CFR Subpart A

CFR Subpart A
in effect

19 C.F.R. § 123.1 Report of arrival from Canada or Mexico and permission to proceed.

(a) Individuals. Individuals arriving in the United States, unless excepted by voluntary enrollment in and compliance with PORTPASS—a joint Customs Service/Immigration and Naturalization Service facilitated entry program (See, Immigration and Naturalization Regulations at 8 CFR 235.7), must report their arrival to Customs, and failure to report arrival may result in the individual being liable for certain civil and criminal penalties, as provided under 19 U.S.C. 1459, in addition to other penalties applicable under other provisions of law. The specific reporting requirements are as follows: (1) Individuals not arriving by conveyance. Persons arriving otherwise than by conveyance may enter the U.S. only at those locations specified by the Commissioner of Customs, or his designee, and shall then immediately report their arrival to Customs. Such persons shall not depart from the Customs port or station until authorized to do so by the appropriate Customs officer. (2) Persons arriving aboard a conveyance that reported its arrival. Persons aboard a conveyance the arrival of which has been reported to Customs at locations specified by the Commissioner of Customs, or his designee in accordance with section 1433, 1644 or 1644a of title 19, United States Code (19 U.S.C. 1433, 1644, 1644a), shall remain on board until authorized by Customs to depart, and shall then immediately report to the designated Customs facility together with all articles accompanying them. (3) Persons arriving aboard a conveyance that has not reported its arrival. Persons aboard a conveyance the arrival of which has not been reported in accordance with the laws referred to in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, shall immediately notify a Customs officer and report their arrival, together with appropriate information concerning the conveyance on or in which they arrived, at a location or locations specified by the Commissioner of Customs, or his designee and shall present themselves and their property for Customs inspection and examination. (b) Vehicles. Vehicles may arrive in the U.S. only at a designated port of entry (see § 101.3 of this chapter) or Customs station if the Commissioner of Customs, or his designee authorizes entry at that station (see § 101.4 of this chapter). Upon arrival of the vehicle in the U.S., the driver, unless he or she and all of the vehicle's occupants are excepted by enrollment in, and in compliance with, PORTPASS—a joint Customs Service/Immigration and Naturalization Service facilitated entry program (See, Immigration and Naturalization Regulations at 8 CFR 235.1 and 286.8), immediately shall report such arrival to Customs, and shall not depart or discharge any passenger or merchandise (including baggage) without authorization by the appropriate Customs officer. (c) Vessels. For report of arrival requirements applicable to all vessels, regardless of tonnage, and arriving from any location, see § 4.2 of this chapter. (d) Method of reporting. Report of arrival under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall be made in person unless the port director, by local instructions, requires that it be made by some other specific means. Such local instructions issued by the port director will be made available to interested parties by posting in Customs offices, publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Customs port that supervises the location, and/or other appropriate means.

19 C.F.R. § 123.2 Penalty for failure to report arrival or for proceeding without a permit.

(a) Persons. Any person arriving otherwise than by conveyance who enters the U.S. at other than a designated port of entry, or Customs station if authorization exists for entry at that station, who fails to report arrival as required in § 123.1(a) of this part, or who departs from the port of entry or Customs station without authorization by the appropriate Customs officer, whether or not intentionally, shall be subject to such civil and criminal penalties as are prescribed under 19 U.S.C. 1459 and provided for in § 123.1 of this part. (b) Vessels. The penalty provisions applicable to vessels for failure to report arrival or for proceeding without a permit are those as provided in § 4.3a. (c) Vehicles—(1) Civil penalties. The person in charge of any vehicle who— (i) Enters the vehicle into the U.S. at other than a designated port of entry, or Customs station if authorization exists for entry at that station; (ii) Fails to report arrival and present the vehicle and all persons and merchandise (including baggage) on board for inspection as required in § 123.1(b) of this part; (iii) Fails to file a manifest or any other document required to be filed in connection with arrival in the U.S. under this part; or (iv) Without authorization by the appropriate Customs officer, removes such vehicle from the port of entry or Customs station or discharges any passenger or merchandise (including baggage) shall be subject to such civil penalties as are prescribed in section 436, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1436), and any conveyance used in connection with any such violation shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture. The person also may be subject to an additional civil penalty equal to the value of the merchandise on the conveyance which was not entered or reported as required by § 123.1(b) of this part, and that merchandise may be subject to seizure and forfeiture unless properly entered by the importer or consignee. If the merchandise consists of any controlled substances, additional penalties may be assessed, as prescribed in section 584, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1584). (2) Criminal penalties. Upon conviction, any person in charge of a vehicle who intentionally commits any of the violations described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section shall, in addition to the penalties described therein, be subject to such additional criminal penalties as are prescribed in section 436, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1436). If the vehicle has or is discovered to have had on board any merchandise (other than sea stores or the equivalent for conveyances other than vessels) the importation of which into the U.S. is prohibited, the person in charge of the vehicle is subject to such additional criminal penalties as are prescribed in section 436, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1436).

