ISF or Import Security Filing is used in shipments moving into the United States of America by an ocean-going vessel.
ISF Requirements
The importer or their agent must electronically submit information relating to the shipment, such as the shipper, commodity details, package details, weight, etc. This information must be submitted before the cargo arrives in the USA.
ISF filing responsibility
This import security filing information is usually prepared by the importer’s agent (customs isf broker or freight forwarder) and submitted to the US CBP unit.
ISF Filing Penalty
The agent submitting this information must prepare the information accurately and truthfully as any issues with the filing form could attract huge penalties and may even go to the extent of the cargo not being discharged.
The agent will charge a fee known as the ISF Filing Fee to ensure this activity is done correctly, promptly, and accurately.