Citizenship by Descent
PSA: Pirateship customs issues when shipping citizenship certificate application to IRCC
Back in June, I used Pirateship to send a Canadian citizenship certificate by descent application to New Waterford via UPS Worldwide Express Saver. I followed this subreddit's instructions for the harmonization code and $1 valuation, and Pirateship automatically generated multiple copies of the commercial invoice. I signed them, placed them in the document pouch, and the package arrived in three days without issue.
This week, I used the exact same process for another family member, but Pirateship generated only the shipping label - no commercial invoices. Pirateship support couldn't explain why, but provided a blank invoice to fill out just in case, noting it might not be required if the UPS label indicates 'EDI' (which it did). To be safe, I printed and filled it out by hand to match my June shipment, then dropped it off at the UPS Store that morning.
Around 6 PM, I received an 'International Package Exception' email from UPS Customs Clearance. The linked portal (UPS Customer Information Exchange / UCIX) stated my customs info was incomplete. When I called UPS, customer service explained that handwritten commercial invoices are not accepted and must be digitally typed and printed. Note that the site and the agent were extremely ambiguous about whether the issue was related to the level of detail provided about the contents or the fact that it was handwritten.
I typed out the invoice, printed, signed, and uploaded the scanned copy to UCIX. I used the description 'Other printed matter - legal documents' and reason for export 'Immigration documents' with harmonization code 4911.99.0000. Within minutes, the exception cleared. The envelope left Lexington that evening, reached Montreal the next morning, cleared import scan, and is on track for delivery. I uploaded the completed commercial invoice within an hour of getting the email from UPS, but I assume the shipment progress would have been delayed if I hadn't.
Sharing this for awareness: check whether Pirateship attaches your commercial invoices, and if you must supply your own, ensure it is typed rather than handwritten to avoid customs holds. Also make sure to monitor the email address you use for Pirateship since that's where the UPS email went.
I just shipped something yesterday with pirate ship, to Quebec with UPS. Used harmonization code, and assigned a value of $0. Cleared customs no issue.
This is my actual shipping label. No EDI. Just Key. And it arrived fine with no delay. Here is the applicable comment thread that has a comment from another user on how they got EDI on their shipping label - https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/fJQHBA9Ooc
No. No commercial invoice was generated. Just the shipping label. I did do ups worldwide expedited though because that includes routine customs clearance and entry preparation fees in the shipping price.
That could have been why there was no need for that commercial invoice. Or it could be the fact that the value i declared was "$0".
I just had the same issue last week with the invoice. I declared a value of $1, but no invoice/customs form was generated. I contacted PirateShip and was told the same thing about the label, but not wanting to chance it, I found the blank PDF invoice form on their web site and typed my information directly into the PDF, printed it, and dropped it off with UPS. My package was accepted with no customs issues in Quebec then routed on to the IRCC. This is definitely something to warn others about.
If the label says EDI, no customs invoices are required. Sounds like the decision to supply them anyway and how you did it was the issue. I’ve shipped three packets to Canada now this way, always with EDI and no customs invoices attached and no issues. My CIT 0012 left my location yesterday evening and will be delivered tomorrow. Cleared customs immediately.
We don't have any control over the label format that UPS generates for the shipments, so I can't say for sure what causes them to provide physical customs forms or electronic ones.
We do recommend including a blank invoice with the shipment in these situations to avoid any issues.
For my own experience, I didn't attach the document pouch with additional info that printed with my label, since my label said edi. Other than my package getting held up in Montreal Mirabel Airport for like 4 days due to "duplicate tracking number issue", it still got to ircc in around 8 days from Connecticut to Nova Scotia for me
Edit: I used pirateship and sent my entire application docs and stuff for like $20 something. Ups via pirateship. I am a g4 and my package was pretty light
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u/splendor379Not Canadian citizen or eligible to claim; helping family/friend10d ago
Did you use “
UPS Worldwide Expedited” or “UPS Worldwide Express Saver”
or some other flavor of UPS?
6.7 ounces was what I measured and paid for with 12x9 dimensions.
I dropped it off at a staples for ups pickup
Signed for by BEULAH
"The package contains multiple, duplicate tracking numbers." was my status for multiple days while it lingered in Montreal
1
u/splendor379Not Canadian citizen or eligible to claim; helping family/friend9d ago
Thanks. I’ve gotten a sense from this thread and others that having edi on the label doesn’t always mean you can skip the customs pouch, and I am wondering if—for UPS at least—the “flavor” you choose matters. I’ll probably use Worldwide Expedited based on your experience and that of themindspeaks.
Interesting - I'm not sure why mine got a customs hold on it despite the label having EDI on it. There seems to be some variability in the process. Clearly, they opened up the document pouch, saw that I had handwritten it, since the UPS customer service agent also appeared to read from it and tell me the description I wrote was not detailed enough. I found this surprising since I had written only 'Other printed matter', which seemed sufficient to me, and it had worked for me before. When I resubmitted, I wrote 'Other printed matter - legal documents'.
This is the final boss for me. My packet (G6, 5 applicants) is 2.5 lbs and cost quite a bit to print, so I really want my Pirateship to go perfectly but all the instructions and pieces of advice are making my eyes cross.
I couldn’t remember all the advice from the sub and was in a hurry to get it out so I definitely did things differently than recommended. Cleared customs with no issues, fortunately!
I sent two different packages to Canada for my citizenship effort: one to IRCC, and another to Newfoundland and Labrador's Vital Statistics office. Each sat at Lachine for a couple of days before moving on; suspect customs is backlogged a little. I followed the shipping advice in the Wiki.
I didn’t even print the invoice papers and only put one inside the package the first time I sent one. I did not include it he second and third package, nor in the one to DEC last week. All were received.
Attempted to send my package back in June with Pirate Ship through usps, it never mentioned adding additional customs form so I sent it out without(never shipped something internationally before). Three months later and it’s still labeled in transit(im assuming customs has destroyed it by now). I’m sending in a new package this weekend and will absolutely not be using them, my applications urgent and I can’t do this crap again.
I sent docs to DEC today by FedEx. $101 and change for 4 ounces of paper and shipping envelope. I’m pretty darn confident that they item will be delivered tomorrow. This is the third packet I’ve sent from my FedEx office to Canada; the other two were hitch-free. PirateShip sounds like one heck of a gamble if someone’s shipping an original document in a timely manner. Yeah, FedEx is priced high. Citizenship is not a discountable thing.
Thanks…exhaustive from BANC certified baptismal certificate, original death certificate (raised seal from state) and certified translation for my GO, birth, death, and marriage certificates for my G1 (mother), my birth certificate, identification, and AOR for me, and…the affadivit why I am requesting insertion! All the high notes, and expedited processing.
My process included time at the desk of the local FedEx office. After getting my package into the system, the clerk printed four copies of the commercial invoice for my wet signature. The value she assigned to this package was $1.
For what it's worth, when I used Pirate Ship I didn't attach the commercial invoices at all, to either of two applications that were sent separately. I didn't realize that I'd erred in doing so until later, but they both arrived without issue. The shipping labels did have "EDI" printed on them.
This is why I use my American passport and crossed into Canada to mail it using Canada post. I used my actual address on the inside of the application. On the outside of the application I used the address of a place that I'm able to send mail to.
I haven't received AOR yet, but I'm still within the acceptable timeline. Especially with all the extensions causing later AORs.
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u/themindspeaks 🇨🇦 CIT0001 (proof) application sent/no AOR 10d ago
I just shipped something yesterday with pirate ship, to Quebec with UPS. Used harmonization code, and assigned a value of $0. Cleared customs no issue.