19 C.F.R. § 123.3 Inward foreign manifest required.

(a) General requirements. Baggage or other merchandise carried on a vehicle or on a vessel of less than 5 net tons arriving otherwise than by sea from Canada or Mexico shall be listed on a manifest as prescribed by § 123.4. Vessels which are required to make entry under § 4.3 of this chapter because they are arriving by sea or are 5 net tons or over shall have manifests on board as provided in § 4.7(a) of this chapter. (b) Exception where in possession of traveler. When baggage arrives in the actual possession of a traveler, his declaration will be accepted in lieu of a manifest. Merchandise imported by a person otherwise than in a vessel or vehicle need not be covered by a manifest but shall be presented for inspection, and entry shall be made in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

19 C.F.R. § 123.4 Inward foreign manifest forms to be used.

The inward foreign manifest required by § 123.3 for a vehicle or a vessel of less than 5 net tons arriving in the United States from Canada or Mexico otherwise than by sea with baggage or merchandise, must be on CBP Form 7533, except as provided for shipments in transit in subparts C, D, E, F, and G of this part, and in the following special cases: (a) For merchandise free of duty entered on CBP Form 7523, the same form may be used as a manifest in lieu of other forms. (See § 143.23 of this chapter.) (b) For dutiable merchandise not exceeding $2,500 in value entered on CBP Form 368 or 368A, (serially numbered) or CBP Form 7501, or its electronic equivalent, the same form may be used as a manifest in lieu of other forms. (See § 143.21 of this chapter.) The port director may also allow such merchandise to be entered informally upon the presentation of a commercial invoice which contains the following declaration, signed by the importer or his agent: (c) For a shipment not exceeding $250 in value consisting of articles of American origin entered free of duty under the provisions of § 10.1(i) of this chapter and imported in a vehicle, CBP Form 3311, or its electronic equivalent, used in entering the goods, in duplicate, may be accepted in lieu of a manifest. (d) For baggage arriving in baggage cars, CBP Form 7533 must be used. (See subpart G of this part.) I declare that the information on this invoice is accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief; that the invoice quantities are true and correct manifest quantities; and that I have not received and do not know of any invoice other than this one.

19 C.F.R. § 123.5 Certification and filing of inward foreign manifest.

The manifest listing baggage and other merchandise, certified by the master of the vessel or the person in charge of the vehicle, shall be presented to the Customs officer at the time the report of arrival is made. It shall be filed in the original only, unless additional copies are required in this part.

19 C.F.R. § 123.6 Train sheet for arriving railroad trains.

The conductor of a railroad train arriving from Canada or Mexico shall present to the Customs officer at the port of arrival individual car manifests and a train sheet, sometimes called a consist, bridge sheet, or trip sheet, listing each car and showing the car numbers and initials.

19 C.F.R. § 123.7 Manifest used as an entry for unconditionally free merchandise value not over $250.

When a shipment not exceeding $250 in value which is unconditionally free of duty and not subject to quota or to internal revenue tax arrives on a vessel of less than 5 net tons arriving otherwise than by sea, the inward foreign manifest on Customs Form 7533 may be presented in duplicate and used as an entry if: (a) No merchandise for a different entrant is listed on the same page of the manifest, (b) The country of exportation of the merchandise, its value, and the provision of law under which free entry is claimed are noted thereon, and (c) Evidence of the right to make entry is furnished as required by § 141.11 of this chapter.

