The customs clearance process has begun: how does it work on AliExpress?

When you buy something on this site, you need to be prepared for the fact that there may be some problems with customs.

Since a lot of people ask what “customs clearance process has begun”, we decided to consider this issue in a separate article.

Very important: to find out how the status of your purchase on AliExpress has changed, just click Here.

The process of customs clearance has begun: what is it?

As you know, every item needs to go through customs. But this does not always mean any problems with your package.

“Customs clearance process has begun” means that the order is already in your country and is going through all the necessary customs procedures. This may take place at the airport or seaport, depending on how your order was delivered.

What orders are being reviewed?

It is very rare for customs to delay someone's orders, so don't think that you are guaranteed to have problems. Especially do not worry if you have a small and light package. However, if you have a very large and heavy order, it will definitely be of interest to customs officers.

In what cases is the parcel delayed at customs?

If there was a delay in the parcel at customs, you will receive a notification - you will have the status "delayed by customs". And if you want to know more about this status and its consequences, just read our article on this topic to know what it is and what you can do.

Each country has different customs regulations: for example, the maximum amount and weight may be different. If the maximum limit is exceeded, you will need to pay tax.

If the customs office finds that the value of your package is higher than the maximum allowable amount, one of 2 situations may occur:

• Customs will need your invoice or proof of purchase to figure out what you should do next: pay duty or VAT;
• Your package can be scanned and also opened for inspection. This is necessary in order to determine the exact cost of your package.

Upon completion of all necessary procedures, you will need to pay all declared taxes. If your order exceeds the maximum volume or weight, it is best to check customs regulations before purchasing. So you save yourself from any trouble.

If you have already had an order delay at customs, just read this article: Delayed by customs on AliExpress.

FAQ

How long will it take?

Most often, your status will change after 2 days, but in special cases it may be longer - for example, several days. You should be aware that statuses sometimes update too slowly and may even immediately switch to "Pending Submission".

What if this status does not change?

After 10 days, you should send a message to the seller and contact the post office to make sure that there are indeed some difficulties with the delivery. You need to know the exact time the order was placed in order to open a dispute with the seller. Every step you take should be supported by a screenshot: tracking, correspondence with the seller, correspondence with mail, etc.

Should I contact customs?

If you have not received a message that your order has been stopped by customs or there are any problems with the parcel at the border, you do not need to send a message to the customs officers. The customs check is one of the stages that the package goes through, and most orders do not have any problems at the border.

Tags: Aliexpress