Beginning Later in 2004, Continuous Bond Numbers Issued Under Pilot Bond Centralization Program Are Expected to Include Alpha Character(s)
According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notice and CBP sources, beginning later in 2004, continuous bond numbers issued under CBP's Pilot Bond Centralization Program are expected to include alpha character(s) (rather than "all numeric" characters as they do now).
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CBP sources expect that the alpha character(s) will occur in the fifth and/or sixth positions of the 9-digit continuous bond number.
Shortage of "All Numeric" Bond Numbers under the Pilot Bond Centralization ProgramAccording to CBP, this change is necessary because CBP's Pilot Bond Centralization Program, which is now issuing bond numbers for six ports from the National Finance Center (NFC) in Indianapolis, IN, is expected to run out of "all numeric" continuous bond numbers before the end of the year.
(Under the current version of the Pilot Bond Centralization Program, participating ports fax Type 1 Importer continuous bond information to the Pilot Bond Centralization Team at the NFC so it can be reviewed, processed, and maintained in the automated system. Single Transaction Bonds continue to be processed at the local ports. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/23/04 news, 04012305, for most recent BP summary on this program. )
CBP sources add that ports not covered by the Pilot Bond Centralization Program will continue to issue "all numeric" continuous bond numbers until they deplete their own supply of these (which sources state is unlikely).
CBP Expects to Soon Expand its Pilot to Include Additional PortsIn September 2003 CBP began a Pilot Bond Centralization Program at the NFC for Type 1 Importer continuous bonds submitted to the ports of St. Albans, VT; Chicago, IL; Buffalo, NY; Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, CA; and Seattle, WA.
According to CBP sources, in March 2004 the port of Miami, FL was added to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program (for a total of six ports currently participating).
CBP sources state that they expect to expand the Pilot Bond Centralization Program in May 2004 to include the ports of Detroit, Port Huron, and Cleveland and in June 2004 to include the ports of Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Champlain.
According to sources, it is not known when CBP will expand the pilot to include other types of continuous bonds (e.g., carrier, warehouse, etc.), in addition to the current Type 1 Importer continuous bonds currently being processed under the pilot.
CBP has previously stated that it expects the pilot form of this program to continue until regulatory changes are in place and the program is implemented nationwide.
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CBP notice (Adm: 04-0950, dated 04/16/04) available via email or fax by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.