IT, T&E and IE entries
CBP's rules list several transportation entries, and three cover most container moves. The in-bond application goes to CBP electronically through an approved system, must include details such as the container and seal numbers, and needs CBP's movement authorization before the cargo leaves. A bond backs the move, so the party whose bond is on the entry answers for cargo that is short, late or never delivered.
- IT, immediate transportation: to another U.S. port for entry there
- T&E, transportation and exportation: across the U.S., then exported
- IE, immediate exportation: exported from the port of arrival
Deadlines set in 19 CFR Part 18
Cargo must reach the destination or export port within 30 days, or 60 days when a barge carries part of the trip, counted from the vessel's arrival at the first port or from CBP's movement authorization, whichever is later. Time held for a government exam does not count toward that limit. Arrival must be reported within two business days, with the FIRMS code of the location. The cargo then has 15 calendar days to be entered, exported or admitted to a foreign-trade zone before general order rules apply.
What tracking shows during an in-bond
Container milestones do not show the bond itself. An IT move to an inland city usually looks like any other rail move: discharge, rail departure, rail arrival and availability at the ramp. The in-bond number and status sit with the bonded carrier, the broker and CBP, so ask them when a box seems stuck at the port; a missing movement authorization is one possible cause.
Example
Machine parts in OOLU3811040 arrive at Seattle and move by rail to Chicago under an immediate transportation (IT) entry, and the broker files the consumption entry there.
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Official sources
Questions
What does In-Bond Shipment mean?
An in-bond shipment is imported cargo moving under a customs bond without paying duty at the arrival port, either to another U.S. port where it will be entered or out of the country as an export.
Why would an importer use an in-bond move?
It moves the customs entry, and usually the duty payment, to the final destination instead of the coast. It is also how foreign cargo crosses the United States to Canada, Mexico or another U.S. port for export.
Who can file an in-bond?
CBP rules let the carrier that brought the cargo, the bonded carrier taking it onward, or a party with sufficient interest in the cargo file it, directly or through an authorized agent.
What happens if an in-bond arrives late?
Missing the delivery window or the arrival report counts as an irregular delivery under CBP rules, and the party whose bond covers the move can face liquidated damages.