USPSUSPS tracking
America's postman hands over to Royal Mail — one number, two trackers, and a customs fee to watch for.
A USPS parcel to the UK is not delivered by USPS at all in the UK. Under the worldwide postal system the destination country's own post takes over — here that is Royal Mail — and your job is to switch websites at the right moment: USPS for the American leg, Royal Mail for the British leg.
Track your USPS parcel
Enter your USPS tracking number below.
13 characters — two letters, nine digits, then US, for example EC123456789US. Domestic US numbers are 20–22 digits starting with 9.
The parcel that changes postmen mid-ocean
A parcel posted in the USA travels with USPS to the airport, is flown across the Atlantic in a container, clears UK customs, and is then handed to Royal Mail for the last mile. The tracking number does not change at the handover: the same 13-character S10 number (for example EC123456789US) is the number Royal Mail's system recognises.
That is why USPS tracking can go silent for days after the last American scan (“Processed Through ISC”). The parcel is containerised, flown, unloaded at Heathrow, presented to Border Force and then sorted by Royal Mail — and none of that produces a scan. Silence in that window is usually the plane and customs, not a lost parcel.
One exception proves the rule: Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) is carried by FedEx end-to-end, so a GXG parcel never touches Royal Mail at all. If your “USPS” parcel is being delivered by a FedEx courier, it is almost certainly GXG. Check the FedEx page for that leg, and the Royal Mail page for everything else once the parcel is in the UK.
Your USPS tracking number
13 characters — two letters, nine digits, then US, for example EC123456789US. Domestic US numbers are 20–22 digits starting with 9.
Example format: EC123456789US — that is a shape, not a real parcel. Enter your own number exactly as the sender gave it: a single wrong letter is the most common reason a tracker says “not recognised”.
You will find the number on the sender's Post Office receipt, in the shipping confirmation email, on the label barcode, or on the seller or marketplace order page. A shop order ID is not a tracking number — ask the seller for the USPS number. The two opening letters show the service: EC is Express, CP is Priority Mail International, RA is Registered, EE is EMS.
⚠️ Customs: the Fee to Pay card
Royal Mail pays HMRC any import VAT or duty on your behalf, then sends a Fee to Pay card or letter showing the amount — including an £8 handling fee for Royal Mail products. Pay at royalmail.com/pay-a-fee with the details on the card; the item is not released until the charges are paid in full. Import VAT applies to goods (except gifts worth £39 or less); customs duty applies above £135. Letters, postcards and documents-only parcels are normally exempt.
USPS services & delivery times
Date-certain express with a money-back guarantee to 190+ countries. International transport and delivery are provided by FedEx Express — a GXG parcel never touches Royal Mail.
Express international to 180+ countries, tracking included, money-back date-certain guarantee to selected destinations.
The everyday US–UK parcel service, to around 180 countries, tracking included, up to $200 merchandise insurance included. Flat Rate boxes and envelopes available; max 70 lbs.
Cheapest service, for packages up to 4 lbs and $400 contents value. USPS publishes no delivery time for it — it varies by destination. Tracking is limited: free delivery confirmation exists only for selected destination countries, so scans may stop even while the parcel is moving.
Delivery aims are the courier's stated aims for the service, not guarantees for every parcel. Bank holidays, bad weather and busy periods (especially Christmas) can add a day.
Times are USPS's stated aims for major markets, not guarantees — actual days vary by origin, destination and customs delays. Every parcel needs a customs declaration (PS Form 2976 / 2976-A), completed by the sender; a missing or wrong declaration is a common cause of UK customs holds.
What each USPS status means
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Shipment / Label Created | The sender bought a label; USPS has no scan yet. | Wait — ask the sender if it sits here 3+ business days. |
| USPS in Possession / Accepted | USPS has scanned the parcel in at a facility. | Nothing to do — the parcel is in the network. |
| Arrived at / Departed Facility | Scanned at a sorting centre, moving to the next one. | Nothing to do. |
| Processed Through ISC | Scanned at an International Service Center (e.g. New York, Chicago, Miami). For UK-bound parcels this is the last US scan before the flight — it does not mean customs has cleared it. | Expect silence for days while the parcel is containerised and flown. Check Royal Mail once it should be in the UK. |
| In Transit, Arriving Late | Past the estimated date. | Give it 2–3 more business days before escalating. |
| Out for Delivery | With the local carrier, expected that day (in the UK this scan comes from Royal Mail). | Be ready — delivery is today. |
| Delivered | Delivery scan recorded. | If Royal Mail shows delivered and nothing arrived, check safe places and neighbours, then follow the Royal Mail delivered-but-not-received steps. |
| Notice Left | Delivery attempted, nobody available; redelivery or pickup needed. | In the UK this is Royal Mail's “Something for you” card — follow the instructions on it. |
| Alert | Something interrupted delivery. | Read the detail line shown with the event and act on it. |
| Return to Sender | USPS could not complete delivery; the parcel is heading back to the US sender. | Contact the sender — the parcel is on its way back to them. |
These are the usual tracking labels as documented by independent tracking sites — USPS publishes no status glossary of its own, so treat these as meanings, not USPS's own published wording.
