For Trash 11) U.S. Customs Forms For International Shipping

[rpbluesman]

If you have tried to mail a large parcel overseas recently, you probably have had to fill out a customs form. This can be confusing to some, so I am going to try and walk you through it.

See the scan below



First step is to check what you are sending.

For photos and SASE's, check documents.

For Gifts, obviously check gifts.

For anything else, check other.

For the Commercial Sample box, ignore it. You won't be using it

Fill in the rest of the blanks as indicated in the scan.

Unless you are sending something other than photos, you can ignore the value and weight columns.

Take this form, and your parcel to the celeb to the post office. They will attach the green part to the parcel, and they will then take the white part.

[TheCollector]

Hi rpbluesman

I thought I would post a copy of the UK's customs form which is almost identical.

In the UK we only use the sticker part which is white not green.

As you can see, all the boxes etc. are very similar and are filled out in the same way.

From the UK, you only have to use a customs form if you are sending out of the EU, so if you are sending to another european country you will not need one

Cheers!
Ian

[jonnyq]

Greetings!

So, I'd like to send a photo to be signed to an actor overseas. I should therefore include 2 IRCs, cardboard, photo, letter and SAE. I'll put all of these into a large envelope, address it overseas, pay the appropriate postage and affix the appropriate customs form.

However, what about the SAE? Does that require a foreign customs form as well? If so, is there a recommendation on how to go about obtaining one?

[rpbluesman]

Well, I'm not sure..but Imagine it might need one. As for obtaining one...you could always contact the contry's postal service, and see if they could send you some.

[Chrissy]

Hey!

This may be a silly question but, do the large orangey/brown envelopes have to go through customs as well?? After reading johnny's post i am a bit confused. Or does this only apply to the bubble envelopes that are used for parcels?

Chrissy

[rpbluesman]

Pretty sure anything other than an ordinary envelope needs a customs form.

[Chrissy]

I've just sent a letter in a orange/brown envelope without a problem. I've only had to use the form on a parcel.

Chrissy

[Larisie]

I've actually just gone through the Canada Post site and from my understanding you only need to use the customs form if its a parcel or going through one of the services, such as xpresspost or something like that. I've never heard of using the custom forms for anything else, especially for what we do. It goes through customs at the post office when it arrives to its destination.

Larisie

[Chrissy]

Thanks for clearing that up Larisie!!
I just went to the Canada Post website and read everything over. The customs forms are only used on Parcels.

Here is the link if anyone needs some help:
http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manua ... toms-e.asp

Chrissy

[rpbluesman]

WEll I can't speak for Canada Post's procedures, only USPS'