Foreign Importers
Practical guidance for foreign companies importing into the United States, from importer onboarding and customs bonds to entry documentation, regulatory requirements and ongoing compliance.
A U.S. Import Strategy Starts Before the Shipment.
A company does not need to maintain a traditional U.S. office simply to ask whether it can participate in a U.S. import transaction. But acting as importer of record brings real customs responsibilities, documentation requirements and practical considerations that should be addressed before cargo is shipped.
Express CHB can review the proposed import structure, identify the information needed for brokerage onboarding and explain the customs-entry process for foreign companies.
Establish the Importer Before the First Entry.
Importer Identification
- Review of foreign company information
- Importer-of-record setup documentation
- Power of Attorney requirements
- Business and identity verification as appropriate
Customs Bond
- Continuous or single-transaction bond coordination
- Review of anticipated import activity and duty exposure
- Surety documentation and underwriting requirements
- Bond updates when import volume or circumstances change
Contacts & Documentation
- Commercial invoice and shipment-document requirements
- Importer and operational contact information
- U.S. mailing/contact considerations where applicable
- Document flow among seller, importer, forwarder and broker
Entry & PGA Requirements
- HTS classification and duty information
- Country-of-origin and marking considerations
- FDA, CPSC, USDA or other PGA data where applicable
- Pre-arrival review for products with special requirements
The Broker Files the Entry. The Importer Owns the Compliance.
Using a customs broker does not transfer the importer's underlying responsibilities to the broker. The importer must provide accurate transaction and product information and maintain appropriate records.
For a foreign company unfamiliar with U.S. customs requirements, understanding those responsibilities at the beginning can prevent avoidable problems later.
Not Every Shipment Enters the United States the Same Way.
Foreign companies sometimes begin U.S. sales using express carriers or lower-value shipments and later move into regular commercial importation. The customs process, documentation and broker involvement can change as shipment values, frequency, products and entry types change.
We can review the expected shipping model and explain when a more formal brokerage setup should be considered.
A process that works for occasional low-value courier shipments may not be appropriate for recurring commercial imports. Importers should review their structure before volume or shipment value increases.
Importer Verification and Supply-Chain Requirements Are Evolving.
Importer Verification
Express CHB maintains onboarding and POA-validation procedures for importers, including foreign entities. Additional supporting documentation may be requested based on the transaction and importer profile.
CTPAT & Supply-Chain Security
Foreign importers should consider whether evolving CBP requirements or supply-chain security programs may affect their future U.S. import model. Express CHB can separately assist companies evaluating CTPAT readiness and related compliance procedures.
From Setup to Recurring U.S. Imports.
Importer Onboarding
Establish the company, POA, bond and operational contacts.
Entry Processing
Coordinate documents, customs entry and applicable PGA transmission.
Compliance Support
Escalate classification, tariff, origin or regulatory questions when deeper review is needed.
Post-Entry Support
Review corrections, liquidation or other post-entry issues when they arise.
Planning to Import Into the United States?
Tell us about your company, products and expected shipping model. We'll determine what is needed to establish the appropriate brokerage relationship.