Under the Importer Security Filing (ISF) rule, certain advance cargo information must be electronically submitted to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by the “ISF Importer” or their agent (such as a licensed customs broker or freight forwarder) before merchandise arriving by vessel can be imported into the United States. This requirement only applies to cargo arriving in the U.S. by ocean vessel; it does not apply to cargo arriving by other modes of transportation. 

ISF-10 requires containerized cargo information to be transmitted to the CBP at least 24 hours before goods are loaded onto an ocean vessel bound for the U.S. (i.e. the “mother vessel,” not the “feeder vessel”) for shipment into the U.S. for security purposes. This requirement is based on section 203 of the SAFE Port Act and requires importers to provide 10 data elements to the CBP, as well as 2 additional data documents (Container Status Messages and the vessel’s Stow Plan). The ISF-10 filing must be completed by the ISF Importer or their agent.

ISF-5 filing is required for foreign importers whose goods are either FROB (freight remaining on board) and make a stop in the U.S. before their final destination of arrival at the foreign port of unlading. For foreign cargo remaining on board (FROB), the ISF Importer is the carrier. For immediate exportation (IE), transportation and exportation (T&E) in-bond shipments, and goods to be delivered to a foreign trade zone (FTZ), the ISF Importer, which is the carrier, is the party responsible for filing the IE, T&E, or FTZ documentation.