Guide: Next Steps After Filing the ISF (Importer Security Filing)

Once your ISF is on file, everything else happens around the ship's arrival. Here's what to expect and what we'll need from you.

1. Before the Ship Arrives: The Arrival Notice

About two days before the vessel's ETA, the shipping line will send you an Arrival Notice, usually with an invoice for unloading and port handling fees.

When you receive it:

Pay the shipping line's fees as listed on the notice. These go directly to the shipping line — they are separate from our invoice for duties and clearance.
Mail the Original Bill of Lading to the shipping line if required. (Telex release shipments skip this step.)
Forward the Arrival Notice to us right away — we need it to create your customs entry.

Once the shipping line has its fees and any required documents, it will issue your Freight Release.

The Arrival Notice usually also lists your free time — the number of days the terminal stores your cargo at no charge. After the Last Free Day, storage charges accrue daily and are billed to you, so respond to requests and invoices promptly to keep the clock from running out.

If you haven't received an Arrival Notice two days before the ETA, contact the shipping line. Your cargo can't be cleared and released without it.

Example Arrival Notice: Here

2. Two Documents Release Your Cargo

Freight Release — issued by the shipping line once their fees are paid and paperwork is in.
Customs Release — we obtain this for you from CBP.

You need both to pick up your shipment.

3. Customs Clearance

When we receive your Arrival Notice, we prepare your customs entry and verify everything against your ISF and shipping documents. We'll then send you an invoice covering our service fee, customs duties, and any associated fees.

Along the way we may need a few things from you:

Vehicle imports: we'll send EPA and DOT declaration forms for your signature. We can't file the entry without them, so sign and return them promptly.
An itemized commercial invoice for your purchase, so shipping costs aren't included in the dutiable value.

Once you've paid our invoice, we transmit the entry to CBP and obtain your Customs Release.

Deadline to know: CBP requires the entry to be filed within 15 days of arrival. After that, cargo is transferred to General Order storage at your expense — another reason to respond to signature and payment requests quickly.

4. Inspection

Most shipments release automatically, but CBP occasionally selects a shipment for exam (for RoRo vehicles, this is often an agricultural inspection of the whole vessel's cargo). Exams are selected by CBP — we can't predict them in advance, and no one can expedite them. Any exam fees or extra storage they cause are billed to the importer, not by us.

If your shipment is selected, we'll let you know and walk you through the next steps.

5. When Will My Cargo Be Available?

Timing depends on how your cargo shipped:

Vehicles on RoRo vessels: usually available 1–2 business days after the ship arrives — longer if CBP selects the shipment for inspection.
LCL (shared container) cargo: usually at least a week after arrival. The container has to be unloaded at a warehouse before your cargo can be released to you.

Keep in mind that vessel ETAs often shift by a few days, and inspections aren't announced in advance.

Do not book a trucker or schedule pickup until you have the Customs Release and Delivery Order in hand. Booking early risks a wasted trip and dry-run fees if the vessel is delayed or the cargo hasn't been released yet. We'll send your release documents as soon as CBP releases the shipment — that's your green light to arrange pickup.

6. Picking Up Your Shipment

After release, we'll send you the Customs Release and Delivery Order. Together with the Freight Release, these authorize pickup.

Third-party pickup: If someone else is collecting your cargo, tell us their name (company or individual) ahead of time so we can list it on the Delivery Order — many terminals require it before releasing to a third party. And forward them the release documents.

Terminal requirements: Each terminal sets its own pickup rules — gate hours, appointments, TWIC cards or escorts, and sometimes their own forms. Your trucker should confirm requirements with the terminal before dispatching.

Who to Contact for What

Carrier fees, Original BOL, Freight Release → the shipping line
Gate hours, appointments, TWIC, storage / Last Free Day → the terminal (usually through your trucker)
Customs entry, duties, Customs Release, Delivery Order → us

Terminals and CBP generally won't walk individual importers through the process — that's what we're here for, so when in doubt, ask us first.