CBP Informed Compliance Publication: "Passenger Vessel Services Act" (2019)
This publication is intended to provide guidance and information to the trade community.
It reflects the position on or interpretation of the applicable laws or regulations by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as of the date of publication, which is shown on
the front cover. It does not in any way replace or supersede those laws or regulations.
Only the latest official version of the laws or regulations is authoritative.
First Published April 2010
Revised September 2019
This publication was designed for electronic distribution via the CBP website
(https://www.cbp.gov) and is being distributed in a variety of formats. It was originally set
up in Microsoft Word97®. Pagination and margins in downloaded versions may vary
depending upon which word processor or printer you use. If you wish to maintain the
original settings, you may wish to download the .pdf version, which can then be printed
using the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader®.
On December 8, 1993, Title VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. L. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057), also known as the Customs Modernization or “Mod” Act, became effective. These provisions amended many sections of the Tariff Act of 1930 and related laws.
Two new concepts that emerged from the Mod Act are “informed compliance” and “shared responsibility,” which are premised on the idea that in order to maximize voluntary compliance with laws and regulations of CBP, the trade community needs to be clearly and completely informed of its legal obligations. Accordingly, the Mod Act imposes a greater obligation on CBP to provide the public with improved information concerning the trade community’s rights and responsibilities under CBP regulations and related laws. In addition, both the trade and CBP share responsibility for carrying out these requirements. For example, under Section 484 of the Tariff Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 1484), the importer of record is responsible for using reasonable care to enter, classify and determine the value of imported merchandise and to provide any other information necessary to enable CBP to properly assess duties, collect accurate statistics, and determine whether other applicable legal requirements, if any, have been met. CBP is then responsible for fixing the final classification and value of the merchandise. An importer of record’s failure to exercise reasonable care could delay release of the merchandise and, in some cases, could result in the imposition of penalties or, in certain instances, referral for criminal enforcement.
The Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings (RR) has been given a major role in meeting the informed compliance responsibilities of CBP. In order to provide information to the public, CBP has issued a series of informed compliance publications, on new or revised requirements, regulations or procedures, and a variety of classification and valuation issues.
This publication, prepared by the Border Security and Trade Compliance Division, RR, is entitled “The Passenger Vessel Services Act.” It provides guidance regarding the procedures that control the coastwise transportation of passengers between U.S. ports. It is part of a series of informed compliance publications advising the public of CBP regulations and procedures. We sincerely hope that this material, together with seminars and increased access to rulings of CBP, will help the trade community to improve voluntary compliance with customs laws and to understand the relevant administrative processes.
The material in this publication is provided for general information purposes only. Because many complicated factors can be involved in customs issues, an importer may wish to obtain a ruling under the CBP Regulations, 19 C.F.R. Part 177, or to obtain advice from an expert who specializes in customs maritime matters, for example, a maritime attorney or a vessel agent.
Comments and suggestions are welcomed and should be addressed to the Executive Director, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 90 K Street, NE, 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20229-1177.
Alice A. Kipel
Executive Director, Regulations and Rulings
Office of Trade
PREFACE ... 2
INTRODUCTION ... 6
Purpose ... 6
The Coastwise Laws: Passengers vs. Merchandise ... 6
APPLICABLE STATUTES ... 7
46 U.S.C. § 55101(a) and (b)- Application of Coastwise Laws ... 7
46 U.S.C. § 55103- Transportation of Passengers ... 7
43 U.S.C. § 1333- Laws and Regulations Governing Lands ... 7
46 U.S.C. § 55104- Transportation of Passengers between Puerto Rico and Other
Ports in the United States ... 7
46 U.S.C. § 55121- Transportation of Merchandise and Passengers on Canadian
Vessels ... 7
46 U.S.C. § 12103- General Eligibility Requirements ... 8
46 U.S.C. § 12112- Coastwise Endorsement ... 8
46 U.S.C. § 501- Waiver of Navigation and Vessel-Inspection Laws ... 8
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS ... 8
19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b)- Passenger Lists ... 8
19 C.F.R. § 4.80- Vessels Entitled to Engage in Coastwise Trade ... 8
19 C.F.R. § 4.80a- Coastwise transportation of passengers ... 9
19 C.F.R. Part 177 ... 9
33 C.F.R. 2.22- Territorial Sea ... 9
COASTWISE TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS ... 9
PENALTY FOR PVSA VIOLATIONS ... 16
EFFECT OF RULING LETTERS ... 19
WAIVERS OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS ... 20
WEBSITE APPENDIX ... 22
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ... 23
The Internet ... 23
CBP Regulations ... 23
Customs Bulletin ... 23
Importing Into the United States ... 24
Informed Compliance Publications ... 24
Value Publications ... 24
“Your Comments are Important” ... 25
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), previously the U.S. Customs Service,¹ is responsible for enforcing and administering laws and regulations which set forth procedures to control and oversee vessels arriving in, and departing from, U.S. ports and the coastwise transportation of passengers between U.S. ports.