19 C.F.R. § 123.8 Permit or special license to unlade or lade a vessel or vehicle.

(a) Permission to unlade or lade. Before any passenger or merchandise, including baggage, may be landed or discharged from any vessel of less than 5 net tons arriving from Canada or Mexico by any route, or from a vehicle, permission to unlade shall be obtained from a Customs officer. Permission to unlade during overtime hours, on a Sunday or holiday, or to lade during overtime hours on a Sunday or holiday merchandise requiring Customs supervision, shall be obtained from the port director. Permission to unlade or lade a truck will be denied for any cargo with respect to which advance electronic information has not been received as provided in § 123.92 or § 192.14 of this chapter, as applicable. In cases in which CBP does not receive complete cargo information in the time and manner and in the electronic format required by § 123.92 or § 192.14 of this chapter, as applicable, CBP may delay issuance of a permit or special license to unlade or lade a truck. Permission to unlade is not required for a vessel of less than 5 net tons arriving otherwise than by sea carrying no baggage or other merchandise. For permission to unlade or lade for vessels of 5 net tons or over, see § 4.30 of this chapter. (b) Application for permit or special license to unlade or lade—(1) Permit to unlade during regular hours. Application for a permit to unlade any vehicle or a vessel of less than 5 net tons may be made and permission may be granted orally. The port director may require that the application and permission to unlade be on Customs Form 3171. (2) Special license to unlade or lade at night, on a Sunday or holiday. Application for permission to unlade passengers or merchandise from, or lade any merchandise requiring Customs supervision on, a vessel of less than 5 net tons or a vehicle arriving from or departing for Canada or Mexico by any route at night, on a Sunday or holiday, and requests for any reimbursable overtime services shall be made on Customs Form 3171. In the discretion of the port director and under such condition as he may deem advisable the application may be made orally for vessels of less than 5 net tons and vehicles not carrying persons or property for hire, but requests for reimbursable overtime services shall be on Customs Form 3171. The port director may authorize Customs inspectors to approve the request for overtime services and to grant oral permission to unlade or lade. (c) Cash deposit or bond for overtime services. A request for reimbursable overtime services shall not be approved unless the required cash deposit or bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.64 of this chapter, is on file or is filed with the request. (d) Term permit or special license. A permit or special license required by this section may be issued on a term basis in the manner, and under the conditions applicable, described in § 4.30 (f) or (g) of this chapter. A term permit or special license to unlade or lade a truck already issued will not be applicable as to any cargo with respect to which advance electronic information has not been received as provided in § 123.92 or § 192.14 of this chapter, as applicable.

