After AliExpress tells you, “Arrived at Customs,” you might be joyous whenever the tracking status changes to “Import customs clearance started.”
However, this status can sometimes become a pain point whenever there are no further details past that.
Whenever there is no movement for days, AliExpress goes further to tell you, “We’re sorry, but due to high demand, shipments are taking longer than usual. We are doing everything we can to ship the order as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.”
If you see such accompanying updates, you aren’t alone. That’s where the best things end. From there, be ready for long-term pain, especially if yours was a time-sensitive package.
What Does, “Import Customs Clearance Started” Mean On AliExpress Tracking?
This AliExpress tracking status means that an item is in the recipient’s country, and undergoing clearance for compliance with importing rules and to determine any import duty charges.
When AliExpress says that this process has started, it’s not always the case, which explains why several days might pass without any new update.
They use this status shortly after saying the package arrived at the customs office regardless of whether they have handed it over to the customs staff or not.
Why Is My AliExpress Package Stuck On “Imports Customs Clearance Started?”
Wrong Tracking Status
AliExpress is notorious for using the wrong tracking statuses and this one isn’t an exception.
While claiming that the import customs clearance process has started, it could be that they handed over the item to the customs office.
Looking keenly, those are two different scenarios, as they should talk of the process starting when the customs staff have started working on the item not when they take it and keep it in a queue.
Backed-Up Customs Facilities
During peak shopping times such as around the Holiday season, backed-up customs facilities are a common occurrence.
In such moments, the custom staff-to-package ratio is always unproportionate, making the clearance process slower than normal, especially if your item is among the last in the line.
When you need to order a time-sensitive item intended for the holidays, we always recommend placing your order well in advance to avoid such delays.
Further Inspection Is Needed
Depending on what you ordered, the customs office in your country might decide to inspect your item further.
Sometimes, items that are suspected to be counterfeit or prohibited are kept aside for closer inspection, which might happen several days afterward.
The good thing is that most of the time, such packages end up getting allowed into the country as they had already undergone clearance while leaving China.
Customs Duty Needs To Be Paid
If there are customs fees, duty, and handling fees owed, items get held until payment gets made.
Again, if the items were undervalued, customs might keep aside such a package for the reassessment of the real value and calculation of all the additional duties owed.
Before that process can be completed, several days might pass, which is why the tracking status might stay stuck on that update for several days.
Missed Scan
Mostly, AliExpress doesn’t always offer updates whenever an item moves, which might make recipients think there is a delay.
Some recipients have had instances where their item ended up getting delivered, while the tracking page still showed that an item was still in the start of the customs clearance.
What Do I Do When My Item Is Stuck On This Status?
Re-track Your Item
While dealing with AliExpress, we always recommend avoiding using their default Cainiao tracking.
Instead, use free third-party tracking sites such as 17Track and Parcelsapp to get the real situation around your item. These sites are usually integrated with AliExpress systems to get the real location whenever an item makes a step toward its destination.