The purpose of this Informed Compliance Publication (ICP) is to identify the laws and regulations pertaining to the coastwise transportation of passengers, such that the trade community is informed of its legal obligations, and in order to maximize voluntary compliance with laws and regulations enforced by CBP.
Generally, the coastwise laws prohibit the transportation of passengers or merchandise between points in the United States embraced within the coastwise laws in any vessel other than a vessel built in, documented under the laws of, and owned by citizens of the United States. The coastwise law pertaining to the transportation of merchandise is known as the Jones Act, codified at 46 U.S.C. § 55102. The coastwise law pertaining to the transportation of passengers is known as the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), codified at 46 U.S.C. § 55103. This document will cover the key laws and regulations governing the transportation of passengers under the PVSA. This document is not applicable to the transportation of merchandise under the Jones Act. Please refer to the Coastwise Trade: Merchandise Informed Compliance Publication for information about the Jones Act.
Specifically, in this publication, CBP will summarize:
Note: CBP interpretive rulings are cited throughout this publication. You may access the rulings by clicking on the web link associated with the ruling number. Alternatively, you may visit the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) web link and enter the ruling number in the search bar.
¹ The U.S. Customs Service was removed from the Department of the Treasury and became a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-296 (Nov. 25, 2002), secs. 403, 411, and is now known as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (DHS Delegation Number 7010.1, of June 20, 2003).
The coastwise laws apply to the United States, including U.S. island territories and possessions. The coastwise laws do not apply to American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
No vessel may transport passengers between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port, unless the vessel is: (1) wholly owned by U.S. citizens and (2) has a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement or, if exempt from documentation, would otherwise be eligible.2
The laws of the United States extend to the subsoil and seabed of the Outer Continental Shelf; all artificial islands, installations, and other devices attached to the seabed “for the purpose of exploring, developing, or producing resources therefrom”; and any installation or device (other than a ship or vessel) used for the transportation of those resources.
A vessel that is not qualified to engage in the coastwise trade may transport passengers between a port in Puerto Rico and another port in the United States until such a time as a finding is made that a qualified U.S.-flag passenger vessel is available for such service.
Until U.S. passenger service is established, Canadian passenger vessels holding permits issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security may transport passengers between the port of Rochester, New York, and the port of Alexandria Bay, New York. The prohibitions of the coastwise laws do not apply to the transportation on Canadian vessels of: “1) passengers between ports in southeastern Alaska; or 2) passengers or merchandise between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in southeastern Alaska or in the United States outside Alaska,” until the Secretary of Transportation determines that service by vessels of the United States is available to provide such transportation.
A certificate of documentation may be issued only to vessels that are wholly owned by a U.S. citizen, the U.S. government, a state government, and/or an eligible entity, partnership, or corporation; are at least five net tons; and are not documented under the laws of a foreign country.
A coastwise endorsement may be issued for a vessel that meets the criteria set forth in 46 U.S.C. § 12103, was built in the United States (or if not built in the United States, was captured in war by U.S. citizens and lawfully condemned as prize, was forfeited for a breach of U.S. laws, or qualifies as a wrecked vessel), and otherwise qualifies to engage in the coastwise trade. A vessel issued a coastwise endorsement may engage in the coastwise trade.
