STEP 1 ARRIVAL OF MERCHANDISE AND DOCUMENTATION

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STEP 1ARRIVAL OF MERCHANDISE AND DOCUMENTATION
The merchandise arrives at the broker's terminal
on the U.S. side of the border.
The commercial invoice and other documents arrive
at the Broker's office, either with the
merchandise or separately. 
Some of this documentation is supplied by the
Exporter.  Other paperwork is supplied by the
Importer.
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STEP 2VERIFICATION
The Broker verifies that the Importer stated on
the commercial invoice(s) is listed in the
database of importers  and sectors authorized to
import through Laredo.
The Broker verifies the physical merchandise
against the documentation.  This includes
verifying pallet, box, and piece counts, as well
as labeling, country of origin markings, and
serial numbers.
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STEP 2VERIFICATION
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The time to complete the Verification stage
depends, among other things, on how quickly the
Importer supplies all of the required sworn
declarations and how quickly the Importer can
become registered as an importer, if not one
already, and in the appropriate sector database,
if any.
Verification time also depends on the complexity
of the invoice(s), the amount of work required to
physically verify the merchandise itself, and
whether or not it is a first-time shipment. 
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STEP 3CLASSIFICATION COST ESTIMATION
The broker determines the HS tariff schedule
number to be applied to each different type of
item.
With this number the broker determines the duty
and fee rates applicable and ensures that all
restrictions, regulations, permits, and
certifications required will be complied with 
prior to entry presentation. 
NOTE This frequently involves getting additional
documentation from the exporter or importer. 
Many times the importer and/or exporter must
obtain this documentation from labs or government
agencies and this can result in substantial and
costly delays.
With this information, the broker estimates all
the costs (duties, brokerage charges, handling
charges, etc.), and requests an advance from the
client to proceed with the importation.
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STEP 3CLASSIFICATION COST ESTIMATION
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
As with Verification, the time required to
classify goods and determine the applicable costs
depends on the complexity of the shipment.
How quickly the client advances the required
funds is also a factor at this stage of the
process.
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STEP 4PREPARATION OF SHIPMENT
The merchandise is not already loaded on a
trailer or truck for inland Mexico transport
and/or crossing, the Broker makes the necessary
arrangements with the Mexican trucking firm
selected by the client to spot a trailer or truck
at the Broker's U.S. warehouse...
...and then loads the merchandise. 
The truck or trailer is then sealed with Customs
security seals.
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STEP 4PREPARATION OF SHIPMENT
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The time required depends primarily on how long
it takes the Mexican carrier to spot the required
equipment on which to load the merchandise. 
Because of this, clients sometimes suggest that
equipment be ordered in advance of the shipments
arrival at the border.
This can be risky and costly however, because the
transportation companies assess detention and
demurrage charges for keeping their equipment
idle.
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STEP 5PREPARATION OF ENTRY
The Broker prepares the Pedimento (entry),
transmits it electronically to the Mexican
customhouse and awaits electronic confirmation
from the customhouse. Customs runs several
validation tests on the electronic pedimento to
make sure that it has been prepared correctly.
Upon receiving the electronic confirmation, the
broker prints the pedimento (8 copies), attaches
invoices, certificates, and other required
documents and either takes it to an authorized
bank for the payment of duties, or makes an
electronic payment . This packet of documents is
called the "entry packet" or, simply, the "entry."
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STEP 5PREPARATION OF ENTRY
If needed, the Broker prepares a Shipper's Export
Declaration (SED) through the Automated Export
System (AES). The AES provides a shipment number
for the goods for presentation by the driver at
U.S. Customs.
If the merchandise is traveling in-bond through
the U.S.A., the U.S. Broker will need to present
a processed copy of the pedimento to U.S. Customs
at a later date to cancel the In-Bond.
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STEP 6PRESENTATION OF ENTRY
If electronic payment has not been made, the
broker presents the entry packet at a
customs-approved bank for payment of duties and
fees.  The bank verifies the entry against the
electronic record at Mexican customs, accepts
payment for the duties and fees and prints a
receipt on the upper right hand corner of the
pedimento.
The broker prepares a manifest and attaches it to
the remaining copies of the entry.  This is the
packet that the driver and dispatcher will
present at the Mexican customs window during the
border-crossing ceremony.
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STEP 7 BORDER CROSSING
The Broker then coordinates the border-crossing
activities with the Driver and the Dispatchers,
which must occur within 72 hours from the time
the duties are paid at the bank.
Upon arrival at the U.S. Customs export lot, the
U.S. Customs inspector in charge may require
proof of the AES filing. The shipment is also
subject to unloading for inspection by the U.S.
officials.
After clearing U.S. Customs, the truck proceeds
across one of the international bridges to one of
the entrance booths of the Mexican Customs import
lot.  The Broker's dispatcher retrieves the
Driver's entry and manifest and presents it to
the Mexican official at the booth.
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STEP 7 BORDER CROSSING
One of the copies of the pedimento includes a
bar-code that is scanned by the Customs Inspector
into a computer. The computer then prints on the
pedimento whether the shipment must be inspected
("red light"), or can proceed to destination
("green light").
If the shipment is selected for inspection, the
truck is sent to the import lot's inspection
dock. Here the documentation is checked to make
sure it is accurate, correct, and complete (i.e.
not missing any documents or permits) and is
verified against the merchandise. 
NOTE Physical verification frequently requires
that the merchandise be unloaded from the truck
or trailer. 
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STEP 7 BORDER CROSSING
Once the shipment clears the inspection stage it
is subjected to a second random check, where the
process is repeated by a second team of contract
inspectors. These second stage inspectors are
under contract to the Mexican government but do
not report directly to the Customs Service.
NOTE Discrepancies and errors result in severe
fines and penalties! 
After the shipment is released, Mexican Customs
keeps two copies of the entry, returning to the
dispatcher one copy for the carrier, one for the
broker, one for the importer, and a couple of
spares.
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STEP 8 SHIPMENT RELEASE
The truck then travels to the yard of the Mexican
carrier that will provide the inland freight
service to the ultimate destination.
The Broker delivers one copy of the pedimento to
the Mexican carrier (the copy with the bar-code),
which serves as a release document, and a BOL
instructing the carrier of the destination and
other details of the shipment.
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STEPS 5, 6, 7 8 ENTRY PREPARATION,
PRESENTATION, BORDER CROSSING RELEASE
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Collectively, entry preparation, presentation,
border crossing and release takes about three
working days.  While this time can be shortened
for repetitive and urgent shipments, it is unwise
to plan on anything less than three working days
for these four steps.
The delivery time after release depends on the
destination and the carrier selected by the
client. Carriers may assign different priorities
to different shipments. Depending on final
destination, delivery to the consignee in Mexico
should range from 1 to 4 days.