Customs Brokerage FAQ

A CBP-licensed customs broker files import entries, classifies goods, and calculates duties so cargo can clear U.S. Customs. A broker is not legally required for every shipment, but using one reduces delays, penalties, and exam risk. CBP licenses brokers under 19 C.F.R. Part 111.

Request a free quote or email a licensed broker. Onboarding is usually finished in under 24 hours: we assign a broker, set up your portal, and collect the documents needed to file.

Advante was founded in 1995 and has 31+ years of licensed U.S. customs brokerage experience. That history is why importers trust us with classification, CBP filings, and cargo that cannot afford delays.

Yes — our operations team files and clears cargo around the clock. Email and the client portal are monitored 24/7. Our desk hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM PT and Saturday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM PT, with Sundays reserved for urgent issues.

The Importer of Record is the party legally responsible for making sure imported goods meet U.S. requirements and that duties and taxes are paid. Usually, that's the buyer or consignee named on the commercial invoice.

Yes. CBP requires a customs bond on commercial shipments valued over $2,500. Choose a single-entry bond for one shipment or a continuous bond if you import regularly. Advante can secure either type for you.

We manage air freight, ocean FCL (full container load), ocean LCL (less than container load), and cross-border truck shipments, with coverage at ports throughout the US, including LA, New York, Chicago, Miami, Houston, and Seattle.

At minimum, you'll need a Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and a Bill of Lading (for ocean freight) or Airway Bill (for air freight), plus a CBP Entry Form that your broker prepares. Depending on the product, you may also need an FDA Prior Notice, USDA permit, or Certificate of Origin.

ISF (Importer Security Filing, also called 10+2) is required for ocean cargo bound for the U.S. and must be filed at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port. Late or missing ISF filings can trigger penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

It should list the seller's and buyer's name and address, a description of the goods, quantity, unit price, total value, country of origin, currency, Incoterms, and ideally the HS code. Advante double-checks for anything missing before we file.

You'll need one to claim preferential duty rates under trade agreements like USMCA (for Mexico/Canada), or whenever the destination country's rules call for it. Advante will let you know whether it applies to your commodity and country of origin.

Duties are a percentage of customs value, generally invoice amount plus insurance and freight. The rate depends on the 10-digit HTS code and country of origin. Chinese-origin goods may also owe Section 301 tariffs on top of the base rate.

The Harmonized System (HS) code is the standardized global numbering system for classifying traded goods. It sets your duty rate, flags any trade restrictions, and determines whether extra permits are needed — misclassifying it is one of the most frequent, and costliest, customs mistakes importers make.

These are extra duties the US applies to Chinese-origin goods, running anywhere from 7.5% up past 100% depending on the product category, stacked on top of the standard duty rate. Advante tracks tariff changes and flags them to clients proactively.

No — that practice is known as undervaluation or splitting, and it's illegal; CBP watches for exactly this pattern. The $800 de minimis threshold is capped per person, per day — not per shipment. For legitimate ways to reduce duty exposure, Advante can advise on approaches like first sale valuation or using an FTZ.

Under the de minimis rule, shipments worth $800 or less per person per day are typically exempt from duties and formal entry. That said, Section 301 tariff exclusions and certain regulated goods — FDA or USDA items, for example — don't qualify for the exemption no matter the value.

Most entries with complete documents clear the same day, often within a few hours of filing. Air freight is commonly released in a few hours; ocean freight is typically pre-filed so CBP release is ready on arrival or the same day. A CBP exam can add 3–10 business days.

The usual culprits are missing or inaccurate paperwork, being flagged for a CBP exam (random or targeted), FDA/USDA holds, unpaid duties from an earlier shipment, or an incomplete ISF filing. We review every document before filing to head off these holds.

CBP can pull any shipment for review — either a paperwork check (CFETE) or a physical inspection. Document reviews generally take 1–3 days, while physical exams, where cargo is unloaded and inspected, can run 3–10+ business days and may add extra costs.

There's no official fast-track fee for CBP processing. The best way to keep clearance quick is working with a broker who files accurately the first time, keeps a clean compliance history, and responds fast to any CBP requests.

We charge a flat brokerage fee per entry plus pass-through costs such as duties, taxes, exam fees, and port charges. You receive an itemized invoice for each shipment. Request a quote for an estimate.

Duties are generally due at entry or within 10 business days after CBP releases the cargo, depending on your bond type. Advante confirms the amount before release and can arrange payment with CBP on your behalf.

We invoice by email and accept ACH bank transfer or wire. Credit cards are not collected on this website. Ask your assigned broker for wire and ACH instructions.

Yes — if you hold a continuous bond and import regularly, you can request consolidated monthly billing. Just ask your broker once you've completed your first three shipments.

We file entries at all the major US ports of entry — Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/Newark, Chicago O'Hare, Miami, Houston, Seattle/Tacoma, Savannah, and more — with coverage across all 48 contiguous states.

They're run by separate authorities but sit side by side within the San Pedro Bay complex, the busiest port system in the country, and most ocean carriers call at both. Advante processes entries at either one through the same workflow.

An FTZ is a designated area where goods can be brought in, stored, and processed without a formal CBP entry or duty payment until they actually move into US commerce — a useful tool for manufacturers and distributors who re-export part of what they handle.