Under 46 U.S.C. § 501(a), the Secretary of Defense may request the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to waive the navigation laws to the extent the Secretary of Defense considers such a waiver necessary in the interest of national defense.
For all other waiver requests, under 46 U.S.C. § 501(b), the Secretary of DHS is authorized to grant the waiver request if the Secretary of DHS considers it necessary in the interest of national defense and if the Maritime Administrator determines there is no coastwise-qualified vessel capacity to conduct the transportation set forth in the request.
A passenger is “any person carried on a vessel who is not connected with the operation of such vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business.”
Vessels may not transport passengers either directly or via a foreign port between coastwise points, including points within a harbor, unless the vessel has been issued a coastwise endorsement on its certificate of documentation by the U.S. Coast Guard or is exempt from documentation but otherwise eligible for a coastwise endorsement (also known as a “coastwise-qualified vessel”). Foreign vessels, as well as U.S. vessels that are not documented with a coastwise endorsement, may embark passengers at a U.S. point for disembarkation at a foreign port and vice versa. Non-coastwise-qualified vessels that transport passengers between coastwise points will be penalized $300 for each passenger transported and landed on or before November 2, 2015 and $798 for each passenger transported and landed after November 2, 2015. A Vessel qualified to engage in the coastwise trade will lose that right if it is sold to a foreign individual or entity, or is placed under foreign registry (unless the vessel is 200 gross tons or less) or if it was rebuilt (unless the entire rebuilding was done in the United States).
The CBP regulations in 19 C.F.R. § 4.80a set forth the definitions used in the enforcement of the PVSA including “coastwise port”, “nearby foreign port” and “distant foreign port”, as well as the meaning of “embark and disembark”. In addition, this section sets forth scenarios that would apply the PVSA to the transportation of passengers on non-coastwise-qualified vessels.
CBP issues prospective ruling letters regarding the PVSA pursuant to 19 C.F.R. Part 177.
The territorial sea of the United States means the waters, three nautical miles wide, adjacent to the U.S. coast and seaward of the territorial sea baseline.
There are three key elements to examine when determining whether a particular transportation constitutes coastwise transportation. These elements are: (1) whether the transportation is between coastwise points, (2) whether the transportation is being provided on a coastwise-qualified vessel, and (3) whether the individuals being transported are “passengers” within the meaning of the PVSA. This section discusses each of these considerations in turn by examining the geographic locations where the PVSA applies, the requirements for a vessel to be considered “coastwise-qualified,” and the characteristics of who is a “passenger.”
A non-coastwise-qualified vessel may not transport passengers directly between U.S. coastwise ports or indirectly via several U.S. ports.3
EXAMPLE: A coastwise transportation violation occurs when a passenger embarks a non-coastwise-qualified vessel in San Francisco and is transported to Seattle, where the passenger disembarks.
EXAMPLE: A PVSA violation occurs when passengers embark a non-coastwise-qualified vessel in Los Angeles and are transported to several Hawaiian Islands where the passengers go ashore temporarily then return to the vessel and disembark in Los Angeles.
The PVSA applies to the territorial sea, defined as the waters, three nautical miles wide, adjacent to the U.S. coast and seaward of the territorial sea baseline.⁴ As such, the transportation of passengers entirely within territorial waters, even though the passengers disembark at a coastwise point of embarkation and the vessel touches no other coastwise point, is considered coastwise trade subject to the coastwise laws.
The PVSA applies to points located in internal waters, landward of the territorial sea baseline, including navigable waters.⁵
The coastwise laws, including the PVSA, apply to points on the Outer Continental Shelf under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The Outer Continental Shelf is defined as all submerged lands lying seaward of state coastal waters (three miles offshore), which are under U.S. jurisdiction. OCSLA extends the laws of the United States to:
A non-coastwise-qualified vessel may not transport passengers between U.S. coastwise ports by way of a “nearby foreign port.”⁷ A “nearby foreign port” is any foreign port in:
⁴ 33 C.F.R. § 2.22(a)(2).
