Air
Shipping by Air is by far the quickest option when shipping from overseas, but it is also by far the most expensive. Let's take a look at how it works and what you should expect when working with Clearit.
Part 1 | Documentation
To kick off your Air import, you will need to provide some basic documentation. Below is a list of mandatory documents, their detailed description, who will provide them to you and when you need to provide them to Clearit. You will be asked to provide some of these documents during the clearance request submission process but don't worry - only the invoice is required to submit your request, the rest can be uploaded to your service ticket under the “shipping documents” tab.
Commercial invoice (Bill of sale)
Lists the name & address of the buyer, seller, and ship to party.
Provides a detailed item description, country of manufacture and HTS classification (if available)
Unit / total cost of each line item
Provided to you by the vendor (seller)
Required to submit a request for Customs Clearance
Air Waybill (Air bill of lading)
Serves as a form of receipt from the ocean carrier and details the shipping terms as well as the the cargo (weight, dimensions) being shipped
Provided by your freight forwarder before cargo is picked up at origin
Should be provided to Clearit as soon as it is available.
Part 2 | Commodity & Documentation Review
In order to properly declare your Customs entry, a thorough commodity and documentation review must be performed. The Clearit team will review your submitted documents and advise you via the your service ticket of the following:
The assigned HTS classification of each commodity/product being shipped
The associated duty rate
Additional partner government agency requirements (if required)
Applicable anti-dumping / countervailing duties
If any additional forms or documents are required, your assigned service agent will request them through the service ticket, so be sure to keep an eye out for emails or check in frequently. Because Air shipments are so time sensitive, this part of the process will be expedited and all air shipments are given priority.
Part 3 | Waiting, invoicing & payment
After the commodity & documentation review has been completed and we have collected all the relevant details, you can sit back and relax. Our team of experienced customs professionals will create your customs declaration and invoice you. If you have placed a credit card on file with us, the charges will automatically be added to your card. If you have opted out, you will receive a copy of the invoice and link for payment.
Please note, Clearit is a COD service and the Customs entry cannot be transmitted to U.S. customs until the invoice has been paid in full.
If you spot an error on your invoice (duties, additional charges, etc.) Don’t panic! Let us know via the service ticket and your assigned agent will be happy to make an amendment for you. Requests for changes can be made instantly within 5 business days of transmission of your customs entry. After that, Clearit must file a formal amendment with U.S. customs which can take up to 90 days to complete.
Part 4 | Arrival Notice [Day of departure]
On the scheduled date of departure, your freight forwarder will send you a document called the “Arrival Notice”. What is it?
A document indicating the location of your cargo
Confirms expected arrival date and estimated free time in storage
Amounts due to the carrier/forwarder
This document should be provided to Clearit as soon as possible. If outstanding charges are indicated on this document and you would like Clearit to facilitate payment on your behalf, please let us know on your service ticket. The invoice attached to your Arrival Notice must be paid to the forwarder/carrier in order for them to release your cargo.
Part 5 | Customs Clearance [Day of arrival]
On the day of arrival, Clearit can transmit the entry to U.S. Customs to obtain a Customs Clearance. While the majority of cargo is cleared rather quickly, it is possible to get a rejection or a request for inspection of your cargo. Partner government agencies (PGAs) may request a hold as well depending on the nature of the commodity. Once the cargo is fully released, copies of your customs release will be posted to the service ticket for your records
Part 6 | Warehouse fees
Once your cargo has arrived at the airport, been off-loaded from the aircraft and checked-in to the CFS warehouse, the warehouse itself or forwarder will provide you with an invoice for warehousing fees. These must be paid prior to arranging pick up of your cargo. Clearit can facilitate the payment of these fees by request.
Part 7 | Final Delivery [post-customs release]
Once your cargo has been released by customs and all invoices paid, it will be made available for pick up / Delivery. Should you choose to pick up the cargo yourself, a delivery order (DO) may be required under your name. If delivery is being arranged, the DO would be made out to the trucking company assigned for pick up.
Thank you for taking the time to review the Air importing process. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out! We look forward to working with you.
**Please note, while mandatory documents are listed, depending on the nature of your cargo, additional documentation and information may be required.
Air Imports: How it works, Simplified
