QP In Bond (CBP Shipment Type)

This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

In-bond shipments may move to a bonded warehouse or continue for export from the United States

In Bond is a U.S. Shipment Type for goods moving under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) control before the goods are entered for consumption, admitted to a foreign-trade zone, or exported. It allows cargo to move inland to another U.S. port, transit through the United States to another country, or be immediately exported.

Only bonded carriers are entitled to transport in-bond shipments. A carrier bond is normally filed on CBP Form 301.

Current In-Bond Requirements

CBP's in-bond process is now electronic. Arrival, export, and diversion activity must be reported through a CBP-approved electronic data interchange system rather than by presenting a paper CBP Form 7512 for those functions.

Requirement	Summary
Arrival reporting	CBP must be notified electronically within two business days after arrival at the port of destination or port of exportation. The report must include the FIRMS code for the location of the merchandise within the port.
Export reporting	For export movements, the in-bond record must be updated electronically within two business days after exportation.
In-transit time	Merchandise transported in-bond must normally be delivered to CBP at the port of destination or port of export within 30 days from the date CBP authorizes the movement. Barge movements have a 60-day limit, and pipeline movements are not subject to a time limit.
After arrival	Merchandise that has arrived at the port of destination or exportation must be entered, exported, or admitted to a foreign-trade zone within 15 calendar days from arrival of the entire in-bond shipment, unless an extension applies.
Diversions	Changes to the port of exportation or first foreign port must be updated electronically in the in-bond record.

CBP may issue liquidated damages when the required in-bond timelines and electronic reporting requirements are not met.

Declaring In-Bond Shipments in ACE Manifest

In-bond shipments are required to be reported on an ACE Manifest. The method depends on how the in-bond is filed.

In-bond shipment options in BorderConnect

Filing method	How it is reported
QP In-Bond	A customs broker or other approved ABI filer submits the in-bond filing on behalf of the carrier. The carrier reports the shipment on the ACE eManifest by creating a PAPS shipment or selecting QP In-Bond in BorderConnect's ACE Manifest software. The Shipment Control Number must match the number used by the broker on the in-bond filing.
ACE In-Bond	The carrier requests the in-bond move using its ACE eManifest software. No broker or other third party creates the in-bond for the carrier. For more information, see ACE In Bond (CBP Shipment Type).

For a QP In-Bond, the carrier receives a QP Entry on File message through ACE once both the ACE manifest shipment and the broker's in-bond filing are on file. For an ACE In-Bond, the in-bond is on file when the ACE eManifest filing is accepted.

Reporting a QP In-Bond shipment in BorderConnect

Drivers arriving at the border with an in-bond shipment are not usually required to present a paper copy of CBP Form 7512 when the in-bond is properly on file electronically. A paper copy may still be useful in case CBP or another party requests it for reference.

Open In-Bonds and Follow-Up

An in-bond remains open until it is properly arrived, exported, or otherwise closed in CBP's system. Carriers should monitor ACE messages and act on overdue or warning messages immediately.

Common in-bond warning messages include:

Message	Meaning
Bill of Lading Late in 5 Days	Warning that the in-bond is approaching the 30-day in-transit limit and must be reported as arrived or otherwise resolved.
Bill of Lading Late	Indicates that the in-bond has passed the expected arrival timeframe and may be overdue.
Pending Eligible General Order	For export movements, indicates that the arrived merchandise still needs to be exported, entered, admitted to a foreign-trade zone, or otherwise resolved.
Ordered to General Order	Indicates that the merchandise has become subject to General Order procedures because the required follow-up action was not completed on time.

For QP In-Bonds, the ACE manifest shipment and the broker or ABI filer's in-bond filing must match. The carrier should not treat the in-bond as ready to move until the appropriate ACE response confirms that the in-bond is on file and authorized.