⁵ HQ 111275 (Nov. 13, 1990).
⁶ 43 U.S.C. § 1333(a).
⁷ 19 C.F.R. § 4.80a(b)(2).
A port in the U.S. Virgin Islands shall be treated as a nearby foreign port.8
EXAMPLE: A PVSA violation occurs when a non-coastwise-qualified vessel embarks passengers in Los Angeles, transports them to the Hawaiian Islands and Ensenada, Mexico, and then proceeds to San Diego where the passengers disembark. Ensenada, Mexico is a “nearby foreign port”.
NOTE: Application of the PVSA is based on the geographic locations where passengers “embark” and “disembark”. The transporting vessel’s itinerary, whether the passenger is a revenue or non-revenue passenger, or how the passenger’s transportation is ticketed, is irrelevant.
EXAMPLE: The transportation of passengers aboard a non-coastwise-qualified vessel M/V MAURY on ticket/itinerary from San Francisco, California to Vancouver, Canada, where the passengers depart the vessel with their luggage in Vancouver. If the same passengers reboard the M/V MAURY in Vancouver using different tickets and disembark at any other coastwise port other than San Francisco, the M/V MAURY would be a violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103.9
Although CBP determines whether the transportation activities are considered coastwise trade, whether the vessel itself is qualified to engage in coastwise trade is determined by the United States Coast Guard, National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). The NVDC determines vessel eligibility for coastwise endorsements and issues certificates of documentation.10 This section discusses the general requirements that a vessel must meet in order to be considered “coastwise-qualified.” If a vessel is coastwise-qualified, it may engage in the coastwise trade, including transporting “passengers” between coastwise points. In general, a coastwise-qualified vessel must be U.S.-built, owned, and documented with a coastwise endorsement.
The vessel must be built in the United States11
Note: A U.S.-built vessel will lose its eligibility to engage in the coastwise trade if it is sold to a foreign individual or entity, or placed under foreign registry (unless the vessel is 200 gross tons or less), or if it was rebuilt (unless the entire rebuilding was effected in the United States).¹² Rebuild determinations are made by the United States Coast Guard.
EXCEPTION:
The Small Vessel Waiver Program, administered by the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD), may, in certain cases issue a waiver of the U.S.-build requirement for foreign vessels to operate in the United States as commercial passenger vessels. In order to procure a small vessel waiver, the vessel must meet certain eligibility requirements, which can be found here: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/ports/domestic-shipping/small-vessel-waiver-program.
Owned by a U.S. citizen
The vessel must be owned by a U.S. citizen.¹³
Documented by the U.S. Coast Guard with a Coastwise Endorsement
In order to be issued a certificate of documentation, the vessel must be:
(1) Owned by a U.S. citizen or another eligible owner listed in 46 U.S.C. § 12103(b)
(2) At least five net tons
(3) Not documented under the laws of a foreign country¹⁴
In addition, a coastwise-qualified vessel must have a coastwise endorsement on its certificate of documentation.¹⁵
EXCEPTION:
Vessels of less than five net tons will not be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard.¹⁶ For those vessels to engage in coastwise transportation, they must, except for their tonnage, otherwise be entitled to be documented with a coastwise endorsement.¹⁷
¹² 19 C.F.R. § 4.80(e).
¹³ 46 U.S.C. § 12103(b).
¹⁴ 46 U.S.C. § 12103.
¹⁵ 46 U.S.C. § 12112.
¹⁶ 46 U.S.C. § 12103.
¹⁷ 19 C.F.R. § 4.80(a)(2).
The U.S. Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) determines documentation and endorsement eligibility. Please contact the NVDC at the NVDC website.
Vessels that are coastwise-qualified may transport "passengers" between coastwise points without violating the PVSA. Non-coastwise-qualified vessels, however, are not permitted to transport "passengers" between coastwise points.
Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b), a passenger is any person carried on a vessel who is not connected with the operation of such vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business.
