• RECORDKEEPING PROCESS

    QUESTION: I was recently tasked to oversee a project to ensure we comply with record keeping for importation in the U.S. I am fairly new to my compliance role and needed the member’s input. Per the CBP website: Importers, exporters, carriers, and brokers are required to keep their U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records […]

  • RECORDKEEPING PROCESS

    QUESTION: I was recently tasked to oversee a project to ensure we comply with record keeping for importation in the U.S. I am fairly new to my compliance role and needed the member’s input. Per the CBP website: Importers, exporters, carriers, and brokers are required to keep their U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records […]

  • RECORDKEEPING BIS PART 762

    QUESTION: I have been tasked with creating and managing an export compliance recordkeeping system/procedure. We have Sales Representatives (independent contractors) that represent and sell our products all over the world.  Are these Non-US citizens, selling US origin products (manufactured in the US) subject to the recordkeeping requirements of BIS part 762? ========== Answers: Yes ========== […]

  • HTS RECORD KEEPING

    QUESTION: We’re trying to determine the correct retention period for our documents used to support our HTS classifications.  Several years ago I read, or was told, that the supporting documents must be kept for five years after the end of the product life cycle.  Is this correct?  Or, should the documents only be retained for […]

  • RECORDKEEPING REALITY

    QUESTION: Import Recordkeeping was rather straight forward in the past, as it was paper and file cabinets and 5+ years. Took up a lot space but was rather simple concept (at its core). Then came electronic permissions, by sending written request to CBP, and you can store on CDs and electronic formats. But now in the […]

  • RECORD RETENTION COUNTRY REQUIREMENTS

    QUESTION: I am currently reviewing our retention schedule for export and import documentation. Currently the standard is 5 years, but is anyone in the membership aware of any other countries that would require a longer retention period? I have heard that Brazil has a 7-year recordkeeping requirement, though I have not been able to verify […]

  • RECORDKEEPING PROCESS

    QUESTION: I would like to ask the membership what are the preferred methods for storage of import and export records (e.g. electronic, FTP sites, paper copies, DVD, etc.). Do you store based on CBP requirements in addition to, Litigation cases, ISO, and/or any other program requirement? Any feedback as to pros and cons? ===================== ANSWER: […]

  • FREIGHT INVOICE RECORDKEEPING

    QUESTION:   I’m interested in hearing how companies keep records for freight invoices. Is your Finance/Accounting Dept or Compliance Dept to keep the records?   I am asking is because our Compliance team keeps records for all import / export shipping documents (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, BOL, AWB, etc.).   We have a lot of […]

  • BROKER RECORDKEEPING COPIES

    QUESTION: I have taken over less than a year ago as the customs manager at a company and have been trying to obtain complete entry package records from a current broker for almost as long.  The broker requirement is to send complete scanned entry packages (3461, 7501, commercial invoices, BOL/AWB, certificates,  their invoice, etc.) to […]

  • EXPRESS COURIER RECORDKEEPING

    QUESTION: I would like to ask the membership what is being saved for record-keeping purposes when it comes to International shipments moving via Express Courier. For instance, what is kept in lieu of a 7501 or 3461? The only clearance information we have available at this time is what is stated on the tracking. ========== […]

  • E-RECORDKEEPING

    QUESTION: Instead of filing paper copies of our US import documents including FTA certificates, we would like to scan our documents into .pdf copies and upload them to a shared server. Do we need approval from the US government to do this? ========== Yes.   163.5 Methods for storage of records. (b) Alternative method of […]

  • E-RECORDKEEPING INSTRUCTIONS

    Question: Does anyone in the community have work instructions for electronic record keeping for import transactions that you are able to share? ————————————- ANSWERS: Linked, is the procedure we had approved by US Customs for electronic recordkeeping.  You must send them a cover letter and the procedure you are going to use to get approval.  […]