Global Link Brokerage Services

ISF FAQ

CBP recently released updated ISF FAQs. Summarized below are 6 pages of bond-related information in CBP's Importer Security Filing (ISF) FAQ for your convenience. We encourage you to review the FAQ document in full as it contains valuable information on issues other than bonding.

• CBP will enforce the mandatory bond requirement effective January 26, 2010.
• Appendix D to Part 113 of the Customs Regulations sets forth the language for the ISF bond. CBP will be amending this so that the ISF bond may be executed as either a single transaction bond or a continuous bond.
• Nearly all ISF transactions must be secured by a bond; however, CBP has identified 5 exceptions to the bond requirement: Household goods/personal effects, government and military, diplomatic, carnets, and international mail.
• An ISF Importer, or its agent, may always secure its ISF obligations by using a continuous CBP Form 301 (Activity Code 1, 2, 3, or 4), or using the ISF bond (single transaction or continuous).
• An ISF filing may only be secured by a single transaction, Activity Code 1, CBP Form 301 bond, when submitting both the entry and ISF information together in a unified filing.
• When an ISF Importer, or its agent, does not elect to obligate a continuous CBP Form 301 bond, a continuous ISF bond, or utilize a unified filing, a single transaction ISF bond must be secured.

• The continuous ISF bond is pre-filed directly with the Revenue Division's Bond Team in Indianapolis in the same manner as continuous CBP 301 filings.
• The single transaction ISF bond must be filed by email as a .pdf attachment within 12 hours of receiving CBP's approval of the ISF and receipt of the unique ISF transaction number. CBP's e-mail address for this filing is ISF_Bond@cbp .dhs.gov.
• There is no change to the current procedures for filing the CBP Form 301 bond.

• Continuous CBP form 301 bonds are sufficient to cover ISF obligations if they are sufficient for the other purposes they serve.
• The single transaction ISF bond amount will be $10,000.
• CBP will provide future guidance as to amounts for the continuous ISF bond and the single transaction CBP Form 301 when used for the unified filing.

Download the ISF information packet

Download the 10+2 and booking form