Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bbud656]

There is a high likelihood that customs has my package. I am not 100% sure because they won't tell me. I switched from a prepaid phone to a regular phone recently, and they don't have my new number on file so there is no way they could contact me about my package. I had a Korean friend call them to try to find out if they had my late package and they said they need to know the 'invoice number' to look it up. They won't accept any other information. Not sure what number this is or how to find it. My biggest concern is that I am going on vacation for over a month shortly and I am worried they will auction off my package since I wont be here to claim it or pay any customs charges. Online there is some information about a 1 month deadline. Does anyone know what this invoice number is or how I can find it? My package is through the USPS.

[War Eagle]

Everything that gets shipped overseas, be it a care package or a freight container, gets a number assigned to it. For the purpose of customs it is called a Commercial Invoice Number. The shipper (whoever sent the package) can find this number on their copy of the packing statement (where they filled out your address and contents of the box).

Contact the shipper.

[FriendlyDaegu]

If Customs needs to contact you about duties on a received package, but doesn't have your number, they will send you a letter.

They letter will ask you for information about what’s in the package, how much it costs, and where you got it from.

If you call them about a package you think might be there, yes, you need to give them the tracking number. It'd be pretty hard to find without it. Being that it's USPS, though, I bet it didn't arrive yet. Get the tracking number and find out.

If you send them an email in English they will respond in English. You'll still need the invoice or tracking number to give them.

[bbud656]

According to the postal service the package left the US about 7 days ago. They don't track it once it leaves the US apparently. I'm pretty sure it is here because I ordered something from the US about a week after via the same mail option and it already arrived. Hopefully, I can contact the USPS and get the number and figure it all out

[bbud656]

Could never find the 'invoice number' I got 3 numbers out of the post office in the States and Korean Customs couldn't use any of them.
The good news: It is possible to look up your package without the number, despite Customs telling you its 'impossible' right away. You probably need a Korean to do this considering the contact information on the Korean Customs English website is in the form of a public message board.

The bad news: Package never made it to Korea, most likely was stolen by a postal employee in the US. Nice. Can't wait to live in America again.

Never send any international mail using the USPS. They have worse customer service than the TSA and pretty much take no responsibility for international mail. In fact, they can't even track it once it exits the US. Lesson learned. Wish it wasn't such an expensive one though.

[Aine1979]

Are you sure it's missing? I've had a few packages sent to me via USPS, and they've taken anything up to 15 working days to arrive.