ISF Filing (10+2) for US Ocean Imports

The Importer Security Filing, or “10+2”, is the advance cargo data U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires for every shipment arriving in the United States by ocean vessel. The importer side files ten data elements before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port, and the carrier adds two: the vessel stow plan and container status messages. There is no ISF for air freight.

No later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port (19 CFR 149.2(b)). That is 24 hours before loading, not before sailing or arrival, so in practice the data is due by the origin documentation cut-off. Two elements, the container stuffing location and the consolidator, may be sent later, but no later than 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a US port.

The ten importer elements (19 CFR 149.3(a)) are: 1. seller; 2. buyer; 3. importer of record number; 4. consignee number; 5. manufacturer or supplier; 6. ship-to party; 7. country of origin; 8. commodity HTSUS number; 9. container stuffing location; 10. consolidator (stuffer). The “+2” are the carrier’s vessel stow plan and container status messages. The filing quotes the lowest-level bill of lading, which for NVOCC cargo is the house bill.

The ISF Importer, the party causing the goods to arrive in the United States by vessel, such as the owner, purchaser or consignee (19 CFR 149.1), is responsible for it. It may file through an agent. Airlift, as the FMC-licensed NVOCC on your shipment, files the ISF itself for the ocean shipments it books, from the same file as your house bill of lading. You stay responsible for the data being correct, so we check it with your supplier before filing.

CBP can claim liquidated damages of $5,000 for each ISF violation against the bond (19 CFR 113.62(j)). CBP’s guidance lists a claim per late ISF, per inaccurate ISF, per inaccurate update and per failure to withdraw an ISF (CBP Dec. 09-26). If cargo arrives with no ISF at all, CBP may withhold its release until the ISF information is received. CBP also warns of increased inspections and delays for non-compliance.

ISF-10 is the normal filing for goods entering the United States: the ten elements above. ISF-5 is for cargo that is only passing through: freight remaining on board (FROB), immediate exportation (IE) and transportation and exportation (T&E) in-bond shipments. It has five elements: booking party, foreign port of unlading, place of delivery, ship-to party and commodity HTSUS number (19 CFR 149.3(b)). For FROB the carrier or NVOCC files it, any time before lading; for IE and T&E it is due 24 hours before lading.

Yes. The ISF Importer must hold a bond (19 CFR 149.5(b)), and the bond is what CBP claims liquidated damages against. CBP’s ISF FAQ says a stand-alone ISF must be secured by a continuous bond, such as a continuous customs bond, or by a dedicated ISF bond, continuous or single transaction. A single entry bond covers the ISF only when the ISF and the entry go in one combined filing, and then it must be increased to cover the ISF. Importers with regular ocean shipments usually carry a continuous customs bond, which covers both the ISF and every entry; for a one-off shipment, a single-transaction ISF bond alongside a single entry bond for the entry. Your customs broker or a surety agent arranges it in your name.

Element 3 of the ISF is the importer of record number: the IRS employer identification number, Social Security number or CBP-assigned number of the party liable for the duties and responsible for the import (19 CFR 149.3(a)(3)). The importer of record is usually the US buyer. It registers with CBP on Form 5106 (19 CFR 24.5), and a foreign company acting as importer of record also needs a resident agent and a bond with a resident surety (19 CFR 141.18). Have the number ready before the cargo is loaded, because the ISF cannot be filed without it.

Yes, and you must. If the information changes or more accurate information becomes available before the goods arrive in a US port, the ISF has to be updated (19 CFR 149.2(d)). An inaccurate update is itself a violation, so tell us about any change as soon as you know it and we file the amendment with CBP.

Book the ocean shipment with Airlift and add ISF filing, then upload the commercial invoice, packing list and supplier details to our portal, or send them to your Airlift contact. We check the ten elements with your supplier, file with CBP before the deadline and send you the confirmation.

If you add our ISF service when you book, you can check the filing status in the portal’s notification hub. If you’ve opted in to email notifications, you’ll get email updates too.

We work directly with your suppliers to check all ten data elements, including the HTS number, manufacturer details and consignee information. Nothing is filed until the data has been checked against CBP requirements and against the house bill of lading.

We follow the vessel through carrier integrations and manual checks by our operations team. If the vessel or other key details change after your ISF is filed, we file the amendment with CBP promptly, so the filing stays accurate at every stage.