19 C.F.R. § 123.9 Explanation of a discrepancy in a manifest.

(a) Provisions applicable—(1) Overages. If any merchandise (including sea stores or its equivalent) is found on board a vessel or vehicle arriving in the U.S. that is not listed on a manifest filed in accordance with § 123.5 of this part, or after having been unladen from such vessel or vehicle, is found not to have been included or described in the manifest or does not agree therewith (an overage), the master, person in charge, or owner of the vessel or vehicle or any person directly or indirectly responsible for the discrepancy is subject to such penalties as are prescribed in section 584, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1584), and any such merchandise belonging or consigned to the master, person in charge, or owner of the vehicle is subject to seizure and forfeiture. (2) Shortages. If merchandise is manifested but not found on board a vessel or vehicle arriving in the U.S. (a shortage), the master, person in charge, or owner of the vessel or vehicle or any person directly or indirectly responsible for the discrepancy is subject to such penalties as are prescribed in section 584, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1584). (3) Failure to file a manifest. The master or person in charge of a vessel or vehicle arriving in the U.S. or the U.S. Virgin Islands who fails to present a manifest to Customs is liable for civil penalties as are provided by law, and the conveyance used in connection with the failure to file is subject to seizure and forfeiture. A criminal conviction for intentional failure to file shall make the master or person in charge liable for criminal penalties, as provided by statute, and if any merchandise is found or determined to have been on board (other than sea stores or the equivalent for vehicles), the importation of which is prohibited, additional penalties may apply. (b) Report of discrepancies—(1) Discrepancies discovered by master, person in charge, owner, agent, or person directly or indirectly responsible. The master, person in charge, owner, or agent of the vessel or vehicle, or any person directly or indirectly responsible for any discrepancy between the merchandise and the manifest, shall report any discrepancy to the port director within 60 days after the date of arrival by completing a report for an overage or a declaration for a shortage. The overage report or shortage declaration may be made on the appropriate manifest form, as listed in § 123.4, or on Customs Form 5931, Discrepancy Report and Declaration. If no manifest has been filed, an original copy of the appropriate form, as listed in § 123.4, should be used. In each case in which a manifest form is used, the form shall be marked or stamped “Overage Report” or “Shortage Declaration”, as appropriate. The form used shall list the merchandise involved and state the reasons for the discrepancy. (2) Discrepancies discovered by Customs. The port director immediately shall advise the master, person in charge, owner, agent, or any person directly or indirectly responsible for the discrepancy between the merchandise and the manifest of any discrepancy discovered by Customs officers which has not been reported. The person so notified shall file an explanation of the discrepancy, as required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section, within 30 days of notification, or within 60 days after arrival of the vessel or vehicle, whichever is later. The port director may notify the master, person in charge, owner, agent, or any person directly or indirectly responsible for the discrepancy by furnishing a copy of Customs Form 5931 to that person, or by any other appropriate written means. Use of Customs Form 5931 shall not preclude assessment of any penalty or liability to forfeiture otherwise incurred. (c) Statement on report of discrepancy required. The overage report or shortage declaration shall bear the following statement signed by the master of the vessel, the person in charge of the vehicle, the owner of the vessel or vehicle, an authorized agent, or the person directly or indirectly responsible for the discrepancy: (d) Action on the discrepancy report. (1) In accordance with the proviso to 19 U.S.C. 1584, no penalty shall be incurred under that section if— (i) The manifest discrepancy relates only to a shortage; (ii) There is timely filing of the discrepancy report; (iii) There has been no loss of revenue; (iv) The port director is satisfied that the discrepancy resulted from clerical error or other mistake; and (v) In the case of a discrepancy not reported initially by the master, person in charge, owner, agent, or the person directly or indirectly responsible, the port director is satisfied that there is a valid reason for failure to file the discrepancy report. (2) If the criteria in paragraph (d)(1) of this section are not met, applicable penalties under 19 U.S.C. 1584 shall be assessed. (3) Any penalty or liability to forfeiture incurred under 19 U.S.C. 1584 may be mitigated or remitted under section 618, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1618). (e) Penalty assessment. For the purpose of assessing penalties under 19 U.S.C. 1584, the value of the merchandise shall be determined as described in section 162.43 of this chapter. (f) Lack of knowledge does not relieve liability. The fact that the master of the vessel, the person in charge of the vehicle, or the owner of the vessel or vehicle had no knowledge of a discrepancy shall not relieve the master, the person in charge, or the owner from a penalty, or the vessel or vehicle from liability to forfeiture, incurred under 19 U.S.C. 1584. (g) Clerical error or other mistake defined. For the purpose of this section, the term “clerical error or other mistake” is defined as a non-negligent, inadvertent, or typographical mistake in the preparation, assembly, or submission of manifests. However, repeated similar manifest discrepancies by the same persons may be considered the result of negligence and not clerical error or other mistake. I declare to the best of my knowledge and belief that the discrepancy described herein occurred for the reasons stated. I also certify that evidence to support a claim of nonimportation or proper disposition of merchandise will be retained in the carrier's files for a period of at least one year from the date of this report of discrepancy and will be made available to Customs upon demand.

