Customs Brokerage
Customs clearance, handled without the guesswork
Peregrine Shipping coordinates US customs brokerage from classification through entry filing, so your shipment clears without unnecessary delay.
Overview
Customs brokerage services built on accuracy
Customs brokerage services exist because US import law is detailed, and a small classification or valuation error can trigger a hold, a penalty, or a re-audit down the line. Every commercial import into the United States has to be classified, valued, and entered correctly before Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will release it, and that work has to happen on a deadline set by the shipment’s arrival, not the importer’s schedule.
Our team coordinates that process for you: reviewing commercial invoices, gathering the product details a correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification depends on, working with a licensed customs broker on the classification and entry, and coordinating duty payment so the shipment moves to release without back-and-forth.
We also plan for the filings that run ahead of the shipment itself, like the Importer Security Filing (ISF, or “10+2”) required for ocean cargo, so the paperwork is in CBP’s hands before it becomes a bottleneck at the port.
HTS classification support
We gather the product details a Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification depends on and work them through with a licensed customs broker before filing. A small classification difference can move a product into a materially different duty rate.
Entry coordination
We coordinate customs entries with a licensed customs broker so cleared cargo isn’t held up by paperwork at the port or airport. Getting the entry right the first time avoids the delay and cost of a correction.
ISF 10+2 timing
We coordinate the Importer Security Filing ahead of ocean vessel loading, as CBP requires. Missing this deadline can trigger penalties independent of anything wrong with the entry itself.
Duty coordination
We coordinate duty and fee payment on your shipment as part of the entry process, so payment isn’t what holds up release at the port.
How a shipment clears customs
How it works
Step 1
Document review
We review the commercial invoice, packing list, and any required permits before the shipment arrives.
Step 2
Classification and valuation
We confirm the HTS classification and declared value with the filing broker, since they drive the duties and fees owed.
Step 3
Entry and ISF filing
A licensed customs broker files the entry with CBP, along with the ISF for ocean shipments where required, using the details we have coordinated.
Step 4
Duty payment coordination
We coordinate payment of duties, taxes, and fees due on the shipment.
Step 5
Release and handoff
Once CBP releases the shipment, we coordinate the handoff to inland trucking, a warehouse, or final delivery.
Reference
US customs entries and filings
| Entry or filing | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Informal entry | Low-value commercial or personal shipments | Generally used for shipments valued under $2,500, with exceptions for restricted or quota goods |
| Formal entry | Higher-value or regulated commercial shipments | Requires a customs bond and full entry summary |
| ISF (10+2) | Ocean cargo arriving by vessel | Filed at least 24 hours before loading at the foreign port; separate from the entry itself |
This is general reference information on standard CBP entry categories, not a substitute for a classification or compliance ruling on a specific shipment.
FAQs
Customs brokerage questions
Want customs handled before your shipment arrives?
Send our team your shipment and product details, and we’ll walk you through the entry process and requirements.