Customs Clearance Services
Checked documents before filing. Clear responsibility for every step.
Book a 30-minute callChecked documents before filing. Clear responsibility for every step.
Book a 30-minute callCustoms clearance is the process of getting imported goods released by CBP for delivery into the United States. It involves filing entry documents, paying applicable duties and fees, satisfying partner government agency requirements (FDA, USDA, EPA, CPSC), and passing any CBP examinations or inspections. Most shipments clear customs within 1-5 business days when documentation is accurate and complete.
Customs clearance is the process of getting imported goods officially released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Every commercial shipment entering the United States must go through customs clearance before it can be delivered to its final destination.
The process involves several steps: preparing and submitting the required trade documentation, filing the customs entry with CBP, classifying your products under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, calculating the duties and fees owed, paying those duties, and receiving cargo release authorization from CBP.
When any step in this process goes wrong — a missing document, an incorrect classification, a Partner Government Agency hold — your cargo sits at the port. And while it sits, you're paying demurrage, detention, and storage charges that can reach thousands of dollars per day.
Greenwich prepares and checks your documents and coordinates the import work. A licensed U.S. customs broker reviews the customs positions and files under your power of attorney. CBP and other agencies decide release. Scope and fees are quoted in writing before you ship.
For ocean shipments, the Importer Security Filing (ISF or "10+2") must be submitted to CBP at least 24 hours before the vessel loads at the foreign port. This filing provides CBP with advance cargo information for security screening. Late or inaccurate ISF filings carry penalties of $5,000 per violation. Greenwich Mercantile coordinates your ISF filing as soon as booking details are confirmed — typically well before the 24-hour deadline.
Before entry can be filed, your documentation must be complete and accurate. At minimum, CBP requires a commercial invoice (showing the transaction value, product descriptions, and terms of sale), a packing list (detailing the contents and weights of each package), and a bill of lading or airway bill (the carrier's receipt for your goods). Depending on your product, additional documents may be required — certificates of origin for trade agreement eligibility, FDA prior notice for food products, or USDA permits for agricultural goods. We review every document before filing to catch errors that cause holds.
Greenwich checks the product descriptions, classification evidence, value, origin and required agency information. A licensed U.S. customs broker reviews the entry and submits it under your power of attorney.
After filing, CBP may release the shipment, request documents or select it for examination. FDA or other agencies may also hold it. Greenwich tracks exceptions and helps prepare responses for the licensed broker. Release timing is outside our control.
The importer pays duties, taxes and fees and retains its obligations. A licensed U.S. customs broker handles entry and entry-summary filing under your power of attorney. Greenwich helps reconcile the entry against the supporting records.
Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of clearance delays. A missing commercial invoice, an unsigned bill of lading, or an absent certificate of origin can hold your shipment for days while you scramble to locate the paperwork.
Greenwich Mercantile reviews every document set before filing. We identify gaps before they become holds.
An incorrect HTS code doesn't just mean paying the wrong duty rate. It can trigger CBP compliance flags, lead to audits, and result in penalties of up to four times the unpaid duties. 42% of CBP penalties come from classification errors.
Our team reviews classifications against the product specifications, not just the invoice description.
Products regulated by FDA, USDA, EPA, CPSC, or other Partner Government Agencies require additional filings and may be subject to examination. A PGA hold can add days or weeks to your clearance timeline — especially for FDA-regulated food and drug products.
We coordinate PGA data messages as part of the entry. When holds occur, we help resolve them with the agency.
CBP can select any shipment for examination — a non-intrusive imaging scan (VACIS) or a full physical inspection (intensive exam). Examinations are unpredictable, but certain filing patterns, product types, and trade lanes are examined more frequently.
We cannot prevent a customs examination. We prepare the supporting records and coordinate document requests with the licensed broker. CBP decides when to release the goods.
An insufficient or inactive customs bond stops clearance immediately. If your bond has been exhausted by prior entries or has lapsed, CBP will not release your cargo until the issue is resolved. Bond sufficiency problems often surface at the worst possible time.
We monitor your bond sufficiency continuously and alert you before it becomes a problem. Bond management is part of our service.
Failure to file the Importer Security Filing 24 hours before vessel loading can result in $5,000 penalties per violation and enhanced scrutiny on future shipments. Late ISF filings also prevent CBP from processing your entry on arrival.
We coordinate ISF filing as soon as booking details are confirmed — typically days before the deadline, not hours.
A written quote before you ship.
Your quote covers entry filing, ISF, PGA submissions, HTS classification and document review for your products, ports and volumes. You know what our work will cost before your cargo moves.
There is no guaranteed clearance time. Complete, consistent documents help avoid paperwork-related delays. A licensed U.S. customs broker files under your power of attorney; CBP examinations and other agency reviews can take longer. We confirm the filing plan after reviewing the shipment.
At minimum, you need a commercial invoice showing the seller, buyer, product description, quantity, and transaction value. You also need a packing list detailing the contents and weights of each package, and a bill of lading or airway bill from the carrier. Depending on your product, you may also need certificates of origin for trade agreement eligibility, FDA prior notice filings for food products, USDA permits for agricultural goods, or other agency-specific documentation. Greenwich Mercantile reviews your documents before filing to ensure nothing is missing.
Customs clearance is the process — the sequence of steps required to get your imported goods released by CBP. Customs brokerage is the service — the work a broker performs to move your shipment through that process. A customs broker manages customs clearance on your behalf. Think of it this way: customs clearance is what happens, and customs brokerage is who coordinates it for you. Learn more about how we coordinate customs brokerage.
We prepare entry packs for review by a licensed U.S. customs broker, who files under your power of attorney. Confirm the proposed broker, port coverage and product scope in your written agreement.
CBP may select your shipment for examination — either through their automated targeting system or through random selection. Examinations typically involve an x-ray scan (VACIS exam) or a physical inspection of the cargo. Greenwich Mercantile coordinates with CBP throughout the examination process, responds to any requests for additional documentation, and works to get your cargo released as quickly as possible. Examination fees charged by the port are separate from our filing fee.
Book a 30-minute call. We'll review your import documents and next steps with you and confirm the scope of any further work.
Book a 30-minute call