*** THE GUIDE FOR IMPORTING KATANA IN UK FROM CHINA ***
Sept 25, 2023 21:21:53 GMT
Post by jester on Sept 25, 2023 21:21:53 GMT
This is the edited version of "how to import a katana in UK" without having problems at the border.
Many (if not all) vendors in Longquan use a shipping company named Wuxi Shunsheng International (UPS China).
This company is most likely the reason many swords are seized once at the border, as they declare the goods and the value wrongly (probably to save money). This is an example of the invoice WSI sent related to my zsey (which has been seized due to this invoice being clearly wrong and costed me months of efforts to get it released).
When buying a sword from China, you must follow this guide to avoid issues with Border Force UK.
1) The documents you need to be attached outside the box:
- a declaration from the maker of "handmade sword with traditional methods"
- alternatively, your martial arts license and insurance (the more, the better)
- a declaration where you quote the UK law and the defences related to your case
You can prepare these documents yourself, email them to the sender and ask them to print and attach outside the box.
2) The invoice:
- the invoice must be correct. The price must be correct. The declaration of goods must be correct.
Since WSI tends to label the shipping invoice wrongly, you have to ask the sender to use another courier (and if they can't, DON'T buy).
Border Force does NOT accept the declaration as "handicraft articles" for a sword, you have to insist in changing that label into "handmade sword for martial arts". Also, the reason for export should not be "sample". Better to use "sale" or "personal use not for resale".
Finally, the price must be the actual value of the sword on both shipping invoice and purchase invoice.
The procedure step by step:
- buy the sword you like.
- send the vendor your martial arts license/insurance document if you have them
- ask the vendor to add a declaration of handmade sword with traditional methods
- ask the vendor to use the correct invoice with the correct value and the correct declaration of goods (handmade sword for martial arts, sale, correct value)
- DEMAND from the vendor to avoid Wuxi Shunsheng Int/UPS and ask for a picture of their invoice PRIOR to the shipping to confirm they used the correct papers. DO NOT allow "handicraft articles", demand "handmade sword for martial arts" or, at least, "handmade articles" and ask the sender to add to the invoice the correct description of "handmade sword for martial arts".
- burn some incense praying it won't end up at Stanford Le Hope
This should satisfy UK laws and avoid seizing.
Hope this helps.
Many (if not all) vendors in Longquan use a shipping company named Wuxi Shunsheng International (UPS China).
This company is most likely the reason many swords are seized once at the border, as they declare the goods and the value wrongly (probably to save money). This is an example of the invoice WSI sent related to my zsey (which has been seized due to this invoice being clearly wrong and costed me months of efforts to get it released).
When buying a sword from China, you must follow this guide to avoid issues with Border Force UK.
1) The documents you need to be attached outside the box:
- a declaration from the maker of "handmade sword with traditional methods"
- alternatively, your martial arts license and insurance (the more, the better)
- a declaration where you quote the UK law and the defences related to your case
You can prepare these documents yourself, email them to the sender and ask them to print and attach outside the box.
2) The invoice:
- the invoice must be correct. The price must be correct. The declaration of goods must be correct.
Since WSI tends to label the shipping invoice wrongly, you have to ask the sender to use another courier (and if they can't, DON'T buy).
Border Force does NOT accept the declaration as "handicraft articles" for a sword, you have to insist in changing that label into "handmade sword for martial arts". Also, the reason for export should not be "sample". Better to use "sale" or "personal use not for resale".
Finally, the price must be the actual value of the sword on both shipping invoice and purchase invoice.
The procedure step by step:
- buy the sword you like.
- send the vendor your martial arts license/insurance document if you have them
- ask the vendor to add a declaration of handmade sword with traditional methods
- ask the vendor to use the correct invoice with the correct value and the correct declaration of goods (handmade sword for martial arts, sale, correct value)
- DEMAND from the vendor to avoid Wuxi Shunsheng Int/UPS and ask for a picture of their invoice PRIOR to the shipping to confirm they used the correct papers. DO NOT allow "handicraft articles", demand "handmade sword for martial arts" or, at least, "handmade articles" and ask the sender to add to the invoice the correct description of "handmade sword for martial arts".
- burn some incense praying it won't end up at Stanford Le Hope
This should satisfy UK laws and avoid seizing.
Hope this helps.