As a USPS customer, you might have seen your parcel’s delivery status turning to “Inbound Out of Customs” while expecting something from overseas, and you may need to know what this phrase means.
“Inbound Out of Customs” is a shipment delivery status update from the United States Postal Service (USPS) indicating that your package arriving from another country has successfully cleared U.S. Customs inspection and is now in possession of USPS for further delivery.
You may expect it within 3–5 days.
To provide in-depth information, we will explore what “Inbound Out of Customs” means at USPS in detail and when you may expect to receive your parcel after getting this notification.
What Does “Inbound Out of Customs” Means at USPS?
United States Postal Service (USPS) is the largest shipping service provider in the U.S. that also deals with international shipping of products.
Receiving a package from another country entails a lengthy series of steps. Hence, USPS tries to keep you informed of every progress your consignment has made with the help of a tracking system and mobile notifications.
So when you see the “Inbound Out of Customs” delivery status while tracking your international parcel, it means that your package has cleared the Customs checks, entered the U.S., and been allowed for final delivery.
After clearance, the Customs officers will hand over your package to the USPS handler, and you can expect to receive it within the next few days.
USPS provides the facility of sending and receiving mail from more than 180 countries worldwide, and on average, they process eight million international parcels daily.
Let’s discuss the processes involved in receiving a USPS parcel from abroad in the United States, why Customs stops your package, and how Customs work.
1. Parcel Reaching U.S. Customs Facility
Whenever you purchase something from an international online store or someone sends a parcel from overseas, your package will first go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for inspection before entering the U.S. and getting to the USPS facility.
USPS cannot directly collect parcels at the airport; they have to wait for Customs officials to inspect the packages for any illegal items. They will transfer the parcels to USPS handlers if nothing violates U.S. laws and regulations.
Why Do Customs Stops and Check Your Parcel?
The answer to this question is pretty simple; Customs may inspect your USPS parcel for several reasons, including:
- To verify the contents of the package and ensure that they comply with current import laws and regulations.
- If applicable, collect duties and taxes on the items in the parcels.
How Do Customs Work?
Customs officials pick up the parcels directly from the port and take them to any of the five primary International Service Centers (ISCs) in the United States to ensure the packages contain nothing illegal.
The Customs authorities use advanced technology, including X-rays, scanners, and chemical analysis, to screen parcels for security threats and prohibited items.
According to a report, more than 650 million packages are received by U.S. Customs each year.
2. Parcel Inbounding Out of U.S. Customs
Once cleared by Customs, your package is forwarded to USPS handlers, who transport it to the USPS international facility.
At this stage, the delivery status of your package changes to “Inbound Out of Customs,” which means that it is allowed to enter the U.S., and USPS is now responsible for delivering them to you.
During the inspection, a USPS official should be at the ISC who prepares the documentation for getting custody of parcels from Customs.
3. Parcel Reaching USPS Regional Facility
In the next step, your package transfers from the USPS international facility to the USPS regional facility, which sorts them out according to your city or post office.
USPS has five international facilities and 22 regional facilities in the United States.
4. Parcel Reaching USPS Destination Facility
After the categorization, the USPS international facility transfers your package to the USPS destination facility, from where it dispatches to your designated address.
The USPS destination facility is your parcel’s last station when shipped from abroad.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed what “Inbound Out of Customs” means at USPS and the processes involved in receiving parcels from another country into the United States.
We hope you understand the accurate meaning of the term “Inbound Out of Customs” and will not become worried upon encountering it while tracking your international USPS package.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do USPS Packages Stay in Customs?
USPS packages usually clear Customs checks within 24 hours. However, they can hold suspicious items for up to 45 days, excluding weekends and holidays.
Do Customs Open Your USPS Package?
No, Customs does not open your USPS packages unless they suspect something is wrong with them. Instead, they use X-ray machines and electromagnetic scanning devices to determine the contents of your parcel.
What To Do if Your USPS Parcel Is Stuck at Customs?
Unfortunately, USPS cannot help you if your parcel is stuck at Customs. Instead, you have to contact the Customs authorities or the seller directly to find the reasons behind its capture and the best way to get it out.
Does USPS Charge Customs Fees?
Mailers who send USPS packages pay for shipping, which includes the cost of transportation and delivery, and the recipient is responsible for any Customs duties, taxes, or fees levied by the destination country.
