What does “ISC Chicago IL (USPS)” mean?

The ISC Chicago USPS is one of the most important mail distribution centers of the United States Postal Service. It is one of the largest and busiest in the country. Domestic and international packages are received through this center, and the flow of shipments fluctuates.

Amidst all this movement, USPS should inform you of the current status of your package in real-time. If your tracking waybill shows the message “ISC Chicago IL,” it may raise questions about the status of your shipment. Here’s what you need to know.

Where exactly is ISC Chicago, IL?

The International Service Center Chicago is located in Illinois, Chicago. Why Chicago, IL? This U.S. Postal Service processing center is close to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, making it a perfect location for what it does.

It is not uncommon to see U.S. Postal Service trucks moving through O’Hare International Airport throughout the day, as it is only a 12-minute drive away.

What does ISC Chicago IL mean in my tracking package?

If, at the time of tracking your package, the message appears that it is at ISC Chicago, it means that the package is at or on its way to the International Service Center in Chicago.

The ISC Chicago works with domestic and international mail. However, its largest workflow is with mail destined overseas or entering the country from another country.

Its workload is very high because only five processing centers in the U.S. Postal Service have the machinery and staff capacity to handle large international mail flows.

I don’t live in Chicago; why is my package in ISC Chicago?

It is normal if you live in Chicago for your package to go through ISC Chicago; however, if you do not live in Chicago, why does it appear that my package is in Chicago?

Since there are not as many processing centers capable of handling the volume of international mail, the USPS will automatically decide to send the package to the Chicago International Service Center for the necessary customs inspection.

So don’t worry if your package is in Chicago and you are not from there; the particular post office is in that state. It is common for courier companies to set up the international service process to be handled at the ISC Chicago.

What is the work of ISC Chicago IL?

The ISC Chicago, IL, is responsible for inspecting packages before they enter the United States and then forwarding them to USPS post offices for processing and distribution.

The purpose of ISC Chicago IL is to ensure that the package received is not importing any illegal items into the United States and to verify that the sender has paid all import duties required by the state.

These processes are handled by customs brokers, who will verify everything necessary before clearing the package to the United States.

How long will my package stay at ISC in Chicago Take?

The process inside ISC Chicago is usually fast; this is a massive processing center because of the number of packages that come in and out daily. A customs check should take no longer than 48 hours from arrival and even faster.

Cases that take longer than 48hrs

In some cases, a package may be held longer than the regular 48 hours; in some cases take two weeks to be processed at customs. These are unlikely but possible scenarios. If your package takes 48 hours, don’t worry, it will be out soon.

What do I have to do if my package is in ISC Chicago?

The International Service Center Chicago is not a U.S. Postal Service facility for public use. This means that you cannot enter the center to inquire about the status of your package.

On the package tracking waybill, USPS informs you that your package is under customs inspection. Therefore, you must wait for the customs agents to finish checking the package before it can be released into the country.

If more than two weeks have passed and the package is still at the International Service Center in Chicago, we recommend you call to make sure there is no legal problem with your package at customs.

One point that may be of concern is that the package’s status in the tracking guide is not updated for days. However, it does not mean that the package is at a standstill. USPS cannot know what stage of inspection the package is in, so it cannot update the status.

Who do I contact If my package is at ISC Chicago for too long?

As mentioned above, the Chicago International Service Center is not open to the public, so ISC Chicago will not contact you directly if there is a problem.

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service does not have the means to track where your package is at customs, so they will not be able to inform the recipient if something irregular is occurring with your package.

The ISC will contact the sender of the product if they need to corroborate any information. Therefore, we advise you to contact the sender if you believe the package is taking a long time in customs, who may have news of the status.

If you have not contacted them, the sender may contact ISC Chicago or the carrier, who may be able to provide you with some information about the package.

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