When you’re choosing an IAM international moving company for your family’s relocation abroad, you’re not just hiring movers — you’re selecting a partner committed to the industry’s highest professional standards. The International Association of Movers (IAM) is more than a trade association; it’s a quality standard that protects American families moving overseas.
Moving abroad is one of the biggest decisions an American family can make. Between coordinating visas, researching schools, saying goodbye to people you love, and managing the thousand details that fill your days, the last thing you need is to wonder whether your belongings will arrive safely on the other side of the world.
That is where professional credentials matter. BLUEmove International Relocation is a member of IAM and committed to the IAM Code of Ethics — and this page explains exactly what that gives you.
IAM is not a license. It is a membership standard that sits on top of one. The federal license that legally permits a company to arrange your international shipment is issued by the Federal Maritime Commission, and BLUEmove holds it: Ocean Freight Forwarder License No. 020452. What FMC registration means and how to verify it.
What is an IAM international moving company?
The International Association of Movers is the world’s largest and most respected trade association in the international moving industry. Founded in 1962 in the United States — originally as the Household Goods Forwarders Association of America — IAM has grown into a global network representing more than 2,220 companies operating in over 170 countries.
But IAM isn’t just another industry body. It’s a quality standard that protects families like yours when moving overseas.
Think of IAM membership as the international moving industry’s equivalent of a professional accreditation: companies can’t simply buy their way in. IAM membership is earned, through vetting, demonstrated competence, and the recommendation of existing members.
Why choosing an IAM international moving company protects your family
When you research international movers, you’ll see many companies describe themselves as “trusted” or “professional.” An IAM international moving company has undergone peer validation that generic moving companies haven’t.
To become an IAM member, a moving company must:
- Demonstrate at least one year of operational experience in international relocations
- Receive recommendation letters from two current IAM members — membership is by invitation
- Provide proof of business registration, licensing, and tax compliance
- Submit to peer review, with the application posted publicly for 30 days for other members to evaluate
- Pay membership dues and commit to ongoing professional development
- Adhere to the IAM Code of Ethics in all business dealings
That peer-recommendation system is the part that matters. Existing members put their own reputations behind a recommendation. They don’t do it lightly.
The IAM Code of Ethics: What sets international moving companies apart
Choosing BLUEmove means choosing a company that has committed to IAM’s Code of Ethics. This isn’t marketing language; it’s a binding commitment.
As IAM members, we pledge to:
- Conduct business responsibly and professionally at all times
- Deal fairly with all customers, members, and business partners
- Act with honesty and integrity in line with professional conduct principles
- Be forthright and truthful in all professional communications
- Honor all lawful agreements with customers and partners
- Pay just obligations promptly
- Comply with all applicable laws and government regulations
- Compete fairly with other members
- Respect cultural differences among members worldwide
What that means for your family: when we say we’ll be there at 8 a.m. to pack your belongings, we’ll be there. When we give you a quote, it’s honest and itemized. When we commit to a delivery window, we honor it. And when something does go wrong — occasionally it does, on complex international moves — we resolve it to the standards above.
How IAM International Moving Companies Protect Your Relocation
These protections are why selecting an IAM member gives you recourse that a non-member cannot offer.
1. The IAM Mobility Exchange (IAMX): Quality Assurance Through Transparency
IAMX is a validation system. Searching a company there lets you verify:
- Company credentials and certifications, with supporting documentation
- Quality certifications such as FAIM accreditation
- Service capabilities and geographic coverage
- Years in business and operational history
- Professional affiliations and partnerships
This removes the guesswork. You can confirm that the company handling your family’s possessions meets documented standards before you even ask for a quote.
2. The Receivable Protection Programme (RPP): Financial protection through IAM international moving company membership
One of the real risks in international moving is what happens when a company in the chain runs into financial trouble mid-move. The RPP addresses this.