Parcel stuck or delayed — what to do
- Check the number first: 13 characters, two letters + nine digits + US for UK-bound parcels. A shop order ID will not work. Allow up to 24 hours for the first scan to appear; if it never moves past “Label Created”, only the sender can check with USPS — the recipient cannot raise a USPS enquiry.
- Tracking stopped after “Processed Through ISC” or after leaving the US: this is the normal containerised gap. Switch trackers — enter the same S10 number on Royal Mail Track Your Item. If Royal Mail shows nothing yet, the parcel has not been processed in the UK; wait, do not assume it is lost.
- Allow the full service aim plus customs time: Priority Mail International's 6–10 business days is the USPS aim before UK customs, and a customs hold adds days nobody can predict.
- Royal Mail shows a customs hold or “Fee to pay”: Royal Mail has paid HMRC on your behalf and sent a Fee to Pay card, including its £8 handling fee. Pay at royalmail.com/pay-a-fee — the item is not released until charges are paid in full.
- If the parcel is genuinely missing: a Missing Mail search can be submitted starting 7 days from mailing, at missingmail.usps.com — but only the sender can file it. A UK recipient must ask the sender to do it. If the parcel was insured, a claim must be filed immediately and no later than 60 days from the date of mailing.
- GXG parcels are different: they are delivered by FedEx, not Royal Mail — follow the FedEx page, not the Royal Mail one.
- UK side: if Royal Mail Track Your Item shows nothing and the sender's USPS enquiry has run its course, Royal Mail's help page says the sender's postal authority (USPS) contacts Royal Mail on the recipient's behalf — Royal Mail will not open an investigation from the recipient directly.
More detail: Parcel stuck in transit — the full step-by-step guide.
Redelivery and collection — US options end at the border
While a parcel is still with USPS in America, USPS offers free redelivery (online, by phone, or by signing the delivery form), Hold For Pickup at a local Post Office, and USPS Smart Lockers (5 calendar days in the locker, then 10 more days at the retail counter). A UK recipient will rarely use any of these.
Once the parcel is with Royal Mail, none of the USPS options apply. Redelivery, collection from a Customer Service Point or Post Office branch, and neighbour or safe-place delivery are governed by Royal Mail's rules — see the Royal Mail page. Royal Mail leaves a “Something for you” card when nobody is in, and a parcel with a fee to pay is held until the fee is paid. For GXG parcels, FedEx redelivery and collection rules apply instead.
Contact USPS
Customer servicesUSPS customer service (USA), Mon–Fri 8am–8:30pm, Sat 8am–6pm Eastern Time — 1pm–1:30am UK time in winter. From the UK dial +1 800 275 8777; check international call charges first — a US toll-free number is not guaranteed free or reachable from the UK. For the UK leg, contact Royal Mail.
If you are the recipient and the parcel is lost or damaged, contact the retailer/sender first — most couriers only accept claims from the sender.
USPS tracking — FAQs
Why has my USPS tracking stopped updating?
Most often it is the handover gap: after the “Processed Through ISC” scan the parcel is containerised and flown to the UK, with no scans until Royal Mail processes it. Check the same number on Royal Mail Track Your Item — if Royal Mail shows nothing yet, it has not reached the UK. Give it the full service time (Priority Mail International is 6–10 business days) plus customs time before worrying.
Can I track my USPS parcel on Royal Mail's website?
Yes. Once it reaches the UK, enter the same 13-character number (e.g. EC123456789US) on Royal Mail Track Your Item. USPS tracking covers the American leg; Royal Mail covers the British leg. Royal Mail's own help page says you can track an item from abroad once it is in the UK.
What does my USPS tracking number look like?
For parcels sent to the UK it is 13 characters: two letters, nine digits, then US — for example EC123456789US. EC is Express, CP is Priority Mail International, RA is Registered. Domestic US numbers are 20–22 digits starting with 9.
Do I have to pay customs charges on a parcel from the USA?
Possibly. Import VAT applies to goods (except gifts worth £39 or less); customs duty applies above £135. Royal Mail pays HMRC on your behalf and sends a Fee to Pay card — the amount includes Royal Mail's £8 handling fee. Pay at royalmail.com/pay-a-fee; the parcel is not released until you have paid.
Who do I contact — USPS or Royal Mail?
It depends on where the parcel is. USPS (1-800-275-8777, US hours) for the American leg — but only the sender can raise a Missing Mail search with USPS, so contact the seller first. Royal Mail for anything after UK arrival, including Fee to Pay and missed delivery.
Track with another UK courier
Not USPS after all? Your parcel may have changed hands — check the other couriers: