[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 19, Volume 1]

[Revised as of April 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 19CFR4.8]



[Page 21-22]

 

                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES

 

   CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 

              HOMELAND SECURITY; 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, except that the Cargo Declaration, Customs Form 

(CF) 1302, must be presented to Customs electronically in the manner 

provided in Sec.  4.7(b)(2). Vessels seeking preliminary entry in 

advance of arrival must do so: By presenting to Customs the electronic 

equivalent of a complete Customs Form 1302 (Cargo Declaration), in the 

manner provided in Sec.  4.7(b), showing all cargo on board the vessel; 

and by presenting Customs Form 3171 electronically no less than 48 hours 

prior to vessel arrival. The CF



[[Page 22]]



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, as amended by T.D. 02-62, 67 FR 

66332, Oct. 31, 2002]