ACE ISF
Does an importer have to have the ISF stand-alone bond to be an ISF Importer?
An importer does not have to have the ISF stand-alone bond to be an ISF Importer; he may obligate his active type 1, 2, 3, or 4 continuous bond.
If an agent allows his bond to be obligated, is he considered the ISF Importer with all of the liabilities associated with the ISF filing?
If an agent is submitting an ISF on behalf of another party and the agent posts his own bond, the agent agrees to have his bond charged if there are breaches of obligations regarding the filing.
How will a bond for an ISF be filed in cases where an importer or his/her agent does not have a continuous bond? How will this work? Will there be paperless single transaction bonds for ISF purposes?
The ISF Importer or his/her agent will need to obtain a bond. The ISF Importer or his/her agent may obtain a continuous bond (type 1, 2, 3, or 4) or an Appendix D stand-alone ISF bond (single-transaction or continuous).
What should I do when I file my ISF and I receive an “Accepted” message with a subsequent “Bill Not on File” message?
Every ISF must reference at least one BOL at the lowest level transmitted to CBP in ACE (i.e., house bill or regular bill). The BOL number is part of the customs manifest information that is already required to be transmitted to CBP by the carrier or ...
If the NVOCC is an ACE participant, should we file the master bill of lading instead of the house bill of lading with the ISF?
No. The ISF must be submitted at the lowest bill of lading level (i.e., house bill or regular bill) that is transmitted into ACE. If the carrier creates and transmits a regular bill of lading number on behalf of a non-automated NVOCC or freight ...
Please advise what to do if I do not have a bill of lading number at the time I submit the ISF? Often, the bill of lading numbers are not issued until after sailing.
The ISF Importer must obtain the bill of lading number, as it is an integral part of the security filing. Without the bill of lading number, the ISF cannot be matched to a customs manifest. The bill of lading number is part of the customs manifest ...
Is a bill of lading number required at the time of an ISF filing?
Yes. The ISF Importer or his/her agent must obtain this information and provide it to CBP as part of the ISF. The ISF needs to be submitted at the lowest bill of lading level (i.e., house bill or regular bill) that is transmitted into ACE. The bill ...
We have an invoice for each purchase but the people we buy from are not the actual manufacturers. Most of the people we buy from are antiques dealers, and we have 20 or 30 dealers per shipment. Do we consider the dealers as the suppliers? And if so, do we have to list every single one of them?
You will need to provide the names and addresses of all the suppliers of the finished goods (i.e., the invoicing parties).
We gather our merchandise and stuff the shipping container ourselves, and then send that container to our location in the United States where we operate as domestic sellers. Are we the buyer as well as the seller at the time the ISF is required?
To complete the scenario: We import vintage furniture and accent pieces that we buy overseas at small flea markets and street fairs. We gather our merchandise and stuff the shipping container ourselves, and then send that container to our location in ...
How is CBP tracking the changes from an ISF-5 to an ISF-10? It would be useful if a coded transaction were created to make this process a little easier for the importers as well as CBP.
To complete the scenario: In some instances, it becomes necessary to change the ISF type from an ISF-5 to an ISF-10. For example, a shipment that was going to be immediately exported (IE) to Canada upon arrival into the U.S. is actually sold to a ...
If I decide to use a flexible filing option and submit my ISF under action reason code FR, FT, or FX, will I be required to update my ISF filing?
Yes. If an ISF importer elects to use any of the flexible filing options provided for under the interim final rule, the ISF must be updated with the action reason code of CT to denote the correct or more accurate information as soon as it is known, ...
Will you allow the entry to update the ISF?
No. Stand-alone ISF transactions can only be updated by replace transactions. Furthermore, unified entry transactions will only update the ISF if the entry is replaced along with an ISF replace transaction.
What happens if I enter an ISF and then the shipment does not ship?
Withdraw the ISF by deleting it.
Can I amend the bill of lading number on the ISF?
Yes. From a transactional standpoint, the system will allow an ISF filer to update an existing ISF with a new bill of lading number. However, the ISF importer is ultimately responsible for the timely, accurate, and complete submission of the ISF.
How do I handle shipments sold on the water?
The ISF will need to be updated if the shipment is sold in transit. At a minimum, the ISF importer must notify CBP that the goods have been sold, and the party must update the Buyer (Owner) field and any other field that the party knows has changed ...
How will importers be able to amend the security filing if they do not have access to the ISF in CBP systems?
If the ISF importer used an agent to perform the filing, the ISF importer should contact his/her agent for assistance in amending the ISF.
What happens if I fire my ISF agent, but still need to update my ISF?
If an ISF importer needs to update an ISF that was initially submitted by his/her agent, the ISF importer must contact a CBP Client Representative to have the original filing cancelled. After the original ISF has been cancelled by the CBP Client ...
Are changes to the ISF after arrival at the port of discharge allowed or required?
Generally, the requirement to update an ISF terminates when the vessel calls at the U.S. port of arrival. However, CBP will not restrict updates outside of this window.
