US Customs Certificate Course

The U.S. Customs Broker Examination Preparation Course will provide to course participants all of the fundamental knowledge which is required to achieve a passing mark on the U.S. Customs Broker Examination.

Course participants will be presented with the various aspects of the commercial importation process, as well as, many fundamental aspects of Title 19, Customs Duties, of the U.S. Federal Code of Regulations which govern all international trade activities in the United States of America.

Comprehensive course content, aided by the utilization of questions taken from previously administered examinations, as well as, customs document completion exercises will provide course participants with practical “real-world” knowledge.



Course outline in the over 480 pages of content in this course:
1     Introduction to U.S. Customs and Border Protection   
1.1    Introduction 
1.2    Organizational Structure of U.S. Customs and Border Protection   
1.2.1    Port of Entry   
1.2.2    Service Port   
1.2.3    Field Operations Offices & Pre-Clearance Facilities   
1.2.4    Hours of Operation   
1.3    Legal Basis of U.S. Customs & Border Protection   
1.3.1    Code of Federal Regulations, Title 19—Customs Duties   
1.3.2    Customs Modernization Act (“Mod” Act)   
2    General Aspects of Customs Brokerage   
2.1    Introduction   
2.2    Broker Examination Process   
2.3    Broker Licensing Process   
2.3.1    Eligibility Requirements   
2.3.2    Investigative Report of Applicant   
2.3.3    Issuance of Customs Broker License   
2.3.4    Denial of Customs Broker License   
2.3.5    Denial of Customs Broker License Appeal Process   
2.3.6    Operation without Valid Customs Broker License   
2.4    District & National Permits   
2.4.1    District Permit   
2.4.1.1    District Permit Application Process   
2.4.2    National Permit   
2.4.2.1    National Permit Application Process   
2.4.2.2    Denial of National Permit Appeal Process   
2.5    Triennial Process   
2.6    Revocation, Cancellation and Suspension of a License or Permit   
2.7    Change of Address   
2.8    Change of Ownership   
2.9    Termination of Brokerage Business   
2.10    Customs Broker Responsibilities   
2.10.1    Responsible Supervision Requirements   
2.10.1.1    Employee Information   
2.10.1.2    Terminated Employee’s   
2.10.1.3    Conflict of Interest   
2.10.2    Recordkeeping Requirements   
2.10.2.1    Production & Examination of Entry Records   
2.10.2.2    NAFTA Preferential Tariff Treatment Documentation   
2.10.3    Power of Attorney Documents   
2.10.3.1    Non-Resident Principal   
2.10.3.2    Power of Attorney for Purpose of Filing Protest Documentation   
2.10.3.3    Power of Attorney Validation   
2.10.4    Due Diligence Requirements   
3     Introduction to the Filing Identification Number   
3.1    Introduction   
4     The Basic Importation Bond   
4.1    Introduction   
4.1.1    Basic Importation Bond Informational Requirements   
4.1.1.1    Type of Basic Importation Bond   
4.1.1.2    Agreements   
4.1.1.3    Required Information   
4.1.1.4    Bond Rider   
4.1.1.5    Determining the Appropriate Bond Amount  
4.1.1.6    Basic Importation Bond Retention Guidelines   
4.2    Importer Responsibilities under a Basic Importation Bond  
4.3    Basic Importation Bond NOT Required – Waiver   
4.4    Basic Importation Bond Required – NO Waiver   
4.5    Transfer of Liability for Increased Duties   
4.6    Termination of Basic Importation Bond   
4.6.1    Termination by Principal   
4.6.2    Termination by Surety   
5     Introduction to the Entry Process   
5.1    Introduction   
5.1.1    Entry Process Incomplete   
5.1.1.1    General Order Merchandise   
5.1.1.2    Unclaimed Merchandise   
5.1.1.3    Abandoned Merchandise   
5.1.1.4    Storage of Abandoned Merchandise   
