In order to pass through U.S. customs, you typically need to provide four documents.
4 Documents to Provide at U.S. Customs
Arrival Notice
A document that surfaces the details associated with this shipment to the customs broker, including:
- Master Bill of Lading (MBL)
- House Bill of Lading (HBL)
- Automated Manifest System (AMS)
- Consignee (CNEE)
- Shipper
- Freight Location
- Inland Transit Number (IT#)
HBL (House Bill of Lading)
A transportation contract of sorts between a shipper and forwarder. It is issued by a forwarder to their customer and typically acknowledges the forwarder received the good, what transit service will be provided by the forwarder, the route and commodity that was handed over.
Packing List
A detailed document that labels the type of commodity being imported on a SKU level, including unit count, weight, CBM, and any additional packing details.
Commercial Invoice
Detailed documents that advise on how much the goods cost which will reflect on the amount of duties paid to U.S. Customs.