What is ISF?

• ISF(Importer Security Filing), also known as “10 + 2”,  is a new rule that requires Importer’s to submit a Security Filing to CBP(Customs and Border Protection), which includes 10 additional data elements, for the importation of cargo to the US by ocean.
  
  
• Responsibility for filing each ISF lies directly on the Importer, however, the Importer can have an Authorized Agent, with a Power of Attorney required, submit the filing for them.  The Agent can be a Freight Forwarder or a Customs Broker.
  
  
• The ISF Rule is currently still in the Interim stage and CBP has allowed a one year grace period for importers to become ISF Compliant.  However, CBP has already begun monitoring the progress of ISF and expects all importers to make a good faith effort in submitting Security Filings.
  
  
• Informed ISF Compliance will begin on Jan. 26, 2010, in which failure to submit a Security Filing will result in a $5000 fine for each shipment. 
  
  
• A bond will be required to submit ISF once Informed Compliance begins. The following types of bonds have been amended to cover the new ISF requirements:

1. Basic Importation and Entry Bond
2. Basic Custodial Bond
3. AMS C-3 International Carrier Bond
4. Foreign Trade Zone Operator Bond

CBP also created a new type of bond, the “Importer Security Filing Bond”

The 10 Data Elements

The following 10 Data Elements are required by CBP for each ISF Submission:

1. Importer of Record Number
2. Consignee Number
3. Buyers Name and Address
4. Sellers Name and Address
5. Ship to Party’s name and Address
6. Container Stuffing Location
7. Consolidator’s Name and Address
8. Manufacturer’s Name and Address
9. Country of Origin
10. Harmonized Tariff Schedule(HTSUS – 6 digits)

In addition, each ISF submission requires a House Bill of Lading # that must match that of AMS or ABI. 

***Failure to receive an S1 AMS House Bill Match will result in the ISF being cancelled upon arrival of the shipment.

EFT-eISF Filing Topics

EFT-eISF is an electronic ISF Filing System that allows each user to send Security Filings directly to CBP over the Web or Remotely through an ISF Server.  The EFT-eISF system consists of the following main topics that each user must enter in in order to submit a Security Filing:

1. Importer
2. Entity
3. SF10 / SF05 Filing

EFT-eISF - Importer

The key player in ISF Filing is the Importer.  The Importer’s ID Number is required for each ISF.

1. EI     -    IRS Number (Tax ID)
2. ANI  -   CBP Assigned Number 
3. 34     -   Social Security Number (SSN)  
4. AEF  -   Passport

The Importer page allows the user to maintain each Importer within the system, namely the Importer Name, the Importer Number, and the Bonding that will be used for the Importer

EFT-eISF - Entity

An ISF Entity relates to the party whose name, address or other additional data is required for each Importer, by CBP, to submit in each ISF Filing.  The  Entities are separated into Overseas Entities and US Entities. 

Overseas Entities:

1. Seller(Name and Address)
2. Container Stuffing Location
3. Consolidator(Name and Address)
4. Manufacturer(Name and Address)
5. Booking Party (SF05 Only – FROB, T&E, IE)

US Entities:

1. Buyer(Name and Address)
2. Consignee(ID Number)
3. Ship To Party(Name and Address)

• Addresses for each entity must be submitted to CBP in a very specific format.
  
  
• Each entity entered into the system can exist as multiple entities.  For example, often the buyer and the consignee are the same party, where an entity that is a buyer, can also be selected as a consignee.
  
  
• The User must enter the name of each entity, along with the address, ID Number, and which Importer the entity belongs to, when required. 

EFT-eISF – Enter/Update SF-10

• Once the EFT-eISF system has been populated with the Importer and Entity data, the user can select the necessary data for Submitting the ISF.
  
  
• Entering the SF-10 will require the user to select all of the 10 data elements that have already been populated in the system.  In addition, the user MUST enter the House Bill and the SCAC code that has been used in AMS Filing.  
  
  
• Once all of the information is entered, the user can submit the ISF.  If the ISF is accepted, CBP will return a unique SF Transaction Number.  This number will be required to amend any data or delete the Security Filing.  If the filing is rejected, the user can just change any incorrect information and then submit the Security Filing again.
  
  
• In order for a successful ISF Filing, the user must receive two messages returned from CBP:
  
  02 – ISF Filing accepted
  S1 – AMS Bill Matched to Importer Security Filing
  
  
• The following is a list of messages returned by CBP:
  
   01 – ISF Filing Rejected with Error
   02 – ISF Filing Accepted
   03 – ISF Accept with Warning
   S1 – AMS Bill Matched to Import Security Filing
   S2 – AMS Bill Not Matched to Import Security Filing – Cancel in 30 days
   S3 - AMS Bill Not Matched to Import Security Filing – Cancel in 25 days
   S4 - AMS Bill Not Matched to Import Security Filing – Cancel in 10 days
   S5 - AMS Bill Not Matched to Import Security Filing – Cancelled