CBP's Pilot Bond Centralization Program Procedures Revised and Two Ports Added
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to its Web site updated information regarding its Pilot Bond Centralization Program for participating ports.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
(Under CBP's Pilot Bond Centralization Program for participating ports, Type 1 Importer continuous bond information is submitted to the Pilot Bond Centralization Team at the National Finance Center (NFC) in Indianapolis, IN so it can be reviewed, processed, and maintained in the automated system. Single transaction bonds continue to be processed at the local ports.)
Filers at Participating Ports May Submit their Bond Packages Directly to NFC. According to CBP, effective immediately for participating ports, filers of activity code 1 continuous bonds may submit their bond packages directly to the NFC either via fax (317-614-4517) or via email (cbp.bondquestions@dhs.gov).
CBP states that filers should insure that each fax or email submission contains only one bond application and that the filer's name and contact information is provided. CBP notes that, as in the past, terminations should still be sent to the Port where the bond is on file.
CBP notes that bond packages may alternatively be submitted through one of the participating ports.
Duplicate Importer Record (IR) Number Corrective Actions. CBP states that in order to expedite the processing of continuous bonds, the bond team will no longer reject bond applications when a principal has duplicate IR numbers. The NFC will void any duplicate IR number(s) associated with a bond application. Each new bond package, including the bond application, CBP Form 301, Customs Bond, and CBP Form 5106, Importer ID Input Record, when applicable, will be used to update IR Number, name and address data.
Newark and JFK Airport Became Participants as of November 22, 2004. Sources have confirmed that Newark, NJ and JFK Airport became participating ports in the Pilot Bond Centralization Program as of November 22, 2004.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/05/04 news, 04110550 2, for BP summary on NFC outreach meetings in Newark and JFK Airport regarding the pilot bond centralization program.)
(In September 2003 CBP began a Pilot Bond Centralization Program at the NFC for Type 1 Importer continuous bonds submitted to the ports of St. Albans, VT; Chicago, IL; Buffalo, NY; Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, CA; and Seattle, WA. In March 2004 the port of Miami, FL was added to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program. In May 2004 the ports of Detroit, MI; Cleveland, OH; and Port Huron, MI were added to the program. The port of Champlain, NY was added on June 7, 2004 and the ports of San Francisco, CA; Otay Mesa, CA; Calexico, CA; and Tecate, CA were added during the week of June 14, 2004. The ports of Atlanta, GA and Philadelphia, PA became participants on August 2, 2004 and the ports of Baltimore, MD and Boston, MA became participants as of August 16, 2004. Most recently, the ports of Newark and JFK became participants as of November 22, 2004.)
CBP notice on filing bond packages directly with NFC (dated 12/10/04) available at
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/pilot_program/.
CBP notice on duplicate importer record number corrective actions (dated 12/10/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/pilot_program/bond_info.xml.
Instructions for contacting NFC pilot bond centralization program personnel (dated 11/19/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/pilot_program/bond_poc.xml.