5.1.1.5    Sale of Merchandise   
5.1.1.6    Disposition of Proceeds from Sale   
5.1.1.7    Destruction of Merchandise   
5.1.1.8    Liquidated Damages   
5.1.2    Entry Summary Documentation Submission   
5.1.2.1    Preliminary Review of Entry Summary   
5.1.2.2    Review Prior to Acceptance   
5.1.2.3    Single Entry Summary for Multiple Entries   
5.1.2.4    Single Entry Summary for Split Shipments   
5.2    Live Entry   
5.3    The Time of Entry   
5.4    Declaration of Entry   
5.4.1    Entry for Appraisement   
5.4.2    Entry for Consumption   
5.4.3    Entry for Warehouse   
5.4.4    Entry for Re-warehouse   
5.4.5    Withdrawal of Merchandise from Bonded Warehouse   
5.4.5.1    Introduction   
5.4.5.2    Statement of Quantity, Charges and Liens   
5.4.5.3    Transfer to another Warehouse   
5.4.5.4    Withdrawal for Consumption   
5.4.5.5    Withdrawal for Exportation   
5.4.5.6    Withdrawal for Transportation   
5.4.5.7    Types of Warehouses   
5.4.6    Transportation of Merchandise in Bond   
5.4.7    Temporary Importation under Bond   
5.4.7.1    Temporary Importation of Select Merchandise   
5.4.7.2    Time Period Extension   
5.4.7.3    Exportation of Temporarily Imported Merchandise   
5.4.8    Foreign Trade Zone   
5.4.8.1    Foreign Trade Zone Merchandise Status   
5.4.8.2    Privileged Foreign Status   
5.4.8.3    Non-Privileged Foreign Status   
5.4.8.4    Domestic Merchandise Status   
5.4.8.5    Zone Restricted Status   
5.4.8.6    Transfer of Merchandise for Immediate Exportation   
5.4.8.7    Transfer of Merchandise for Transportation & Exportation   
5.4.8.8    Foreign Trade Zone Annual Reconciliation   
5.4.8.9    FTZ—NAFTA Duty Reduction / Deferral   
5.4.9    Mail Entries   
5.4.9.1    Formal Entry   
5.4.9.2    Informal Entry   
5.4.9.3    Examination of Mail Articles   
5.4.9.4    Country of Origin Marking   
5.4.9.5    Special Classes of Merchandise   
5.4.9.6    Prohibited Importation   
5.4.9.7    Importation of Alcoholic Beverages   
5.4.10    Trade Fair Exhibition   
5.4.10.1    Trade Fair Conclusion   
5.4.11    Immediate Release of Merchandise for the account of the United States Government   
6     The Right to Make Entry   
6.1    Introduction   
6.2    Evidence of the Right to Make Entry   
6.3    Commercial Documents   
6.3.1    Pro-Forma Invoice   
6.3.2    Commercial Invoice   
6.4    Transportation Documents   
6.4.1    Waybill   
6.4.2    Bill of Lading   
6.4.3    Cargo Insurance Policy Certificate   
6.4.4    NAFTA Certificate of Origin   
6.5    ATA Carnet   
6.6    Invoice Content Requirements   
7     Introduction to Customs Valuation & Tariff Classification   
7.1    Introduction to Customs Valuation   
7.1.1    Transaction Value   
7.1.1.1    Rejection of Declared Customs Value   
7.1.1.2    Assists   
7.1.1.3    Royalties & License Fees   
7.1.1.4    Related Person Transactions   
7.1.2    Transaction Value of Identical Merchandise   
7.1.3    Transaction Value of Similar Merchandise   
7.1.4    Deductive Value   
7.1.5    Computed Value   
7.1.6    Values if Other Values Cannot Be Determined   
7.1.7    Unacceptable Basis of Appraisement   
7.1.8    Intermediate Country Valuation   
7.2    Tariff Classification   
7.2.1    Introduction to the Tariff Classification Process  
7.2.2    Customs Modernization Act   
7.2.3    The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System   
7.2.4    Rates of Duty   
7.2.5    Antidumping / Countervailing Duties   
7.2.6    General Rules of Interpretation   
7.2.6.1    General Rule of Interpretation No. 1 (GRI 1)   
7.2.6.2    General Rule of Interpretation No. 2 (GRI 2)   
7.2.6.3    General Rule of Interpretation No. 3 (GRI 3)   
7.2.6.4    General Rule of Interpretation No. 4 (GRI 4)   
7.2.6.5    General Rule of Interpretation No. 5 (GRI 5)   
