Customs Clearance Services
From document submission to cargo release — cleared in 30 minutes.
Book a Free ConsultationFrom document submission to cargo release — cleared in 30 minutes.
Book a Free ConsultationCustoms 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 Mercantile handles the entire customs clearance process on your behalf. We prepare your documentation, file your entry, manage PGA requirements, and coordinate with CBP to get your cargo released as quickly as possible. Every entry is filed within 30 minutes. Every entry costs $100.
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 files your ISF 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.
Once documentation is complete, we file the customs entry with CBP. This includes classifying your products under the correct HTS code, declaring the customs value, calculating applicable duties and fees, and submitting all required PGA data messages. Classification determines the duty rate you pay — getting it wrong means overpaying or facing penalties. Greenwich Mercantile reviews your HTS classification against the product specifications, not just the description on the invoice.
After entry is filed, CBP reviews the submission through their Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. Most entries receive automated clearance within hours. However, CBP may select your shipment for further review — either an automated document review or a physical examination of the cargo. If your entry triggers a PGA hold (for products regulated by FDA, USDA, EPA, or other agencies), the hold must be resolved before release. Greenwich Mercantile monitors the status of every entry and responds to CBP inquiries immediately.
Once CBP is satisfied with the entry, duties and fees are assessed. The estimated duties are paid (or secured by your customs bond), and CBP issues a release authorization. Your cargo is then available for pickup or delivery. The entry summary (with final duty calculations) is filed within 10 business days of release. Greenwich Mercantile manages the entire duty payment process and reconciles your entries to ensure accuracy.
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.
We classify against the product specifications, not just the invoice description. Every classification is reviewed by a licensed customs broker.
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 file PGA data messages as part of the entry. When holds occur, we work directly with the agency to resolve them.
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 can't prevent examination, but we prepare accurate entries that minimize the likelihood. When exams happen, we coordinate with CBP to expedite release.
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 file ISF as soon as booking details are confirmed — typically days before the deadline, not hours.
$100 per entry. All-inclusive.
One flat fee covers everything — entry filing, ISF, PGA submissions, HTS classification, and document review. No surcharges for product type, port of entry, or time of day. You know exactly what customs clearance will cost before your cargo moves.
With Greenwich Mercantile, entries are filed within 30 minutes of receiving complete documentation. Once filed, most shipments receive automated clearance from CBP within hours. If CBP selects your shipment for examination, clearance can take 3 to 5 additional business days. The most common cause of delays is missing or inaccurate documentation — which is why our process includes a pre-filing document review to catch errors before they cause holds.
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 licensed broker performs to move your shipment through that process. A customs broker handles customs clearance on your behalf. Think of it this way: customs clearance is what happens, and customs brokerage is who does it for you. Learn more about our customs brokerage services.
Yes. Greenwich Mercantile clears shipments at all U.S. ports of entry — ocean ports, airports, and land border crossings. Our licensing and systems allow us to file entries at any CBP port nationwide. There is no additional charge for specific ports or regions.
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 free 30-minute consultation. We'll review your clearance process and show you how to eliminate delays, reduce costs, and get your goods released in minutes — not days.
Book a Free Consultation