The present invention provides a congestion processing method, apparatus, and system. The method comprises: in a process of a UE performing handover from a source cell, in a congestion status, of a source access network element to a target cell, in a normal status, of a target access network element, receiving second indication information sent by a second access network element, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating a status of a second cell; sending notification information to a network side according to the indication message, wherein the notification information is used for notifying the network side to restore a status of the UE from a congestion and controlled status to a normal status. In the present invention, determining how to notify the network side and notifying the network side timely to restore the status of the UE to the normal status are realized.