Why is my package taking so long in customs?

Sometimes customs can hold on to packages for prolonged periods of time. You are very likely to receive your package at some point. Sometimes customs drags their feet. Sometimes the tracking information isn't updated and your package actually is being shipped to you.
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How long can a package be in customs?

Normally, in three business days its status would change to “Released by Customs”, meaning that the package is on its want to you. But sometimes this doesn't happen. There are two main reasons why international packages get held up in customs for more than three days.
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How do I know if my package is stuck in customs?

Check Your Mail for a Customs Detainment Letter

Check your company mail for a letter from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection department stating that your package has been detained. If the department is holding your item, officials will notify you usually within a few days but it can take as long as 30 to 45 days.
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How long does a package take to clear customs?

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.
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How long does a package take after clearing customs 2020?

Or how long does it take for the goods to clear customs? If you see the eta of the ship at the delivery port on our tracking system, normally allow a week to get your shipment cleared through customs and unloaded out of the container and then allow up to two weeks on average depending where you live for delivery.
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Why is Your Parcel Delayed - and How to Avoid It



How do I get my package out of customs?

  1. Contact your 3PL provider. Your first action should be to contact whoever has shipped your goods. ...
  2. Contact your carrier. Ensure that your shipment is actually stuck in customs. ...
  3. Find out if there are outstanding taxes. ...
  4. Ensure there is no missing or incorrect paperwork. ...
  5. Wait. ...
  6. Stuck at Customs FAQ.
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Will customs open my package?

Do customs open every package to verify information? 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.
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How long does USPS customs take?

If the package is small, the ISC can process it in just a few days. However, larger packages and parcels are often held for three or four days at the processing facility. The average wait time for a package at the ISC facility is usually about 7 to 10 days.
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How do I contact customs about a package?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  1. Website: U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  2. Contact: Contact Customs and Border Protection. ...
  3. Local Offices: Ports of Entry—Air, Land, and Sea.
  4. Main Address: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. ...
  5. Phone Number: 1-202-325-8000.
  6. Toll Free: 1-877-CBP-5511 (1-877-227-5511)
  7. TTY: 1-866-880-6582.
  8. Forms:
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How long does USPS hold international packages?

766.1 General Procedure

Post Office facilities must hold international mail items for pickup by the addressee for 30 days. However, inbound Express Mail Service items must be returned to sender after 5 days, unless the sender specifies fewer days on the piece.
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What happens if a package is lost in transit?

So what's the best way to find a “lost” package? Initiate a “dock sweep” with the carrier at each dock along the planned route. Once completed, if your parcel is not recovered you'll end up dealing with an OS&D clerk at a centralized location who can file a formal trace for you with the carrier.
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Why is USPS International so slow?

Delivery times in destination countries are slow, due to the effects of the Coronavirus on their own postal services. Route suspensions in a number of countries also heavily affect the ability of postal workers to deliver shipments like normal.
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Is it normal for a package to be held in customs?

Often, shipments are held up in customs to check that the contents of the package and the value of the goods were declared accurately. There is little that can be done to stop or speed up these random checks and attempts to such may just be a waste of time.
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Do customs work on weekends?

Except as specified in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this section, each CBP office shall be open for the transactions of general CBP business between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on all days of the year: (a) Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
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Do packages go through customs twice?

Once your package lands in its destination country, the customs part of international package tracking begins all over again. Your package will be unloaded from the plane, and a local airport worker will check it again there before it heads back into customs.
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Where do international packages go through customs?

Mail entering the U.S. from abroad arrives at a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) sorting facility (International Mail Facility). Upon initial screening at arrival, USPS sends packages to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for examination. CBP then refers FDA-regulated products to the FDA's investigators for review.
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Why is my package stuck in transit?

Basically, a “stuck in transit” message means that your shipment hasn't been scanned at any distribution depot in the last 24 hours.
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How do you know if USPS seizes your package?

Once the postal inspector receives the suspected mail, they will attempt to contact the sender or recipient and, if unsuccessful, scan it as “seized by law enforcement.” The scan is visible in the Postal Service's tracking system to the sender and recipient as well as postal personnel.
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What happens if USPS tracking doesn't update for days?

The USPS considers a package lost if tracking information has not been updated in seven days. If you are concerned that your tracking number is not updating and the package has been lost, you can place a missing shipment search with USPS.
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Why is my international package taking so long?

Shipping internationally can also take a long time not only because of the distance involved and the amount of times the packages changes hands, but because your package might get caught in the destination country's customs, where it's analyzed for whether the recipient owes taxes or duties for importing it.
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Why is my USPS package not moving?

Address Issues. Address issues are a very common culprit behind packages being delayed and not moving on to their next destination – mostly because what that next destination is supposed to be is unclear! This is why it is so hugely important to take your time when filling out your address details.
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How do I know if my package is lost?

Find Missing Mail
  1. Check the Current Status. Before you begin your search, if your package or mail has tracking, check USPS Tracking® to see its current status. ...
  2. Complete a Help Request Form. ...
  3. Submit a Missing Mail Search Request.
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How often are packages lost in transit?

More than 1 in 10 packages 'disappear without explanation' in major US cities, and it's a huge headache for retailers.
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Can I keep a package delivered to me by mistake?

As long as the merchandise is addressed to you, you may keep it. If it is addressed to someone else, then you are obligated to make reasonable efforts to either return it or deliver it to the intended recipient.
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Are international packages delayed?

Due to COVID-19, international shipping has been suspended to many countries. According to Domestic Mail Manual 604.9.2.3, customers are entitled to a full refund of their postage costs when service to the country of destination is suspended.
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