Shipping from China to the USA by sea? Two things must be in place before your goods leave the port: an ISF filing and a customs bond. Miss either one and your cargo can be held, inspected or fined. This guide explains ISF filing requirements, the 10 data elements, the deadlines, and how to choose between a single-entry and a continuous customs bond.
Key points
• ISF (Importer Security Filing, also called 10+2) is required for every ocean shipment to the USA, FCL and LCL. It is not required for air freight.
• Most ISF data must reach US Customs (CBP) at least 24 hours before the goods are loaded on the ship in China.
• A late, missing or wrong ISF can cost up to $5,000 per violation, and the cargo may be held for inspection.
• Commercial shipments over $2,500 need a customs bond. The ISF also needs bond cover.
• Import once or twice a year? A single-entry bond is enough. Import regularly? A continuous bond covers every shipment for a year.
What Is ISF Filing (10+2)?
The Importer Security Filing is an advance report that tells US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who is shipping what, from where, before the cargo is loaded abroad. CBP uses it to screen ocean cargo for security risks. The rule took effect in 2009 and applies to all cargo arriving in the USA by vessel.
The name 10+2 comes from who provides the data:
- 10 data elements from the importer (the ISF importer).
- 2 data elements from the ocean carrier: the vessel stow plan and container status messages. You do not need to provide these.
There is no paper ISF form. The filing is sent electronically to CBP, usually by a customs broker or freight forwarder.
ISF Filing Deadline
| Data | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Elements 1–8 (seller, buyer, importer number, consignee, manufacturer, ship-to party, country of origin, HTS code) | At least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded on the vessel in China |
| Elements 9–10 (container stuffing location, consolidator) | As early as possible, and no later than 24 hours before the vessel arrives at the US port |
In practice, the cargo cut-off in China is often several days before sailing. Have your ISF details ready when you book, not when the ship leaves.
The 10 ISF Data Elements
| # | Element | What it means | Usually comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seller | Name and address of the company selling the goods | Your purchase order or invoice |
| 2 | Buyer | Name and address of the company buying the goods | You |
| 3 | Importer of record number | Your IRS number (EIN) or CBP-assigned number | You |
| 4 | Consignee number | IRS or CBP number of the party receiving the goods | You |
| 5 | Manufacturer or supplier | Name and address of the factory that made the goods | Your supplier |
| 6 | Ship-to party | Name and address where the goods are delivered in the USA | You |
| 7 | Country of origin | Where the goods were made, for example China | Your supplier |
| 8 | HTS code | The US tariff number, at least 6 digits | You or your broker |
| 9 | Container stuffing location | Where the container was packed | Your freight forwarder |
| 10 | Consolidator (stuffer) | The company that packed the container | Your freight forwarder |
The HTS code must match what you later declare on the customs entry. If you are not sure of your code, see our guide on how to find an HS code. The seller, manufacturer and buyer details should match your commercial invoice and packing list.
Who Files the ISF?
The legal responsibility sits with the ISF importer: the party that causes the goods to arrive in the USA, usually the owner, buyer or consignee. The ISF importer can authorise an agent, such as a licensed customs broker or a freight forwarder, to file for them. Most importers use an agent, because the filing is sent through CBP’s electronic systems.
Elements 9 and 10 come from China, where the container is packed, so the forwarder handling your cargo at origin has this information first.
ISF Penalties
CBP can claim liquidated damages of up to $5,000 per violation for an ISF that is late, incomplete or inaccurate. CBP can also hold the cargo or send it for inspection. Inspection fees, storage charges and missed delivery dates usually cost more than the filing itself.
Common causes of problems:
- The ISF is filed after the cargo is already loaded in China.
- The HTS code on the ISF does not match the customs entry.
- The manufacturer is listed as a trading company instead of the real factory.
- The ISF is not updated when the booking, vessel or container changes.
What Is a Customs Bond?
A customs bond (also called a CBP bond or import bond) is a guarantee to US Customs that duties, taxes, fees and any penalties will be paid. You buy it from a surety company, usually through your customs broker.
- Formal entries: commercial shipments valued over $2,500 need a bond.
- ISF: the ISF importer must also have bond cover. A continuous import bond covers ISF filings too. Without one, a separate ISF bond is needed.
Goods from China no longer get duty-free low-value (de minimis) treatment, so even smaller commercial shipments go through customs entry. See our guide to importing from China to the USA for the full entry process.