19 C.F.R. § 123.10 General order merchandise.

(a) Any merchandise or baggage regularly landed but not covered by a permit for its release shall be allowed to remain at the place of unlading until the fifteenth calendar day after landing. No later than 20 calendar days after landing, the owner or operator of the vehicle or the agent thereof shall notify Customs of any such merchandise or baggage for which entry has not been made. Such notification shall be provided in writing or by any appropriate Customs-authorized electronic data interchange system. Failure to provide such notification may result in assessment of a monetary penalty of up to $1,000 per bill of lading against the owner or operator of the vehicle or the agent thereof. If the value of the merchandise on the bill is less than $1,000, the penalty shall be equal to the value of such merchandise. (b) Any merchandise or baggage that is taken into custody from an arriving carrier by any party under a Customs-authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry may remain in the custody of that party for 15 calendar days after receipt under such permit to transfer or 15 calendar days after arrival at the port of destination. No later than 20 calendar days after receipt under the permit to transfer or 20 calendar days after arrival under bond at the port of destination, the party shall notify Customs of any such merchandise or baggage for which entry has not been made. Such notification shall be provided in writing or by any appropriate Customs-authorized electronic data interchange system. If the party fails to notify Customs of the unentered merchandise or baggage in the allotted time, he may be liable for the payment of liquidated damages under the terms and conditions of his custodial bond (see § 113.63(c)(4) of this chapter). (c) In addition to the notification to Customs required under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the carrier (or any other party to whom custody of the unentered merchandise has been transferred by a Customs authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry) shall provide notification of the presence of such unreleased and unentered merchandise or baggage to a bonded warehouse certified by the port director as qualified to receive general order merchandise. Such notification shall be provided in writing or by any appropriate Customs-authorized electronic data interchange system and shall be provided within the applicable 20-day period specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section. It shall then be the responsibility of the bonded warehouse proprietor to arrange for the transportation and storage of the merchandise or baggage at the risk and expense of the consignee. The arriving carrier (or other party to whom custody of the merchandise was transferred by the carrier under a Customs-authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry) is responsible for preparing a Customs Form (CF) 6043 (Delivery Ticket), or other similar Customs document as designated by the port director or an electronic equivalent as authorized by Customs, to cover the proprietor's receipt of the merchandise and its transport to the warehouse from the custody of the arriving carrier (or other party to whom custody of the merchandise was transferred by the carrier under a Customs-authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry) (see § 19.9 of this chapter). Any unentered merchandise or baggage shall remain the responsibility of the carrier, master, or person in charge of the importing vehicle or the agent thereof or party to whom the merchandise has been transferred under a Customs authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry until it is properly transferred from his control in accordance with this paragraph. If the party to whom custody of the unentered merchandise or baggage has been transferred by a Customs-authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry fails to notify a Customs-approved bonded warehouse of such merchandise or baggage within the applicable 20-calendar-day period, he may be liable for the payment of liquidated damages of $1,000 per bill of lading under the terms and conditions of his international carrier or custodial bond (see §§ 113.63(b), 113.63(c) and 113.64(b) of this chapter). (d) If the carrier or any other party to whom custody of the unentered merchandise has been transferred by a Customs-authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry fails to timely relinquish custody of the merchandise to a Customs-approved bonded General Order warehouse, the carrier or other party may be liable for liquidated damages equal to the value of that merchandise under the terms and conditions of his international carrier or custodial bond, as applicable. (e) If the bonded warehouse operator fails to take possession of unentered and unreleased merchandise or baggage within five calendar days after receipt of notification of the presence of such merchandise or baggage under this section, he may be liable for the payment of liquidated damages under the terms and conditions of his custodial bond (see § 113.63(a)(1) of this chapter). If the port director finds that the warehouse proprietor cannot accept the goods because they are required by law to be exported or destroyed (see § 127.28 of this chapter), or for other good cause, the goods will remain in the custody of the arriving carrier or other party to whom the goods have been transferred under a Customs-authorized permit to transfer or in-bond entry. In this event, the carrier or other party will be responsible under bond for exporting or destroying the goods, as necessary (see §§ 113.63(c)(3) and 113.64(b) of this chapter). (f) In ports where there is no bonded warehouse authorized to accept general order merchandise, or if merchandise requires specialized storage facilities which are unavailable in a bonded facility, the port director, after having received notice of the presence of unentered merchandise or baggage in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall direct the storage of the merchandise by the carrier or by any other appropriate means. (g) Merchandise taken into the custody of the port director pursuant to section 490(b), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1490(b)), shall be sent to a general order warehouse after 1 day after the day the vehicle arrived, to be held there at the risk and expense of the consignee.

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