Pre-Alerting your package on your Customer Portal is easy and will allow us to provide Customs with precise information so that your Customs Duty, VAT and OPT charges would be more accurate, and you are not overcharged unnecessarily. Please keep in mind Tropical Express would have to adhere to values determined by the officers at their discretion.

So what are you waiting for? Give your package the VIP treatment it deserves—Pre- Alert it now and sail through customs like a seasoned pro!

Important details when Pre-Alerting:

Mandatory Fields: ALL fields when Pre-Alerting are required to be filled.
Pre-Alert on Time: Pre-Alerting your package BEFORE the package arrives in Miami is highly recommended. Once your package arrives in Miami you will have about 24 hours to Pre-Alert. If the time limit has elapsed, you won't be able to submit your Pre-Alert.
Pre-Alert One Tracking Number per Pre-Alert Entry: Each package must have a separate Pre-Alert.
Enter Total $US Value of Package: For each package a total value in USD is needed for actual contents of said package; the tracking number MUST correspond with the value of the items found in that specific package.
Ensure the Correct Quantity/Value of Pre-Alerted: In instances where one order is separated into multiple packages, please upload the invoice for the entire order (if there's only one invoice) BUT in the value field only enter the value of the contents in that particular package. Pictures of the item, screenshots with the order information, totals without all the listed requirements below are not recognized as an official document.
Submit Proper Invoices: Actual/ official invoices are required. Pre-Alerts without a proper Supplier's/ Retailer's Invoice are not deemed valid for Customs' valuation as there is no official document to substantiate the value. For items that have been discounted or acquired free, the invoices must still be Pre-Alerted showing the deductions, in these instances Customs will place a value on the items to determine Customs Taxes.
Ensure the Correct Tracking Number: When Pre-Alerting be sure to use the U.S. Domestic Carrier's Tracking Number and not the Order Number. Order Numbers will usually have a space/ hyphens e.g. 111-9244735-1237858. When your items are shipped by the store you will receive a tracking number issued by a U.S. Domestic Carrier (e.g. FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, Lasership etc.), this is number you Pre-Alert. Any other number will result in an invalid Pre-Alert.
Detail a Proper Description: If your package contains more than one category of items for e.g. Clothing, Shoes. Please describe the top two highest valued categories. Specific descriptions for e.g. BOLT must be used instead of a broad description for e.g. TRACTOR PART.

How to Pre-Alert?

Step 1: Enter Supplier/Retailer

Enter the store purchased from for e.g. Amazon, SHEIN, Best Buy, etc.

Step 2: Enter U.S. Domestic Carrier and Tracking Number

Select U.S. Domestic Carrier/ Shipper for e.g. USPS UPS AMAZON, DHL, etc.

Enter proper Tracking Number given to you by the store you purchased from and not the order number.

Step 3: Submit Invoice

Click the button that says "Tap to capture or browse for invoices". Search for the invoice on your computer or mobile device and select it to upload. Actual/official invoices are required.

Enter the total USD value of all items in the package. Remember, for each package a total value is needed for the actual contents of the said package; the tracking number MUST correspond with the value of the items found in that package. Correct tracking numbers (NOT the order number) and a proper invoice are essential and MUST be accurate.

Step 4: Enter Detailed Description(s)

Enter detailed and specific package description(s). If your package contains more than one category of items for e.g. Clothing, Shoes. Please describe the top two highest valued categories.

A Pre-Alert Confirmation will pop-up where you must read the disclaimer, click the box to agree with the disclaimer and click the button to confirm Pre-Alert or if you think you made a mistake you can cancel or go back to recheck the Pre-Alert.

That's it! You're done!

Disclaimers:

Liability: Tropical Express would not be liable for any charges on items that are not correctly Pre-Alerted. Tropical Express is not responsible for the amount of Duty, OPT and/or VAT charged by Trinidad and Tobago Customs and Excise and those that have been uplifted by Customs. In the absence of a valid invoice and/or accurate Pre-Alert we are not liable for the value placed on your package.
Tracking Numbers that are Changed: Sometimes tracking numbers are changed when a U.S. Domestic Carrier hands the package over to another U.S. Domestic Carrier for final delivery, e.g. from FedEx to USPS. In this case, please Pre-Alert the original US Carrier's tracking number which in this example would be FedEx. If you have ordered something internationally and it has an international tracking number, when it enters the US, it will be reassigned a US carrier's tracking number most likely from USPS. In this case, please use the new US tracking number, in this example, from USPS. Please remember, Pre-Alerts work only when the tracking number Pre-Alerted matches the one that arrives in Miami.