Paperwork Sitting in US Customs?

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

So, I tracked my paperwork today via the USPS site (I had sent it express from Denmark). It arrived in Chicago a day after mailing it, November 2, and now it is just sitting there!

It has stayed on " Processed Through Sort Facility

November 02, 2012, 7:47 pm

ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)

International Letter".

Why would they hold up what is obviously a stack of papers? From Denmark none the less?

Has anybody else had this happen or know what the deal is?

I sent an inquiry to USPS because we did pay quite a bit for express mail and it was fast on Denmark's end....

[rade2rising 205]

just relax and give it some time you cannot rush the mail

[The Mean Lady 604]

Did you include a commercial invoice?

[rade2rising 205]

also forgot to say that USPS suxxxx. I had some really bad experiences with them.

use fedex or dhl in the future

[The Mean Lady 604]

also forgot to say that USPS suxxxx. I had some really bad experiences with them.

use fedex or dhl in the future

To add to this, the USPS Tracking system is TERRIBLE.

It's VERY possible it was NOT in chicago as indicated.

I've had things say they were delivered when they were not.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Did you include a commercial invoice?

A commercial invoice?

No.

It is just my I-130 paperwork put in a big envelope and marked as a letter. It was maybe 12 sheets of paper? The postman didn't indicate that I needed any special forms.

I suppose it might not be in Chicago. I'll give it some time - and my local postmaster (in CT) send she sent off an inquiry about it.

The only reason I sent it via the post was because I was at the post office that day picking up some packages already and my cold butt didn't want to take 2 bus transfers and walk some more to go somewhere else. I guess my laziness had a price.

[The Mean Lady 604]

A commercial invoice?

No.

It is just my I-130 paperwork put in a big envelope and marked as a letter. It was maybe 12 sheets of paper? The postman didn't indicate that I needed any special forms.

I suppose it might not be in Chicago. I'll give it some time - and my local postmaster (in CT) send she sent off an inquiry about it.

The only reason I sent it via the post was because I was at the post office that day picking up some packages already and my cold butt didn't want to take 2 bus transfers and walk some more to go somewhere else. I guess my laziness had a price.

A commercial invoice can sometimes still be required.

While most documents can get mailed with no issues, It's helpful to provide when shipping anything internationally.

However, USPS sort of has their own which is that green piece of paper you fill out at the post office saying what's in the package and you would have written DOCUMENTS.

As long as you gave the package to someone at the counter, I would hope they helped you fill out the info properly.

If you attached pre-paid postage and dropped it in a box, then you could have issues.

Most likely, this is probably just an issue of a sad sad tracking system.

The canada post tracking system is awesome. I was so surprised when I first used it.

I see you're from Denmark? How is it there, I've heard wonderful things about their very family oriented life style

[OriZ 3,157]

So, I tracked my paperwork today via the USPS site (I had sent it express from Denmark). It arrived in Chicago a day after mailing it, November 2, and now it is just sitting there!

It has stayed on " Processed Through Sort Facility

November 02, 2012, 7:47 pm

ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)

International Letter".

Why would they hold up what is obviously a stack of papers? From Denmark none the less?

Has anybody else had this happen or know what the deal is?

I sent an inquiry to USPS because we did pay quite a bit for express mail and it was fast on Denmark's end....

I wouldn't worry about it yet. When we sent ours(a month and a half ago) it sat there for like a week for whatever reason. Afterwards, my wife sent her ballot too(we both live abroad) and that took quite some time too.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

A commercial invoice can sometimes still be required.

While most documents can get mailed with no issues, It's helpful to provide when shipping anything internationally.

However, USPS sort of has their own which is that green piece of paper you fill out at the post office saying what's in the package and you would have written DOCUMENTS.

As long as you gave the package to someone at the counter, I would hope they helped you fill out the info properly.

If you attached pre-paid postage and dropped it in a box, then you could have issues.

Most likely, this is probably just an issue of a sad sad tracking system.

The canada post tracking system is awesome. I was so surprised when I first used it.

I see you're from Denmark? How is it there, I've heard wonderful things about their very family oriented life style

I've used that form and the carbon copy type one for shipping things to Denmark, but I couldn't find anything like that out on the counter and I hope the postman would have told me if I needed it. Sometimes Danes get distracted by listening to me speak English with my husband and kid that they forget what they were thinking.... Any time we start speaking English everything goes quiet so people can listen in. I guess that is the downside to speaking everyone's second language.

There are good and bad sides to Danish "family" life. It is great if you want to be a woman working 37+ hour weeks. It is not so good if you want to be a stay at home mother. Also, it is not good if you wish to pursue a degree while having more kids. The daycares don't accept kids until about 8 months old (versus 6 weeks in America), so having a kid means you have to take a lot of time off of school. The daycare is cheap and they can only charge 25% of cost, though. So it is very affordable. There are lots of parks, but since I've been here I haven't seen that many kids using them. The school day is over for classes at about 1 pm and young kids bicycle and ride the buses by themselves because it is safe to do so. They have a great support system in place for single mothers and I think that is amazing.

All in all, it isn't bad, but it isn't up to the standards that we came from in Connecticut. I think the vast majority of the world would be envious, though! Also, the paternity leave is pretty awesome.

I wouldn't worry about it yet. When we sent ours(a month and a half ago) it sat there for like a week for whatever reason. Afterwards, my wife sent her ballot too(we both live abroad) and that took quite some time too.

That is good to hear. I had googled it and all the stories seemed to be from people trying to get fake goods and illegal medicines/drugs in and then ISC held it for a month or something. I started to panic! I just don't want to stay in Denmark a week longer than I have to. I've got stuff to do back in America and a truck to go caress. You never realize how much you miss something until you are bicycling with rain blowing in your face in near freezing temps.

Edited November 7, 2012 by Nola123

[Ulmus 4]

I am in the exakt same situation.

We sent off our RFE response from Sweden and it has been "sorted" in Chicago on October 31, but that is still the last status update. It's been 7 full days and it is still there. I am hoping it is the USPS tracking system that is seriously crappy.

I also called the NVC to see if they had received anything but they hadn't (it takes them several days to register any mail even if they have received it, I know). I am thinking it could have something to do with Sandy hitting the area but I don't know.

Still sux that you don't know what is going on with the papers.

[ndu26 114]

I understand how you feel. You will be fine.My 130 document package was sent from Nigeria, got here within few days and sat in NY customs for about 12 days!!! before it was delivered to USCIS

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

I understand how you feel. You will be fine.My 130 document package was sent from Nigeria, got here within few days and sat in NY customs for about 12 days!!! before it was delivered to USCIS

What is the deal with USPS? I don't think they are even inspecting the things through customs, but just holding them. Bizarre.

Last night after having the postmaster submit an inquiry, it appears to have moved out of customs and just into the regular sort facility. I don't know if that is progress or not.

[ndu26 114]

What is the deal with USPS? I don't think they are even inspecting the things through customs, but just holding them. Bizarre.

Last night after having the postmaster submit an inquiry, it appears to have moved out of customs and just into the regular sort facility. I don't know if that is progress or not.

yep! very good progress. so the lockbox shd get it by end of today or tomorrow:)

[Darnell 8,479]

hey - any news on yer tracking info ?

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

hey - any news on yer tracking info ?

It eventually got delivered on Friday.

I think for next time I won't send it in a bubble wrap mailer and I'll bother the postman about customs forms. Or I just won't bother to send it express, because I think a regular letter takes about as long.