Send a parcel to USA

Customs, Prohibitions and Restrictions

• In order to check that your items are not prohibited or restricted, please check our dedicated page here 
• For businesses shipping to the USA, certain items will require FDA approval prior to shipping especially for textiles. The prior notice number (FDA Number) must be displayed on the physical item. Customers can do this by inputting this into the reference number field on the appropriate shipping solution. For further advice on textiles: 
  • Commercial invoices should clearly break each item down into component fabric parts (cotton, silk etc) and country of manufacture for each component. 
  • HS tariff codes should also be used in their most detailed form and certificates of origin should be considered. 
• Restrictions also apply on some metal goods, antiques, china, paper products, tobacco, toys, tyres, tubes, wood products and works of art. 
• Foodstuffs are also restricted, especially on dairy products, ice cream, fruit & vegetables, sugar & syrups, peanuts and confectionery containing alcohol and / or small toys. 
• Through the postal channel, it is not possible for businesses to declare packages as gifts.  For businesses wishing to send promotional “gifts”, which do not form part of a sale, Parcelforce recommend that customers declare the category of goods as “Other”.  The customs declaration must be completed in full and accurately, including the provision of an intrinsic value (e.g. Using recognised valuation methods such as the cost of production)
• Anything has a connection with Afghanistan, Angola, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Vietnam and North Korea will probably not be cleared through US Customs and risks being returned or retained. 
• For information on items that you cannot send to the USA through the USPS Postal Service, please visit their website   
• Should you require specific customs advice and the latest rules please visit the US customs website 

This is for information only and should not be considered to have legal basis. Where doubt exists appropriate legal advice should be sought.

Bank Holidays & Non-Working Days

• Bank Holidays for this year in USA can be found here 
• Typical Non-Working Days in USA is: Sunday

Postcode Area

• USA is split into 2 Areas (Area 1 - 2) and each area has a different delivery speed - details of which can be found in the attached document. 

  US Postcodes Jul19 v1 241224.pdf (PDF 1013.39 kb) 

Additional information

High Level Standard offered by USPS

General Advice

• In order to ensure a delivery on time, please ensure that your parcel has the full, correct address including postcode (should not contain any alpha characters), an email address in the correct format and a mobile or landline number for the intended recipient. This will help the delivery partner to ensure the parcel is delivered correct first time. This should be clearly marked on the parcel.
• The USA has complicated trade restrictions in place for imports, and exporters would be wise to talk in some detail to HMRC, UKTI UKTI and their local Chamber of Commerce about their specific circumstances. 
• Timescales shown above do not include delays caused by destination country customs processes. Please be aware that customs could add additional time to your parcel delivery.

Product Specific Advice

• The definition of 'working days' and other important information can be found here

   
globalpriority ROW parcels 

• Parcels bound for Puerto Rico (PR), American Samoa (AS), US Virgin Islands (VI), Guam (GU), Northern Mariana Islands (MP), Micronesia (FM), Marshall Islands (MH) should not be sent to the USA as these will almost certainly result in delays. Please use the correct codes in our Click & Drop platform (shown in brackets) to ensure a faster service. 
• Note: There is currently no service to Palau (PW) via Parcelforce. 
• Parcels bound for APO locations must be sent in accordance with USPS / APO guidelines and addressed to the USA for onward forwarding. An APO address must also show the word “UNIT”, “CMR” (Consolidated Mail Room), or “PSC” (Postal Service Centre) and associated box number. Please ensure these items are addressed correctly prior to exporting and seek local advice on this if required. 
• Please note that parcels sent using United States Postal Service (USPS) that have had a delivery attempt will only be held for 5 days before being returned to sender.