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Commercial goods arriving into the U.S.
by air, land, or sea

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are subject to import laws,
duty taxes, and fees.

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What are some examples
of commercial goods?

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A purse bought online
from a retailer in Italy.

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Glasses manufactured
by a factory in China.

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Or even a souvenir
sent back to the U.S.

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but purchased
while traveling abroad.

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To lawfully enter foreign imports
into a U.S. port of entry,

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which can be air, land, or sea,
you must obtain approval from CBP

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through the import process,
which varies based on the merchandise.

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You should always reach out
to a CBP import specialist

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at the Center of Excellence
and Expertise

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before importing into the U.S.A.

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Let's take a closer look
at the CBP import process.

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The first step is when someone
purchases foreign goods

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with plans to have those items
come into the U.S.

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Once those goods are available,
the seller, or manufacturer,

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ships them to the United States.

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For example, small shipments
may be consolidated into a container

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or sent by airplane, truck, or rail.

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These smaller packages are often
cleared through the CBP import process

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by logistics companies
hired by online sellers

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and may arrive right to your door.

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Larger shipments
are loaded into containers

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and placed on different modes
of transportation.

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When the vessel operator
receives the goods,

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they provide the shipper
with the bill of lading,

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which serves as a receipt.

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This is required for the importer
to file an entry with CBP.

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An Electronic Cargo Declaration
must be transmitted to CBP

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twenty-four hours before the cargo
is laden aboard the vessel.

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CBP then determines whether the shipment
requires further examination upon arrival.

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Once the vessel arrives and CBP
has permitted the release of the cargo,

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the containers are offloaded
and transported from the port.

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The importer receives a notice of arrival
when the cargo arrives

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with details for pick-up.

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With the notice of arrival
and bill of lading,

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the importer can file entry documents
with CBP

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at the port where the goods arrived.

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This is the Formal Request
for Customs Release.

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The importer may enter goods
themselves as owner of the cargo

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or they may hire
a customs broker.

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As a shipper of goods,
you may elect to have a broker.

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Brokers are licensed by CBP
and are experts in these procedures.

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A list of customs brokers
can be found on CBP.gov.

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Within 15 days of arrival,
an electronic filing must be completed

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on the Automated Commercial Environment,
or ACE system.

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Depending upon the situation,
the importer may need to present

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other documents,
such as a customs bond,

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which is a contract between customs
and an importer

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for any given import transaction
to guarantee payment

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of import duties, taxes,
and fees to the U.S.

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While there are different types
of entries, it's important,

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especially for first-time importers,
to be aware of several key concepts.

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Let's review some of them now.

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Types of entry: formal entries
and informal entries,

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including packages that qualify
as Section 321 shipments.

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The documents for each entry
type have separate requirements.

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An informal entry may involve
goods valued less than $2,500,

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while a formal entry covers
goods valued at $2,500 or more;

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though just the value may not be
the only determining factor of entry type.

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Formal entries also require
a customs bond.

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Duty on formal and informal
entries is assessed based on

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how goods are categorized in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S.

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Other processing fees
may be assessed as applicable.

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Importers are not required
to pay duties or fees

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on goods less than $800
and qualify as Section 321.

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If goods are selected
for examination,

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CBP will inspect the shipment
to determine if they’re admissible.

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If applicable, they will be detained
and may be seized.

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In some instances, importers may
be permitted to re-export the goods

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or they may be brought into compliance
upon determination

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that all import requirements
have been ultimately satisfied.

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Once the goods are released
with all duties, taxes, and fees paid,

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and the CBP Form 7501
filed electronically

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within ten working days
from the release date,

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the importer may pick up the goods
at a destination arranged with the shipper.

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In some instances, CBP may choose
to conduct an entry review.

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This may result in a duties refund,
additional duties,

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or a request
for additional documentation.

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The final step is known
as liquidation process,

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which occurs when CBP finalizes
the duty assessment.

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When liquidation is finalized,
the entry process is complete.

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However, importers must keep
all documentation for five years.

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More detailed resources and
helpful guides can be found at CBP.gov.