If you import goods into the United States by ocean, an Importer Security Filing (ISF) has to reach U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before your cargo is even loaded on the ship. A late or wrong ISF can lead to a $5,000 claim for each violation, so it is worth getting right every time.
What is ISF (10+2)?
The ISF is advance cargo information that CBP uses to screen ocean shipments before they head to the U.S. The rule is found in 19 CFR Part 149. It is called "10+2" because the importer provides 10 data elements and the ocean carrier provides 2 more (the vessel stow plan and container status messages).
It applies to most cargo arriving by vessel. Bulk cargo is exempt, and break-bulk cargo has its own timing rules. Air, truck, and rail shipments do not require an ISF.
The 10 importer data elements
- Seller
- Buyer
- Importer of record number / FTZ applicant identification number
- Consignee number(s)
- Manufacturer (or supplier)
- Ship-to party
- Country of origin
- Commodity HTSUS number (at least 6 digits)
- Container stuffing location
- Consolidator (stuffer)
When is the ISF due?
Under 19 CFR 149.2, the first eight elements must be filed no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded aboard the vessel at the foreign port. The container stuffing location and consolidator may be sent later, but no later than 24 hours before the ship arrives at a U.S. port. If anything changes before the goods arrive, the ISF must be updated.
The key point: the clock runs from loading at origin, not from arrival in the U.S. By the time a vessel is on the water, a missed ISF is already late.
What happens if the ISF is late, inaccurate, or missing?
The importer's customs bond includes a condition (19 CFR 113.62) to file security information on time and accurately. If that condition is broken, CBP can claim liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation. A single shipment can involve more than one violation, for example a late filing and an inaccurate one. CBP may also hold cargo, which can mean exam and storage costs.
CBP can mitigate claims depending on the circumstances, but the safest plan is to avoid them altogether.
How to avoid ISF penalties
- Start before booking is final. Ask your supplier for the manufacturer name and address, the HTS number, and the expected stuffing location as soon as the order is placed.
- Have a continuous or single-transaction bond ready. The ISF must be covered by a bond. Arrange it before the first shipment.
- Confirm the loading date with your forwarder. Work backward 24 hours from the time the cargo is laden at origin.
- Use the real manufacturer. The ISF asks for the party that makes or assembles the goods, not just the trading company that invoices you.
- Update when things change. If the container, consolidator, or details change before arrival, send an update.
- Keep one point of contact. Gaps between supplier, forwarder, and broker are where most ISF problems start.
Need help with your ISF?
DM CUSTOMS files ISFs and handles customs clearance from Miami, FL for ocean shipments arriving at U.S. ports nationwide. You get fast service and dedicated attention on every filing.
Contact DM CUSTOMS or call (786) 444-9167