The RPP provides:
- Financial monitoring of member companies, to identify early warning signs
- Claim procedures when an IAM member becomes insolvent
- Reimbursement for unpaid commercial invoices between members
- Proactive alerts about companies facing financial difficulty
Be clear about what this is. The RPP protects member companies against each other’s unpaid invoices — it is not a consumer deposit guarantee. Its value to you is indirect but real: it is one of the mechanisms that stops a payment dispute between two companies from turning into your container sitting in a warehouse. For protection of your own money, the relevant safeguard is the mover’s FMC surety bond — BLUEmove’s is $50,000, filed with Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company.
3. IAM Issue Resolution System (IIRS): Professional Dispute Resolution
Disputes sometimes arise between companies on an international move. The IIRS provides a framework for settling them quickly and fairly.
The IIRS enables:
- Filing and managing trade issues efficiently between member companies
- Amicable resolution, typically within 30 days
- Neutral third-party mediation where needed
- Documented resolution processes that protect all parties
The benefit to you is indirect but significant: if BLUEmove has a disagreement with a partner — say the delivery company at your destination — there is a professional mechanism to resolve it, so your move isn’t delayed while two companies argue over an invoice.
4. IAMTrusted Moving Company (ITMC) Programme: The Gold Standard
BLUEmove is working toward IAMTrusted certification, the highest standard in the international moving industry.
IAMTrusted companies commit to:
- Upholding the IAM Code of Ethics without exception
- Maintaining financial stability and transparency
- Resolving disputes professionally through the IIRS
- Demonstrating operational excellence through peer validation
- Continuous professional development
(BLUEmove does not yet hold IAMTrusted certification. We say so plainly, because a page about credentials is the wrong place to be vague about which ones you have.)
IAM member vs non-member: what actually changes
The difference between an IAM member and a non-member isn’t visible in the quote. It becomes visible when something goes wrong, four thousand miles from home.
| What happens when… | IAM member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|
| You have a dispute with the agent at destination | Escalated through the IAM Issue Resolution System — neutral mediation, typically resolved within 30 days | No shared framework. Your mover negotiates alone, or you do |
| The destination agent goes unpaid and holds your goods | Receivable Protection Program gives the companies a route to settle it between themselves | Your shipment can become leverage in someone else’s payment dispute |
| You need to check the company is real before booking | Verifiable in the IAM Mobility Exchange, with documented credentials | A logo on a website, and whatever the company tells you |
| A partner company fails mid-move | IAM Alert System flags companies under financial or legal watch, so your mover can reroute before it affects you | You find out when your shipment stops moving |
| Damage is claimed across two countries | Both companies operate under the same code of ethics and dispute process | Two jurisdictions, two sets of terms, no common standard |
| Your mover chooses an agent in your destination country | Selected from a vetted network of members in 170+ countries | Selected on price, from whoever answers |
The honest summary: IAM membership does not remove risk from an international move. Nothing does. What it removes is the situation where nobody has any obligation to fix a problem — and that situation is the one that turns a delayed shipment into a lost one.
The Global Network That Makes Your Move Possible
Here’s something most families don’t realize: your international move involves several companies working together across borders. Even though you hire BLUEmove in the United States, your belongings may be:
- Packed by our crew in the Washington, D.C. area
- Transported to port by our logistics partners
- Cleared through U.S. customs by licensed customs brokers
- Shipped by ocean or air freight carriers
- Cleared through destination customs by local experts
- Delivered to your new home by our partners abroad
Every handoff is a potential point of failure. This is where IAM membership earns its cost.
Through the IAM network, BLUEmove has access to:
- Vetted partners in 170+ countries who share the same standards
- Standardized professional practices across borders
- Shared training and best practice through the IAM Learning platform
- Real-time alerts about operational issues worldwide
- Collaborative problem-solving when something goes wrong
When your container arrives in Barcelona, our IAM partner in Spain isn’t just a vendor. They’re a colleague operating under the same code of ethics, whose standing in the network depends on treating your family the way we would.
Professional Training and Development: Expertise That Protects Your Belongings
International moving is complex. Regulations change. Customs requirements vary by country. Packing techniques evolve. Technology advances.
