What are the four types of U.S. Customs inspections?
What are the main aspects checked by U.S. Customs? According to the “E-Commerce Elements of Compliance” published on the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) official website, it provides basic compliance guidelines for cross-border sellers. Adhering to these guidelines can reduce the risk of being intercepted or detained by CBP, aiming for swift customs clearance.
The CBP “E-Commerce Elements of Compliance” focuses on inspection of declaration elements such as product description, product value, product quality, total weight, country of origin, and certification requirements from other government agencies.
The four common types of customs inspections in the United States, which cover over 95% of all cargo inspections, are as follows:
- VACIS EXAM (Basic Inspection)
This is one of the most basic inspection methods used by U.S. Customs. The cargo owner is required to provide the necessary clearance documents (including the customs declaration and clearance paperwork) for review.
Inspection time: Typically within 24 hours. - CET (Non-Intrusive Inspection)
Also known as a non-intrusive inspection, containers arriving at the port are scanned by an X-ray machine. Customs officers only need to verify the scanned images, and if no issues are found, the cargo is cleared.
Inspection time: Typically within 48 hours. - Tail Gate (Container Inspection)
After an X-ray inspection, if customs officers still have doubts about the cargo, they will open the container to inspect the contents and verify that the declared items match the actual goods.
Inspection time: Typically 3-5 working days or more. - MET (Manual Examination)
This is the most stringent type of inspection by U.S. Customs. The entire container is transported to a designated inspection facility where all the goods inside are fully unloaded and examined item by item. If any suspicious items are found, customs officers may take samples for further testing.
Inspection time: Typically 7-15 days, with potential delays if issues arise.
Each type of inspection varies in complexity and time, requiring cargo owners to prepare accordingly for potential delays during clearance.
In order to increase the success rate of goods passing U.S. Customs inspection, cross-border sellers need to pay attention to the following points:
Guarantee cargo compliance
According to the policies of each country, providing evidence of cargo compliance usually refers to various certification certificates and test reports. For the U.S., certain categories (e.g., food, drugs, medical devices, children’s toys, etc.) require the submission of specialized certification documents or test reports.
Truthful declaration
The actual condition of the goods must be consistent with the declaration, including weight, quantity, price and model, etc., to ensure that all information is accurate, in order to avoid discrepancies found by the customs inspection.
Regularization of packing list and invoice documents
Ensure that the cargo’s packing list and invoice information is complete and standardized. Understand the official documents required for export to avoid inspection due to incomplete documents or incomplete information.
HS code regularization
According to the actual information of the goods, use HS code correctly, ensure the code is accurate, and regularize and simplify it according to different export modes. Meanwhile, check carefully to avoid goods being detained and inspected due to wrong HS code.
Ensure the integrity of origin marking
For products entering the U.S. market, it is required to mark the origin on the product. If the product is made in China, it must be labeled “MADE IN CHINA” on the product itself and on the outer packaging to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
By ensuring that these aspects of the standardization, you can greatly improve the rate of goods through the customs inspection, and reduce the delay and risk caused by the inspection.
