CBP Posts Another "Latest News and Developments" on Processing Bond Applications, Etc. (Part II)

(Subscribers should note that the February 13, 2006 version of this document appears to be more comprehensive treatment of bond applications, etc. than previous versions.)

This is Part II of a multi-part series of summaries of CBP's "Latest News and Developments" document and highlights Activity Code 1 continuous bond submissions and inquiries. Part II builds upon the information summarized in Part I regarding Activity Code 1 continuous bonds.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/21/06 news, 06022105, for Part I on the processing of new Activity Code 1 continuous bonds by the Revenue Division Bond Team. See ITT's Online Archives or 06/21/05 news, 05062105, for BP summary of CBP's notice announcing that centralized processing for all new Activity Code 1 continuous bonds took effect on June 20, 2005.)

Activity Code 1 Continuous Bond Submissions and Inquiries

Submissions must be received via fax or email. CBP states that all new Activity Code 1 bond submissions must be submitted via fax to (317) 614-4517 or via email to cbp.bondquestions@dhs.gov. Any submission to the Revenue Division Bond Team that is not received via fax or email per CBP instructions (except responses related to rejected applications - see below) will not be processed.

Applications submitted as email attachments should utilize PDF for TIF formats. CBP highly recommends that Activity Code 1 bond applications submitted as email attachments utilize the PDF or TIF formats. The Revenue Division Bond Team also recommends that filers submit bond applications via email rather than faxing the documentation if both options are available to the filer as the copy quality of documents received via email is superior. CBP notes that it regularly rejects faxed bond submissions that are illegible due to frequent copying and faxing.

Applications are accepted up to 60 days before desired effective date. CBP states that the Revenue Division Bond Team will accept Activity Code 1 bond applications up to 60 days before the desired effective date.

Multiple submissions of bond applications will delay processing. CBP notes that multiple submissions of a bond application will only delay processing of that application. The Revenue Division posts current information about estimated processing times for bond applications on its Web site at: "http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/pilot_program/." This information is posted under the heading "Bond Processing Statistics", and is updated every Monday.

Bond status inquiries. CBP states that bond filers should query its "Bond Processing Statistics" on a regular basis and refrain from making any status inquiries when the date of submission of the application is after the date(s) currently being processed. Bond filers should also utilize ABI queries on a regular basis as the primary mechanism to learn of continuous bond approvals.

General questions about bond processing, as well as specific questions about the status of a particular bond application should be directed to (317) 614-4880, or via email to cbp.bondquestions@dhs.gov. After a bond application has been referred for rejection, any questions about that application should be directed to the Reject Team by leaving a voicemail at (317) 614-4881.

Reject Team has own fax number for accepting corrections. CBP notes that the Reject Team has its own fax number for accepting corrections to rejected bond submissions - (317) 298-1042. Questions or status inquiries should never be submitted via fax, or to any email address or phone number other than those cited above (unless specifically instructed to do so).

Rules for submitting email correspondence to Bond Team. CBP states that when submitting any email correspondence to cbp.bondquestions@dhs.gov; the following rules must be followed with regard to the email subject line content. CBP states that failure to follow these rules could lead to significant delays in processing any email submission.

When submitting email to the above address, the subject line must begin with one of the following words:

• "NEW" - for new bond applications, riders, or terminations
• "REJECT" - for any response or correspondence related to a rejected bond submission
• "STATUS" - for requesting information about the status of bond submissions that have been on file for more than 5 business days and have not been rejected
• "OTHER" - any submission which does not fit in one of the previous 3 categories (including general questions)

After beginning with the first word as noted just above, the email subject line should then list the principal's importer number and name (1-3 words of the name). For example, the email subject line for a new bond submission should appear as follows:

"NEW: 12-345678900 John Doe Imports"

The email subject line for a status request should appear as follows:

"STATUS: 44-55555555500 Big Top Imports"

Guidelines for inquiring about the status of a bond application. CBP states that principals or bond filers inquiring about the status of a bond application must adhere to the following guidelines. Failure to comply with these rules may result in the Revenue Division Bond Team not acknowledging nor responding to a status request.

Requests must include the principal name, importer number, and date that the application was received by the Revenue Division Bond Team (or date the application was submitted to the Port). The name, phone number, and email address of the requestor must also be provided.

The Revenue Division Bond Team will not respond to a status request unless it has had at least 5 full business days to process the initial submission or latest revision of that particular bond application.

Requests for the status of a rejected bond application should be made by leaving a voice mail at 317-614-4881.

At least 1-2 business days should be allowed for the Revenue Division Bond Team to respond to any status request. When attempting to respond to status requests, the Bond Team has found that many requestors provide phone numbers where no one answers and there is no mechanism to leave a message. Please note that due to the extremely high volume of status requests, the Bond Team may only make one attempt to return a phone call.

CBP notes that when responding to rejected bond submissions, the formal rejection notice may provide additional, specific instructions about the proper mechanism for responding to the rejection.

CBP states that every email sent to cbp.bondquestions@dhs.gov will receive an auto - reply email response. If an auto-reply email has not been received within 1-2 days of the submission, the submitter should assume that the Revenue Division Bond Team did not receive the email and the email should be resubmitted. CBP advises that due to the volume of applications received, the Revenue Division Bond Team is not able to individually confirm receipt of emails or faxes.

Latest News and Developments (dated 02/13/06) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/pilot_program/latest_news_and_developments/.