Supporting Law and Regulation

[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 19, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 19CFR4.8]

[Page 16-17]

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, except that the Cargo Declaration,

[[Page 17]]

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 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]