Moving Overseas? What You Should Know About Customs Clearance?

Shifting to a new location overseas is quite a critical task to do, as apart from packing and moving to a distant location, you need to deal with the customs clearance process. For a smooth customs clearance process, make sure that you remain organized with your documentation, do a thorough research about the requirements of the company you are moving to, and lastly, you must consider hiring a reliable moving company USA or freight forwarder in USA. They are knowledgeable and experienced in this domain, thus, they can easily undertake the customs clearance process on your behalf and make sure that you will not face any difficulty or delay in the moving process. Keep on reading the blog post to know some of the important things that you need to know for a smooth customs process.

1. Gather all the documents

It is important to gather all the documents involving commercial invoices, bills of lading, packing lists, certificate of origin, medical certificates, and any other document/s required by the destination company to submit. Do cross-check the information on your documents for accuracy as even the minor error can cause delay in your journey. It would be better to keep all your documents in an organized manner. You must also get familiarize with the HS (Harmonized System) codes, which are used for classifying goods for customs purpose. A Performa invoice is also used for providing essential information about the shipment that is required for a smooth customs purpose.

2. Research about the requirements of the destination country

When moving to a new destination, especially overseas, you need to research a bit about the particular customs regulations and requirements of the country you are moving to. There must be some restrictions over certain items and thus, you need to be aware of the same beforehand so that you will not take along with you. Determine the duty and tax obligations that they likely to impose. Research thoroughly about the potential duties and taxes that the customs department may apply to your shipment. It would be better to make pre-payment of duties and taxes as it will help expediate the customs clearance process.

3. Pick the right shipping method and company

It is essential to choose the correct shipping method for relocating your belongings to the new destination without any issue. For this, you must choose a reputed moving company or freight forwarder. It would be better if the company you choose have an experience in international moving and customs clearance. Make sure that the company you have chosen can easily handle all the aspects of customs clearance including all types of documentation, payment of duties and taxes, capability of making clear communication with customs authorities. Get quotations from different companies before hiring the final one. Compare them and choose the one that is under your budget and offers the best services as per your need. The company must be able to manage customs clearance and delivery well while avoiding anu unnecessary delays.

4. Proper packing and labelling

Do pack your belongings securely by making use of sturdy boxes and quality packing materials. Make sure that all your items remain well protected during the transit, especially the fragile ones. If you are having trouble in packing the belongings on your own, then hire someone professional to do the same. Properly label all your boxes by mentioning the item description of the contents along with a unique identification number. It is important to remain mindful of the country-specific packing rules as there are certain companies that have some particular requirements like wood packing materials, fumigation, etc.

5. Active communication with customs authorities

Do have an active communication with the shipping company and customs authorities. Make sure to stay informed about the status of the shipment and address the questions and other concerns properly. The customs officials might require any additional information or documents anytime. So, always remain prepared to offer the same promptly. In this process, a custom broker will help you well in navigating the clearance process and ensuring complete compliance with the rules and regulations. To increase the customs clearance process and transit time, make sure to have a PCA (Post-Clearance Audit).

Get Complete Information About Customs Regulations of the Destination Country

One of the major steps in simplifying the customs clearance process is by getting all the information about the country where you want to relocate. This is because each country has a specific customs requirement that you need to fulfill. It is extremely essential for you to know the specific rules and regulations related to customs before you move to the new country. The more information you will have, the better prepared you will be. Overlooking any detail or lack of information can cause serious problem in your international move.

Hiring expert International Mover

Make sure to hire the best moving company in USA like Agarwal Packers and Movers LLC to ensure that the customs clearance process gets smoothly done. They have the complete knowledge of customs, taxes, duties, and more. A professional international mover will always offer you appropriate details about the customs clearance, duties, and taxes related to the company you want to move.

Prepare the list of the restricted items

There are many items that are restricted to move to a new country. Make sure that you prepare the list beforehand so that you will not get into trouble later on. The usual items included in the firearms, hazardous items, alcohol, food items, medicines, sharp items, and similar others.

Conclusion

Moving to an international location is a critical task to do. By keeping in mind, the above-mentioned customs related information, you will be able to carefully clear the moving process by conveniently clearing the customs.