IAM members have access to:
IAM Learning Platform
- webinars on everything from packing technique to customs regulation, certification programs, knowledge labs on specific logistics problems, and annual conferences where the industry shares what it has learned.
Country-Specific Guidance
- comprehensive country guides covering customs requirements, prohibited items and documentation for 170+ countries, real-time regulatory updates when import and export rules change, and specialized training on destination-specific problems.
Technology and Innovation
-
digital transformation resources, customer service training focused on communication and transparency, and sustainability initiatives.
What this means for your move: the BLUEmove team handling your relocation to Portugal knows the current Portuguese customs requirements. We’ve sat through the training on EU regulation. We know the documentation for pet relocation to Spain. Professional development isn’t optional for IAM members — it’s expected.
Real-Time Protection: The IAM Alert System
Imagine that halfway through your move, your mover’s partner in your destination country goes out of business, faces legal action, or has its licenses suspended.
The IAM Alert System exists to prevent that becoming your problem. It provides:
- Real-time notifications about companies facing operational, legal or financial issues
- Company alerts when members are placed under watch
- Alleged debtor lists identifying companies with unpaid invoices
- Prospective member reviews, letting current members flag concerns
BLUEmove monitors these continuously. If we’re planning to use a partner and an alert is issued, we move to another member. Your relocation doesn’t become collateral damage in someone else’s business failure.
This protection is invisible to customers — until the day it works.
Why BLUEmove Invests in IAM Membership
We could save several thousand dollars a year by not maintaining it. The dues, the conference attendance, the continuing education and the standards all cost money.
We invest in it because it makes us better:
- Better trained, through continuous professional development
- Better connected, through a global network of vetted partners
- Better protected, through financial safeguards and dispute resolution
- Better held to account, through peer review and ethical standards
- Better informed, through real-time industry intelligence
IAM Member vs Non-Member International Moving Companies: Key Differences
The Peace of Mind You Deserve
Moving your family overseas is already stressful enough. You’re managing visas, school applications, healthcare registrations, saying goodbye to family and friends, and trying to maintain some sense of normalcy for your children during a massive transition.
The one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is whether your belongings will arrive safely, on time, and handled with care.
IAM membership doesn’t eliminate all risk from international moving—nothing can. But it dramatically reduces risk through:
- Rigorous vetting of member companies before they can join
- Ongoing professional standards and accountability during membership
- Financial protections if companies face difficulties
- Professional dispute resolution when issues arise
- Global quality standards across all partners and service providers
- Continuous improvement through training and peer collaboration
How do you verify a company’s IAM membership?
IAM publishes a searchable member directory. Look the company up by name, confirm the listing is current, and check whether it also appears in the IAMTrusted Moving Company program. Membership and FMC licensing are separate — verify both, because one does not imply the other.
- Search the IAM Mobility Exchange at mobilityex.com for the company name
- Check the IAMX validation, which provides documented proof of credentials
- Ask for the IAM member number and how long they’ve been a member
- Check for IAMTrusted designation — a separate, higher standard
- Treat a logo as nothing. Anyone can put one on a website
Search for “BLUEmove International Relocation” in the IAM directory and you’ll find our profile with validated credentials.
A trade association membership is not a federal license. For the government-license check — the one that determines whether a company may legally arrange your ocean shipment at all — see how to verify a mover’s FMC registration →.
Questions to Ask Any International Moving Company About IAM Membership
Always ask: “Are you an IAM member?” If they hesitate, or can’t give you a member number, that tells you something.
membership
- Are you a current IAM member?
- How long have you been a member?
- Can I verify you in the IAM Mobility Exchange?
- Do you hold IAMTrusted certification?
- What IAM training has your staff completed recently?
On international partners
- Are your partners abroad also IAM members?
- How do you vet the companies you work with overseas?
- What happens if your partner company has problems during my move?
- Can you give me references from recent clients who moved to my destination?
On protection
- What financial protections apply if something goes wrong?
- How do you handle disputes with international partners?
- What insurance do you recommend, and what does it actually cover?