EXAMPLES: The following are examples of persons who are not "directly and substantially" related to the operation, navigation, ownership, or business of the vessel itself.
¹⁸ See 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b) and Modification and Revocation of Customs Ruling Letters Relating to the Applicability of Customs Position on Who is Considered a Passenger Under the Coastwise Laws, published in the Customs Bulletin and Decisions, Vol. 36, No. 23, June 5, 2002.
¹⁹ HQ H078776 (Oct. 5, 2009).
²⁰ HQ H008513 (Mar. 21, 2007).
○ CBP found that the transportation of a terminal operations staff member aboard a vessel to observe the "day-to-day activities aboard the ship" to become familiar with vessel operations may foster the business of the shipping company, but it does not connect the staff member directly and substantially with the business of the vessel itself.²¹
EXAMPLES: Transportation of the following individuals on a non-coastwise-qualified vessel would not result in a violation of the PVSA because the activity and work aboard the vessel while the vessel is in transit between coastwise points is "directly and substantially" related to the operation, navigation, ownership, or business of the vessel itself:
Operation or Navigation of the Vessel
Ownership or Business of the Vessel
²¹ HQ H083895 (Nov. 16, 2009).
²² HQ H283532 (Feb. 15, 2017).
²³ HQ H290674 (Sept. 29, 2017).
²⁴ HQ H273542 (Feb. 26, 2016).
²⁵ HQ H285618 (Apr. 24, 2017).
²⁶ HQ H248269 (Nov. 26, 2013).
²⁷ HQ H069521 (Sep. 14, 2009).
The spouse and children of officers of a vessel are not passengers. The children must be a part of the officer's household.28 CBP has found the following positions to be officers of the vessel:
The PVSA does not apply to:
28 See Bureau of Navigation General Letter No. 117 (May 20, 1916).
29 H281268 (Nov. 21, 2016); H259211 (Nov. 14, 2014); H205796 (Feb. 23, 2012).
30 H272001 (Jan. 12, 2016); H216023 (May 3, 2012).
31 HQ H030301 (Jun. 9, 2008).
32 H276911 (Jun. 24, 2016); H278892 (Sep. 2, 2016); H036200 (Aug. 22, 2008).
33 H030524 (Jun. 11, 2008).
34 H259697 (Dec. 1, 2014); HQ H007256 (Feb. 26, 2007).
35 H283922 (Feb. 28, 2017); HQ H007875 (Mar. 12, 2007).
36 See e.g., HQ 113255 (Oct. 25, 1994) (ruling that the transportation of passengers between Fajardo, Puerto Rico and the islands of Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico was in violation of the coastwise laws).
EXAMPLE: A non-coastwise-qualified vessel that embarks passengers at a U.S. port and then transports them to Aruba, then proceeds to Key West where the passengers disembark does not violate the PVSA. A port in Aruba is a “distant foreign port”.40
Regardless of whether their voyage is in compliance with the PVSA, individuals must be in compliance with the immigration laws of the United States. Immigration status is determined at CBP Ports of Entry.
CBP issues monetary penalties to vessel owners and operators for each passenger transported in violation of the PVSA. Vessel owners and operators may submit a petition for relief from these penalties at the port where the penalty was issued. The port may cancel or mitigate the penalty.
37 See 29 O.A.G. 318 (1912).
38 19 C.F.R. § 4.80a(b)(2).
39 19 C.F.R. § 4.80a(b)(3).
40 19 C.F.R. § 4.80a(a)(3).
PVSA ruling letters are binding guidance from CBP as to whether the activities of individuals being transported by non-coastwise-qualified vessels would result in their being "passengers" within the meaning of the PVSA and if so, whether their transportation between coastwise points would result in a violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103. The requester or other entities with identical circumstances may rely on the ruling and the ruling will govern how CBP will treat the specific transaction outlined in the ruling letter. PVSA ruling letters are not mandatory.
PVSA rulings are binding only on the vessel owner and operator and CBP. CBP will only accept ruling requests from vessel owners, operators or their agents, i.e., vessel agents, legal representatives. CBP will not accept ruling requests from any other entity, including the individual(s) being transported, unless CBP is provided with documentary evidence establishing that the requester has the authority to bind the vessel owner or operator.
