Ship To The US From The UK
The United States is the UK’s number one trading partner and for many UK businesses, the USA will seem like the next logical step for them to expand their customer base. There are many regulatory considerations you should make before shipping to the USA from the UK, to ensure that your products meet the necessary legal requirements and import/export laws.
You should also research each carrier you intend to use, as each will have different rules about the products they will ship and may specify packaging requirements for certain goods. World Options’ online portal makes this easy by enabling you to compare rates for shipping to the USA from the UK from carriers like FedEx, DHL and UPS; book services from more than one company; and manage all of your orders in one place.
We have also provided more specific information below about the capabilities of different carriers, restricted or prohibited items that cannot be shipped to the USA, and the relevant documentation you will need, so you can be assured that you make the right choice to meet your objectives.
International Courier Services To USA
UPS Services To The USA
UPS has a major hub located in Louisville, Kentucky USA. This enables them to provide services including:
-
Express (guaranteed time service.)
-
Express Saver — by 12:00 pm (1-5 business days – delivery by end of the day.)
-
Express — by 10:30am (1-3 business days – delivery 10:30am or 12:00pm.)
-
Express Worldwide — delivery end of the next working day.
-
Express Worldwide — before 12:00 pm.
-
Import Express Worldwide.
-
Import Economy Select.
DHL Services To The USA
From its hub in Florida, USA, DHL can offer a range of speedy shipping options such as:
- Express Worldwide — delivery end of the next working day.
- Express Worldwide — before 12:00pm.
- Import Express Worldwide.
- Import Economy Select.
Each of these delivery options will be suitable for different types of goods and for different business needs, so it’s best to research and understand the parameters of the service you have chosen to make sure it’s right for your business. However, all three carriers provide great express services for sending packets and parcels to the USA.
For larger shipments, World Options also provides freight services to the US by air and by sea, for full-load and part-load consignments. It’s important to consider your needs in terms of delivery time and cost when planning a freight shipment, as air freight is faster but much more expensive than sea freight. For more information see our freight shipping services page, or speak to your World Options account manager.
FedEx Services To The USA
- International Priority Service – parcels can reach the USA within 24 hours.
What Services Ship To The USA?
At World Options, we can offer international delivery services for documents, packages and parcels to the USA from three of the world’s largest carriers: FedEx, UPS and DHL. All three providers have express services available and can deliver parcels to the US within 24 hours in some cases for packages that simply can’t wait. On the other hand, if your needs are flexible in terms of your desired delivery date, you can benefit from competitively priced services and find the best delivery option to send a parcel to the USA at the most cost-effective rate.
What Do I Need To Do When Shipping Goods To The US From The UK?
There are many important regulations to consider when shipping a parcel to the USA from the UK, and if you fail to do so, your shipment could be delayed, confiscated or destroyed. The World Options online portal makes fulfilling some of these requirements much easier, but it’s still important to be aware of them.
For example, when shipping a parcel to the United States, businesses will be required to fill out customs clearance documentation and pay import taxes. These steps can be completed automatically when using the World Options online portal, but there are other pieces of documentation you will typically need; a full list is available below. Here, we have provided a step-by-step guide to ensuring that your parcels are delivered on time, with the right paperwork, and do not risk confiscation by US Customs and Border Control authorities.
-
Check those goods are suitable for shipping to the US
-
Declare exports to HMRC
-
Check your paperwork
-
Book the service you need
More detail on each of these stages and what you need to do to get the most from shipping goods to the US from the UK can be found below.
Checking That Your Goods Are Not Restricted
Before you plan your shipment, you should check to ensure that any goods you are sending are not prohibited or restricted according to US Customs and Border Control regulations. In some cases, this will be clear – ivory products, for example, are completely prohibited. In other cases, this may be more ambiguous – packaged food products are typically approved, but some foods carry the risk of tiny insects or other pests and may be rejected as a result.
Below, we have listed items that are generally restricted. If you are concerned about the product you intend to ship, you should consult an expert or research the specific regulations that apply in your case.
Prohibited and Restricted Items
There are some items that are completely prohibited from entering the United States, either because they are unsafe to ship, because they could contain insects or microorganisms that could threaten US ecosystems, or because they may be tied to criminal activity. If you are shipping a parcel to the USA, you should ensure that it does not contain these items; or that relevant documentation and permits are provided where necessary to import these goods.