- What is your process when something goes wrong?
Companies with nothing to hide answer these confidently. Vagueness is your answer.
Your Move, Your Peace of Mind
BLUEmove has been an IAM international moving company serving American families for 21+ years. Membership isn’t a badge on a website; it’s a commitment to standards your family is entitled to expect.
Why BLUEmove maintains these credentials
From our base in the Washington, D.C. metro area we’ve coordinated thousands of international moves. Our IAM membership is a daily commitment to:
- Treating your belongings as if they were our own
- Honoring our commitments without exception
- Partnering only with companies who share those standards
- Maintaining transparency throughout the relocation
- Providing support that continues past delivery day
Our commitment to American families relocating abroad
International relocation involves more than transporting boxes across borders. We provide comprehensive support including visa guidance, pet relocation coordination, and settling-in assistance.
Verified credentials you can check yourself
| IAM | Member — verifiable at mobilityex.com |
| FMC | Ocean Freight Forwarder License No. 020452 — verifiable at fmc.gov |
| Surety bond | $50,000, Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company |
| U.S. Government | Approved relocation provider |
| Google rating | 4.9 from over 120 verified reviews |
| In business | 21+ years |
| Headquarters | Columbia, Maryland |
Ready to start your international relocation?
📞 Call us toll free: (+1) 301.570.3306
💻 Request a free estimate: www.blue-move.com
📧 Email us with questions: We’re here to help every step of the way
BLUEmove International
Serving American Families Worldwide
About BLUEmove International
BLUEmove International Relocation, Inc. is a full-service international moving and move management company headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Specialising in corporate, diplomatic, and private relocations for American families moving abroad, BLUEmove provides comprehensive door-to-door services including professional packing, international shipping, customs clearance, pet and vehicle relocation, and settling-in support. As proud members of the International Association of Movers (IAM) and registered with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), BLUEmove maintains the highest standards of professional excellence in the international moving industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IAM in international moving?
IAM (International Association of Movers) is the world’s leading trade association for international moving companies, representing over 2,220 members in 170+ countries. IAM membership requires peer validation, ethical commitment, and adherence to professional standards.
Why does IAM membership matter when choosing an international moving company?
IAM membership matters because it provides verified professional credentials, financial protection through the Receivable Protection Programme, access to dispute resolution systems, and commitment to ethical standards—protections that non-member moving companies don’t offer.
How can I verify if a moving company is truly an IAM member?
Verify IAM membership by searching the company name at mobilityex.com (IAM’s official Mobility Exchange database) or requesting their IAM member number and checking it against the IAM directory at iamovers.org.
What is the IAM Code of Ethics?
The IAM Code of Ethics is a binding commitment that IAM international moving companies make to uphold professional standards including honest pricing, transparent communication, quality service, regulatory compliance, and ethical business practices.
t is IAM’s financial safeguard between member companies, covering unpaid commercial invoices when a member becomes insolvent. It is not a consumer deposit guarantee. The protection that applies to your money is the mover’s FMC surety bond — BLUEmove’s is $50,000..
IAM provides professional dispute resolution through the IAM Issue Resolution System (IIRS), offering mediation and structured problem-solving when conflicts arise between customers and IAM member moving companies, avoiding costly legal proceedings.
IAM membership is the foundational credential requiring peer validation and ethical commitment, whilst IAMTrusted certification is an elevated status requiring additional background checks, financial verification, and demonstrated service excellence—representing the industry’s highest standard.
AM international moving company costs vary based on volume, destination, and services, but typical American family relocations range from $3,000-$25,000 for door-to-door international moves to Europe or Latin America.
No, IAM membership is voluntary—many international moving companies operate without IAM credentials. However, non-member movers lack peer validation, ethical accountability, financial protections, and professional dispute resolution that IAM membership provides.
Other associations exist, including FIDI and OMNI. IAM is the largest, with 2,220+ members across 170+ countries, and offers the most comprehensive peer validation and global network coverage. BLUEmove is an IAM member and holds no FIDI or OMNI membership.
