Operator glossary
US customs clearance (broker, bond, ISF)
The paperwork trinity of importing — a customs broker to file entry, a continuous bond to guarantee it, and the ISF filed before your container even loads — plus penalties measured in thousands for skipping steps.
Formal US imports run through three instruments: a licensed customs broker files the entry (classification, valuation, duty payment) as your agent; a customs bond guarantees performance — the continuous bond (roughly $500–600/year, covering $50,000) beats single-entry bonds after a few shipments; and the ISF ('10+2') security filing must hit CBP 24 hours before vessel loading at origin, with late filings exposed to $5,000-per-violation liquidated damages.
Importer-of-record status carries the liability: your declared values, your HTS classifications, your recordkeeping (five-year retention). The operator's setup conversation with a broker covers power of attorney, bond, ISF workflow with your forwarder, and classification review of your catalog — one afternoon that prevents the expensive genre of surprises.
The numbers
- Continuous bond ≈ $500–600/yr (covers $50k) — beats single-entry bonds quickly; broker files entry as your agent.
- ISF (10+2): filed 24h before origin vessel loading; late/absent filings risk $5,000 liquidated damages per violation.
- Importer of record owns valuation, classification, and 5-year recordkeeping.