Prohibited items include the following:
- Aerosols
- Alcohol
- Ivory products
- Animals
- Medication
- Cash
- Nail varnish
- Cars (that do not meet US environmental standards)
- Perfume
- Dairy products
- Items with military applications
- Plants
- Fish and other wildlife
- Seeds
- Fresh food
- Soil
- Furs
- Tobacco
- Gold
- Vegetables
More information about each of these categories and the specific restrictions that apply can be found at the US Customs and Border Control website.
Declaring Exports To HMRC
HMRC requires any business shipping outside the EU to make a declaration using the National Export System. You must classify the goods you are sending to the US as part of the declaration and include a commodity code and Customs Procedure Code.
Further information about how to comply with these regulations is listed on the UK government website. You can also make your declaration online or by email by registering for a Government Gateway account, which is an important step for businesses looking to export their goods on a long-term basis.
To do so, you’ll need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. You’ll need to include your EORI number on a commercial invoice when booking an international shipment to ensure efficient customs processing and clearance. If you have shipped goods from England, Scotland, or Wales to countries outside Great Britain (including Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands) before, you may already have an EORI number, but if not, you can apply for one here.
Documentation Checklist For Sending Parcels To The USA
The following documents will usually be required when you import your goods into the United States from the UK. The list below can be used as a checklist when preparing your shipment, so you can be sure you have everything covered.
-
Bill of lading
-
Binding ruling
-
Cargo release/simplified entry
-
Customs bond
-
Customs import declaration
-
Entry/immediate delivery
-
Importer security filing and additional carrier requirements
-
Manifest for aircraft
-
Manifest for vessels
Shipping Food to The USA
Certain food products are restricted, but this is usually approached on a case-by-case basis and takes into account the specifics of each individual product. However, regardless of the contents, if you are a business shipping food to the US, you must file a Prior Notice to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Further information about how to do so is available on the FDA website. If you do not do this, your shipment could be delayed, held or destroyed by the authorities.
International shipments to the USA also require a commercial invoice. This document details the goods being shipped and their value, which information can be used to assess duties and taxes for customs processing. When booking your shipment through the World Options portal, customers can create a commercial invoice with automated assistance regarding what information is required to make it easier than ever to fulfil your legal requirements for international shipping.
Booking The Right Service For Your Goods
Booking the right service for shipping to the USA from the UK will depend on many different criteria, according to your business needs. With the World Options online portal, you can find quotes for delivery services from many of the world’s leading carriers and compare based on delivery time, price or other metrics.
Whether you are sending documents, parcels or pallets, World Options can provide the service you need at the most competitive rate. Once your delivery has been booked, you can track the order at every stage of its journey and offer accurate, up-to-date information for customers, or monitor multiple orders from different carriers all through one platform.
To sign up for World Options, or to arrange a parcel delivery, fill in the form below and a member of our team will call you at a convenient time.
Testimonials
Join over 3,000 Customers
We recently had the opportunity to attend a demo session with Antonia Holden, and it was incredibly insightful.…
Very good service. The quick comparison between all the major couriers is very useful, and Chet and the…
So far I have had a good experience with using World Option for a couple of years now.…
Been using word options for years , 10/10 service , competitive rates , professional , easy to use…
We have been using World Options for a few years now and I cannot recommend them highly enough!…
Having worked with World Options for several years, I have no qualms about highly recommending the conscientious service…
The personal help and assistance, regardless of final mile carrier, is very good and much appreciated.
Steve from the Weymouth franchise has been fantastic, always there to help, nothing too much trouble. I’m really…
Great service and support from world options. Great service and support from world options and clear instructions shared…
We work very closely with Tom Kennedy at World Options and have been using them for all of…
Amazing service. I’ve been using World Options for 7 years. excellent broker. excellent service. wonderful account manager Antonia.…
I have been helped with our shipping for 8 years by Simon Douglas and Iain Hesketh. These guys…
We have been working together for years, always give the best advice, great rates and how great it…
Been working with Stephen at Weymouth Franchise for a few years and wouldn’t look elsewhere. Always available on…
Since employing World Options Ltd. I have had the most amazing service in 25 years of exporting books…
Stephen Hingley has been managing all my logistics for almost 2years. His passion for the industry shows in…
We’ve been working with World Options for years now, and their service has been nothing short of exceptional.…
Great service, much better than dealing directly with couriers when things go wrong. Alex is a star and…
Anthony S, our rep at World Options is great! We’ve been working for quite some time and I…
Worked with a certain courier on and off for the past two years, and whilst their prices were…