If you’re expecting an international package via UPS, you receive a ‘clearance in progress’ update on the tracking page of your package then it can be quite annoying for you if you don’t know what it means.
Every international package needs to go through customs to verify its content and to check all the proper documentation attached is authentic and genuine. It’s a standard procedure that is to be followed so no illegal or prohibited item can enter the destination country.
In the article, we have provided all the information that you should know if you have got this clearance waiting update from UPS.
What’s the Meaning of Clearance in Progress status?
Clearance in progress status means that your package has safely arrived in the destination country and now it’s undergoing the custom inspection to get the clearance. During the inspection, the content of the package will be examined along with the documentation provided with it and if everything goes alright the package will be released back to its normal journey.
The status indicates your package has been received by customs and it will be released within a few days if there is nothing wrong with your package.
Does something is wrong with my package if I have got this clearance status?
No, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong with your package. It means that customs officials are verifying and inspecting the content of your package to ensure that no prohibited item enters the destination country.
If you’re sure that your package doesn’t contain anything suspicious then the status will remain for a few days and the package will get customs clearance and will be released back to the shipping carrier to make the final delivery.
But if the officials find something suspicious with either the papers or the content of the package then it will be held up and you have to provide additional information and prove that your package is safe and does not contain anything prohibited.
How long does it take to get Customs clearance with UPS?
There is no ideal time frame during within which a package will get the clearance. But in most cases, it takes less than two days to get the customs clearance. Keep in mind that it’s not a standard time it can vary from package to package and also depends upon the situations of the customs facility like shortage of staff, heavy workload, heavy volume of packages, and a lot more.
It has been noticed that some packages even take less than a few hours to get clearance while others may take up to weeks if they require any further inspection.
Once your packages get the clearance, they will be released back to the shipping carrier to continue their journey and your tracking status will change to “Clearance processing complete”.
Why does a Package get the ‘Clearance Progress’ status?
Clearance in progress means your package is undergoing inspection at the customs facility where the contents of the package are being reviewed by the officials. There can be a bunch of reasons why your package got this clearance status here we have discussed a few of them:
Customs Inspection: It’s a standard procedure where all international shipments are inspected to ensure that they comply with the rules and regulations of the customs laws at the destination entry. It also helps to verify the content and access any applicable tax duties that are yet to be paid.
Documentation Review: Custom officials may be reviewing the documentation of your package to verify its authenticity. So make sure all the commercial invoices, permits, certificates, and licenses are provided with the package so it can get processed easily without facing any trouble.
Clearance Backlog: In some rare cases, if there is any delay in customs clearance either due to a shortage of working staff or due to a high volume of packages then it can also be the reason why our status remains stuck on the same status for days or even weeks. In this condition, you can’t really do anything you just have to wait until the long queue of the packages is cleared up.
Additional Information Required: If customs authorities require additional information or documentation to complete the process your package may remain in “Clearance in Progress” status until the necessary information is provided.
If you think that’s the issue with your package then you need to contact your shipping carrier and know what is wrong with your package. Provide them with the required information so that your package can get the clearance as soon as possible.
Things to Keep in Mind to Expedite Your Custom Clearance Process
These are the following things that you can do to get customs clearance without any trouble or delay.
Provide Accurate and Complete Documentation: Make sure all the important documentation of your package such as commercial invoices, package listings, and certificates of origin are accurate and properly filled out.
Double-check all the information and make sure they are correct and formatted according to the customs requirement. It will help your package to get the clearance as soon as possible without facing any delay.
Include Detailed Descriptions: Don’t forget to provide a detailed description of your package, describing all the things like the content of the package, quantity, material type especially the purpose of use. So, that the officials know why your item is being imported into the country. It will help your package to get customs clearance a lot faster.
Classify Goods Correctly (HS Code): Harmonised system codes are used for the goods to classify and calculate the applicable tax and duties on your package so make sure you have filled them correctly without any mistake. If you have chosen the wrong HS code then your package might get held up and you have to face a delay for weeks until the issue is resolved.
Prepay Duties and Taxes: If possible prepay your taxes and duties whenever you are expecting an international package otherwise it can cause you great trouble during customs clearance. There have been numerous cases where the package has been held up for weeks until all the taxes and duties are paid so if it is possible for you make sure all of the applicable taxes are paid in advance.
Provide Contact Information: Make sure the package has both the sender and recipient’s information including the phone number, email address, and name. if anything is missing from your package, officials can contact anyone of you to retrieve the required information.
Comply with Regulations: Whether you’re sending or expecting an international package make sure it doesn’t contain anything prohibited or illegal item otherwise you might have to face some trouble.
If the officials find something suspicious then a package will be held up for the inspection which is definitely going to take a lot of time and your package will remain in the facilities for weeks until it is processed.
Respond Promptly to Requests: If customs authorities or the shipping carrier requests you to provide additional information or documentation, Try to provide it as soon as possible to avoid any delay.
Utilize Customs Brokerage Services: If your time-sensitive package has been stuck in the custom processing then you can go with the custom brokerage service offered by the shipping carrier or any 3rd party provider.
These custom brokers can help you navigate the complex customs procedures and can help your package to get clearance as soon as possible.