7.2.6.6    General Rule of Interpretation No. 6 (GRI 6)   
7.2.7    U.S. Rules of Interpretation   
8     Customs Accounts, Bills and Duty Remittance   
8.1    Customs Accounts & Bills   
8.2    Liability for Duties   
8.2.1    Accepted Methods of Payment   
8.2.1.1    Statement Processing   
8.2.1.2    Dishonored Check Fee   
8.2.2    Liability of Duties for Unordered Merchandise   
8.2.3    Liability of Duties for Re-imported Merchandise   
8.2.4    Delinquent Payment of Customs Bills   
8.3    Deposit of Duty   
8.4    Customs User Fees   
8.4.1    Entry Surcharge   
8.4.2    Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)   
8.4.3    Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)   
8.5    NAFTA Post-Importation Duty Refund Claim   
8.6    Conversion of Foreign Currency   
8.6.1    Proclaimed Rate   
8.6.2    Certified Quarterly Rate   
8.6.3    Certified Daily Rate   
8.7    Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures   
8.7.1    Petition for Relief   
8.7.2    Disposition of a Petition for Relief   
8.7.3    Supplemental Petitions for Relief   
8.8    Claims for Liquidated Damages against a Basic Importation Bond   
8.8.1    Petition for Relief   
8.8.2    Supplemental Petitions for Relief   
8.8.3    Offers in Compromise   
8.9    U.S. Customs Payment Mailing Addresses   
9     Introduction to the U.S. Rules of Origin   
9.1    Introduction to the U.S. Rules of Origin   
9.1.1    Advanced In Value   
9.1.2    Fungible Goods & Materials   
9.1.3    Improved In Condition   
9.1.4    Indirect Materials   
9.1.5    Minor Processing   
9.1.6    Simple Assembly   
9.1.7    Substantial Transformation   
9.2    What are the Rules of Origin?   
9.2.1    Fungible Materials & Merchandise   
9.2.2    De Minimis   
9.3    Non-Preferential/Preferential Rules of Origin   
9.3.1    Disregarded Materials   
9.3.2    Non-Qualifying Operations   
9.3.3    NAFTA Preference Override   
9.4    Non-Preferential Rules of Origin   
9.5    Preferential Rules of Origin   
9.6    Insular Possessions of the United States   
10     Country of Origin Marking Requirements   
10.1    Introduction   
10.2    Marking of Containers or Holders   
10.3    Exceptions to Marking Requirements   
10.4    J-List Exceptions to the Country of Origin Marking Requirements   
10.5    Special Marking Requirements   
11     Import Quotas   
11.1    Introduction   
11.2    Presentation of Documentation   
11.3    Determination of Quota Priority, as well as, of Quota Status for Imported Merchandise   
11.4    Immediate Delivery of Quota Class Merchandise   
11.5    Inadvertent Release of Merchandise   
11.6    Importation of Absolute Quota Merchandise by Mail   
11.7    Commodities Subject to Import Quotas   
12     Prior Disclosure   
12.1    Introduction   
12.2    Presentation of Documentation   
12.3    Prior Disclosure Monetary Penalty Structure   
13     Liquidation of Entry   
13.1    Introduction   
13.2    Notice of Liquidation   
13.3    Notice of Reliquidation   
13.4    Time Limit for Liquidation   
13.5    Investigative Action   
14     Examination, Detention and Release of Merchandise   
14.1    Introduction   
14.2    Seizure of Merchandise   
14.2.1    Section 592 Violation Seizure of Merchandise   
14.3    Excess Merchandise & Shortages   
14.4    Damage/Deterioration   
14.5    Tare   
14.6    Recall of Merchandise   
14.6.1    Entry Summary Documentation NOT Required for Prohibited Merchandise   
14.6.2    Textiles & Textile Products   
14.6.3    Food, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics   
15     Protests   
15.1    Introduction   
15.2    Filing of Protest Documentation   
15.3    Content of Protest Documentation   
15.4    Review & Disposition of Protest Documentation   
15.5    Accelerated Disposition of Protest Documentation   
15.6    Allowance & Denial of Protest Documentation   