When to Request a Ruling Request
Requests must be submitted prior to the date of embarkation.
Where to Submit a Ruling Request
Requests for PVSA rulings may be submitted by electronic mail to PVSARULINGS@DHS.GOV. Please indicate the name of the vessel in the subject line of the electronic mail submission. Effective October 1, 2019, CBP will no longer accept PVSA ruling requests through the web form at www.cbp.gov.
What Information to Include in a Ruling Request⁴¹
EXAMPLE: A request proposes to transport Sam Smith aboard the non-coastwise-qualified M/V LOCH BREW between Miami and Jacksonville. Sam will be installing a stove in the vessel's galley. The request will not be complete unless CBP is provided with an invoice, contract, or other document kept in the normal course of business that shows Sam will be installing a stove aboard the M/V LOCH BREW along with the other details of the voyage.
⁴¹ Before submitting a request for a ruling, individuals are encouraged to review 19 C.F.R. Part 177 as well as the CBP Rulings Program Informed Compliance Publication: What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: U.S. Customs & Border Protection Rulings Program (Dec. 2009) available at https://www.cbp.gov/document/publications/us-customs-and-border-protection-rulings-program.
⁴² See 19 C.F.R. § 177.2(b)(4)
All ruling requests, including requests involving the PVSA, will be processed in the order they are received, regardless of the embarkation date. In order to receive a ruling response prior to the embarkation date, it is recommended that requests be submitted far in advance of the voyage to allow time for processing. Requests are not processed on weekends or when the Federal Government is closed. Requests that do not provide the required information will experience delays in processing. All ruling letters will issued to the requester by electronic mail and will be published weekly on the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS).
EXAMPLE: Michael Jones will be transported between Savannah and Boston aboard the non-coastwise-qualified, M/V ELIZA JANE to repair a satellite dish. Michael does a search on the CROSS and finds H257757, involving the coastwise transportation of another person aboard the non-coastwise-qualified M/V WESTERDAM who will be conducting repairs to that vessel’s satellite dish. Michael or the carrier may rely on H257757 even though the vessel names are different, since the facts relating to what the individual is doing aboard the vessel are identical.
○ The vessel owner/operator has already received a penalty notice for violating the PVSA (see Penalty section above).
○ The subject of the request has been ruled on previously by CBP.
EXAMPLE: In the example above involving Michael Jones, the vessel owner decides to submit a ruling request for Michael's voyage. CBP will not issue the vessel owner a ruling because the issue of whether an individual conducting satellite repairs during a coastwise voyage is a "passenger" within the meaning of the PVSA has been ruled on by CBP in H257557.
To determine whether CBP has previously ruled on a particular PVSA issue, please visit CROSS.
NOTE: The vessel owner should be prepared to provide to the CBP ports of embarkation or disembarkation proof that Michael is repairing the vessel's satellite during the voyage as well as the ruling relied on should a question arise at a CBP port of entry as to whether Michael's transportation will comply or complies with the PVSA.
The navigation laws, including the PVSA, can only be waived by the Secretary of Homeland Security if certain requirements are met:
• The transportation requested must be "necessary in the interest of national defense," and
• If the waiver is requested under Section 501(b), the Maritime Administration at the Department of Transportation has confirmed that there are no coastwise-qualified vessels available to conduct the transportation.43
A request to waive the PVSA should be submitted prior to the proposed transportation, i.e., embarkation of passengers. CBP strongly encourages potential requesters to contact the Maritime Administration prior to submitting a request to determine if there are any coastwise-qualified vessels available to conduct the transportation sought.
To assist CBP with the processing of the request, the following information should be included in the request:
• Vessel name.
43 46 U.S.C. § 501(b).
