- Julio Rodriguez US Customs Broker
- Services
- In-Bond and Bonded Moves
In-bond filings and bonded transfers
In-bond moves let freight travel through the United States before duties are paid: to another port, to a bonded warehouse, to an FTZ, or out of the country entirely. We file the in-bond entries and arrange the bonded transfers, and we make sure you know about the second clock, the one that actually catches people.
IT, T&E and IE, in plain words
Three entry types cover nearly every in-bond situation. The right one depends on where the freight is going and whether it will ever enter US commerce:
| Type | Stands for | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| IT | Immediate Transportation | Freight moves to another US port to be entered there |
| T&E | Transportation and Exportation | Freight crosses the US in bond and exits at another port |
| IE | Immediate Exportation | Freight exports from the same port it arrived at, no US entry |
The two clocks, and the trap between them
Everyone knows the first clock: under 19 CFR 18.1, an in-bond move must be completed within 30 days of departure, 60 by barge, and arrival must be reported within 2 business days with the FIRMS code of the receiving facility.
The clock that catches people is the second one: once the freight arrives at the destination port, there are 15 calendar days to enter it, export it, or admit it to a foreign-trade zone. Calendar days, not business days. The 30-day clock gets all the attention, and the 15-day clock writes the penalty letters. We calendar both on every in-bond we file.
Where in-bond earns its keep
In-bond is how Puerto Rico freight transits the mainland without paying duty twice, how a Miami arrival reaches a bonded warehouse near your buyer, and how goods that were never meant for the US market pass through without an entry at all. Because we serve every PR and US port and handle storage and arrange delivery, one office watches the whole move from lading to closure of the bond.
FAQ
What is an in-bond shipment?
Freight moving within the US under CBP bond before duties are paid: to another port for entry (IT), across the country for export (T&E), or straight back out (IE). A licensed broker or the carrier initiates the in-bond entry.
How long can freight travel in bond?
The transit must be completed within 30 days, 60 by barge, and arrival reported within 2 business days with the facility's FIRMS code, per 19 CFR 18.1.
What is the 15-day in-bond rule?
After an in-bond shipment arrives at the destination port, you have 15 calendar days to enter it, export it, or admit it to an FTZ. It is the less famous of the two clocks and the one that generates most of the trouble.
What is the difference between IT, T&E and IE?
IT moves freight to another US port for entry there. T&E moves it through the US to be exported at a different port. IE exports it from the arrival port without a US entry. The choice controls the paperwork and the clocks.
Can cargo move in bond from Miami to Orlando?
Yes. Freight that arrives at PortMiami or Miami International can travel in bond with a bonded carrier to Orlando, port code 1808, and clear customs there instead, on an IT entry. The 30-day transit clock and the 15-day arrival rule still apply, so the move is planned with the carrier before it leaves.
Set up your bonded move
Tell us where the freight lands and where it needs to end up. We will pick the entry type, file it, and calendar both clocks so neither one surprises you.
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