15.7    Allowance & Denial of Protest Documentation under Further Review   
15.8    Notice of the Denial of a Protest   
15.9    Judicial Review of Denied Protest   
15.9.1    Service of Summons   
15.9.2    Submission of Documentation   
15.9.3    Decision of the Court   
15.10    Publication of Decision   
16     Introduction to Drawback   
16.1    Introduction   
16.1.2    Tradeoff   
16.2    Customs Fees Applicability   
16.3    NAFTA Drawback Calculation   
16.4    Presentation of Drawback Documentation   
16.5    Intent to Export, Destroy or Return Merchandise   
16.6    Identification of Merchandise Using Accounting Methodology   
16.7    Remittance of Drawback   
16.7.1    Accelerated Drawback Payment   
16.8    Pre Penalty Notification   
16.9    Drawback Compliance Program   
16.10    Drawback Recordkeeping Requirements   
16.10.1    Document Retention Period   
17    Supplemental Information Letters & Post Entry Amendments   
17.1    Background   
18    Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR)  Automated Broker Interface (ABI)   
19    Remote Location Filing   
19.1    Introduction   
20    C-TPAT Minimum Security Criteria for Customs Brokers   
20.1    C-TPAT Validation Process   
20.2    Validation Objective   
20.3    Validation Basis   
20.4    Validation Commencement   
20.5    Minimum Security Criteria for Customs Brokers   
20.5.1    Introduction   
20.5.2    Business Partner Requirement   
20.5.3    Container & Trailer Security   
20.5.4    Container & Trailer Seals   
20.5.5    Physical Access Controls   
20.5.6    Procedural Security   
20.5.7    Documentation Processing   
20.5.8    Physical Security   
20.5.9    Information Technology Security   
20.5.10    Security Training & Threat Awareness   
21    Importer Self-Assessment Program   
21.1    Background   
22    Importer Security Filing 10 + 2 Rule   
22.1    Importer Security Filing Requirement   
23    Intellectual Property Rights Protection   
23.1    Trademark Registration & Recordation   
23.1.1    Application for Intellectual Property Rights Protection   
23.1.2    Application for Intellectual Property Rights Protection w/ Lever Rule Protection   
23.1.3    Change of Ownership for Registered Trademark   
23.1.4    Change of Owner Name for Registered Trademark   
23.1.5    Renewal of Trademark Recordation   
23.2    Trade Name Registration & Recordation   
23.2.1    Application for Intellectual Property Rights Protection   
23.2.2    Publication of Trade Name or Trade Style Recordation   
23.3    Copyright Registration & Recordation   
23.3.1    Application for Intellectual Property Rights Protection   
23.3.2    Change of Ownership for Registered Copyright   
23.3.3    Change of Owner Name for Registered Copyright   
23.3.4    Renewal of Copyright Recordation   
23.4    Importation of Merchandise Bearing Registered Trademarks and/or Trade Names   
23.4.1    Importation of Merchandise Bearing a Counterfeit Trademark   
23.4.2    Importation of Merchandise Bearing a Copying or Simulating Trademark   
23.4.3    Redelivery of Released Merchandise   
23.4.4    Civil Penalty Structure   
23.5    Copyright Law Violations & the Importation of Merchandise   
Post Course Examination   
Appendix A     Trade Agreements   
Appendix B     Introduction to Customs Form 7501, Entry Summary   
Appendix C     Manufacturer/Shipper Identification Code Derivation   
Appendix D     Name & Address Entry Guidelines for Automated Commercial     System (ACS) Files   
Attachment I    U.S. State & Territorial Possession Codes   
Attachment II    Canadian Province/Territory Codes   
Attachment III    Mexican State Codes   
Bibliography   

Tutorial Support included and access to online discussion forums where you can clarify your queries with a fully qualified US Customs Broker based in the US!