Importer Security Filing (ISF)

The ISF consists of a series of 12 data points shippers, importers, and carriers must submit to CBP when goods are shipped into US ports via ocean freight.

Shippers must provide the following data on the ISF:

• Buyer
• Seller
• Importer of Record (IOR) number or Free Trade Zone applicant identification
• Supplier or manufacturer of the imported goods
• The consignee number or numbers
• The shipment’s country of origin
• Party receiving the goods
• The six-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) commodity codes of the goods in the shipment
• Stuffing location of the container
• Name and address of consolidator

Carriers are responsible for submitting their vessel stow plan and Container Status Messages. The ten points required from shippers and two required from carriers give the ISF its more common name, the 10+2 Filing.

The initial filing of the ISF must be completed no fewer than 24 hours prior to the vessel being loaded. Some elements of the filing can be amended while the shipment is in transit, but all updates must be made no later than 24 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival in the US. Inaccurate ISFs, or filings that take place out of the specified time frames, can cost importers up to $5,000 in fines.

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Importer Security Filing (ISF)