When do we have to stop amending the ISF?
The ISF must be amended if there is a change or if more accurate information becomes available before the goods enter the limits of the port of first arrival in the United States. However, if the flexible filing option (FR, FT, or FX) is used, the ...
How will service center notification be handled? For the 24-hr Manifest Rule, there were specific details that went to CBP notifying that a service center had been appointed. Namely, company name, SCAC, CBP assigned number, bond number and effective date & U.S. discharge ports that will be filed.
a. What is the process for nominating a service center for ISF filing? There is no process for nominating a party to submit the ISF. However, ABI filers may deal with their Client Representatives in establishing an account with reference to their ...
Does the filing agent for the importer have to be a licensed customs broker? Can it be the foreign freight forwarder?
A filing agent does not have to be a customs broker except for the case of a unified filing. A foreign freight forwarder can also be a filing agent.
Does the ISF filer need to be located in the U.S.?
No.
If an importer uses multiple Customs House Brokers (CHBs), can the importer select one broker to do an ISF and another to make entry (on the same shipment)?
Yes, unless the filing is a unified filing, in which case the filing must be done by a single entity.
Can we use different agents for different filings? Can our agents use both ACE and ABI to do our filings? Will this affect our filings in any way?
The ISF importer can elect to use different ISF agents for each separate filing. Also, those ISF agents may use either vessel ACE or ABI to do these separate filings. However, if a unified entry filing is being done, ABI must be used and the ISF ...
If we hire a customs broker to be our agent, do they have to be our agent for all of our ISFs during a single year?
No, each ISF is done on an individual basis. There is no limit as to how many different agents an ISF importer may use during the course of a year.
How do I find an agent who will file ISFs on my behalf?
To find an agent that will file the ISF on your behalf, please search either the Sea AMS list of service providers OR the ABI listing of software vendors (for vendors with ISF capabilities, please see column marked “ISF”). You may also wish to search ...
Will CBP create a web portal in Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) so importers can file their own ISFs in ACE?
At this time, CBP has allowed access to a web-based portal to accept ISF filings. Use of the portal is limited in scope; eligible importers may have no more than 12 filings per year. The ISF portal can be accessed through the ACE Secure Data Portal. ...
How do we get signed up for the ABI system?
Entities that want to become Importer Security Filing filers using either ACE or ABI should send email to gmb.clientrepoutreach@cbp.dhs.gov to be assigned a Client Representative.
I would like to know if customs brokers are going to be able to use the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system to do the Importer Security Filing (ISF)?
Yes.
How to obtain a U.S. Customs Bond?
You can obtain a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bond through a surety licensed by the US Department of the Treasury. Please visit the Bureau of the Fiscal Service for a list of sureties. Many Customs brokers sell bonds and are also agents for ...
How to Apply for CBP Filer Code?
If you wish to file your Importer Security Filings (ISF) directly with Customs, you will be assigned a CBP filer code. Each unique filer code has three alpha, numeric, or alpha-numeric characters. When filing the Importer Security Filings, this ...
How to file ISF 5?
For Transit Cargo, CBP requires Foreign Importers which goods are either FROB (freight remaining on board) which makes a stop at the U.S. before their final destination of arrival to the foreign port of unlading to provide 5 data elements ...
How to file ISF 10?
For US Bound Cargo, CBP requires Importers to provide 10 data elements electronically. STEP 1: In ISF 10 menu, click Create. Key in all necessary fields. Section #1 - ISF Shipment and Filer Reference Section #2 - Commercial Party Section #3 - ...
What is the difference between ISF 10 and ISF 5. Who is responsible for each type?
Under the ISF rule, before merchandise arriving by vessel can be imported into the United States, the “Importer Security Filing (ISF) Importer,” or their agent (e.g., licensed customs broker, freight forwarder), must electronically submit certain ...
What is ISF 10 - Rule?
Importer Security Filing is commonly known as 10+2 initiative which CBP regulates that requires importers and carriers to provide additional advance data to CBP for containerized cargo shipments arriving at U.S. by vessel. Importer Requirements: (ISF ...
What is ISF 5 - Rule?
ISF 5 “Transit Cargo” Effective March 15 , 2019 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin full enforcement of the ISF-5 filing requirement for Freight Remaining on Board (FROB) cargo. This will affect any foreign cargo that calls a U.S. ...
Why hasn't the S1 posted?
AMS has not been filed or there are components which causing the mismatch between the two files.
I received rejection 'INVALID BILL TYPE'. What does it mean?
As per CBP, ISFs should be filed against the lowest bill of lading denominator either the House or Regular B/L.
Are ISFs required for goods arriving in the U.S. via rail or truck? Will I need to do the ISF filing if my cargo will not be on a vessel until the point, it is leaving the United States?
ISFs are only required for goods scheduled to arrive in the United States by vessel.
Can a foreign entity be the ISF Importer?
Yes, but a U.S. entity must be provided for the consignee element.
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