Does customs open your box?

No, customs officers will not open up your package or packages without good reason. Every package is put through a scanner machine, or an x-ray machine, to verify that the items you are shipping match your customs forms.

What does customs look for in packages?

The US Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, is tasked with screening all of them. They're looking for anything that isn't legally allowed in the US; certain foods, animals, drugs, and counterfeit goods.

Do you get in trouble if your package is seized?

You may be subject to penalties up to the value of the genuine merchandise based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). These can be quite high and would require a separate petition filing to mitigate these fines down. Note you may not receive a penalty notice until way after the seizure case was closed.

How does a package get flagged?

Mail may be flagged if the letter or package is stained or is leaking. According to a USPS brochure, reused packaging and boxes are only acceptable when all markings and labels are removed or completely marked out.

What happens if a package does not clear customs?

If your package is held at customs, you should contact the courier company in charge of your shipment. Normally, they should be able to help you with the customs clearing process, or even, just identifying the problem. Before contact, make sure you have the tracking number to give it to the courier to check its status.

How does Customs work?

Why would a package be rejected by customs?

Compliance issues – Customs officials are known for being stringent about import regulations. Therefore, if a package contains restricted or prohibited items, if there is any missing documentation, or if there are any other trade regulation infractions, a customs official can reject the package.

How do I know if my package was intercepted?

Customer status should be provided by phone or email. Customers may also check the status of their request by looking out for the "Customer Recall" scan event using the Track & Confirm tool on USPS.com.

What makes a package look suspicious?

Common Characteristics of Suspicious Packages

Package or envelope with suspicious leaks, stains, or powdered substances. Package is rigid, bulky, or has excessive tape/string. Poor handwriting, misspellings, improperly addressed. Excessive postage, no postage, or no/strange return address.

What are 3 examples of a suspicious package?

What makes a USPS package suspicious?

Misspelled common words. No return address or strange return address. Unusual addressing, such as not being addressed to a specific person or the use of incorrect titles or titles with no name. Restrictive markings, such as “personal,” “confidential,” or “do not x-ray”

Why did customs open my package?

Every package is put through a scanner machine, or an x-ray machine, to verify that the items you are shipping match your customs forms. They will, however, instantly open up a package if it is damaged, has irregularities (a.k.a. is not consistent with your declaration form), or if you are a part of a random checking.

What happens if U.S. Customs seizes your package?

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer that seized the property should have forwarded the case to the appropriate supervisor for approval within 24 hours. The case is then referred to the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures (FP&F) office within three working days.

Can I ignore customs seizure letter?

Keep in mind that you are NOT required to wait on the letter from Customs before filing the verified claim for court action. If you have no claim to the item seized, then you can simply ignore the customs seizure letter and allow CBP to take the property.

Do customs open all packages?

Customs has a right to open parcels and inspect them in detail. As you can imagine, this may compromise the appearance of the gift and damage gift wrap.

How do you know if you are flagged by customs?

There are signs that will indicate you have been flagged for additional screenings: You were not able to print a boarding pass from an airline ticketing kiosk or from the internet. You were denied or delayed boarding. A ticket agent “called someone” before handing you a boarding pass.

How long does it take for customs to inspect a package?

How long does custom clearance take? Typically, customs clearance takes less than 24 hours, however, there are times where it can take several days or weeks for goods to be inspected. When is customs clearance needed? Customs clearance is necessary for all packages entering the U.S. from other countries.

What are the 4 C's for suspicious packages?

When dealing with suspicious items apply the 4 Cs protocol: CONFIRM, CLEAR, COMMUNICATE AND CONTROL.

Can USPS open suspicious packages?

If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mail piece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

What does suspicious activity look like?

Suspicious activities or behaviors may include, but are not limited to: Wandering around campus areas attempting to open multiple doors. Seeming nervous and looking over their shoulders. Entering restricted areas when not authorized or following immediately behind others into card-access areas while the door is open.

What is one example of a red flag a package with?

Misspelled words, badly typed or written lettering, restrictive markings and no return address could indicate trouble. Labels could be a red flag. If a package is sent with an incorrect title or addressed to a title only, it has the potential to be dangerous if opened.

Can USPS look inside your package?

If the package is not classified as Priority Mail Express™ service (domestic or international), Priority Mail® service, First–Class Package Service™, or an international letter package, it may be opened and its contents examined.

What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package?

This means that if there an illegal act is committed through the USPS system, it is classified as a felony. Both the drug sender and recipient will face penalties. If the recipient was aware that the package contained illicit substances, then they are considered just as guilty as the person who mailed it.

What packages can be intercepted?

For a fee, USPS Package Intercept^® lets the sender or recipient stop delivery or redirect a package, letter, or flat that is not out for delivery or already delivered. Most domestic mailings with a tracking or extra services barcode are eligible for Package Intercept.

What happens if your package gets intercepted?

All intercepted items, except those being returned to sender, are relabeled as new Priority Mail® pieces. Once intercepted, they are redirected at the applicable Priority Mail postage rate. You pay all fees ONLY if an intercept was possible.

How do you know if USPS seizes your package?

You should track the progress of the package whether it is a courier or a postal service, on their website. If it is being detained by customs, for whatever reason, it will show in the tracking. The reason for detention will not be displayed, but the hold will show.