ISF Filing
Importer Security Filing (10+2)

What Is ISF — and Why Does It Exist?

The Importer Security Filing (ISF), commonly called "10+2," was implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the SAFE Port Act of 2006 and became mandatory on January 26, 2010. The rule requires importers to electronically submit 10 data elements about their ocean cargo — and carriers to submit 2 additional vessel and container-status data elements — before cargo is loaded at a foreign port.

The purpose is risk assessment. CBP uses ISF data to screen shipments before they ever reach U.S. waters, identifying high-risk cargo and targeting it for examination before it is discharged. The 24-hour pre-load filing window gives CBP's National Targeting Center (NTC) time to run cargo against security watch lists, enforce trade sanctions, and prioritize inspections at the port of arrival.

ISF is separate from — and in addition to — the formal customs entry (consumption entry) that must be filed when cargo arrives. Both are required for every ocean shipment.

The 10 Importer-Filed Data Elements

The "10" in 10+2 refers to these ten data elements that the importer (or their licensed customs broker acting as ISF Importer) must provide:

#	Data Element	Notes
1	Seller name & address	Party selling the goods to the buyer
2	Buyer name & address	Party purchasing the goods
3	Importer of record number	EIN or CBP-assigned IRS number
4	Consignee number	Party to whom cargo is delivered in the U.S.
5	Manufacturer/supplier name & address	Actual factory or producer of the goods
6	Ship-to party name & address	First U.S. delivery point
7	Country of origin	Country where goods were produced; governs duty rates
8	HTS number (6-digit minimum)	Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification
9	Container stuffing location	Where cargo was loaded into the container
10	Consolidator name & address	Party who consolidated LCL cargo; may be same as stuffing location

Elements 1–8 must be filed no later than 24 hours before loading. Elements 9 and 10 may be updated up to 24 hours after the vessel arrives at the first U.S. port of unlading.

The 2 Carrier-Filed Elements

The "+2" refers to two additional elements that the ocean carrier (not the importer) is responsible for filing:

• Vessel Stow Plan: A diagram showing where every container is positioned on the vessel, filed no later than 48 hours after the vessel departs a foreign port (or for voyages under 48 hours, before the vessel arrives at the first U.S. port).
• Container Status Messages (CSM): Event data for each container — loaded, discharged, empty — transmitted as events occur. CBP uses CSMs to track containers throughout the supply chain.

While importers are not responsible for filing these carrier elements, errors or late filings by the carrier can still trigger examination of your cargo. This is another reason early, accurate ISF data is critical — cargo with complete, consistent data is lower risk in CBP's targeting algorithms.

ISF Filing Timing: The 24-Hour Rule

The 24-hour pre-load deadline is strict. CBP measures the clock from the moment cargo is laden aboard the vessel — not from sailing, not from arrival at the foreign port. This means:

• If your cargo is being stuffed and loaded over 48 hours, ISF should be filed before any loading begins.
• For LCL (less-than-container load) consolidations, the clock runs from when your goods are loaded into the consolidated container — which may be earlier than the overall vessel loading.
• ISF must be filed and accepted (confirmed) in CBP's AMS/AES system before loading, not merely submitted.

GLCHB files ISF as early as possible — typically when the shipping booking is confirmed and before the cargo reaches the foreign port. This eliminates timing risk and gives us a buffer to correct any data errors before the deadline.

ISF Amendments: What Happens When Shipment Details Change?

ISF data sometimes changes after initial filing — a container swap, a routing change, a different stuffing location. CBP allows amendments, but they must be filed before loading (for the core 10 elements). Failing to update ISF after a known material change is itself a violation.

GLCHB monitors pending ISF filings and proactively contacts clients when shipment documentation changes arrive. We amend immediately — before CBP detects a discrepancy.

ISF Enforcement: What CBP Is Actually Doing

CBP's ISF enforcement has escalated significantly since 2022. The most common enforcement actions include:

• Liquidated damages: A monetary claim assessed for each ISF violation (up to $10,000 per violation per shipment).
• Increased examination rate: Shipments with ISF violations, late filings, or repeated discrepancies are statistically more likely to be pulled for intensive examination — X-ray, physical unpack, lab analysis. This adds days and significant cost.
• Hold/intensive exam for pattern violations: Importers with a history of ISF non-compliance can be flagged for systematic examination of all incoming shipments.
• Bond claims: CBP can file a claim against the importer's customs bond for ISF violations, which affects the ability to obtain future entries.

The financial cost of a single ISF penalty can easily exceed what a client pays in customs brokerage fees for an entire year of shipments. Compliance is not optional — it's financial protection.

ISF for LCL Shipments

Less-than-container load (LCL) shipments introduce additional ISF complexity. When multiple importers share a container, each importer must file their own ISF — but the container stuffing location and consolidator elements must match across all individual ISF filings for the same container. Consolidators (NVOCCs) play a key coordination role, and timing can be tighter because cargo may be stuffed into the shared container before the vessel booking is even confirmed.

GLCHB has extensive LCL experience and coordinates directly with NVOCCs to confirm container assignment and stuffing timing before ISF filing deadlines. We also verify that the consolidator's data matches what we've filed.

Why GLCHB Includes ISF with Every Ocean Entry

Some customs brokers charge ISF as an add-on fee — and then still risk missing the deadline or filing incomplete data because it's not their core focus. At GLCHB, ISF is integrated into our standard ocean freight entry workflow. From the moment a client sends us a shipping booking, ISF preparation begins. Our process:

1. Receive booking confirmation and commercial invoice/packing list from client
2. Extract and verify all 10 ISF data elements against shipper documents
3. Cross-check country of origin against HTS classification and applicable duty rates
4. File ISF via ACE — confirm electronic receipt
5. Monitor for CBP response (accepted/rejected) and resolve any discrepancies immediately
6. Update ISF if container, routing, or stuffing location changes
7. Transition seamlessly to entry filing when cargo arrives at the U.S. port

This is not just paperwork — it's part of our client's cargo security profile. Accurate, timely ISF filings build a compliance track record that reduces examination risk over time.