Coastwise Trade: Merchandise Informed Compliance Publication
https://www.cbp.gov/document/publications/coastwise-trade-merchandise
Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS)
https://rulings.cbp.gov/home
National Vessel Documentation Center
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Deputy-for-Operations-Policy-and-Capabilities-DCO-D/National-Vessel-Documentation-Center/
Maritime Administration Small Vessel Waiver Program
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/ports/domestic-shipping/small-vessel-waiver-program
Mitigation Guidelines Informed Compliance Publication
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/publications/informed-compliance-publication-mitigation-guidelines-fines-penalties-forfeitures-and
Rulings Program Informed Compliance Publication
https://www.cbp.gov/document/publications/us-customs-and-border-protection-rulings-program
The home page of CBP on the internet provides the trade community with current, relevant information regarding CBP operations and items of special interest. The site posts information—which includes proposed regulations, news releases, publications and notices, etc.—that can be searched, read online, printed or downloaded to your personal computer. The website was established as a trade-friendly mechanism to assist the importing and exporting community. The website also links to the home pages of many other agencies whose importing or exporting regulations CBP helps to enforce. The website also contains a wealth of information of interest to a broader public than the trade community. For instance, the “Know Before You Go” publication and traveler awareness campaign are designed to help educate international travelers.
The web address of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is https://www.cbp.gov.
The current edition of CBP Regulations of the United States is a loose-leaf, subscription publication available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, via the internet, phone, fax, postal mail, or email. Internet: http://bookstore.gpo.gov. Phone: DC Metro Area: (202) 512-1800, Toll-Free: (866) 512-1800, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST, Fax: (202) 512-2104. Mail: U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. Email: Contactcenter@gpo.gov. A bound edition of Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations, is also available for sale from the same address. All proposed and final regulations are published in the Federal Register, which is published daily by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, and distributed by the Superintendent of Documents. Information about online access to the Federal Register may be obtained by calling (202) 512-1530 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST. The Federal Register is available online at https://www.ecfr.gov/. These notices are also published in the weekly Customs Bulletin described below.
The Customs Bulletin and Decisions (Customs Bulletin) is a weekly publication that contains decisions, rulings, regulatory proposals, notices and other information of interest to the trade community. It also contains decisions issued by the U.S. Court of International Trade, as well as customs-related decisions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Customs Bulletin is available online at https://www.cbp.gov/document/bulletins.
This publication provides an overview of the importing process and contains general information about import requirements. The current edition of Importing Into the United States contains material explaining the requirements of the Mod Act. The Mod Act fundamentally altered the relationship between importers and CBP by shifting to the importer the legal responsibility for declaring the value, classification, and rate of duty applicable to entered merchandise.
The current edition contains a section entitled 'Informed Compliance.' A key component of informed compliance is the shared responsibility between CBP and the import community, wherein CBP communicates its requirements to the importer, and the importer, in turn, uses reasonable care to assure that CBP is provided accurate and timely data pertaining to the importation.
Single copies may be obtained from local offices of CBP, or from the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20229. An online version is available at the CBP website.
CBP has prepared a number of Informed Compliance publications in the “What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About...” series. Check the website https://www.cbp.gov for current publications.
Customs Valuation Encyclopedia (with updates) is comprised of relevant statutory provisions, CBP Regulations implementing the statute, portions of the Customs Valuation Code, judicial precedent, and administrative rulings involving application of valuation law. This publication may also be found online.
The information provided in this publication is for general information purposes only. Recognizing that many complicated factors may be involved in customs issues, an importer may wish to obtain a ruling under CBP Regulations, 19 C.F.R. Part 177, or obtain advice from an expert (such as a licensed customs broker, an attorney or a customs consultant) who specializes in customs matters. Reliance solely on the general information in this pamphlet may not be considered reasonable care.
Additional information may also be obtained from CBP’s ports of entry. Please consult the CBP website for an office near you. Contact information for ports of entry can also be found on the internet at www.cbp.gov/contact/ports.
The Small Business and Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and 10 regional Fairness Boards were established to receive comments from small businesses about Federal agency enforcement activities and rate each agency’s responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on the enforcement actions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247).
REPORT SMUGGLING: 1-800-BE-ALERT
Visit our website: https://www.cbp.gov