[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 19, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 19CFR4.8]

[Page 14]
 
                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
  CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 4--VESSELS IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TRADES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 4.8  Preliminary entry.

    (a) Generally. Preliminary entry allows a U.S. or foreign vessel 
arriving under circumstances that require it to formally enter, to 
commence lading and unlading operations prior to making formal entry. 
Preliminary entry may be accomplished electronically pursuant to an 
authorized electronic data interchange system, or by any other means of 
communication approved by the Customs Service.
    (b) Requirements and conditions. Preliminary entry must be made in 
compliance with Sec. 4.30, and may be granted prior to, at, or 
subsequent to arrival of the vessel. The granting of preliminary vessel 
entry by Customs at or subsequent to arrival of the vessel, is 
conditioned upon the presentation to and acceptance by Customs of all 
forms, electronically or otherwise, comprising a complete manifest as 
provided in Sec. 4.7. Vessels seeking preliminary entry in advance of 
arrival may do so by presenting to Customs a complete Customs Form 1302 
(Cargo Declaration) showing all cargo on board the vessel and Customs 
Form 3171, electronically or otherwise, no less than 48 hours prior to 
vessel arrival. The CF 3171 will also serve as notice of intended date 
of arrival. The port director may allow for the presentation of the CF 
1302 and CF 3171 less than 48 hours prior to arrival in order to grant 
advanced preliminary entry if a vessel voyage takes less than 48 hours 
to complete from the last foreign port to the first U.S. port, or if 
other reasonable circumstances warrant. Preliminary entry granted in 
advance of arrival will become effective upon arrival at the port 
granting preliminary entry. Additionally, Customs must receive 
confirmation of a vessel's estimated time of arrival in a manner 
acceptable to the port director.

[T.D. 00-4, 65 FR 2872, Jan. 19, 2000]