Single Entry Bond vs Continuous Bond
| Single entry bond | Continuous bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One shipment | All your shipments for 12 months |
| Best for | Importers shipping once or twice a year | Regular importers |
| Bond amount | Based on the shipment’s value plus duties, taxes and fees | 10% of the duties, taxes and fees you paid in the past 12 months, usually at least $50,000 |
| Set-up | Bought for each shipment | Filed once with CBP and renewed each year |
CBP sets continuous bonds in steps of $10,000 up to $100,000. Because the bond amount is linked to the duties you pay, the extra US tariffs on Chinese goods can push it up. If your duties rise, CBP may ask you to increase the bond. Your broker can check whether your bond is still large enough.
A new continuous bond can take a few days to be set up, so arrange it well before your first ocean shipment.
Checklist Before Your Goods Leave China
- Confirm who is the importer of record, and have the EIN or CBP number ready.
- Confirm your customs bond is active: single entry or continuous.
- Check the HTS code for each product.
- Get the factory’s full name and address from your supplier.
- Send the ISF details to your forwarder or broker when you book the shipment.
- Ask for confirmation that the ISF was accepted before the cargo cut-off.
ISF Timeline: From Booking to Loading
| When | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| At booking (about 7–14 days before sailing) | Collect seller, buyer, ship-to and manufacturer details | Importer, supplier and forwarder |
| Once the container is loaded | Confirm the container stuffing location and the consolidator | Forwarder |
| At least 24 hours before loading on the ship | ISF filed with CBP | Importer’s customs broker or the forwarder as filer |
| After the bill of lading is issued | ISF matched to the bill of lading; corrections filed if details changed | Filer |
| On arrival in the USA | Customs entry filed and duties paid | Customs broker |
For a typical sailing from Shenzhen, that means the ISF data should be complete about 3–4 days before the ship sails, when the container is delivered to the terminal. See our guide to the Port of Yantian for the full timeline.
Who Provides Each ISF Element?
| ISF element | Usually comes from |
|---|---|
| Seller and buyer names and addresses | The purchase order and commercial invoice |
| Manufacturer or supplier | The supplier: the factory where the goods were made, not a trading company’s office |
| Ship-to party, importer of record and consignee numbers | The importer |
| Country of origin and HTS code (6 digits) | The supplier and the importer’s broker |
| Container stuffing location and consolidator | The forwarder in China |
Common ISF Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Trading company listed as manufacturer: CBP wants the actual factory. Ask your supplier for the factory name and address with the order.
- Wrong or vague HTS code: use at least the 6-digit code that matches the goods. See how to find an HS code.
- Filed late: data arrives after the container is already at the terminal. Collect it at booking, not at loading.
- Not updated: the container stuffing location or consolidator changes, but the ISF is not amended.
- No bond: an ISF must be covered by a continuous bond or an ISF single transaction bond. See customs bonds.
ISF-10 and ISF-5
Most imports use the standard ISF-10, filed by the importer or its agent. The shorter ISF-5 applies to cargo that only passes through the USA, such as goods staying on board for another country or moving in bond for export. If your goods are for the US market, you need ISF-10.
How JIEYI Handles ISF and Bonds
We book and load your cargo in China, so we already have the container stuffing location, the consolidator and the supplier details. We file the ISF for all our ocean shipments to the USA, whether you use your own US customs broker or ship DDP with us. Send us the buyer, importer and consignee details when you book, and we confirm when the ISF is accepted.
- Using your own customs broker? You arrange the customs bond through your broker. We file the ISF and send your broker the shipping documents.
- No bond and no broker? Ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). We file the ISF, arrange the customs entry and bond, and pay the duties for you.
More on the route: shipping from China to the USA and shipping costs from China to the USA.
Need to know how the ISF bond fits in with your other import bonds? See our guide to US customs bonds: single entry vs continuous bond, costs and how to get one.
For the full import process, documents and what each clearance status means, see import customs clearance.
FAQ
Is ISF required for air freight?
No. ISF only applies to cargo arriving in the USA by ship. Air shipments still need a customs entry and, if over $2,500, a customs bond.
Do LCL shipments need an ISF?
Yes. Every ocean shipment needs an ISF, whether it is a full container (FCL) or a shared container (LCL).
Can I file the ISF myself?
The ISF is filed electronically to CBP, so most importers authorise a customs broker or forwarder to file it for them.
How much does a customs bond cost?
The price is set by the surety company and depends on the bond amount and your import history. Ask your customs broker for a quote.
What happens if the ISF is late?
CBP can claim up to $5,000 per violation, and the cargo may be held for inspection. File before the cargo is loaded in China.
Checked on 1 November 2026 against CBP guidance and the US regulations on importer security filing (19 CFR Part 149). Rules can change, so confirm details with your customs broker. Shipping from China to the USA by sea? Send us your shipment details and get a quote within 2 hours.
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